Under-21 final Kilkenny v Dublin Nowlan ParkThose who have been tracking Dublin hurling in recent times may feel the chance to deny Kilkenny at this age grade has come and gone. Granted, the success of last year's minors may yet be replicated at under-21 level but tonight appears to have come a season too soon.
Even with Richie Power absent through injury, Kilkenny look intimidating. The chief danger men being TJ Ryan and the ever rising star James "Cha" Fitzpatrick. Wexford suffered a traumatic 17-point hiding in the semi-final with Ryan and Fitzpatrick sharing 2-11 on the night.
There are also individual motivations to spur on Kilkenny. Fullback Donnacha Cody will see this as an opportunity to regain a starting role in his father's senior team, while John Tennyson can add to an already burgeoning reputation at centre back by dominating the dropping ball.
Ten Dublin players return from last season's 0-17 to 1-10 Leinster final defeat, including established seniors like Ger O'Meara, Alan McCrabbe and Peadar Carton. That defeat took place in Dr Cullen Park, a ground that seems to hold a curse over teams from the capital, although the Dublin Colleges are an exception.
Travelling to the Cats' den is hardly a more appealing assignment but Dublin possess enough quality to hold pace. Minor graduates Tom Brady and John McCaffrey must exert their influence around the middle third. However, denying Kilkenny at least one scoring blitz is near impossible. If Fitzgerald and Ryan eventually loosen the shackles, aided by the Kilkenny inside forward line, a familiar result is expected.
DUBLIN: A Nolan; G O'Meara, P Bergin, D O'Reilly; K Nolan, T Brady, C Billings; J McCaffrey, W Lowry; E Moran, G Morris, K O'Reilly; P Carton, D O'Dwyer, A McCrabbe.
KILKENNY: L Tierney; K Joyce, D Cody, S Cummins; J Dalton, J Tennyson, P Hartley; J Fitzpatrick, M Fennelly; TJ Reid, A Murphy, D Fogarty; E O Donoughe, M Nolan, D McCormack.
