Kilkenny empire rocked by king Canning

A historic day in Croke Park yesterday, Galway crowned Leinster senior hurling champions for the first time after a first-half display of crushing dominance; a day that may also go down in history for another reason, however, the day an empire began to crumble.

Due to the back-door system Kilkenny still have a chance to recover and, given the character of this team, may yet do so but boy, it will take some recovery.

Kilkenny have bestrode the Leinster championship for the last 15 years, a sporting colossus. On 13 occasions they were crowned champions, denied on the other occasion (2004) only by a late sucker-punch Wexford goal. Reigning All-Ireland and Allianz Hurling League champions, they were expected to win again yesterday and thus put themselves into prime position for a ninth All-Ireland title in those 15 years.