This afternoon's match between Down and Tipperary in Clones, located with eerie precision at the epicentre of hurling's direst blackspot, doesn't look any different to all those other matches between Ulster champions and quality opposition - except that it will be played out at the quarter-final rather than the semi-final stage.

Down's achievement in winning the Ulster title was remarkable. This is a team which spent the recent National League in Division Three, losing to Wicklow (beaten in the intermediate championship by Kilkenny's juniors) and Carlow (ditto).

They nearly didn't make the Ulster final after Derry rallied in the semi-final, but an early goal against Antrim set them on their way. It is largely a young and inexperienced team driven by established performers such as Noel Sands and Martin Mallon.

Of all the units which impressed in Casement Park, the full back line of Barry Smith, Stephen Murray and Barry Milligan was exceptional. This may be relevant as Tipperary's most experimental line is their full forward line.

At full forward, prolific under-21 Eugene O'Neill makes his senior championship debut. It's an odd time to spring him, given that his form surely merited an earlier appearance as a substitute, but the match will be a low-pressure environment for him to find his feet.

In the corner, Brian O'Meara appears to have benefited disproportionately from the couple of points against Dublin in the League and retains his place, although he doesn't look to have found a late vocation for the position.

Noel Sands was credited with turning the Ulster final in Down's favour when moving out to centrefield and his scoring from both play and frees was equally influential. Former All Star Gerard McGrattan also showed encouraging signs of recovering the form that first brought him to national attention.

Tipperary will be most interested in how their middle lines perform. Two half forwards, both centrefielders and both wing backs are different from the Munster final. It will also be instructive to see if the less-than successful attempt to move a forward to the middle, as tried with John Leahy, works any better with another wing forward, Tommy Dunne.

It is hoped that Down give a good account of themselves, but Tipperary's history in this sort of situation wouldn't leave you optimistic.

Tipperary: B Cummins; P Shelly, N Sheehy, M Ryan; L Sheedy, Colm Bonnar, Conal Bonnar; T Dunne, C Gleeson (capt); K Tucker, L McGrath, J Leahy; L Cahill, E O'Neill, B O'Meara. Subs: J Cottrell, B Carroll, A Butler, G Frend, B Gaynor, J Carroll, A Ryan, R Ryan, M Cleary.

Down: G Clarke; B Smith, S Murray, B Milligan; M Mallon (capt), M Braniff, M Coulter snr; G Savage, P Coulter; M Coulter jnr, M Bailie, G McGrattan; N Sands, J McRickard, B Coulter. Subs: G Smith, B Braniff, K Coulter, G Adair, J Trainor, J McGrattan, B Birt, J Brown, P Monan, C McGrattan, M Blaney.