Paul Murphy: “The Munster champions are hot favourites, particularly after beating Limerick in the Munster final.

“Cork have been very impressive at various stages of the year, bar a few blips on the radar, including Limerick beating them in the round robin stage.

“Tipperary have improved a lot better than many people would have expected, having failed to get out of Munster over the past couple of years. They really have been the big success story of this year.

“When the sides met in the round robin stage Darragh McCarthy getting sent-off just at throw-in leaves us not knowing how these sides might size each other up as they played the entire game with 14 men.

“That adds a bit more intrigue to the game. You can’t take much from that day because Cork totally overwhelmed Tipperary.

“Tipp come in as underdogs but they were very impressive in their semi-final [a 4-20 to 0-30 win over Kilkenny]. They’ll realise they are just 70 minutes from winning an All-Ireland final. Anything can happen on the day.

“A lot of the talk around them surrounds Patrick Horgan. Having not won an All-Ireland medal during his career, this could be his last chance.

“After losing the All-Ireland final last year the way they did, after extra-time. I’m sure they’ll be eager to put in a strong 70-minute performance.

Seamus Flanagan: “Tipp v Cork in an All-Ireland hurling final is a novel pairing and not many people would have seen Tipperary getting to this stage but they are full value for their place in the final.

“Cork come into with a resounding semi-final win over Dublin [7-26 to 2-21] – seven goals speaks for itself while Tipperary came through a tougher test against Kilkenny and that should stand to them coming into an All-Ireland final.

“It’s an exciting game. I think if Tipp can hold Cork to one or two goals in the game they will be there or thereabouts coming down the home straight but if Cork get that eye for goal early on, who knows what could happen? It could just open up.