For the fifth time in eight years Galway and Kilkenny will contest the Leinster senior hurling championship final in Croke Park this weekend, with the Tribesmen favoured to lift the Bob O’Keeffe cup for the fourth time on Saturday evening (7pm ).
The timing of the last provincial decider between the pair in 2020 mattered not a jot, as no supporters were allowed in the ground on that Saturday evening in November. Kilkenny prevailed by 2-20 to 0-24, with Richie Hogan inspiring a comeback win for Brian Cody’s charges.
Now a Saturday evening fixture in the capital appears terribly short-sighted given the highly intriguing prospect of these two sides meeting again after a highly-charged group encounter in Pearse Stadium. Paired with a Joe McDonagh final between Kerry and Antrim earlier in the day, the prospect of a sparse attendance is a grim reality.
Galway have injury worries. David Burke, who was due to return to training this week after an ankle injury picked up against Dublin, and Brian Concannon, who has a niggling hamstring strain, are doubtful. Burke’s form in the middle third has been a big factor in Galway’s positive results, while Concannon’s scoring ability inside is hard to replace.
Thankfully Padraic Mannion will be available for selection after coming off with an ankle injury against Dublin, and the two-time All-Star may well be assigned a marking job on Kilkenny’s key forward Eoin Cody, having done so to good effect in the second half in Pearse Stadium.
While Kilkenny’s motivation following the controversial nature of Conor Cooney’s game-winning free last time out is undoubted, Galway are clear in their ambition to return to the All-Ireland final via the shortest route possible.
Henry Shefflin will have his Galway side prepped for battle, knowing the minimum requirement when taking on his native county is a ferocious appetite for hard work.
It will be a massive surprise if there are any changes to a defensive unit in which Daithí Burke’s form has improved with every outing, while Jack Grealish and Darren Morrissey have been solid in the corners.
Fintan Burke’s sideline cuts have been a valuable scoring tool, while Gearóid McInerney’s power in possession is hard to match.
One key component of Kilkenny’s attack failed to fire in Salthill, but could yet have a major influence on the outcome of this game. TJ Reid’s half time withdrawal was blamed on injury concerns, but the Ballyhale sharpshooter still has the capacity of open up the sturdiest of defences.
Cian Kenny and Martin Keoghan provided fresh attacking impetus in the landslide win over Dublin in Parnell Park, while Alan Murphy has become Adrian Mullen’s centre-field partner in their last two outings. It cannot be forgotten, though, that Wexford, with their year on the line, got the better of Cody’s men in Nowlan Park with a late flurry of scores.
Galway appear to have more aces up their sleeves, with Cathal Mannion and Joseph Cooney increasingly hard to contain. Extra time is very much a possibility, but the Tribesmen are tipped to grab an All-Ireland semi-final berth with both hands.
