"They are playing a really good brand of hurling"

Kilkenny great Jackie Tyrrell feels Kildare are legitimate contenders to land the Joe McDonagh Cup this summer.

Brian Dowling’s men will book their place in the competition’s final with a win over Down this weekend, having already scored victories against Carlow and Laois.

This weekend’s final round of games would have to see the latter two teams drawing tomorrow and bottom-placed Down winning in Newbridge on Sunday to deny the Lilywhites a final berth.

"Brian is doing an exceptional job," Tyrrell told the RTÉ GAA podcast this week. "The last two results, particularly Laois at the weekend, and the manner in which they won, has propelled them into a great position.

"The goals they scored over the weekend, they are playing a really good brand of hurling.

"If Kildare are to get into a Joe McDonagh final from where they came from two games ago… they could potentially win it at that stage because they are just playing with such confidence and momentum.

"Laois had been flying it up to that point so I'm sure there will be a few more twists there."