Old order restored as Cats back on throne

Kilkenny 0-24 Dublin 1-9

One year, that’s how long Kilkenny were kept out of Croke Park, beaten in Portlaoise by Dublin in the Leinster semi-final last year, then downed by Cork in Thurles in the All-Ireland quarter-final; two years, that’s when they surrendered ownership of the Leinster title, Dublin going on to win last year, Galway winning in 2012 beating the Cats in the final.

Famine? Yes indeed, because everything is relative, isn’t it? And year after year in this glorious period, Kilkenny have feasted in Leinster, feasted in Croke Park. Yesterday then they weren’t just hungry for this one, they were ravenous, articulated afterwards by veteran Jackie Tyrrell, winning his eighth title yesterday. “We were really focused, anxious to put that right. We hurled well as a team but still have things to work on; we have five weeks to work on that but a great day for Kilkenny, another Leinster title.”