Ordinarily, keeping it to a six-point defeat would be a job reasonably well done for Tipperary against Kerry. But when they're on the rise? Against a weakened Kerry? Maybe six points doesn't cut it.
There’s no doubt that this is about as manageable a Kerry XV as they’ve faced for a while, with only seven of the starters from last year’s All-Ireland final in the line-up.
Colm Cooper, Mark Griffin and Brendan Kealy make their first starts since the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final while Barry John Keane and Jonathan Lyne make their first ever starts. If there's no such thing as a poor Kerry team, there is such a thing as one made up of Kerry players who have to prove themselves.
A lot of these Tipperary players also have amends to make. The obvious scoring potential of Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney in the full-forward line and the drive from centrefield of the outstanding Colin O’Riordan will ask Kerry questions.
They should have enough about them to be still in this at half-time, but given the resources on the Kerry bench, you have to imagine Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s side will be purring by the end.
Maybe six points wouldn’t be so bad in that context.
Last meeting: May 26th, 2013, Munster SFC quarter-final, Fitzgerald Stadium – Kerry 2-18 Tipperary 0-8.
Match odds: Kerry 1/7, Tipperary 6/1, Draw 9/1.
Injuries: Tipp were sweating a little on Colin O'Riordan's hip but he is available. Kerry are missing Kieran O'Leary (Achilles), Paul Galvin (quad), Paul Murphy and David Moran (both shoulder). James O'Donoghue is on the bench.
Just the ticket: Adult €15; Student/Seniors €10; U16 €5.
Verdict: Kerry.
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Paddy Codd, Ciarán McDonald, Robbie Kiely; Seamus Kennedy, Peter Acheson, Alan Campbell; Steven O'Brien, George Hannigan; Colin O'Riordan, Philip Austin, Ger Mulhaire; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Brian Fox.
KERRY: Brendan Kealy; Marc Ó Sé, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; Anthony Maher, Bryan Sheehan; Mikey Geaney, Colm Cooper, Johnny Buckley; Paul Geaney, Kieran Donaghy, Barry John Keane.
Referee: Ciarán Branagan (Down).
