Kilkenny cats are sharpening their claws this week as they prepare to take on Tipp once again at a much anticipated All-Ireland clash at Croker.
And the hurling heroes have the heaving support of the Kilkenny public behind them with the black and amber strung across every street and every home in the city and county.
The word on the ground is that 'the cats will do it'! And thousands of Kilkenny supporters are currently doing everything in their power to get their paws on tickets for the big game, however, as is the case on an annual basis, Kilkenny fans feel the ticket allocation is unfair.
"I'd love to bring my young lad to the match this weekend but sure, they are like gold dust," said one disappointed fan.
“There isn't a ticket to be got in the county, I wouldn't mind but I thought that because they were so expensive this year, that they might be more readily available but this does not appear to be the case,” he added.
But this is not deterring the atmosphere on the ground in the animated Marble City.
Although the cats know that they have a tough game ahead of them on All-Ireland Sunday, few believe that Brian Cody and his band of merry men will not make the cut.
“Kilkenny will do it," said another supporter. “I know we missed out last year but we have learned from our mistakes and I think this year will show up a very different result.”
Historically, Tipp had won six All Ireland Senior Hurling finals before Kilkenny won their first in 1904 and it took Kilkenny until 1982 to catch up when the Cats joined Tipp on 22 titles apiece.
Since then, however, Kilkenny have won 10 finals to Tipp's three and the totals now stand at Kilkenny 32, Tipp 25.
And the fans are standing strong against any notion that Tipp might ‘do it again’.
Myles Kavanagh is a well known face around town - best known for his Elvis impersonations — he is equally well known for his Graceland home which turns into a hurling Mecca at this time of year.
This year his front garden boasts a life-size Henry Shefflin and a fitting black and amber throne for the hurling star. The walls, are donning the black and amber as are the roof and the windows and even the chimney. There are dozens of Kilkenny hurlers lurking around the garden and Myles and his wife Mary, are extremely proud of their shrine to both the hurlers and Elvis.
And Myles’ home in the Butts in Kilkenny city, is not the only house done up to the nines. The entire Butts community has bunting, banners and flags strung from house to house and the people of this area are very proud of their efforts which are renowned across the county for their staunch support of the Kilkenny hurlers.
But Ossory Park on the opposite side of the city is this year providing stiff competition to it’s Butts contemporaries. Flags and bunting literally cover the houses of this newly refurbished council-owned estate and the residents are very proud of their new homes which are now decked out from roof to floor in the black and amber.
But does the big man Brian Cody and his troops feel the pressure from his fans. During an interview this week, Cody said, “I always hear about the ‘phenomenal pressure’ on inter-county hurlers; that they have this savage commitment. I could never buy into it.
“There are players who would love to get into that dressing room, prepared to do whatever it takes.
“Some are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play at the highest level. That is not tough – that is a pleasure, they’re living their dreams.
“And the same goes for the manager. Nobody is going round with a gun to my head, or any manager saying ‘you have to do this job. ‘Job’? You get paid for a job; this is not a job. I don’t see it as a sacrifice, or as pressure.”
So no pressure according to the emphatic Mr Cody.
