Two former powerhouses have lost their aura

Dublin players Con O'Callaghan, right, and Niall Scully react after their defeat against Galway

Dublin players Con O’Callaghan, right, and Niall Scully react after their defeat against Galway

Who would have thought it even a few years ago? Dublin footballers not being short odds-on to win the Leinster football championship and Kilkenny hurlers second favourites behind Galway – now that used to be an unlikely combination.

Not anymore. There’s a new landscape, as seen through the canny eyes of the bookmaking fraternity, who are quoting Dublin footballers at evens in Leinster and Kilkenny hurlers at 13/8, with Galway at evens.