Cody: No mystery, it’s all about intensity

This was to be hurling’s own Rumble in the Jungle, a seismic clash of two heavyweights in the Leinster senior hurling semi-final.

One turned up, Kilkenny reinforcing their claim to be known as the greatest hurling team of all time; the other? “We didn’t seem to have a go at all,” said manager Anthony Daly. “That’s the most disappointing thing. To get beaten by Kilkenny is not a shock to my system or anybody else’s. It’s a shock how poor we were on the day.”

No-one had seen this coming, no-one, which explains Anthony Daly’s stunned reaction. Kilkenny were missing last year’s All-Ireland starting midfield, Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice. Dublin had their big guns back and blew Laois away in their quarter-final win.