Web proves key to build-up in neighbours' battle of nerves

PLENTY OF mischief and devilment has been going on between supporters of Kilkenny and Tipperary in the build-up to tomorrow’s 16th meeting between the sides in the All-Ireland hurling final – as you would imagine for such a rivalry across a county boundary.

Much of this has been played out online, from the search for a golden ticket to the compulsory All-Ireland final song contest.

The game is officially an 82,000-ticket sell-out, with eBay offering Premium Level tickets for sale at auction prices ranging from €300 up to €800 as of last night. Two regular stand tickets were on offer for €400.

It’s a long way from the first meeting between the sides in 1895, when 8,000 turned up at Jones’s Road (the first time the final was held there) to see Tipp club side Tubberadora win 6-8 to 1-10 over Kilkenny’s Tullaroan.

Defending champions Tipperary look to have the upper hand when it comes to the musical face-off between the two counties.

That’s thanks to a veteran of the All-Ireland final genre, Johnny B, who makes a return with his Boogie Men after their Premier Rap proved a YouTube sensation ahead of last year’s victory in Croke Park.

Johnny seems to be working off an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra again this year with The Premier Return, which is a little more rocking than last year's effort but still manages to name-check every player, club and townland in the county.

With lines such as, “The big No 6 Conor O’Mahoney/The hurley he got the priest to bless it/The way that he pulls he should be arrested” built around a chorus refrain of, “Tide is turning/Now you’re learning/This is Tipperary hurling”, it was closing in on 25,000 views on YouTube last night.

Just 16 “dislikes” for the item are noted, an intriguing number. Could it be Kilkenny boss Brian Cody and his starting team?

The Cats have gone down a more techno route, with Kilkenny Rock's Everyday I'm Shefflin. Leaning heavily on Depeche Mode's I Just Can't Get Enough(with 32 All-Ireland titles, and counting), it also samples plenty of other tracks, although King Henry may not be too chuffed with the Hammer Timesample after his run of injury woes.

Local radio stations have also been ramping up the rivalry, with Tipp FM advertising a Cat App on their homepage, although downloading it is another tale altogether.

KCLR haven’t jumped at the bait, although their All-Ireland coverage includes extensive live reports from the Kilkenny homecoming on Monday from 5pm in the Market Yard.

Cody and the players will be there but there’s no mention of Liam Mac Carthy.

Not yet anyway.