GAA LEINSTER SHC FINAL: Ian O'Riordan talks to Kilkenny's young captain, who is wary of the potential Wexford threat on Sunday

Some things never change when it comes to the Leinster hurling final. Kilkenny find themselves talking down their chances, about nothing won yet and taking each game as it comes, when everyone knows it will be one of the shocks of the summer if they lose. That's just the way it is when you've won seven of the last eight finals.

That somewhat tiresome task of damping down has this year fallen to defender Jackie Tyrrell, who also hopes to maintain the tradition of great Kilkenny hurling captains from the James Stephens club. He's well up to the first task, emphasising the "huge obstacle" Wexford present in Croke Park on Sunday and talking of Kilkenny's own need to improve.

"We only have to think about two years ago," says Tyrrell, "when Wexford got the goal in the last minute, from Michael Jacob. But then overall they probably deserved it because they'd put in a huge effort during the game.

"In a way that was a springboard to our year. We came through the qualifiers and still made the All-Ireland final, even though we lost there.

"We've moved on a lot since then, changed the panel a lot. But you still can't take Wexford for granted in any way. They love playing us in Croke Park on Leinster final day and will definitely bring a great intensity to the game. You just never really know with them, so we have to respect them. And the Leinster final is still a huge title for us to win. And our attitude is there's no point in being involved unless you do win."

Around this time every year Kilkenny also find themselves in a no-win situation. Unless they're beating teams easily, their All-Ireland chances are seen to be in jeopardy. That was the case with their semi-final victory over Westmeath, where their 14-point winning margin wasn't comfortable enough for some observers.

"All that really mattered was getting over them and into a Leinster final, which we did," adds Tyrrell. "The performance mightn't have been the best alright, but sometimes that just goes out the window no matter who you're playing when a place in the final is at stake.

"But we're there now, and not looking back too much on that performance. I really sense the training has upped in the weeks since, and we're a lot sharper now. And, as Brian Cody says, we are a team in transition, with a lot of new players. Another thing Brian says is that once we get a Kilkenny jersey, it's up to us to hold onto it. And it's a very proud thing to wear that Kilkenny jersey. You only have to think of all the great hurlers that wore it before us."

At 24, with just two Leinster titles and an All-Ireland under-21 title to his name, Tyrrell represents the younger element of the current Kilkenny panel.

He has a long way to go to even rival the feats of other James Stephens captains such as Cody and Fan Larkin, but he clearly believes in the potential of the new generation, who for the first time in their memory don't have the experience of DJ Carey to call on.

"We didn't know for a while there what DJ was going to do, and of course he's a huge loss to Kilkenny, and a huge loss to hurling. But we've enough young lads in the squad to step up to the mark, and we'll try to drive the thing on without DJ."

With those formalities out of the way, Tyrrell was a little more open about discussing the topical issues facing hurling at the moment - such as the lack of fireworks in the championship.

"Well I think we saw a very good Munster final last Sunday," he argues. "And anyone who saw Cork beat Clare a few weeks must have been impressed.

"That was a real eye opener for the rest of the country, because they really raised the bar again and they look to be hell-bent on winning that three in a row. It's up to the rest of us to step up to that level."

Tyrrell also added weight to the suggestion that the provincial winners should get some sort of bonus prize - rather than just a better seeding in the quarter finals.

"I think there probably should be an extra incentive for winning the provincial title," he said.

"Obviously, whoever wins on Sunday is still in the exact same position as the team that loses. I know the GAA are looking at the format again, and I think that's something that definitely needs to be addressed.

"But then again I don't think Sunday's game will need any extra bite, not when it's Kilkenny against Wexford. There definitely won't be any lack of commitment by either of us."

Same as it ever was.