All-Ireland Colleges SHC Final/St Flannan's Ennis v Dublin Colleges: The match report from this encounter will either highlight the superiority of a traditional hurling giant or the slow march of a new force. Regardless, it is worth tuning in at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, today.
An amalgamation of Dublin Colleges against the kings of Munster, St Flannan's, Ennis, is an enthralling prospect mainly because neither team has won a medal yet.
St Flannan's lost the Harty Cup final to Midleton CBS, while the Dublin Colleges under-performed against Kilkenny CBS in the Leinster final.
Then the roles were reversed. St Flannan's beat Kilkenny and the Dublin Colleges found their stride to overcome Midleton in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
It is easy to edge towards tradition as Clare hurling legend James O'Connor guides a panel with a pure pedigree.
There are Clare and Cork minors aplenty. Centre back Séamus Hickey came off the bench for Limerick in yesterday's National Hurling League final against Kilkenny. Ross O'Carroll will feel his thunder when the first ball flies in. The outcome from this duel may dictate the whole contest. There are also five survivors from the team that beat St Kieran's, Kilkenny, in last year's All-Ireland final, including captain Colm Madden.
"We were very disappointed after defeat to Midleton mainly because we were outfought and they worked harder and wanted it more on the day. That hurt," said O'Connor.
"Since, we have got a great response by beating Gort and Kilkenny. We have given one of our trophies back so hopefully we can salvage something from the year by holding on to the other one."
And yet, something is bubbling under the depressing outer surface of Dublin hurling. Leinster minor champions last year, the Colleges side retain six from that panel and 10 of the current Dublin minors, although Shane Murphy is a serious doubt with an ankle injury. The St Flannan's corner back Ciarán O'Doherty is also a concern.
Coláiste Eoin dominate the starting line-up with four players, Seán Ó Seanáin, Shane O'Rorke, Cian Mac Giolla Bhride and Joey Maher. The Stillorgan link doesn't stop there as centre forward O'Carroll attends Oaklands College.
"It's a huge game for Dublin hurling as it is the first time a team has made it to an All-Ireland hurling final since 1983 (when the Dublin's minors including Niall Quinn lost to Galway)," said selector Declan Feeney. "Before that it was '65 and then '54 so there is a gap." They have certainly bridged the divide but denying St Flannan's a 15th All-Ireland senior title appears marginally out of reach.
DUBLIN COLLEGES: S Lambert; S Murphy, P Callaghan, M Brannigan; S Ó Seanáin, C Connolly, B Treacy; S O'Rorke, D Connolly; C Mac Giolla Bhride, R O'Carroll, J Maher; D Kelly, J Cooper, P Ryan.
ST FLANNAN'S: D Tuohy; C O'Doherty, C Cooney, S O'Regan; E Glynn, S Hickey, D Ryan; E Barrett, D Stack; R Horan, C Madden, B Coffey; J Conlon, C Tierney, C Nealon.
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).
Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, 2.0
On TV: TG4
