A big final for Kilkenny. The county has never before lost three successive finals and have swept to the final like men on a mission. They have comfortably defeated Offaly once already this season in the Leinster final. But their opponents, managed by former captain Pat Fleury, sprang a sensation in the All-Ireland semi-final storming back in the second half to eliminate champions Cork. They are outsiders going into this but that’s never bothered them in the past when playing Kilkenny.