Kilkenny v Wexford: With only slightly less expectation than recent years, Kilkenny take to the championship stage tomorrow primed, it seems, for yet another season as hurling's headline act. Once again any assessment on why they might not win on the first day out involves a search for the unexpected, a guessing game, a trip through the remote senses.
It's billed as the first step in their quest for a third successive All-Ireland title, but more significantly it opens Kilkenny's bid for a seventh successive Leinster title. They're unbeaten in the province since the loss to Wexford in 1997, and such dominance shows no sign of decay. This latest meeting should prove that.
It's still a Kilkenny team with so many players in their prime. All but three of the 15 who started in the All-Ireland final against Cork last September will take to the field again in Croke Park tomorrow. Wing back Brian Hogan, who shone for county and Leinster club champions O'Loughlin Gaels, is the sole championship debutant, and the two other changes, Pat Tennyson and Jimmy Coogan, are as seasoned as need be.
In fact, that Coogan got the nod ahead of DJ Carey in the full-forward line has been the only talking point about manager Brian Cody's selection. Carey has already endured his share of injuries this season, most recently a neck strain, and was deemed a tad short of starting fitness. Yet he'll most likely play some role, and if things aren't going Kilkenny's way there are no substitutes capable of making a greater impact.
Last year's hurler of the year, JJ Delaney, moves to corner back in place of James Ryall, making way for Hogan, while Tennyson replaces Paddy Mullally at midfield. Every other position is still cemented, from Noel Hickey at full back to Martin Comerford at full forward.
So where does all of that leave Wexford? Their league form was even more inconsistent and, worse still, was clouded by rumours of player-managerial discontent. John Conran has blamed the latter on disgruntled local media, and most of the vibe coming from the players in the recent weeks has been surprisingly upbeat.
Unlike Kilkenny, though, genuine injury problems have affected team selection. Paul Codd and Larry Murphy are the most costly absentees, but, like DJ Carey, may make an appearance if fully required.
There is also some concern at the positioning of the three championship debutants: Malachy Travers at corner back, John O'Connor at wing back and Tomás Mahon at midfield. Both Travers and Mahon appeared in last summer's All-Ireland semi-final replay against Cork, but even with Darragh Ryan and Rory McCarthy it's not quite the battle-hardened defence you'd want to send in against Kilkenny.
Codd's absence has also taken an obvious scoring source out of the attack. The only consolation is that Barry Lambert was passed fit.
What Wexford won't be lacking is speed, agility and quickness - the very philosophy of fitness trainer Jim Kilty, who formerly worked with Tipperary and still works with several Irish athletes. Against a team like Kilkenny, though, that only goes so far. They may well enjoy the better start and promise a lot, but when it comes to pressing authority over the 70 minutes only one team will have the final say. And that's Kilkenny.
KILKENNY (SH v Wexford): J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, JJ Delaney; S Dowling, P Barry, B Hogan; D Lyng, P Tennyson; J Hoyne, H Shefflin, T Walsh; E Brennan, M Comerford, J Coogan.
WEXFORD (SF v Kilkenny): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D Ryan, D O'Connor; R McCarthy, D Ruth, J O'Connor; A Fenlon, T Mahon; B Lambert, E Quigley, P Carley; M Jordan, M Jacob, R Jacob.
