Cody’s changes prove effective as Kilkenny overcome Galway challenge

We thought we’d seen Galway’s true form last week when they were being comfortably beaten by Kilkenny in the final stages of the first match. They were salvaged by five minutes of madness that on Saturday night proved to have been just that.

Over the entirety of the two days Galway looked slow, very static in the forwards and prone to fouling. The last five minutes of the drawn match turned out to be the exception rather than the rule.

I was disappointed Galway didn’t kick on and improve on the first day. After the early stages when they responded well to Kilkenny’s early goal and put together a lead it was all downhill. Even during their time in front I felt that they were just about holding on to the game.

Getting nothing from Joe Canning in any of the positions he was tried in was the biggest contrast with last week but there were other problems. Jonathan Glynn didn't have the same impact and Niall Burke had to be taken off after making a good contribution the first day,

Negative impact

All of this had a major, negative impact. Kilkenny’s improvement had a lot to do with their defence but it also included their midfield. Conor Fogarty was noticeably dropping back from the middle to sit in between the full back and half backs.

This better awareness of defensive needs meant that Galway and Canning in particular hadn’t the space around the middle that they had enjoyed the first day.

Jackie Tyrrell was more solid in the corner and Brian Hogan looked like he'd more to offer at centre back. Joey Holden was a plus as well in that he was quicker to cover behind the half-back line.

I’d still have two worries about Kilkenny. Although they were much better, the team was back to a fairly familiar looking outfit and looks virtually the same side that had such difficulties last year, allowing that Pádraig Walsh has been an outstanding addition.

Secondly they didn’t put Galway away as emphatically as they would have in the past and that’s a concern. At half-time they were just two clear when it should have been five or six. It then took a couple of late scores to pad out what had shrunk to a four-point lead going into injury-time at the end.

Some of their decisions were questionable, like TJ Reid going for goal in the first half from too far away when a point would have kept the scoreboard ticking over. Instead it created a glimmer of hope for Galway.

Good win

There’s no doubt though that this was a good win for Kilkenny. They must have been shocked to find themselves back in Tullamore for a match they’d effectively won a week previously. But Brian Cody’s changes worked.

Midfield was more functional and prevented Galway launching anything much from there. Richie Hogan mightn’t have been as noticeable but as a unit the line worked more effectively.

Pádraig Walsh was a revelation at centre forward, where he plays his club hurling and TJ Reid confirmed his new status as the main man for the county with a display of accuracy, energy and involvement. I was also impressed with Aidan Fogarty who came in to start at full forward. He's hurling very well this season.

It was a brilliant atmosphere at the start of the game and three or four minutes in, you felt it was going to be a cracker with a great buzz of anticipation running through the crowd in a full ground and a lovely setting.

Unfortunately it didn’t quite play out that way so the early anticipation was disappointed. There was a big support from Galway which must have been very disheartened by the performance.

Now they have a week to turn things around before heading to Thurles to take on Tipperary. It was a must-win match for Kilkenny however and they treated it that way.

Last year the replay seemed to be debilitating for Kilkenny whereas this time I think they’re enjoying it more.

The revived form of some of the established players has given the panel a bit of depth. They'll be delighted to be back in Croke Park and won't underestimate Dublin after last year. They'll be as motivated to win Leinster as they ever have been under Brian Cody.

A handful

They’ll need however to go up a gear because they can’t afford to leave Dublin hanging around in a match the way they did with Galway.

Waterford's win over Laois was expected even though Cheddar Plunkett's team have competed well this year. At full strength Waterford will be a handful for anyone. They've a lot of young talent.

I was slightly surprised that Offaly won yesterday. It's been a difficult year for Brian Whelahan and he'll be greatly heartened by the team's ability to dig out that result.