Ordinarily, yes. But there's nothing ordinary about Joe Canning, as TG4 viewers who witnessed his 2-4 in less than 40 minutes against Kilkenny in the All Ireland under-21 semi-final in Tullamore a fortnight ago won't need to be told. Canning is playing against younger and lighter players today. By the same token, he's playing with younger and lighter players.

Don't expect him to do everything by himself.

The treble-chasing champions rode their luck against both Antrim and Cork, and although James Scahill is an enormously promising goalie and Mark McMahon an impressive full-back, the overall balance of the team is open to question. Then again, not even Galway can be expected to produce a cracking minor team every year.

Having lost their way when Cork came at them in the Munster final, Tipp learned from harsh experience and fought back heroically in the closing stages of the All Ireland semi-final, overhauling Kilkenny's four-point lead point by point to record a richly merited victory. The 0-19 to 3-9 scoreline says everything about which was the better team.

Pa Bourke has hit 2-28 during the campaign, half of his points from frees, and fourthyear panellist Joey McLoughney 1-14, the bulk of it from placed balls. Keep an eye out too for the midfielder Brendan Maher, named last Christmas on the Sunday Tribune's All Star team of 2010.

Thomas Stapleton, meanwhile, looks everything you'd want in a minor centre-back.

Canning or no Canning, the contents of the book of evidence direct us away from Galway.

They hit seven points against Antrim and 12 against Cork; Tipp hit 23 against Limerick, 15 against Cork and 19 against Kilkenny. Barring an absolute tour de force from the Portumna youth, a prospect you'd be clinically insane to rule out, the sums suggest the challengers.

Verdict Tipperary GALWAY J Scahill; J Ryan, M McMahon, A Moylan; D Burke, K Keane, S Quinn; E Forde, G Lally; A Harte, M Corcoran, L Tully; S Coen, J Canning, G Hennelly TIPPERARY J Ryan; M Cahill, P Maher, B Maher; E Hogan, T Stapleton, J O'Keeffe; J McLoughlin, G Ryan; S Hennessy, T McGrath, N Bergin; P Bourke, T Dunne, T Dalton ALL IRELAND MHC FINAL GALWAY v TIPPERARY Croke Park, 1.30 Referee D Connolly (Kilkenny) Live, RTE 2, 12.30