Has Dublin any chance of beating Kilkenny on Saturday next? There is no doubt that this is Dublin’s best team ever and for that reason they are in with a shout. On the Sunday Game Liam Sheedy, Derek Lyng and Eddie Brenann tipped Kilkenny to come out on top. A few weeks ago Cyril Farrell felt that Dublin would take it after a titanic struggle. There is some optimism in Dublin that this could be the year. Kilkenny love it when the media build up the opposition and that is happening at the moment. But Dublin need to remember that Kilkenny love beating teams that the media build up. This happened recently when many were tipping Cork to win the league final. Kilkenny came out and had the game won in the first few minutes. In 1997 Dublin pushed Kilkenny all the way in Croke Park and many felt would have won the game if it hadn’t been stopped when the overflow in the Cusack Stand crossed the pitch to The Hogan Stand. The following year Dublin met Kilkenny in a packed Parnell Park and again the game was over in ten minutes. So Dublin beware. For Dublin to win next Saturday the following has to happen. Dublin play their best game ever, Kilkenny not to be at their best and the referee to have a good game. Barry Kelly had an off day at the Dublin v Galway relegation game and made a few terrible calls that didn’t help Dublin. By the way one well known bookie has Kilkenny at 1/5 and Dublin at 4/1. So Dublin have it all to do but wouldn’t that make it all the nicer if they could pull it off. I’m off to the bookies now.
Tóg go bog é.