Kilkenny ready to repel Galway's challenge

Kilkenny v Galway: GUESS WHO'S coming to dinner? The rights and wrongs of Galway's inclusion in the Leinster hurling championship are in the past now but advocates of the idea could rightly ask one salient question: when has there last been such feverish anticipation about a game in the provincial competition?

The Cats have taken ownership of the province for a decade and are warm favourites to entertain their Galway guests for an hour and then escort them to the door.

Kilkenny are on a march towards the peak of the history scroll here and no matter how many All-Irelands this squad wins, they will want to achieve them in the proper manner – by claiming Leinster first.

It would be surely be galling to them if their stunning winning streak was ended by their brand new provincial foes.

Galway cannot have much of an emotional “feel” for the competition. Their ultimate aim is to win an All-Ireland; but collecting a Leinster medal along the way would surely be a bonus.

Also, John McIntyre faces a bit of a dilemma. Faced with a choice, would the Galway manager prefer to beat Kilkenny now and take his chances if and when the sides met in the cut-throat atmosphere of Croke Park? Or would a good performance be sufficient for the time being? Certainly, McIntyre has picked a bold team, with most of the old guard held in reserve.

Shane Kavanagh has been given the nod at full back. Eoin Lynch moves up a line to partner Kevin Hynes at midfield. With Kevin Hayes suspended, Cyril Donnellan has been selected at centre forward and, along with Aonghus Callanan and Andrew Smith, faces a mammoth task in making his presence felt by the experienced Kilkenny half-back trio. Galway’s full-forward line has been on fire for club and county.

With Kilkenny missing four central players in Noel Hickey, Brian Hogan, James “Cha” Fitzpatrick and Derek Lyng, they ought to be slightly vulnerable. Yet their team sheet hardly scans that way. This is an ideal stage for Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice to impress. The Kilkenny half-forward line is smouldering with talent, strength and aggression.

Overall, the team looks set to dominate in the air, though Galway will look to test their overall pace. Kilkenny will work like demons – and the tight pitch at Tullamore will help to disrupt the quality of the Galway supply to Joe Canning and company. Galway will have to bring a corresponding work ethic and aggression to the table. The riveting club match between Portumna and Ballyhale last February adds more edge to this encounter.

GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning: F Moore, J Lee, A Cullinane; E Lynch, K Hynes; A Callanan, C Donnellan, A Smith; D Hayes, J Canning, N Healy.

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, J Tennyson, J Dalton; M Fennelly, M Rice; H Shefflin, M Comerford, E Larkin; E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.

In the last episode: In July 2007, Ger Loughnane brought his Galway team into the All-Ireland quarter-final against the reigning champions. For an hour the teams engaged in a high-octane, riveting battle. But Kilkenny took a deep breath and flashed 2-4 past Galway in the last 10 minutes. It added to Kilkenny's reputation for moving into an unreasonable gear when big matches are hanging in the balance.

On your marks:Galway hurling people waited anxiously all week before hearing Joe Canning would be fit to start. Last year's sublime exhibition Canning gave against Cork promised reasons for optimism. This is his first crucial test against Kilkenny and JJ Delaney fills the full-back berth in Noel Hickey's absence. Canning's stick work and his formidable physical strength render him a unique threat but it is his temperament, composed and aggressive, that makes him inestimably important to Galway.

Gaining ground: Despite some criticism of the venue, Tullamore is a fine provincial stadium, compact and atmospheric and a capacity crowd of 20,000 is expected.

Just the ticket: Stand €30 (€5 for children on family ticket prices. Terrace €20 (€3 for children on family ticket prices). Tickets available through county boards and from the Leinster Council.

You bet: Kilkenny a daunting 2/11. Galway 9/2. A draw is 14/1.

Crystal Gazing:For all their inconsistencies, Galway are one of the few counties capable of producing the brand of witchcraft and off-the-cuff hurling capable of knocking Kilkenny out of their stride. This is a relatively inexperienced Galway team and they are perhaps worth a punt, given the odds. The goal tally could well be high on both sides. But it would be the biggest hurling shock in years if the Cats were sent packing from Leinster. Kilkenny to win.