Anthony Daly on Cork v Kilkenny: The key battle and big match prediction

I’ve no doubt that Munster is stronger than Leinster at the moment but Kilkenny are always an outlier in any real comparisons between the provinces

Robert Downey of Cork in action against Diarmuid Ryan of Clare. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Key battle: TJ Reid v Robert Downey

Much of the narrative in the build-up to this game has rightly centred on Cork’s goal threat, and how green flags have become the poison in this team’s bite. With Kilkenny though, no other team appreciates that importance, as much as in psychologically terrorising teams than the three points which accrue from goals. In that context, I can see Kilkenny really going for goals early, with TJ at the heart of that search.