Venue: Croke Park Throw-in: 4.0, SundayFATE ALWAYS gave this pairing a chance. The inter-linked fortunes of Cork and Kilkenny have been the abiding theme of this decade's hurling championships. Chasing a three-in-a-row for the second time in five years Kilkenny meet the county with the greatest incentive to stop them.
In 2004 Cork played down the significance of their place at the top of the roll of honour being under threat. But once the match was over and the All-Ireland won the same roll of honour became a far more widely aired topic.
Tomorrow gives Cork another opportunity to influence directly their place in hurling's hierarchy and that's an opportunity few would have seen coming two months ago when they limped out of the Munster championship after a home defeat by Tipperary.
That the mood is in any way bullish down by the Lee owes a great deal to the dramatic wins over Galway and Clare and the performances the team dredged out of the collective consciousness.
The state of decline within the Cork team is reflected in the fact the inclusion of Diarmuid O'Sullivan came as something of a shock given his travails on Joe Canning and Niall Gilligan. Gerald McCarthy's reasoning is, however, easy to understand. There is no ready-made replacement and O'Sullivan may be able to locate better form in such a high-pressure environment. O'Sullivan holds his place mainly because the switching of John Gardiner to the edge of the square is very much a Plan B. It will be activated if necessary but not until then.
None of this should obscure the very real reservations about Kilkenny. There is usually a strong link between the county's league and championship fortunes and this spring was only the second time in seven years that they didn't reach the National League final. If there were problems then the Leinster championship hasn't generated reliable evidence they have been addressed. Henry Shefflin's form has looked fitful on his return from injury but this match was always his real target for full engagement.
The running game that spun Kilkenny to defeat in 2004 was countered in 2006 by quick and aggressive cover, cutting out the routes to goal and forcing Cork to use the ball more immediately.
The champions field the same front eight from that final. At the back Noel Hickey returns from injury to start on Joe Deane, which frees JJ Delaney to pick up Ben O'Connor, with John Dalton dropping to the bench. The only other change sees Aidan Fogarty replace PJ Delaney in a sequence of switches that brings Jackie Tyrrell back from centrefield to his All Star position of corner back.
The strongest reason for Kilkenny's favouritism is Cork have done so much in the Galway and Clare matches that even if the tank isn't empty there won't be enough left to cover the ground required. The manner of those victories can't be a template for tomorrow, as falling significantly behind against Kilkenny will result in a hiding rather than a comeback.
CORK: D Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, P Cronin; C Naughton, J Deane, P Horgan.
KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; J Fitzpatrick, D Lyng; E Brennan, M Comerford, E Larkin; R Power, H Shefflin, A Fogarty.
Referee: Michael Wadding (Westmeath).
In the last episode: The leading rivalry in All-Ireland hurling history. The past two meetings have been finals, which like tomorrow have come with either county on the threshold of a three-in-a-row. Cork thwarted Kilkenny in 2004 and Kilkenny returned the favour two years later. This will be the fifth meeting of the counties during Brian Cody's management and the score is balanced at 2-2.
You bet: Kilkenny are 2/5 to win with Cork at 12/5 and the draw at 11/1. On the handicap Cork (+3) are available at 5/4, Tipp (-3) at 4/5.
On your marks: There has been speculation about how the Kilkenny defence dislike being run at but the opportunity to do that effectively is the product of a game where Cork have an edge. More fundamental is the need to win centrefield not just as a launch-pad but to prevent James Fitzpatrick from raking ball into his forwards.
Gaining ground: It's all of 100 years since the counties played senior championship against each other anywhere other than Croke Park. In June 1908 the All-Ireland final for 1907 was played in Dungarvan with Kilkenny winning by what Jack Lynch would later call "the usual point", 3-12 to 4-8.
Just the ticket: Stands €45. Terrace €30. Concessions (accompanied juveniles, students with ID and senior citizens) available for Cusack and Davin Stands.
Crystal gazing: Kilkenny have fewer question marks for reasons that have been obvious this season. That combined with the effort expended by Cork in getting this far leaves the champions justified heavy favourites.
