Leinster championship needs a Galway triumph

The hour is almost upon us, the end of 15 years of near unbroken dominance of the Leinster championship by Kilkenny (Wexford caught them with a last-minute goal in 2004), Galway all set to end their reign and thus signal the beginning of the end for the greatest hurling team of all time.

Or not.

Since the beginning of the Brian Cody era in 1999, Kilkenny have won 12 of the 13 Leinster titles on offer, to add to the title won in 1998 under Kevin Fennelly (Offaly subsequently shocked them in the All-Ireland final).