Dublin were the last team to beat Kilkenny in the Leinster championship and the question on the lips of their supporters is, can the men from the capital triumph again over the Cats in 2016?
After an engrossing tie which went to a replay, Anthony Daly’s Dubs emerged victorious on a 1-16 to 0-16 scoreline in the 2013 provincial semi-final.
On Saturday evening (7pm), the sides meet again at O’Moore Park at the last-four stage.
In his time playing for Wexford, current RTÉ analyst Tom Dempsey knows more than most that it’s not often wise to back against the Black and Amber.
“I have learned from the excruciating, painful past that every time I tip Kilkenny to lose they come and put me back in my place”, was Dempsey’s summation of that particular folly.
In saying that, the 1996 All-Ireland winner is not overly convinced that Brian Cody’s men can prevail on Portlaoise, while tellingly adding that “if Kilkenny are beaten on Saturday they won’t win an All-Ireland”.
"I don’t think Kilkenny are at their best at the moment, but I'm not saying they are at a low ebb either"
Dempsey preference for the Cats to reach another provincial decider is a tentative one in an encounter that he thinks could define their summer.
“I will go for Kilkenny given their greater need to keep going through the front door - that’s their best route towards an All-Ireland this year,” he said.
“Their need to perform on Saturday night will be great. They will approach the Dubs game as a winner-takes-all game. It’s their game of the season.
"Cast your mind back to the league semi-final against Clare and they were poor. I don’t think Kilkenny are at their best at the moment, but I'm not saying they are at a low ebb either."
Dempsey also referenced the absence of key men for the All-Ireland champions, but that may be offset, he feels, by the return of others.
“Richie Hogan, one of their talismen over the last couple of years, is out injured and they’ve also lost a lively corner forward in Ger Aylward. Their forwards are going to have to improve from the Clare game. They depend a lot on TJ Reid up front.
“The pluses are probably having the likes of Eoin Larkin and Michael Fennelly back this weekend.”
As for Dublin, Dempsey sees a lot of positives in their ranks, but also highlights an “inconsistency” in some of their performances.
Commenting on their win over Wexford the last day, he said: “Dublin’s midfield as very strong and their puck out strategy worked really well.
"Niall McMorrow was excellent at centre-forward – David O’Callaghan, Mark Schutte, Eamonn Dillon and Liam Rushe also stood out."
Also singled out for praise was Eoghan O’Donnell, who starred in Dublin’s recent win over Wexford at U-21 level.
"He is a serious, serious talent," added our analyst.
“He did an excellent man-marking job and maybe he’s the man to mark TJ Reid. If you’re going to stop Kilkenny, then you’re going to have to stop TJ.”
Heading in to their date with Kilkenny, Dempsey feels Ger Cunningham’s side “have yet to be tested”.
He continued: “They have an inconsistency about them - and didn’t play well against Limerick in the League quarter-final.
"Okay they did beat Wexford , but Wexford were without the likes of Andrew Shore, Sean Murphy, David Redmond and Lee Chin. As comprehensive as the win was it wasn’t any surprise that they beat Wexford."
