DJ and Henry blow Banner away

FOR no more than a ten-minute period at the start of the second half was there any uncertainty about Kilkenny adding the Guinness All-Ireland hurling championship to their League title.

True to tradition, almost, Brian Cody's team responded magnificently to a challenge greater than any they had faced in the first half, benefiting hugely from the first of two quick scores from Henry Shefflin.

And, almost as significantly as he had inspired them at the very start with a typically opportunist goal, D.J. Carey produced a classically executed point. More than anything else that happened before or afterwards, it emphasised the superiority of the new champions and once more his genius against a background of his absence for the Leinster campaign, a phenomenal contribution to the county's 27th title success.