Kilkenny boss Michael Walsh is expecting Dublin to offer stern resistance to his team in tonight's Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21HC semi-final at Nowlan Park.

Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists hammered Offaly by 29 points in the quarter-final a fortnight ago and are hot favourites to retain their provincial crown. But Walsh is wary of a Dublin side that includes four key members of Anthony Daly's senior team in Oisin Gough, Peter Kelly, Liam Rushe and a fit-again David Treacy.

"Dublin have four or five senior players who played last Sunday, whereas we have no seniors. They're top quality players," the former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper said.

"The barometer is we went up to Parnell Park last year in the final and it was a very good, tight game. They're coming with a lot of that team again. Dublin won this minor championship three years ago and we realise that they have a very strong team. It's going to be a big ask and we've had to prepare properly."

Walsh admitted that Kilkenny never expected to beat Offaly by so much in the last round.

"We really expected a tougher challenge against Offaly. In fairness, the year before, there wasn't much between them. Offaly had nine or 10 of that team and it was just unfortunate the way it worked out.

"They just didn't fire, it went away on them and it's very hard to get it back. From our viewpoint, you're looking for a tough test when you go out. We got that in the first half but we know this is going to be a way tougher challenge." Tweet

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