Paul Murphy- Leinster SHC gearing up for dramatic ending this weekend

I don’t think anyone expected Kildare to be a pushover by any means in last Saturday’s Leinster SHC clash after they went 12 points clear against Galway the previous week – we knew what they were capable of.

Even with Brian Dowling as manager, they would have been well up for the game. They started really well and were only a point down going into half-time.

They would have taken your hand off to be in that position before the game, but even though Kilkenny went down to 14 men, they really kicked on in the second half.

The lads responded really well and getting four goals on the board was testament to that and they moved the ball very quickly which reaped dividends.

I wouldn’t take it as any slight that there was such a close margin at half-time, as we’ve seen so many team have tight games for 30-40 minutes already this year against Kildare.

Kilkenny got a good test, and they’ll be happy with how they kicked on in the second half – and especially with what’s coming up this week.

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Harry Shine was in and out of the team in recent years and he’s had his injuries. He put in a really good performance with some very nice scores including one point around the middle of the field, which was by no means an easy one, and he showed that he is well able to score.

He also took his goal well, so it was great to have him perform like that and it gives Derek Lyng another option around the corner forward position.

Then, of course, having Adrian Mullen back was huge, as Kilkenny people had been waiting on this for a long time. He’s been one of their best players over the last five or six years.

He was unfortunate with injury during the club championship, and he’s been a bit injury prone throughout the last two seasons but it’s great to have him back as he can play in a number of positions, from no 8 up really.

It allows Kilkenny to move players around if needs be, and as soon as he’s fully fit and healthy he’s an automatic starter and he came on with a bit of a point to prove the last day.

That game will do him a lot of good and I think there’s a good chance he will be in the starting 15 on Sunday.

The match at the weekend is basically a knockout game in Kilkenny minds, and it’s very easy to get the players focussed as a result.

The players know they have to go out and get a win as they don’t want to be relying on other results to get them out of trouble. They’ve had Dublin’s number over the last few years, but the Dublin team seems to be really maturing when you see how they performed against Galway in Salthill last Saturday.

The team has really built on shocking Limerick in last year’s championship, so Kilkenny will be in no doubt about the job that has to be done – and that’s a bonus in some ways to the management because it’s a very simple message that they have to relay to the players.

Derek Lyng will be saying to the team that we have to be at the peak of our powers, and we have to perform for the 70 minutes, and we’ll have to empty the bench. At the end of the day, if we win by a point or we win by six whatever it is, a victory is what we need.

As a player, you’d have no uncertainty as a result on what needs to be done, and sometimes the simpler games to prepare for are that when you know exactly what needs to be done on the field.

It’s definitely a tough test for Kilkenny, but in the second half against Kildare and the full match with Wexford, there is evidence that it’s in the locker to go to Parnell Park and turn over the Dubs. But they won’t do that unless they produce a top class display on the day, as Dublin will want to get back to a Leinster Final as well.

Having the final round of games on at the same time on Sunday lends itself to excitement as well, and even for myself I was involved in a day a couple of years ago where we drew in Wexford Park, and that put them into a Leinster Final against us. It knocked Galway out of the championship.

Galway only found out standing on the field in Parnell Park after their match with Dublin that they were out, so teams won’t be able to look anywhere else to hear about results as all the games will be on at the same time.

Some people will argue and rightfully so that the standard in Munster is of a higher quality, but the competition and excitement which saw results go in different ways has been the best in the Leinster Championship in a long time. It’s great for so many teams to be competing and not to be all one way traffic – with a possible Kilkenny and Galway final, which has been known well out after a couple of matches.

This going right up till the last day with all the permutations and four teams in the mix to get out of Leinster and into a provincial final means it’s a really exciting year and it’s hugely positive for the championship as a whole.

Sunday will be exciting, and especially for the neutrals, but for Kilkenny people there’s only one result we want and we’ll all be focused on Parnell Park at 2pm.

For me, when you look at the Kilkenny team, it’s not a lack of hurling or fitness as they have huge quality all over the field. It just seems that for a few games, there was a lack of confidence and they just weren’t clicking.

I think it was psychological, as I believe that 100% the players are there and the panel is there as they have shown a number of times what they are capable of. I’m confident Kilkenny can go and win on Sunday but it will require a performance, and it’s a matter of putting it into action and delivering that one big display to get the year back on track and qualify for a Leinster final.