Today's final brings together the counties who have done so much to fashion hurling's popularity surge in the 1990s. Aside from that similar background, there is little else in common. St Joseph's have had a far more gruelling passage covering the Clare championship, which has produced the last four Munster champions, and a hard provincial campaign culminating in what was incomparably the harder of the two All-Ireland semi-finals.

Rathnure made heavy work of Wexford and emerged on a succession of narrow margins. The club believes it has improved a great deal since arriving at the provincial phase of the championships, but in truth there were few enough reliable tests along the way.

Many believe the victory over Offaly champions Seir Kieran was the high point of the campaign as the limited challenge of Portlaoise was unable to take advantage of even heavy, equalising conditions and an early goal.

Rathnure were frustrated at the length of their lay-off from December to February (although it was only a couple of weeks longer than St Joseph's) and their semi-final was fairly un-taxing against a game but outclassed Ballygalget. What can be said about the Wexford champions is that they are an improved side with a fairly extreme blend of youth and experience stretching from members of the recent successful under-21s to 41-year-old John Conran at full back.

Paul Codd took the headlines in the semi-final but will have to sustain a higher level of effort against a defence which conceded only one goal since leaving Clare.

St Joseph's face an anxious time of it today. Two of the mainstays of their semi-final effort, goalkeeper Christy O'Connor whose save clinched the semi-final and centre-fielder Ollie Baker, are struggling with injuries. Baker's is well-known as he broke a finger in the Athenry match which has prevented him from playing since. The plaster came off at the weekend but he is still bandaged and will struggle to regain his grip at such short notice.

There is little chance of his not playing, but the level of his effectiveness will be the crucial consideration. O'Connor has pulled a tendon behind his knee and may be initially tentative this afternoon.

Club matches generally produce unsung heroes - sometimes irrespective of whether they merit it - but this year's championships have been notable for the contribution of established stars. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the St Joseph's line-out, replete with three current All Stars.

Baker's importance at centre-field has been well complemented by Joe Considine, but at the back Sean McMahon brings his massive authority to bear at all critical moments whereas in attack Jamesie O'Connor remains the cutting edge with an average of over six points a match from a tough campaign.

This is an open match but St Joseph's have so far done more to impress and deserve to be favourites.

Paths To The Final

Leinster - first round: Rathnure 1-12, Craobh Ciaran (Dublin) 0-7; semi-final - Rathnure 3-11, Seir Kieran (Offaly) 2-8; final - Rathnure 1-13, Portlaoise (Laois) 1-6.

Munster - semi-final: St Joseph's Doora- Barefield 1-13, Mount Sion (Waterford) 0-7; final: St Joseph's Doora-Barefield 0-12, Toomevara (Tipperary) 0-8

All-Ireland - semi-finals: St Joseph's Doora-Barefield 1-13, Athenry (Galway) 1-12; Rathnure 2-19, Ballygalget (Down) 1-8.