IT IS rare that this question is asked so early in the year, but can anyone feasibly stop the Kilkenny locomotive and their quest for a fourth All-Ireland title in a row?

“We’ll have to now wait until after the league final to see what will happen but if (Henry) Shefflin stays sound I see no danger to Kilkenny,” says former Tipperary manager Michael ‘Babs’ Keating.

“Henry is the main man in the forward line. He makes everything happen so if he remains you can say goodbye to it.”

There is an anti-climatic feel to the final round of the National Hurling League this weekend and Kilkenny are to blame having produced some devastatingly efficient hurling, to already secure a league final against Tipperary on May 3rd.

Dublin make the journey to Kilkenny this Sunday aware that a respectable campaign could yet be sullied by a fate already suffered by Cork, Galway and Tipperary when faced with Brian Cody’s champions. Already, Tipperary (5-17 to 1-12) and Cork (4-26 to 0-11) have been ruthlessly outclassed at Nowlan Park. Galway succumbed 1-20 to 0-12 at home.

“Cork had a challenge for 35 minutes and where are they going to improve on that,” asked Keating. “Galway were a big disappointment when I saw them so Tipperary have something to prove.”

Besides the test of Dublin’s resolve, in an already encouraging first season under Anthony Daly, the fixture list carries no significance, prompting GAA head of Games Pat Daly to suggest introducing a bonus point from last round games for future seasons.

The relegation of Mike McNamara’s Clare is also confirmed making the Division Two match between Offaly and Antrim the only fixture where both teams involved require victory to progress.

Thankfully, the race to replace Clare in Division One remains interesting with Offaly and Antrim in a head-to-head battle to join Wexford in the final, presuming the latter defeat Carlow.

That decider will also take place on May 3rd.