It was a case of deja-vu at Croke Park this afternoon as for the third year in succession the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final will go to a replay, after an epic encounter.

With 10 minutes remaining in this game Kilkenny held a four-point lead, but Tipperary never gave up, and indeed had a chance to snatch silverware, but a late effort from John O'Dwyer was confirmed as wide by Hawkeye, and ensured the sides will meet again at GAA Headquarters on September 27th.

The teams were level on 11 occasions in this game, including six times during the opening quarter as both sides began this game impressively.

After 17 minutes the sides were tied at 0-6 apiece, but Tipperary kicked on before the break as aided by a 21st Patrick 'Bonnar' Maher goal they took a 1-13 to 1-11 interval lead, with Richie Power bagging the Cats three-pointer.

Power, Reid and Richie Hogan were immense, with the latter scoring six points from play.

Kilkenny took the upper hand on the restart with Reid and Power netting goals, but Tipperary showed great fighting spirit to ensure the sides must meet again.

For many this final pairing is the traditional one, and with both sides having a disappointing 2013, there was nothing doubting the hunger that was firmly in evidence throughout.

In front of 82,179 spectators, at an almost sold-out Croke Park, both counties served up a thrilling encounter, that was edge of the seat stuff throughout.

Time for Henry Shefflin to still earn a tenth All-Ireland Senior medal, and although many questions were raised about the decorated Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman not starting this tie, the line-up picked by Brian Cody certainly showed its merits.

Likewise Eamon O'Shea stook with starting the side he had named midweek, and both sides went hell for leather from the throw-in.

The first talking point came inside the opening minute, the first of three occasions during the game which referee Barry Kelly called upon Hawkeye technology.

A Colin Fennelly effort proved to be over the cross-bar on second viewing to hand Kilkenny their first point, but it wasn't long before O'Dwyer equalised.

Eoin Larkin and O'Dwyer traded points, while again James Woodlock and Larkin swapped scores, and the sides were tied at 0-3 apiece after seven minutes.

The sides traded points on three further occasions by the 17th minute, but Tipperary gained the upper hand, with an unanswered 1-3 inside six minutes, including 'Bonnar' Maher's 21st minute goal.

Maher's strike ensured he was the seventh Tipperary player on the score-sheet, and handed his side a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

There was a chance of a second goal soonafter, but Seamus Callanan had his 23rd minute penalty strike blocked by Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy.

Hawkeye was again called upon, as a Conor Fogarty point was ruled wide, before Tipperary opened up a double-scores lead, after Lar Corbett registered his second point.

The Cats came storming back with points from Colin and Michael Fennelly either side of a Richie Power goal, after Darren Gleeson was caught off his line.

Crucially for Tipperary they managed to maintain the lead, with a Callanan point ensuring the Premier County led by 1-13 to 1-11 at half-time.

Kilkenny couldn't have asked for a better start to the second half, and they got it when TJ Reid brough his tally to 1-5, with a cleverly struck goal 44 seconds after the restart.

Tipperary equalised through Shane McGrath, but neither side managed to get a firm foothold in the second half.

O'Shea's men were goal hungry, but efforts from Corbett and Callanan in the 41st and 43rd minutes failed to pay off.

Power bagged Kilkenny's thrid goal with 22 minutes remaining to hand them a 3-15 to 1-18 lead, but Tipperary never gave up.

Kilkenny extended this gap to four points soon-after, and although this was the margin nine minutes from time, there was still time for a Tipperary comeback.

O'Dwyer had a 59th minute penalty saved by Murphy, but this failed to stop his side.

Defender Paddy Stapleton; substitute Jason Forde and O'Dwyer all bagged crucial scores in the final six minutes, with O'Dwyer leveling the tie with two minutes of normal time remaining.

With hearts racing, Brian Hogan took on the Tipperary defence, but was adjudged to have fouled the ball in his advances, as Tipperary were awarded a crucial late free.

O'Dwyer stood over the effort, which needed Hawkeye to confirm it was wide, and soon-after the full-time whistle sounded to ensure a replay would be required for the third year in succession.