THIS SUNDAY’S LEINSTER SHC final is one of the most keenly-anticipated for many years and with good reason.

Since the Capital’s hurlers claimed their first Allianz National Hurling League title in over 70 years following a richly deserved 0-22 to 1-7 victory over the Cats, the hurling world has been salivating at the prospect of a rematch in Croke Park for the Leinster title.

Neither side has set the world alight in the run up to Sunday’s provincial decider but an intense battle is still expected with Kilkenny anxious for revenge following their league final trouncing.

So how can Dublin go about achieving something which would have been deemed impossible over the previous decade and beat Kilkenny for the fourth consecutive time (two previous league wins and a Walsh Cup victory)?

BELIEF

The simplest but most potent ingredient when it comes to a winning formula in any team. Dublin needs to take the field on Sunday believing they can beat Kilkenny again otherwise there is little point in turning up.

Although they have a league final victory under their belts this is championship where the intensity and effort goes up a significant notch. This is Brian Cody looking to exact revenge and re-establish Kilkenny as contenders to Tipperary’s crown so Dublin know they will need to be at their best.

Lose and everyone will say Dublin’s league title was a temporary success and the team are years away from becoming contenders. Win and the capital’s media hype machine will go into overdrive proclaiming Anthony Daly’s side are on the way to an All Ireland.

Believing they can win and then delivering that win will cement Dublin as a serious threat in this year’s Championship.

GOALS

Dublin’s lack of a goal-scoring threat has been well documented in the run up to the final.  Even their most recent league final success over Kilkenny failed to raise a green flag despite eventually winning by a 12 point margin.

The 0-19 to 2-7 victory over Galway in the Leinster semi-final demonstrated an over reliance on forward Paul Ryan’s free-taking abilities and Anthony Daly must surely recognise the necessity to billow Kilkenny’s net at home stage of Sunday’s matchup if victory is to be achieved.

The two goals netted in the opening round defeat of Offaly is scant return for a sextet of Dublin forwards who must step up to the mark in against Kilkenny’s much vaunted defence. The one element that has marked out recent All Ireland winners from contenders has been an ability to score goals. Tipperary has an abundance of goal-getting talent in the likes of Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly while Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin, Richie Hogan, Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice can always be relied upon to net at crucial times.

DALY

Few inter-county hurling managers have recent experience of winning an All Ireland medal. The fact Anthony Daly was such an integral part of Ger Loughnane’s all conquering Clare side and the fact he epitomises all the necessary qualities needed to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup is simply invaluable to Dublin.

You can teach a player the basic skills of hurling from a young age and nurture that talent through to adolescence. Once you progress to the senior inter-county ranks however even more input and guidance is needed.

Daly and Dublin was a marriage made in heaven from day one as expectations were low but a huge catchment area of talent existed.

The Clare man has since managed to instil a hunger, desire and above all else belief into the current Dublin team by managing expectations and dealing brilliantly with the never-ending hype.

Tactically, Daly has gotten the better of Brian Coady in their last three meetings even though Sunday’s Championship fixture is the one that counts. Rest assured the Banner hero will have devised a plan to counter the Kilkenny attack and his ability to get Dublin to play with heart, determination and no shortage of skill could prove the capital’s trump card this weekend.

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