Kilkenny v Wexford: Betting against Kilkenny in the Leinster hurling final has rarely proved a good investment for gamblers - especially if Wexford are the opposition. They've lost only one final to Wexford in the last 10 years, back in 1997, and it was 20 years earlier that they had lost another. Ian O'Riordan reports

Kilkenny have over three times as many Leinster titles (62 compared to Wexford's 20), and Sunday's final in Croke Park sees them chasing their eighth success in the past nine years. Kilkenny are quoted at 1 to 11, and Wexford 6 to 1. For many gamblers, though, that's still a hard bet to resist, in part because of the nature of unacceptably poor losing records.

There is also the memory of the 2004 semi-final, when Wexford defied equally hopeless odds to beat Kilkenny by two points. That victory was based largely on Wexford's cute tactics and explosive running game, which clearly caught Kilkenny off guard.

It also showed that if Wexford have the right spirit and attitude then anything is possible.

That's the real gamble. Wexford probably don't have the hurlers to beat Kilkenny, but they can win it on spirit and attitude. Just like Bob Dylan's concerts at the weekend, they could rise above expectations or fall flat, all depending on the mood of the moment. And no team brings out that spirit and attitude in Wexford more than Kilkenny.

"Yeah, I suppose there's something about the black and amber that sends Wexford out with all guns blazing," says team captain Keith Rossiter. "And our mood has been very positive in the past few weeks. A lot of people doubted us going into the Offaly game, but we got the win. I know it wasn't a great game, nine points to eight, but it got things rolling for us.

"And Leinster finals are always different, always battles as much as games. And we're prepared for that battle. But it will take one hell of an effort from every single player on the team, simple as that.

"We need to work together from one to 15, for the full 70 or 75 minutes. That's what it takes to beat the Kilkennys and Corks these days.

"We know a lot of people think we're just not good enough to beat Kilkenny at the moment, but we've a self-belief in our game that we're always good enough to beat anyone that comes out in front of us.

"It's 15 men on 15. If you're winning your battle, and the man beside you is winning his, and it's the same throughout the field, you always have the chance."

Rossiter has clearly got his attitude right. At 22 he's one of the younger members of the Wexford team, typically slight and wonderfully talented. In the semi-final he moved into full back from his usual corner back position and had a major say in keeping Offaly to 0-8, and he will surely start there again on Sunday.

It was a superb defensive performance greatly overlooked by those critics who chose to focus on the poor scoring totals - and more so considering he carried a calf strain into the game. Again Rossiter accepts his new responsibilities with the same, positive attitude.

"I'm getting used to it now. I've played there with the club for the past two years. So I'm familiar with it. Just not too fond of it. You can't afford to be as loose as maybe on the half-back line. It takes a lot of concentration, and some getting used to.

"It helps having Damien Fitzhenry behind you. He does give you an added bit of confidence. He never stops talking and always has you on your toes. You just don't want to know what he says if you make a mistake. He's the main man in our defence, but sure most goalkeepers are like that.

"Of course we'd be concerned about our scoring, though. Nine points, with centre back Declan Ruth scoring one free. So that's down to eight points for the six forwards. All our forwards know they'll have to improve on that, because we're not going to win another championship game with nine points."

Maybe not, but it wouldn't bother Rossiter or any of his team-mates in the slightest if Wexford did score only nine points again, and still won. The hurling championship is still struggling a little to gain momentum this summer - even if Cork and Tipperary set Thurles alight last Sunday - but with the Wexford footballers also playing in Croke Park on Sunday the hurlers' only priority is a victory.

"Hurling does need a good Leinster final," adds Rossiter. "Hopefully it will be a good spectacle. But look, we're not really thinking about a good performance. If it's a terrible game and we get the win we'll still be very happy."