Leinster SHC final: Dublin have golden opportunity for rare silver against Kilkenny

Dublin and Kilkenny meet in the Leinster final at Croke Park this evening with the chance to put the cap on what has been a fine spell of hurling action in the eastern province.

Like the girl who takes off her glasses in a rom-com, we've found out over the last few weeks that the Leinster championship was beautiful after all.

Carlow’s famed draw with Kilkenny, Antrim’s guts and glory win over Wexford, Dublin striking a fatal blow to Galway, and potentially Henry Shefflin’s Tribe quest, in Salthill – there’s been plenty to remind the Munster fraternity that they don't own exclusive rights on provincial hurling drama.

There’s also enough to suggest that we could have a bit of an upset as Dublin aim to end an 11-year wait for the Bob O’Keefe Cup with two Walsh Cups their lot in the meantime.

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There are some good omens from that last provincial success back in 2013. They drew with Wexford (winning the replay) as they did in this year’s round-robin while there was also a win over Galway in there too. Another win, like in the 2013 semi-final replay, over Kilkenny would do them nicely.

Almost out of nowhere, Micheál Donoghue has engrained a steeliness in his side that really didn’t look apparent during the league as Dublin robbed two points in Belfast and won against a Westmeath side that ultimately struggled in the Joe McDonagh Cup. The losses to Tipperary, Limerick and Galway were by a combined 37 points.

In the championship arena though, they have been presented with a range of differing