All-Ireland hurling final 2023: Your guide to today's showpiece decider

Kilkenny and the four-in-a-row chasing Limerick go head to head in this afternoon's All-Ireland Hurling Final at GAA HQ.

Limerick are bidding to become only the third team to win the All-Ireland four-in-a-row and are also pursuing a fifth title in six years. It’s a repeat of last year’s final which Limerick won by 1-31 to 2-26 and also a repeat of this year’s Allianz League final which Limerick also won (2-20 to 0-15).

Kilkenny, who last won the All-Ireland title in 2015, are bidding for their 37th crown; Limerick are pursuing their 12th.

When and where is the game?

Today, with throw-in at 3.30pm sharp at Croke Park, Dublin.

Where can I watch it?

There will be live TV coverage on RTÉ2 and BBC2 NI, while the game can also be streamed live on the RTÉ Player.

What's the team news?

Both sides have name unchanged teams from their respective semi-final victories. There were doubts around the fitness of Kilkenny's David Blanchfield during the week following an injury against Clare in the semi-final, but the Bennettsbridge man is named to start at wing-back. A notable absentee is injured Limerick captain Declan Hannon who hasn't recovered to make the 26-man panel.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Conor Fogarty, Adrian Mullen; Tom Phelan, Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody (capt). Subs: Darren Brennan, Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Padraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran, Alan Murphy, Cian Kenny, Timmy Clifford, Walter Walsh, Richie Hogan, Billy Drennan.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid, Mike Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O'Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Darragh O'Donovan, Cian Lynch; Gearóid Hegarty, David Reidy, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey. Subs: David McCarthy, Conor Boylan, Ronan Connolly, Aaron Costello, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Graeme Mulcahy, Barry Murphy, Aidan O'Connor, Cathal O'Neill, Oisin O'Reilly.

Who's the ref?

Wicklow's John Keenan has been chosen to referee the 2023 All-Ireland senior hurling final. It will be the first time that the Aughrim native will take charge of an All-Ireland final.

Keenan has been refereeing at the top level since 2014 was the man in the middle for the Munster Championship ties between Tipperary and Clare, as well as well as Waterford and Clare in this year's Munster round robin series. He also had the whistle in his hand for the All-Ireland quarter-final between Galway and Tipperary.

Galway's Liam Gordon and Wexford's James Owens have been confirmed as linesmen for the All-Ireland. Gordon is also down as the standby referee.

What are the odds?

According to the bookmakers, the current three-in-a-row champions Limerick are favourites coming into the game with a price of 2/5, last year's defeated finalists Kilkenny are 11/4, and a draw is priced at 9/1. 

Paths to the final

LIMERICK 

• Limerick 1-18 Waterford 0-19 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

• Clare 1-24 Limerick 2-20 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

• Limerick 0-25Tipperary 0-25 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

• Limerick 3-25 Cork 1-30 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

• Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-22 (Munster final) 

• Limerick 2-24 Galway 1-18 (All-Ireland semi-final) 

KILKENNY

• Kilkenny 0-29 Westmeath 0-7 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

• Kilkenny 0-28 Galway 1-25 (Leinster ‘round robin’)

• Kilkenny 5-31 Antrim 3-20(Leinster ‘round robin’)

• Kilkenny 0-27 Dublin 0-21(Leinster ‘round robin’)

• Wexford 4-23 Kilkenny 5-18(Leinster ‘round robin’)

• Kilkenny 4-21 Galway 2-26 (Leinster final)

• Kilkenny 1-25 Clare 1-22 (All-Ireland semi-final)