Leinster dead? Not a hope

There have been many contentious changes introduced by the GAA in recent years, the hurling penalty/20m free debacle just the latest example.

One decision taken, however, must now surely be accepted unanimously as a positive – Galway’s inclusion (and to a lesser extent, Antrim’s also) in the Leinster SHC. So many reasons why but we’ll stick to five:

1 It has broken the Kilkenny dominance. When Galway were admitted in 2009 Kilkenny were utterly in control, had won 10 of the previous 11 titles (denied in 2004 by a last-minute Rory Jacob goal). Watching their traditional Leinster rivals such as Offaly and Wexford take the field against the Cats in those years was like watching Mike Tyson when he was in his ferocious prime – teams were beaten almost before the first whistle, such was Kilkenny’s psychological mastery. It took a few years but eventually, in 2012, Galway did what Galway were surely going to do some day. They beat Kilkenny and in the Leinster final at that, a whopping 10-point win (2-21 to 2-11) after a truly destructive first half.

2 That 2012 first half. No team was going to continue to dominate a championship forever and in the previous decade and more Kilkenny had shown occasional signs that maybe they were human, not some kind of master-race designed in the Cody laboratory in Nowlan Park. What Galway did to them in those 35 minutes, however, didn’t just win a title, it destroyed a myth. Led by the peerless Henry Shefflin Kilkenny came back well in the second half to salvage some pride, came back even better thereafter to win yet another All-Ireland title, beating Galway in a replay. The Leinster bubble was burst, but by Galway.

3 Inspiring Dublin, giving them belief. Dublin were coming anyway, Anthony Dalybringing not just a winning mentality but a degree of guile and nuance that was long lacking in the capital. In their run to the Leinster title of 2013, however, Dublin’s first provincial title since 1960, they beat Kilkenny in a replay in the semi-final; yes, it was the boys in blue on the field but they were surely encouraged by what Galway had done in 2012. Dublin had made their own inroads to the Kilkenny legend in the lesser Leinster competition, the Walsh Cup, had also won a league title (2011), adding to their growing confidence. But in the final of 2012 Galway shattered the Kilkenny Leinster championship myth; the mould was broken.

4 We’ve mentioned Dublin, now we speak of Wexford and the other Leinster counties, who themselves have been spurred on by Galway – you think Liam Dunne was happy to see Fergal Moore lifting the Bob O’Keeffe Cup while Wexford languished outside the upper echelon in Leinster? We mention also Laois, who have also been lifted but who have Galway to thank for giving them the opportunity to raise their game to new levels. Inside Leinster no-one – including Kilkenny, perhaps especially Kilkenny – would ever take Laois lightly in the senior championship. They have history and they have tradition, would be respected for it by their own. But Galway? Galway swaggered into Portlaoise last year as reigning champions and were lucky to come out with the win – they had been far too complacent. That performance gave Laois a huge boost, confirmed for the players what manager Cheddar Plunkett had been telling them – they had the ability to compete with anyone. Fast forward a year, Galway again in Portlaoise and now there was no question of complacency, just a Laois team that has grown in the last year. Again Galway escaped, this time even more narrowly, but again Laois got that boost.

5 Money. For many people this would be item number one, for me it will have to settle for five. Filthy Lucre. Look, before 2009 the Leinster championship was dead on its feet, an annual Kilkenny procession up the steps of the Hogan Stand led annually by whoever had been appointed captain. Interest was gone, fewer and fewer fans bothering to go to the matches. Not so anymore. Now there are three teams who can win Leinster – Dublin (the champions), Galway and Kilkenny, and all three are still there this week, Dublin already in the final, Galway and Kilkenny meeting in Tullamore on Sunday (4pm). You think that’s a foregone conclusion? You think that regardless of who wins, the final is a foregone conclusion? You think that doesn’t get the stiles clicking?

Credit then where it’s due – this was a fantastic decision by the GAA. It even anticipates a change in structure because should there be a change to a Champions League type system, we now have two ready-made strong groups of almost equal strength, perhaps a tweak or two needed to accommodate the teams chasing the leading pack but the old imbalance is no longer there. A triumph, definitely.