Enda McEvoy: Even a Leinster title wouldn't paper over the ugly Kilkenny cracks 

The Cats will die with their boots on tonight and it may be enough. That, however, is only part of it

Testing times: Brian Cody will simply not countenance losing again to opponents managed by one of his old boys Especially this old boy. His favourite son, his Luke Skywalker, now gone to the dark side. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

There is no need to invoke the shade of Oscar Wilde. One knows exactly what he’d say about Kilkenny tonight. The only thing in the world worse for them than losing would be winning.

And they may well win, turning Pearse Stadium defeat into Croke Park victory, spinning straw into silverware. It’s the kind of trick Brian Cody has pulled off time after time. We ought to know him well enough by now.