The abiding rivalry of last year is already on a second episode for this season. Galway got the remedial win over the champions early in the campaign but given the scale of Kilkenny’s absentee list, it was a hard-fought victory and the league since has been more favourable for holders than their opponents.
In the absence of important players, Kilkenny have trialled some new hurlers and the results have been most encouraging. Eoin Murphy had a fine season outfield for WIT in the Fitzgibbon but looks a certain starter in the championship as goalkeeper.
Revelation
Lester Ryan has been a revelation at centrefield whereas Conor Fogarty, who stepped in at corner back when Jackie Tyrrell injured his hamstring, has been so impressive that he too is being spoken of as a summer contender.
Ger Aylward has also caught the eye, albeit forward places won’t be easily wrested off the incumbents once the team is back to full strength.
Contrast this with Galway's relative stasis. There isn't any sign that Anthony Cunningham has been able to unveil some new players and although his team is quite young, teams that lose All-Ireland finals can always do with being refreshed.
The Joe Canning question again looms large and is well articulated by John McIntyre in the Connacht Tribune : leave him at full forward and your best player is out of the game if the ball doesn't get through; bring him out and your biggest goal threat is taken away from the position of maximum opportunity.
Galway had to navigate most of the campaign without the St Thomas’s players and re-integrating them presents the usual challenge of managing potential fatigue after All-Ireland club success.
All of that said, there is a great deal more urgency about this for Galway, who were they to lose wouldn’t have another scheduled match with top-flight opponents until the summer’s Leinster final.
If however you’re looking for a team to oblige you in a league semi-final in relation to such concerns, Kilkenny probably wouldn’t be your first port of call.
KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan, M Rice; W Walsh, R Power, E Larkin; C Fennelly, R Hogan, A Fogarty. Subs: D Herity, C Fogarty, P Hogan, J Tennyson, W Phelan, P Walsh, B Kennedy, M Ruth, C Buckley, G Aylward, T Breen.
GALWAY: C Callanan; F Moore, K Hynes, N Donohue; J Coen, D Collins, A Harte; I Tannian, J Cooney; C Donnellan, C Cooney, D Burke, D Glennon, J Canning, D Hayes.
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)
