FIXING THE HOLES

LAST SUMMER, the first cracks in Kilkenny’s armour appeared in the Leinster quarter-final against Offaly. That day in Tullamore, Brian Cody’s team conceded four goals, a rarity in the Kilkenny manager’s reign.

Since Cody took charge for the 1999 season, only twice in Championship hurling have they conceded four or more goals: against Galway in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final when the Tribesmen won, 5-18 to 4-18, and against Tipperary in the 2010 final when Lar Corbett scored a hat-trick en route to a 4-17 to 1-18 Tipp win. The odds are stacked against Offaly repeating the trick on Saturday.