10 years? 30 years? Curtin believes Leinster hurling title for Kildare is possible

Moorefield hurler Muiris Curtin believes Kildare's growing population means both hurling and football can thrive in the county

Kildare hurler Muiris Curtin: "The hard work that's been done in recent years, I think if that continues we can definitely develop further as a hurling county." Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Since the introduction of a group stage in 2005, the Leinster senior hurling championship has evolved into something of a halfway house for teams in transition.

Kilkenny, Dublin and Wexford have been ever-present since then, as have Galway since joining the eastern province in 2009, but Antrim, Kerry and London brought even more geographic variation to a championship where the field of competitors has chopped and changed frequently.