"Skin 'Em Alive Lads" reads one of the messages of support in the garden of "hurling-mad" grandmother Mary Kavanagh. Her husband, Myles, an Elvis impersonator, was away yesterday fulfilling an engagement in "enemy territory" in Co Cork.
Posters on the railings outside the Church of St John the Evangelist carry the more restrained slogan of "Come on the Cats". Thousands of black and amber flags hang from civic offices, shops, pubs, houses, cars and construction cranes across Kilkenny city and county.
Many streets are strung with carnival-style bunting. Even traffic roundabouts have been decorated in the county colours. Shop windows and roadsides display "Good Luck" signs and the High Street is hung with pictures of the county hurlers.
The Kilkenny Voice newspaper devotes no less than 25 pages to a preview of the big game, featuring star columnists DJ Carey ("I am confident that the Cats will have Liam in their paws") and Eddie Keher ("We are the underdogs - which suits us just fine!").
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is expected to name the team tonight after a final training session. The sessions at Nowlan Park stadium are open to the public and attract large and enthusiastic crowds. A mobile shop run by supporters is doing a brisk trade in replica jerseys and CDs of tribute songs.
Local band Uisce Beatha's stirring ballad, the optimistically titled Welcome, Liam McCarthy ("The Cats are fierce and fighting men .... Hear the people shout: Kilkenny!"), is receiving extensive airplay.
Despite the increased seating capacity at Croke Park, tickets are scarce. The county's official allocation of 8,500 was distributed through the network of GAA clubs and allocated, often via lottery, to members.
Liam Griffin interview: BusinessThisWeek