ANOTHER Leinster senior hurling title for Kilkenny, their 10th under manager Brian Cody, their 11th in the last 12 years, but contrary to so many predictions, and unlike so many other Leinster finals in recent seasons, this was not a damp squib – anything but.

IT’S tough, trying to break into the elite in Kilkenny hurling, the championship starting 15.

OVER the last few months I feel there’s been a lot of begrudgery directed towards this Kilkenny team and their fantastic achievements, growing criticism over their style of play and so on.