Kilkenny earned the unexpected victory and the right to meet Wexford in the Leinster final because they were the more alert side all through, faster to the ball and always showed the greater dash. Dublin played with the wind in the opening half, and though they had more of the play, it was Kilkenny who made the better use of fewer chances to lead by 2-0 to 0-1 at the interval, with goals from Breda Kinsella and Teasie O'Neill to Maureen Brennan’s Dublin point. The winners increased their lead soon after the restart, when Ann Carroll pointed from a 30, but Dublin now rallied. Judy Doyle took a neat pass from Anne McAllister to score a good goal. Kilkenny again attacked and after failing on two 30’s had a vital point by Breda Kinsella. Dublin switched Kitty Murphy to right wing and Maureen Brennan to midfield and staged a late rally that brought points from Kitty Murphy and Kit Kehoe to reduce the margin to two points. Kilkenny had the last word, however, when Ann Carroll landed a long range point to clinch victory. It was Dublin’s first defeat in this competition since they lost to Louth in July 1936.

Beginning with a coaching course around Easter, the drive went on for the revival of defunct clubs, and was continued by naming a panel of county players early on and giving them as much match-play experience as possible against varied opposition. That long term preparation certainly paid off on Sunday when the whole Kilkenny side, from start to stop, played with the most important asset of all. They went out in the firm belief that they could beat Dublin and they did just that.