Dooley is a huge loss, says Hanniffy

THE fact that Kilkenny have won the last six Leinster hurling titles is indicative of where Wexford, Offaly, Laois and Dublin lie in the pecking order.

The only serious challenge during this period was posed by Offaly six years ago, when they dropped Babs Keating after losing the Leinster final and Michael Bond inspired a remarkable All-Ireland victory over Kilkenny.

Since then, progress for the midlanders, under Fr Tom Fogarty initially and more recently with Mike McNamara, has been mixed. That, and a combination of injuries to key players, places a question mark over their prospects against Laois tomorrow night.