All-Ireland U-21H Final/Kilkenny v Tipperary: If all replays came with the same promise of this afternoon's reprise between Kilkenny and Tipperary then you'd pay a good promoter to stage the event. What developed in Croke Park last Sunday turned out to be one of the great spectacles of hurling seen this year, complete with that enduring classic of a climax - the last minute goal.
It came just as the three minutes of added time were expiring, and saw Kilkenny substitute Richie Hogan get on the end of searching ball sent in by midfielder Michael Fennelly.
For the previous 10 minutes the Tipperary defence had bravely held out - thanks mainly to the fine goalkeeping of Gerry Kennedy - but there was no stopping Hogan's effort.
Kilkenny, in other words, got their just reward, even if, having come so near to their first title in this grade since 1995, Tipperary's hearts almost visibly sank.
During that last 10 minutes Tipperary just couldn't get a shot at goal to build on their three-point advantage secured on 54 minutes when Niall Teehan burst through for what seemed like the decisive score.
The common perception after a game like last Sunday is that Tipperary have missed their chance. Kilkenny were strong favourites, not least because they had the services of three All- Ireland senior winners on board - James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, John Tennyson and Richie Power - and four other panel members.
At times they lived up to that billing, and certainly started impressively. Yet Tipp surpassed expectations with their self-belief and determination, and refused to let Kilkenny gain a telling advantage.
Darragh Egan led the charge at full forward, while James Woodlock and Stephen Willis hustled for everything at midfield, and it was no real surprise when they edged in front early in the second half.
There was little to separate the teams over the closing stages, even if Kilkenny were doing most of the attacking. Fitzpatrick and Power had quiet days by their standards, and while Tipp had the greater range of scoring forwards last Sunday, Kilkenny still have the greater scoring threat - including the 18-year-old Hogan, a nephew of DJ Carey.
Tipperary do have home advantage, and a sound manager in Fr Tom Fogarty. The problem is they'll probably need to raise their game even higher again and that might just be asking a little too much to deny Kilkenny their third under-21 title in four years.
KILKENNY: L Tierney; K Joyce, J Tennyson, S Cummins; P Hartley, J Dalton, D Fogarty; J Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly; TJ Reid, A Murphy, P Hogan; R Hogan, R Power, D McCormack.
TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; P Stapleton, A Byrne, C O'Brien; D Young, JB McCarthy, S Horan; J Woodlock, S Lillis; R O'Dwyer, N Teehan, D Sheppard; R Ruth, D Egan, D O'Hanlon.
