Cillian Buckley, Pádraig Walsh and Daniel Kearney key dynamos for Kilkenny and Cork

Too many teams take the easy option and blame factors outside of the white lines. Not Kilkenny.

Cillian Buckley dived to prevent a goal at Croke Park on Sunday as if he and Kilkenny had not won a medal or trophy in decades, writes Peter McNamara.

While their attack has been lauded continuously over the years for their ruthlessness, his 50th minute goal-line clearance in the second half withdrew a substantial amount of Galway’s remaining oxygen in the Leinster SHC final.