Last weeks Leinster Championship draw threw up a mouth watering challenge for the Dublin Hurlers
After Mattie Kenny’s Dublin Hurlers put in a very competitive shift in Leinster last year, they had their hopes cruelly dashed in O’Moore Park. A brazen Laois side sent them home and out of the All Ireland. It was a shocking result for Kenny in his first year as Dublin hurling manager, and one very few expected.
Having beaten Galway on the final day of the provincial championship in Parnell Park, Dublin were on their way to Portlaoise as hot favourites to advance to the All Ireland Hurling Quarter Finals. But the home side had other ideas, coming off a dominant Joe McDonagh Cup campaign. And Eddie Brennan’s men never let up for the entire game, giving the O’Moore Park faithful more reasons to celebrate. It was only a two point margin, but for Dublin it probably felt like a lot more.
For Mattie Kenny, the newly announced Leinster Quarter Final tie will be one to set out his stall for the shorter than usual Championship run. And having already beaten Eddie Brennan’s side by 4-18 to 2-17 back in February in the League, the Dublin boss will be hoping for more of the same at the end of October when the hurling championship finally gets underway.
This year’s competition has dispensed of the round robin format due to time constraints. But unlike the straight knockout football championship, Dublin and Laois will get another opportunity to qualify should they need it.
Whoever wins between Dublin and Laois in the provincial quarter final has the mouth watering task of facing Kilkenny in the last four of the competition. The losers, however will get another chance to qualify for the All Ireland, facing one of the beaten Munster sides.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Draw
Quarter Final: (October 24th/25th)
Laois v Dublin
Semi Finals: (October 31st/November 1st)
Galway v Wexford
Kilkenny v Laois/Laois