As we approach throw-in at Semple Stadium, here’s a preview of the game to whet the appetite:

Barring any late, late changes; here are today’s teams:

TIPPERARY

1. Darren Gleeson

2. Cathal Barrett

3. Pádraic Maher

4. Michael Cahill

5. James Barry

6. Brendan Maher (Captain)

7. Conor O’Mahony

8. Kieran Bergin

9. James Woodlock

10. Denis Maher

11. Patrick Maher

12. John O’Dwyer

13. Noel McGrath

14. Séamus Callanan

15. Niall O’Meara

And Kilkenny

1. Eoin Murphy
2. Paul Murphy
3. JJ Delaney
4. Brian Kennedy
5. Joey Holden
6. Jackie Tyrrell
7. Cillian Buckley
8. Michael Fennelly
9. Padraig Walsh
10. Richie Hogan
11. Colin Fennelly
12. TJ Reid
13. Richie Power
14. Mark Kelly
15. Henry Shefflin

We asked who you thought would win today and it looks like just over half of you have opted for Kilkenny.

Will they justify your confidence?

The parade is over, the teams have split into their pre-anthem positions and we’re less than five minutes from throw-in now.

Kilkenny 0-0 – Tipperary 0-0: 1 mins – Colin Fennelly and James Woodlock both miss chances and we’re scoreless after 90 seconds.

Kilkenny 0-1 – Tipperary 0-0: 3 mins – Padraig Walsh gets the first score of the game with a well taken point from play.

Kilkenny 0-3 – Tipperary 0-0: 4 mins TJ Reid strikes a free from the right side and doubles his side’s advantage in the early stages before Richie Hogan nails one from distance to make it 0-3 to no score.

Kilkenny 0-4 – Tipperary 0-1: 6 mins TJ Reid taking the frees for Kilkenny today and he has his second placed ball score of the game.

John O’Dwyer finally has Tipp’s first score of the afternoon.

Kilkenny 0-4 – Tipperary 0-2: 7 mins – The home side are starting to settle and have their second point of the game, Séamus Callanan with the free.

Down the other end, Richie Hogan hits Kilkenny’s first wide of the game.

Kilkenny 0-4 – Tipperary 0-3: 9 mins – Noel McGrath gets his first score of the game and it’s the best point of the afternoon so far.

Tipp are just a point behind now having trailed by four in the early stages. Niall O’Meara though misses a good chance to level things up.

Kilkenny 0-5 – Tipperary 0-4: 11 mins – Drama here as one umpire waves a Colin Fennelly effort wide while the other waves his white flag. The referee consults with his umpires and awards the point.

Kieran Bergin brings it back to one point game though.

Kilkenny 0-6 – Tipperary 0-4: 9 mins - TJ Reid nails his third free of the afternoon with the easiest of efforts.

Replays of that earlier Fennelly point do look inclusive.

Kilkenny 0-6 – Tipperary 0-5: 15 mins - Michael Fennelly has the game’s first yellow card after a clash with Woodlock. It looked accidental but referee James Owens decides it was intentional.

Callanan makes no mistake with the free for his second point of the day.

Kilkenny 0-6 – Tipperary 0-6: 17 mins - The sides are level after very good work from Tipperary frees up Woodlock on the left and he makes no mistake under no pressure.

Injury worry for Kilkenny though as Paul Murphy is down hurt. The corner-back is up and running again though.

Tipperary 0-7 – Kilkenny 0-6 – : 18 mins - Some quick thinking from Tipperary gives them their first lead of the day through Niall O’Meara.

Tipperary 0-8 – Kilkenny 0-6 : 21 mins – Tipperary have a two point lead now thanks to John O’Dwyer and, worryingly for Brian Cody, Kilkenny haven’t scored since the 9th minute.

Tipperary 0-9 – Kilkenny 0-7 : 25 mins - Great score from Niall O’Meara, his second of the game, after the Tipp defence had dealt with a difficult ball before distributing the sliotar quickly and O’Meara slotted over.

Kilkenny finally trouble the score board again, TJ Reid with his fourth free of the day.

Tipperary 0-10 – Kilkenny 0-7 : 25 mins - Dennis Maher eases his way through the Kilkenny defence to restore Tipp’s three point lead.

Tipperary 0-11 – Kilkenny 0-8 : 27 mins – Richie Hogan has his second of the game, and Kilkenny’s first from play in 15 minutes.

Down the other end, Bonnar Maher makes the most of another Kilkenny mistake to make the lead three points once more.

Tipperary 1-11 – Kilkenny 0-8 : 27 mins - We should have had the game’s first goal after Bergin is denied twice by Eoin Murphy in the Kilkenny goal.

However, they don’t have to wait long to raise the green flag, John O’Dwyer reacting quickest to a sideline cut to flick the sliotar home.

Tipperary 1-11 – Kilkenny 0-9 : 32 mins – The Cats have been poor enough in this opening period, their shot selection in particular has left a lot to be desired.

However, one bright spot has been TJ Reid and he nails another free, his fifth of the day, this one from miles out.

Tipperary 1-11 – Kilkenny 0-9 : 32 mins - PENALTY to Kilkenny

Tipperary 1-11 – Kilkenny 1-9 : 34 mins - It looks a soft enough penalty as Padraig Maher is adjudged to have fouled Mark Kelly.

But TJ Reid doesn’t care as he finds the back of the net, Anthony Nash style.

HALF-TIME

Tipperary 1-11 – Kilkenny 1-9 : 35 mins - Reid misses his first free of the game and Tipp go into the break with a two point lead.

A fair reflection?

The incident that led to the game's first yellow card. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Tipperary lead by two at the break but Kilkenny can’t be too unhappy seeing as they have seven wides to the home side’s two in the first half.

They will have to improve greatly in the second half if they’re to make it three league titles in a row.

One change we forgot to bring you – because it happened just before Tipperary’s goal – in that first half was Lester Ryan coming on for Joey Holden in the half-back line.

Tipperary 1-12 – Kilkenny 1-9: 36 mins – And the second half is under way.

Denis Maher has his second score of the game just 40 seconds into the second period and Tipp’s lead is back to three.

Tipperary 1-12 – Kilkenny 1-9: 38 mins - Another long range free drops short for Kilkenny. It’s a line ball to the Cats but Bredan Maher and Kieran Bergin combine to clear the danger.

Tipperary 1-12 – Kilkenny 1-9: 39 mins - Brendan Maher picks up Tipperary’s second yellow for what looked like a slap of the hurl.

Tipperary 1-13 – Kilkenny 1-9: 40 mins - Niall O’Meara wins a free for Tipp and Séamus Callanan nails his third free of the game.

Kilkenny have kept the prolific Tipperary forward quite but their own forwards have been so ineffective it hasn’t mattered.

Tipperary 1-13 – Kilkenny 1-11: 44 mins - TJ Reid strikes a sixth free from just outside the 45 as Walter Walsh comes in for Mark Kelly.

Reid adds a 65 to his personal tally.

Tipperary 1-14 – Kilkenny 1-11: 47 mins - Brilliant catch by Noel Maher draws a sixth Tipperary free and Callanan has his fourth from a place ball.

Tipperary 1-14 – Kilkenny 1-11: 48 mins - PENALTY for Kilkenny

TJ Reid dispossessed Cathal Barrett and the corner-back pulled down the Kilkenny man, unlike the first one, no question about this penalty decision.

It’s a yellow for Barrett too.

Tipperary 1-14 – Kilkenny 2-11: 50 mins - And Reid has his second and the sides are level.

Reid now has 2-7 for the afternoon.

 Kilkenny 2-12 – Tipperary 1-14: 52 mins - TJ Reid has another free and Kilkenny are back in the lead. It looked a very soft decisionl

Kilkenny 2-13 - Tipperary 1-14: 56 mins - Sarcastic cheers greet a free out against Henry Shefflin. Tipperary players and fans frustrated.

Richie Hogan points despite being surrounded by three players and they’re two points clear.

Kilkenny 2-13 - Tipperary 1-15: 58 mins - Callanan brings it back to a one point game with a free. Important score for Tipperary. John O’Dwyer has a goal chance but Kilkenny smother him and the danger clears.

Kilkenny 2-13 - Tipperary 1-16: 59 mins -Noel McGrath picks the sliotar off his toes and nails a point from the sidelines to bring the sides level. Wonderful point.

Tipperary 1-17 - Kilkenny 2-14: 60 mins - Great hurling from Tipp in the last couple of minutes, John O’Dwyer with a brilliant score to put the home side back in front.

Down the other end, Richie Hogan gets is first score to level things up again.

Tipperary 1-17 - Kilkenny 2-14: 62 mins - Wides starting to mount for Tipperary now and it’s 7-10 in that department.

Collision between two Tipperary players has left John O’Dwyer on the ground but he looks like he’s okay to continue.

Tipperary 1-18 - Kilkenny 2-14: 65 mins - Stupid mistakes from the Kilkenny backline gifted Callanan the easiest of frees (his sixth) and the home side are one ahead again.

Tipperary 1-18 - Kilkenny 2-15: 66 mins - Hogan makes it level again. End to end stuff with four minutes to go.

Kilkenny 2-16 - Tipperary 1-18: 67 mins - Wonderful score from Michael Fennelly, his first of the game, and Kikenny’s best.

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-18: 68 mins -TJ Reid misses a tough chance for Kilkenny from play but Fennelly makes it two points on the spin.

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-18: 69 mins - Three minutes of injury time to come.

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-19: 71 mins - Shane Bourke narrows the gap to one point. Still time for Tipp.

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-19: 72 mins - Noel McGrath attempts to score from the sideline cut but Kilkenny defend their lines. Jackie Tyrrell partially clears and Tipp have a free in the middle of the park.

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-20: 73 mins - John O’Dwyer had the chance to send this to extra time but he misses the free.

Kieran Bergin scores on the rebound though and we’re going to extras in Thurles.

FULL-TIME

Kilkenny 2-17 - Tipperary 1-19: Well that was exciting. It looked like Tipp had missed their chance to take it to extra time but Kieran Bergin held his nerve.

TJ Reid scores his second penalty. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Right, we’ve re-hydrated here and are nearly set for two ten-minute periods of extra time.

In other news, after 70 minutes of hurling, Henry Shefflin is currently scoreless.

TJ Reid taking all of Kilkenny’s frees has an impact on that but credit to Cathal Barrett for the job he’s done on Shefflin.

Tipperary 1-21 – Kilkenny 2-17: ET 1 min -Noel McGrath has the first score of extra time, and Tipperary take the early advantage.

Tipperary 1-21 - Kilkenny 2-17: ET 3 min - Kilkenny hit their 12th wide of the game as Shefflin leaves the field.

Tipperary 1-21 - Kilkenny 2-18: ET 6 min - More than halfway through the first period and we’ve had just the second score, Richie Hogan making it level.

Séamus Callanan is back on the field for Tipperary.

Kilkenny 2-19 - Tipperary 1-21: ET 7 min - Richie Hogan takes advantage of a giveaway from Tipperary and Kilkenny have their first lead of extra time.

Kilkenny 2-20 - Tipperary 1-22: ET 9 mins - Séamus Callanan has his first score from play and maybe that rest did him the world of good?

Down the other end though, TJ Reid has yet another score.

HALF-TIME IN ET

Kilkenny 2-21 - Tipperary 1-23: ET 10 mins - Richie Power has his second of the game to put Kilkenny two ahead but Noel McGrath grabs his fourth of the game to keep Tipp just one behind at the break.

Kilkenny 2-22 - Tipperary 1-23: ET 10 mins - TJ Reid with another free, another score and Kilkenny lead by two again.

Kilkenny 2-22 - Tipperary 1-24: ET 12 mins - Noel McGrath with a great score from the sidelines and there’s one between the sides again.

Kilkenny 2-22 - Tipperary 1-25: ET 13 mins - Tipperary take advantage of more mistakes in the Kilkenny back line and Callanan points a 65 to tie things up again.

Tipperary 1-26 - Kilkenny 2-22: ET 14 mins - Six minutes to go and Tipp retake the lead. Lester Ryan fouls Bonnar Maher and Callanan does the necessary with the place ball.

Tipperary 1-26 - Kilkenny 2-23: ET 15 mins - Padraig Walsh with a magnificent score to make it level again.

Kilkenny 2-24 - Tipperary 1-27: ET 19 mins - Kilkenny take the lead again with an long-range free.

Tipp level again though with a much easier chance.

Kilkenny 2-24 - Tipperary 1-27: ET 19 mins - We’re pretty much in next score wins territory here now.

Kilkenny 2-25 - Tipperary 1-27: ET 20 mins - A brilliant move from the sideline ball gives the Cats a late lead.

FULL-TIME

Kilkenny 2-25 - Tipperary 1-27: ET 20 mins -And it’s all over.

What a move from Kilkenny to win the game. TJ Reid with the quick-thinking from the sideline cut and the Cats win by the odd score in 55 after nearly 100 minutes of hurling.

And that’s it from us. Thanks, as always, for joining us. Hopefully you enjoyed the game as much as we did.

Kilkenny have won their third Allianz National Hurling League on the spin and are now 7-1 over Tipperary since 2009.