Hurling: Leinster battle entertains but Munster supremacy remains

In the normal run of things, six-in-a-row champions being deposed would be framed as a largely, if not universally, positive thing.

That was certainly the sentiment here in Cork last June as a penalty-shootout win over Limerick gave the Rebels the Munster SHC title and ended a dominance by the Shannonsiders that had begun in 2019.

While the year didn’t end with Cork going on to All-Ireland glory (in case you might be unaware), there was no doubting that Pat Ryan’s side had earned their status, going from fourth to third to second in the provincial round-robin table and proving themselves to be one of the few sides capable of going toe-to-toe with John Kiely’s outfit.

A year after Limerick’s sequence of provincial dominance began, Kilkenny regained the Leinster hurling crown following Wexford’s victory of 2019. The Cats have retained their superiority since then, a period encompassed the end of Brian Cody’s reign and the beginning of Derek Lyng’s, but it is not a dominance that has been a platform for more.

Where Limerick’s six Munster titles were followed by five All-Irelands – the exception was the 2019 semi-final loss to Kilkenny, incidentally – the Noresiders have only translated their sextet into three All-Ireland final appearances, losing to Tipperary in 2019 and Limerick in 2022 and 2023.

After those deciders, the last seasons have seen Kilkenny lose to Clare and Tipperary respectively in All-Ireland semi-finals – both victors would go on to beat the Munster champions in the final – and now they are in danger of having their Leinster grip shaken.

With three of five rounds of fixtures played in the eastern championship, Kilkenny sit in third place after a loss to Galway, a win over Wexford and last weekend’s draw with Offaly.

They are on three points, with Dublin on five in second place, one behind leaders Galway. Having failed to get out of the province in 2024, Henry Shefflin’s last year in charge, the Tribesmen improved last year as Micheál Donoghue returned but they still failed to properly test Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

LOOKING UP

This year’s league showed them to be on an upward curve, though with the caveat that there was a bit of developing to be done. The win over Kilkenny at Pearse Stadium in the opening round ad set them on their way; they are all but guaranteed to progress and it would be a shock if they were not in the Leinster final.

That may yet be against Kilkenny – if a likely win over new boys Kildare this weekend is followed by victory against Dublin in Parnell Park, they would take second ahead of the Dubs on head-to-head record – but there is a sense that the greater democracy in the province is due to the Cats coming back to the pack rather than the chasers (apart from Galway) dramatically upping their game.

Unfortunately for Wexford, they have been unable to take advantage. Their win over Kildare means that relegation is not likely to be a worry but, equally, it cannot yet be ruled out.

The overall unpredictability makes the provincial championship more entertaining, in and of itself, with Offaly in with a chance of progressing after draws against Dublin and Kilkenny, but of course there is always a bigger picture to consider.

At a time when Munster is already regarded as being a step or two ahead – Galway in 2017 are the last Leinster championship side to win the All-Ireland and the last two league and All-Ireland finals have been all-Munster – it does not bode well for competitiveness come June and July.

Between now and then, though, there is the potential for an interesting battle in Leinster, at both ends of the table.