Hurling Nation: Ghost of summers long past haunt Kilkenny

The Leinster Championship is often a mediocre movie franchise, but this year's sequel has an exciting ending that makes up for a lot in the short term.

For years, Kilkenny have been sleepwalking to Leinster titles, but now they've woken up and, horror of horrors, find themselves in third place.

Offaly, ghosts of summer long past, are snapping at their heels, and the Cats head to Parnell Park fighting for survival.

If Dublin win, they're in a Leinster final, but more than that, it would be a massive statement. Right now, they give a good impression of a team that is growing into the summer.

Beating Kilkenny is the sort of moment that can push Dublin hurling into a different category and in a quieter spell for football in the capital.

However, with greater firepower returning up front, the Cats carry a more menacing look. We hope that we're wrong for the sake of Dublin hurling, but our sense is an ending that feels familiar.

In other goings-on in Leinster, there are two sad affairs to be observed. Offaly have the job of officially sending Kildare back to the Joe McDonagh wilderness.

The Lilywhites have been a breath of fresh air, and in the meantime, they can take encouragement from the progress Offaly have made.

Down in the sunny southeast, Galway will be putting Yellow Bellies to sleep for another year. Lee Chin is 33 now. He can't carry a whole county and sell gas with The Two Johnnies forever.

Keith Rossiter is dealing with a serious turnover of players. Wexford will probably settle this weekend for a performance that smacks of pride and a few green shoots. Later on Sunday afternoon, the attention switches down south to Munster.

Tipperary travel to Limerick playing for reputation. It's not beyond Tipp's abilities to pull a shock result out of the bag wherever they go, but themselves and Limerick are in very different places psychologically.

Expect fireworks between Cork and Clare. Cork, though unbeaten after three games, still look like a side we haven't seen top gear from yet.

Options are tightening for Ben O'Connor through injuries, and of note overnight was the inclusion of Declan Dalton on the bench for the first time in this year's Munster campaign.

Clare, on the other hand, look born again. After the Limerick defeat, talk quickly turned to yesterday's men. Ach, ní mar a shíltear a bhítear in hurling, and especially not in early May.

John Conlon's positioning appeared to reshape the Clare defense, and it'll be interesting to see how Cork respond.

Collectively, the Banner brought far more aggression against Tipperary, and that edge will continue. A win by four points or more sends them into a Munster final.

Cork won't quit, tied with a draw very much on the cards, we think. In the Joe McDonagh Cup, Carlow and Laois are destined for a final meeting.

Before that, though, Carlow travel to Corrigan Park to face an Antrim side that appears to have settled in recent weeks. Never an easy trip north, and a good test awaits.

Sin é, hurling nation.

Dónal Óg Cusack was speaking on Morning Ireland

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