This Saturday evening, all eyes will be on Croke Park as Dublin and Kilkenny clash in the 2024 Leinster Senior Hurling Final. The match, scheduled for 6 PM, promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for provincial glory.
Dublin enters the final with a mixed bag of results from this year’s Championship, having secured three wins, a draw, and one defeat—the latter coming at the hands of their upcoming opponents, Kilkenny. In contrast, The Cats have maintained an undefeated record throughout the Championship as they seek to secure a fifth consecutive Leinster title.
Dublin’s last Leinster title win was in 2013, when they defeated Galway in the final. Since then, Kilkenny has dominated the Leinster Championship with seven titles, including a comprehensive 1-25 to 19 points victory over Dublin in the 2021 final.
Current Westmeath manager and former minor and under-21 Leinster-winning Dublin manager Joe Fortune spoke to Oisin Langan on last weekend’s Scoreline, sharing his insights and expectations ahead of the provincial final.
“Another thing that people forget is that whatever about looking forward to the game and what’s coming for us next Saturday, what’s the huge thing for me is the fact that there was a narrative written about Dublin hurling over the course of the league. But over the course of the league Dublin were without Chris Crummy, they were without Donal Burke, they were without Eoghan O’Donnell and Ronan Hayes as well. Michael O’Donoghue got the players back at the right time. Look, I expect a huge battle next weekend. The training from November and December is great but it’s all about these big days now. And as much as it’s about the big days, it has to be about going to win it as well.”
Fortune’s comments highlight the resilience and determination within the Dublin camp, suggesting that they will not be an easy opponent despite their previous loss to Kilkenny. The return of key players like Chris Crummy, Donal Burke, Eoghan O’Donnell, and Ronan Hayes has bolstered Dublin’s squad at a crucial time, setting the stage for an epic battle at Croke Park.
For Kilkenny, the stakes are equally high. Under the guidance of manager Derek Lyng, who is seeking his second Leinster title in as many years, Kilkenny will be eager to continue their dominance in the province and add another chapter to their storied legacy.
Tune in to catch all the action live and witness the drama unfold as Dublin and Kilkenny battle it out for the 2024 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship title.
