Kilkenny firepower to take out Galway arsenal

All-Ireland Minor Final Replay preview: These two sides produced a classic minor final last Sunday but the move away from Croke Park and the screaming hordes of Kilkenny fans has to be an advantage to Galway. Doesn't it?

If Kilkenny produce a full hour of hurling such as they played, in fits and starts, last week the number of supporters they have in attendance will not matter one iota and Mattie Murphy's Galway side may yet rue not putting them away in the final two minutes of the drawn encounter.

Murphy has released the same team as last week but will not finalise tactical selection until tomorrow morning. He stated that John Hughes will start after making a scoring contribution off the bench. A few positional switches are also expected. Kilkenny have made no changes.

Kilkenny's latest star in the making, 16-year-old Richie Hogan, had one of the quietest games of his life last time yet still managed to claim the all-important equalising point in injury time. He should make a more significant impact this week.

If Galway have learned anything from the drawn match, it is that they will attempt to close down the acres of space previously afforded to wing forwards Gavin Nolan and Nicholas Kenny. If Galway can prevent a repeat of the 0-7 that pairing scored then Kilkenny's edge will be significantly blunted.

And so the game is likely to go. Others will rise, while those who shone last time may fade.

Galway captain and centreback John Lee will look to have a greater impact on the contest. Karl Wade proved last week what a talent he is and he can, again, be expected to make his mark on the game. And, after his two goals, Kilkenny will tighten their grip on Barry Hanley.

The recovery process is just as important. After a long year of hurling both managers rested their charges this week.

It should be Wade's day but if young Hogan, Maurice Nolan and Eoin Guinan let loose on the scoreboard the Kilkenny dominance of minor level will continue.

In short, Kilkenny have the firepower to prevail but Galway still have the larger arsenal.

KILKENNY: L Tierney; J Maher, K Joyce, E Walsh; N Prendergast, R Maher, S Prendergast; P Hartley, P Hogan; G Nolan, M Nolan, N Kenny; R Hogan, E O'Donoghue, E Guinan.

GALWAY: M Herlihy; P Loughnane, G Mahon, C O'Donovan; M Ryan, J Lee, K Kilkenny; A Carey, D Kennedy; D Whyte, K Hynes, F Coone; K Wade, J Canning, B Hanley.