Cody keeps iron grip on Leinster reins of power

THREE years ago, a promise of glasnost swept through Leinster hurling.

When the Galway hurling board finally stopped dragging their feet and allowed their senior side to compete out east there was a hope that Kilkenny’s days of stacking up titles like firewood outside a cabin would no longer stretch on like an endless winter.

Dublin were already deep into their underage revolution so here, at last, were two counties intent on ending a 14-year chain that was broken just the once, back in 2004, when Michael Jacob’s goal poached a win for Wexford in the semi-final.