A huge crowd is expected to flock to Semple Stadium for this eagerly-awaited clash, which will be preceded at 5pm by the meeting of Kildare and Roscommon in the All-Ireland U21HC 'B' final.

Kilkenny enter the decider as slight favourites, but Clare have some outstanding players and won't be lacking in motivation after losing the 2010 All-Ireland minor final to the Cats in heartbreaking circumstances. They will see this as their big opportunity to avenge that defeat.

This is a repeat of the dramatic 2009 final which Clare won on a 0-15 to 0-14 scoreline at Croke Park. Whereas that was the Banner's only All-Ireland U21 success to date, Kilkenny have won the title 11 times (their last success was in 2008). If they win on Saturday, they will move ahead of Cork at the top of the roll of honour.

Jointly-managed by Donal Moloney and Gerry O'Connor, Clare have been very impressive in reaching this juncture. They hammered Waterford - who were Munster minor champions three years ago - by 2-22 to 0-9 before going on to deny Tipperary a clean sweep of Munster hurling titles in a superb provincial decider at Cusack Park. Substitute Niall Arthur's injury-time goal handed the Banner a 1-16 to 1-14 victory and only their second ever provincial title in the grade.

Clare will have learned little from their 28-point All-Ireland semi-final rout of Antrim. Early goals from Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath helped them to an unassailable 2-14 to 0-3 half-time lead, and further majors from McGrath and Arthur in the second half put the seal on a facile 4-24 to 0-8 victory.

The Clare team has plenty of senior experience, with the likes of Seadna Morey, Colm Galvin, Tony Kelly, Aaron Cunningham, Conor McGrath, Patrick O'Connor and Padraic Collins all established members of Davy Fitzgerald's squad.

For their part, Kilkenny have been equally impressive in their three outings to date against Wexford, Laois and Galway. They walloped Wexford by 3-20 to 4-6 before registering an even bigger victory over surprise packets Laois (4-24 to 1-13) in the Leinster final.

The Cats found themselves in the unfamiliar role of underdogs against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. The reigning All-Ireland champions were able to call on 17 members of the senior squad that drew last Sunday's All-Ireland final with Kilkenny, but Richie Mulrooney's charges refused to be overawed and had built up a 3-9 to 0-11 lead by the interval thanks to goals from Ger Aylward, John Power and Ollie Walsh.

When Power - a younger brother of senior star Richie - blasted home a fourth goal from a penalty early in the second half, the Leinster champions looked to be home and hosed, but they allowed Galway to come within three points of them before late scores from Padraig Walsh, Power, Aylward and Walter Walsh secured a 4-16 to 2-15 win.

Kilkenny don't have as much senior experience as Clare, but it's only a matter of time before Cillian Buckley, Richie Doyle, Willie Phelan and Walter Walsh - who were unused substitutes in last Sunday's drawn Liam MacCarthy Cup decider - are joined in Brian Cody's squad by other players from this team. This is Richie Mulrooney's first year in charge of the U21s, and having enjoyed great success with the minors, you wouldn't bet against him repeating the trick at this level.

Any team that comes out of Munster has to be respected and many of these Clare players have waited two years for the chance to get another crack at the Cats. It wouldn't be a surprise if they won, but they could have done with a tougher semi-final test and that may yet count against them.

Kilkenny's greater firepower should give them the edge, while giving their seniors a timely boost ahead of their replay against Galway in a fortnight's time.

Verdict:Kilkenny

Kilkenny - Dylan Walsh; Jason Corcoran, Willie Phelan, Brian Kennedy; Luke Harney, Richie Doyle, Joe Lyng; Geoff Brennan, Ollie Walsh; Kevin Kelly (captain), Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley; Walter Walsh, John Power, Ger Aylward.

Clare - Ronan Taaffe; Paul Flanagan, David McInerney, Killian Ryan; Seadna Morey, Conor Ryan, Patrick O'Connor; Colm Galvin, Shane Golden; Aaron Cunningham, Padraic Collins, Tony Kelly; Cathal O'Connell, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney.

Odds: Kilkenny 8/11, Draw 10/1, Clare 5/4

Match Details: Semple Stadium, Thurles, Saturday 15 September,7pm Tweet

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