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I reckon the meeting of the Gaa's oldest rivals deserve a thread of its own(with the right heading

Until the teams are named its difficult to analyse this in any depth but a few quick points to get it started..

This is the fittest,most focused,happiest Tipp panel since 02,the hungriest since 01,whatever else we lack we wont lack passion on Sunday.

Training has been a joy to watch,no two sessions the same,when a team has been training since November variation is important,O'Sheas drills are very innovative.

Tipp still dont have a half forward line,what we do have is a plan B,having a plan B(and a keeper willing to embrace it) on puckouts won Cork two All-Irelands in recent years.

Stress fractures started to appear in the Cork backline last year,have they healed a year on ?

If Cork are to stop the cats winning three in a row they need at least two of Naughton,Cronin,Ronan and O'Sullivan junior to step up to the plate this year to take some of the scoring burden off of the O'Connors and Deane.

The blood is rising already and its only Tuesday.

Well lads what do ye reckon ?

Babs has caused a lot of consternation around these parts by picking the same side that was due to start last Sunday leaving a fit boy wonder(and he is fit,i took a wander in to training on tuesday night and both Kellys,Fitzy,McGrath and Woodlock played a full part) kicking his heels on the bench again,personally i dont have any problem with the selection,it would be harsh on the lads who bust a gut to beat Cork for the first time since 91 to find themselves on the bench the next day out.

Its typical Babs,reputations mean nothing,if you play well then you retain your place,its a huge boon to fringe players to know that if they perform then they will be rewarded,it leads to competition within the squad which can only be a good thing in the long run plus the Championship experience gained by the new lads will be invaluable.

On the flip side have we ever taken to the field in an All-Ireland quarter final before with three All-Stars on the bench ? This epic run of games we've had this year
has provided us with options if nothing else,a lot of counties would kill for a bench containing..Eoin Kelly,Paul Kelly,Shane McGrath,Diarmuid Fitzgerald,Brendan Cummins et al !

Tipp team as follows

M Ryan(Templederry)

B Maher(Borris-Ileigh)
S Murphy(Kilruane McDonaghs)
M Gleeson(Thurles Sarsfields)

J McLoughney(Toomevara)
J B McCarthy(Golden-Kilfeacle)
T Stapelton(Templederry)

J Woodlock(Drom & Inch)
S Lillis(Thurles Sarsfields)

R O'Dwyer(Cashel King Cormacs)
T McGrath(Mujhas)
D Egan(Kildangan-capt)

P Burke(Thurles Sarsfields)
D O'Hanlon(Carrick Swans)
D Hickey(Boherlan-Dualla)

Anyone heading to the Pairc tonight ? Should be a cracker,that looks like a strong Tipp team on paper,lots of senior experience dotted around anyway.

Im not a fan of Jim Bob but he has two good ones alongside him,surely Stapelton should be at 6 though,Brendan Maher must be dizzy,wing forward Sunday,corner back Tuesday !

Tipp team named last night,

G Kennedy

E Buckley
D Fanning
P Curran

E Corcoran
C O'Mahoney
Shane Maher(Burgess)

B Dunne(C)
H Maloney

F Devanney
R O'Dwyer
L Corbett

S Butler
E Kelly
W Ryan

Curran returning in place of Diarmiud Fitz who picked up an injury in the Offaly game,Maloney moving to midfield with Shane Maher making his championship debut replacing him at left half back,Willie Ryan back in the full forward line.

Shane Maher is an interesting selection,I assume Stapelton would have started but for the upcoming u-21 game with Cork as he seems to be ahead of Maher in the pecking order thus far.

Benny and Maloney at centrefield isnt a bad combination at all,they are both too loose for wing back imho,there could well be a centrefield spot up for grabs against Cork as Woodlock was poor against Offaly.

Devanney and O'Dwyer on the same line wont work.

Willie Ryan is an infinitely better option than Liam Cahill.

Tipp should have too much for a game Dublin side.