It's amazing what a week can do in sport.
Most of us thought Kilkenny would seriously have to up their game for the All-Ireland, after their victory over Waterford. However, Tipperary's display last Sunday against a heroic Dublin outfit has rekindled our hopes of a 33rd All-Ireland success.
The big question is – did the pundits overrate the champions, or underrate this current crop of Dublin hurlers? I must admit I still rate the champions as a very classy team, but I did dismiss Dublin's chances too quickly.
Fair play to the Metropolitans for giving it one hell of a shot. Daly's game plan nearly worked to perfection, the sweeper system really made life tough for the Tipperary forwards.
Lar Corbett did have a splendid opening quarter, but once Peter Kelly got to grips with him the scores dried up. The intensity that they brought to Croke Park last Sunday was incredible.
Also, the transformation in the last 12 months is a credit to both the players and the management team. I was at Croke Park last year when Antrim pulled the rug from under their feet, and believe me, they looked a sorry sight as they slipped down the tunnel to the sanctuary of the dressing room.
They'll have mixed emotions after last Sunday’s effort. On reflection, they'll know that the game was there for the winning. I'm sure they'll be thinking of what might have been if they had gone back to a conventional formation earlier in the second half.
It's hard to blame Daly for not changing sooner, as there was only ever a puck or two between the sides. The Dubs of old would more than likely have folded after the start Tipperary had, but as we saw on Sunday, they now possess an inner belief that they are as good as anyone.
They'll have regrets, but they can be proud of their year’s hurling. A Walsh Cup, league title, and a semi-final of the highest quality would probably have been taken with both hands at the start of the year.
Daly has already hinted that he'll be back at the helm next year, and who could blame him with all the talent coming through. Their minors have a great chance of landing a first title since 1965 and their u21s won't be far away either.
This defeat has to hurt, but if it's channelled in the right way, they can be right in the mix again next season. If Daly returns, he won't let them rest on their laurels.
“Seeing the likes of Eoin Kelly being called ashore will have everyone on their toes ahead of September 4”
So, what of Tipperary's performance last Sunday? Did the five-week gap upset them, or was all the hype all too much to handle?
The Dubs, as I said, played superbly – but I feel the Premier men, like Kilkenny, still have quite a bit more in the locker.
The big worry for Kilkenny is that this reality check will work against them ahead of the All-Ireland. Tipp will be favourites, there's no question about that, but not to the same degree as before last Sunday’s game.
The Tipperary manager set down a fair marker by taking off one or two marquee names when the game was still in the balance.
Seeing the likes of Eoin Kelly being called ashore will have everyone on their toes ahead of September 4. The pressure is still on Tipp to deliver their first back-to-back title since 1964/1965.
The sixty million dollar question now is whether Brian Cody will have learnt anything from Dublin's performance, or more importantly, their tactics last Sunday.
I certainly wouldn't have a problem if he were to use Anthony Daly's sweeper system for the opening quarter – maybe he'd see it differently though. The only time I can recollect Kilkenny using such tactics was against Cork in 2006, and how effective they were on that occasion is anyone’s guess.
Maybe that's the route he'll choose again. We all know he likes to send out his troops with instructions to win their own battles.
Tipperary's plan will obviously be the same as it was 12 months ago – plenty of movement upfront. The Cats went man-to-man last year and it didn't work; we simply didn't have the pace to live with them.
Have we got faster in 12 months? Probably not.
Okay, injuries did take their toll. The likelihood this year, however, is that fifteen fit men will be sent to do battle – unlike last September when at least three carried injuries into the game.
Kilkenny mightn't win the All-Ireland in the first fifteen or twenty minutes, but they could certainly lose it if the game plan is not right. Kilkenny fans will back whatever tactics the management team give their troops, but if it's not working, I hope they move quicker than they did last year.
“The build up will be quieter this year, and thank God for that. It turned into a bit of a circus last year”
Tipperary manager Declan Ryan is taking no chances with players getting injured in club games, and it's no surprise after Colin Fennelly's injury that all club games in Tipp have been put on hold until after the final.
It will be a huge blow to Colin and Kilkenny if he is to miss out on hurling's biggest day. He is the one guy that has injected a bit of pace upfront this season.
His scoring return mightn't be as high as you'd like it to be, but he is right up there when it comes to assists. He set up both Eoin Larkin and Richie Hogan for goals in this year’s championship.
Hopefully a few sessions in the cryrotherapy chamber in Wexford will sort it out. At the moment I'm sure he'll feel that his world has caved in, but he'll bounce back as he has youth on his side.
Michael Fennelly, Michael Rice and John Dalton all sat out games at the weekend. I don't think there is anything too serious with any of them, and they should be okay for the big day.
There is less than three weeks to go to the big day. The build up will obviously be quieter this time around, and thank God for that. We all know it turned into a bit of a circus last year.
The Kilkenny fans are among the best in Ireland to turn up for training sessions, however, this year I feel people will give the team more space to get on with the job, and that could work to our advantage.
Kilkenny camogie team
The Kilkenny camogie team came out second-best to a formidable Galway side last Saturday.
Unfortunately, with Young Irelands in action at the same time, I didn't make it to Nowlan Park. Judging by the limited action I saw on the Sunday game, and the reports, this was always a game Kilkenny were chasing.
They battled back well after a disastrous start, but it looked on TV that Galway always had a little bit in hand. They'll just have to regroup again next year and have another crack.
