Enda McEvoy: This is the first real test of the alleged New Kilkenny

If Kilkenny face an intellectual challenge, Cork face both an intellectual challenge and a physical one

Kilkenny boss Brian Cody, whose team may be in the throes of a massive and long overdue stylistic rewiring job. What is for certain is that their improved use of the ball during the league convulsed hurling’s netherworld of analysts and statisticians. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

So here we are, after a series of non-events that masqueraded as a National League campaign, after one or two prep races that featured transparent non-triers and after last weekend’s provincial quarter-finals that doubled as Chinese takeaways, quickly consumed and instantly forgotten. It’s as though the opening day of Cheltenham has dawned at last. Anddddd they’re off!

We’ll begin with two gentlemen who, like Bonucci, Chiellini and the poor, will always be with us. As of 4.29 on Saturday afternoon the championship record between Davy Fitz’s Wexford and Brian Cody’s Kilkenny reads two wins for the former, one for the latter and one draw. Don’t imagine for a moment that Davy doesn’t derive immense secret satisfaction from said state of affairs. Don’t imagine for even half a moment that Cody isn’t totally and utterly affronted by it.