The Ciotóg Side: Who would be favourite in a Cork-Kilkenny All-Ireland final? Arriving unheralded is a kiss of breath. This time around, it was the Noresiders who pounced from the long grass, metaphorical sense and literal sense alike.

The season began with too much water in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise for the Leinster quarter-finals. It concluded with excess grass in Croke Park. The pitch's condition probably did no harm to the contenders, in that the sliotar held up on the surface. You could say the disjointed play, throw-in after throw-in, did not suit the champions' running game.

The pitch factor, in reality, was only a detail. These contenders were equally long on crackling determination. On the day, Noreside had Leeside's number. The contest's governing dynamic will forever be glossed by the photograph of three men in stripes swarming around Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, as the sliotar is brusquely recovered.

The truth is Kilkenny did not always use such possession to best effect. Quite a few balls, despatched from lár na páirce, became a handy enough fetch for Diarmuid O'Sullivan or Dónal Óg Cusack.

The higher point was that Black and Amber kept denying Blood and Bandage sustained possession in the sector - that stubby triangle between midfield and half-back - from which the latter launch their most dangerous attacks.

On the day, the Leinster men could afford to be imprecise with some deliveries because their endeavours were so consistent in said triangle.

The scéal with Rebel puckouts was well covered in Monday's papers. Suffice to say the key realization dawned on Brian Cody and colleagues: wing-backs must not track decoy runners because Cusack then lasers the sliotar into a pocket filled by Niall McCarthy. Foundations and platforms were successively found on the basis of that squeeze.

Thoughts always turn quickly to next year, if only as a stay against present pain and disappointment. John Gardiner raised a few hackles by predicting more of the same in a post-match interview. For the Na Piarsaigh man, Cork and Kilkenny will continue to dominate.

Sport never knows. Alright, Kilkenny emphatically dismissed 2004's reverse last Sunday having been offered little chance of doing so by most pundits. That said, it will not be simple for the Rebels to get back on the podium.

Structurally, their most pressing need is an alternative full forward. Brian Corcoran will depart, one of the code's masters, sooner rather than later and this time for good.

The obvious man for the slot, (Setanta Ó hAilpín) who really would give Leeside an extra dimension, is playing footie in Oz. James Bowles, once a possibility, looked far more plausible two years ago.

Paudie O'Sullivan, The Rock's younger brother, is the name tyro in Cork. But he was used as a wing back with this summer's under-performing minors.

Rebels will be hoping this underage vintage will be like the Kilkenny one that surprisingly failed to Clare in 1997, but still yielded no less than Noel Hickey, Michael Kavanagh and Henry Shefflin as seniors within three years.

Gardiner's insouciance about the next few seasons' contour will certainly be contested in Tipperary. Not long ago, Premier hurling was being all but knelled for the foreseeable future. This bell now sounds premature.

With an under-16 All-Ireland title secured before last Sunday's marvellous under-18 display, it is already a decent year for Blue and Gold. Under-21 success next Sunday would sprinkle a little sparkle.

Will it happen? Kilkenny, on paper, are the better side. Hesitation arises because Kilkenny, on paper, were far better than Galway before last season's decider at this grade. That script got badly smudged.

Still, the grass is a lawn around Noreside's under-21s, with the Premier crew buried in pampas. It is a vantage point, remembering 1995, the latter will relish.

All in all, though, memories of last September's reverse should concentrate Marble minds and see them home. Eight of 2005's starting XV are available (and 18, overall, of the extended panel).

A crucial decision for manager Adrian Finan will be how he utilises John Tennyson in the enforced absence of this season's regular full back Donnacha Cody. Does Tennyson move to number three, especially since his clubmate John Dalton performed so well in the semi-final against Galway?

Tipperary centre forward Niall Teehan is a workhorse rather than a thoroughbred, someone who hews wood to enable more stylish players, such as Richie Ruth at top of the right, to carve openings.

It may be Dalton's understated excellence is better deployed on Blue and Gold's best hurler in this line, Ryan O'Dwyer. The Cashel man, no slacker, can score as well as graft.

Seán Cummins might be the best opponent for Teehan, with Tennyson making up a formidable half-line at wing back, where he should have too much for David Sheppard. Ballyhale Shamrocks' Éamonn Walsh could deputise on the square's edge.

Watch out, in any case, for Inistioge's Kieran Joyce and Borris-Ileigh's Paddy Stapleton at corner back.

They should be men that have an impact at senior level over the next years, whatever the truth of John Gardiner's soothsaying.

Tipperary definitely look to have a right prospect at corner forward in Pa Bourke. Do not rule out his Kilkenny equivalent, Richie Hogan, having a cameo role in this decider.