Eamonn Cregan Hurling analyst The six-week break since the Leinster final didn't seem to have an effect on Kilkenny. Andy Comerford played well and Peter Barry played very well - he's very slight but won a lot of possession and John Carroll eventually had to be moved.

Tipperary didn't play with the fluency of last year and struggled to get ahead, as Kilkenny seemed to hit back every time they got back on level terms.

Eamonn Corcoran shaded it over Henry Shefflin but Shefflin still got the scores. Overall, though, it was the strength of the panel which told, with Charlie Carter coming on and scoring and Martin Coogan getting 1-1 with his first two touches.

It vindicated Brian Cody's decision to introduce new players during the National League because he now has great options on the bench.

I think the experience of losing last year's semi-final stood them in good stead.

In the last 10 minutes it was still open but Kilkenny took over and the will to win that Tipp had last year wasn't there.

It's hard to win an All-Ireland for a second year and Tipperary have struggled for most of this season.

I thought the first half was scrappy. What I saw was a lot of players going for the ball, not getting it at the first and often the second attempt. They seemed to be showing each other too much respect and the game lacked fluidity.

But early on Tipperary's half backs began to dominate and pick out their men but while Eoin Kelly got plenty of ball, Eugene O'Neill wasn't always able to get away from Noel Hickey.

Behind them it was only the performance on Carroll by Barry that held Kilkenny's half backs together. Carroll wasn't allowed to play the game he normally plays.

There were some good scores in the first half but Kilkenny weren't able to open up as much as they did in the second half. They were running the ball, drawing the man and handpassing into space and not scoring from play that easily.

Just before the break Comerford came into it more and dragged Kilkenny back into it so that although Tipp had had the better of the play, the teams were level.

It had been close and tense but the action was very stop-start. But after half-time it was a different Kilkenny team.

Within a minute they had two points and began to get confidence and score more easily. DJ Carey, who had been held scoreless from play in the first half, started to make more runs, leaving Costello for dead, and the scores followed.

Tipperary's centrefield died for 20 minutes and there was nothing going into Mark O'Leary and Kelly and they began to panic. Corner forward is a difficult place to play because you depend on the supply of ball.

Kilkenny slowed everything down and their backs dictated play. Look at how many times the Tipperary defenders or centrefielders had to kick the ball when coming out. You won't kick it further than 40 yards and that's no use to Eoin Kelly.

But the game improved immensely with 54 minutes gone and both sides began to find their rhythm running onto ball and moving it quickly. Up until then a lot of scores had been coming off dropped ball as players pressurised each other coming out from the back in possession.

Kilkenny, in particular, were able when blocked to turn and lay off the ball for supporting players.

Finally, Aodán MacSuibhne's refereeing was mostly trouble-free. Players have to realise that there are a number of things you can't do: the frontal charge and the arm around the neck. No matter how hard you protest you're not going to change those decisions.

Which is right because you've had examples of a game being let flow while fellas are getting hit and walloped.

I'd disagree with one decision. Corcoran was pushed out over the endline and a 65 was given, when he should have been given a free out.

On the basis of the second half Kilkenny will be going into the final as hot favourites. They blooded new players and won a National League. Tipperary won a League last year and added the All-Ireland.

Kilkenny can do the same.

In an interview with Seán Moran