Leen believes Kerry's ambition is coming to the fore

Ask Eric Leen about the status of being a Kerry hurler and his replay is instant and definite.

"I'm a proud man to be walking around the place playing for Kerry hurling," he tells RTE Sport. "I love it. It's where we want to be. I can only say that I am filled with pride playing for my county and if others could see how much we care, they might come on board too. But they are starting to see it."

On Saturday evening Leen will play for a Kerry side that is vastly changed from the one that lost the 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup final to Westmeath.

This year’s team has again reached the final where they will meet Antrim. Around 60% of the panel is changed from 2021 with long-term injuries to Evan Murphy, Paudie Ahern and Flor McCarthy.

Yet, under Stephen Molumphy, they have reached the final of the competition in his first year in charge.

Leen said: "We always bring serious intensity to our hurling, we give games to anyone and I guess if there is a difference in the higher levels and reaching there it is in the bits of hurling, the crispness, ball to hand, the finishing that the likes of Limerick have.

"Molumphy has built resilience with us and our confidence is growing as we get results. That said, we are not looking at results, we are looking at performances. That’s our gauge. With a good performance you can come out with your head held high.

"And what does the new manager stand for? What are his core principles?"

He stands for getting the best out of us," Leen says.

"He told us at the start of the year he saw potential in us and his management team has done everything 100% to help us. It is a pleasure to be part of it, they are top notch, and we are going out on Saturday hoping to get a performance for them and us."

Leen also has great