Kilkenny survive and prosper

A super match which Kilkenny narrowly deserved to win. They showed all the benefits of the Leinster championship campaign and Nicky Brennan will be delighted that his team's game has improved so much - to the point where they may well become favourites for the All-Ireland. Even before the match started, there was great discussion about the changes. Galway didn't line out as selected and everyone was wondering what effect the switches would have.

Moving Joe Cooney in at full forward appeared to bamboozle the Kilkenny defence at the start but by the end of the game, he was too far away from the action which deprived Galway of their most experienced player in the important closing stages.

The hurling was bad for the first five or 10 minutes while the teams settled down a bit, but Galway soon took over. This was most noticeable on the half-forward line where Kevin Broderick and Justin Campbell, assisted from the middle by Liam Burke, dominated in the first half and took apart their opponents' defence.

Kilkenny seemed obsessed with hand-passing the ball around, an approach that requires precision which didn't come off for them. Galway hurled tremendously well but were a touch fortunate with the goals scored.

The speed of the Galway forwards was vital, especially Campbell's which had Dan O'Neill in trouble from an early stage although when Liam Keoghan swapped from the other wing, he calmed things down.

In the first half, Kilkenny were unlucky not to get a couple of goals but in general didn't seem to be winning enough ball and certainly weren't striking it well which was strange because you'd expect Kilkenny striking to be top-class. Galway looked far superior despite all the match practice Kilkenny have had in Leinster.

After the interval it was a complete turnabout. This was epitomised by the introduction of John Power who always seems to bring something extra to the team when he comes on. In the first 11 minutes of the second half, Kilkenny scored 15 without reply.

This was a different team because they knew they were going out of the All-Ireland if they didn't buck up. At one stage PJ Delaney went down after receiving a wallop and Power went over to him, pulled him up and looked like he was telling him that there wasn't time for that and to get on with the match.

Power made a big difference. He may not be a particularly gifted hurler but he is so physical and uses his strength, crashing into the opposition and raising everyone's game. He also knows how to do the basics well and Kilkenny played a lot of good ball into space in the second half.

Then there was the excellent performance of DJ Carey who had a tremendous second half, scoring and flicking balls onto the big men around him at that stage - Power, Phelan and Brennan. His speed to the ball and his positioning were noticeable.

Viewed from behind, his second goal showed where the handball skills come in - his eye for the ball. Carey looked up and used his hurley when Nigel Shaughnessy was sticking up his hand.

Within minutes, Michael Phelan had scored another. The old dog for the hard road: surrounded by defenders, he managed to make space to kick the ball for a good goal.

By now, Kilkenny's tails were up and Galway were failing. Padraig Kelly's introduction as a substitute helped, but all the time you felt the advantage was with Kilkenny. They were better able to pick off scores, found space more easily. In fairness to Galway, they took the game by the scruff of the neck again but were always fighting their way out of defence to launch attacks.

It's hard to know what more Cyril Farrell could have done at the start of the second half. The team was leaking in so many places.

You can only use the substitutes and unless you've Batman and Robin on the bench, you have to make the best of it.

Galway brought on Michael Coleman but he had a big bandage on his left arm. Padraig Kelly made a difference when he came on but the big question is: how do you stop Carey when he has the right support?

I would say Cyril Farrell was blooding Galway yesterday. It was a very inexperienced team and as he said, they had effectively come straight from the training ground against seasoned opponents. So, to be fair to them, just think how they might have performed if, like Kilkenny, they had a couple of matches under their belt.

(In an interview with Sean Moran)