Kilkenny will be keen to impress

Analysis: Galway still have open wounds from last year's meeting of these two but Kilkenny's motivation is equally strong: they want their crown back.

More importantly, they want another crack at the team who kept them scoreless from play in the second half of an All-Ireland final. Cork are waiting.

The same principle exists for any team facing Kilkenny; simply no margin for error or, most importantly, slow starts.

I'm looking forward to a great game, something like 2001 when Galway laid down an early marker. Before the ball was even thrown in, young Richie Murray shook Brian McEvoy with a hit and the Galway crowd grew a few inches because they knew their lads were up for it. The whole tempo lifted. A similar signal is required tomorrow.

I hope both teams can live up to last week's epic duel. The ante has certainly been raised by Clare's heroics. From the off last week, Clare went at Cork and the onus will be on Galway to do likewise. Conor Hayes will have seen throughout the season that Kilkenny's backs are not the unit they are perceived to be when moved around or ran at.

The likes of Damien Hayes and David Forde at centre forward know how to go at teams, while David Tierney, Murray and Niall Healy also bring plenty of pace. So the tools are there for an upset.

Damien Hayes, in particular, is a special player. For long periods against Tipperary the bounce of the ball went away from him but he kept plugging away. Eventually, he supplied the pass for Forde to score the first goal and then turned the game with a brilliant individual goal. Galway need 70 minutes from Hayes.

They have another trump card in Kevin Broderick, who would be the ideal lift in the last quarter for players and crowd alike.

The loss of Noel Hickey has forced a lot of rejigging in the Kilkenny full-back line. The balance seemed way off against Limerick who, despite not being a top-tier team at present, still caused plenty of damage.

To make this slight weakness tell, there must be lightning fast ball sent into make JJ Delaney and Peter Barry turn. Dropping ball into those two is pointless but make them face their own goal and they become vulnerable.

Galway know they are coming up against the same team that whitewashed them last year mainly because Brian Cody's men were coming off the back of a shock defeat to Wexford. Kilkenny wanted to send out a signal but equally important, Galway threw in the towel early on.

They had only played Down two weeks previously so it wasn't the ideal preparation. This time they have had the group games. They may not have been the most taxing but they did what was asked of them, especially beating Limerick down in the Gaelic Grounds.

They swept past the dark horses for the championship after Tipperary seemed to have the momentum throughout. Tipp's semi-final place looked secure until Galway showed their mettle.

The attack found the scores and the backs swamped every attacking ball in. That needs to happen again - but from the throw-in this time. Tony Óg Regan and Shane Kavanagh were switched early against Tipp and remain so for the Kilkenny game. Regan was sent to look after Micheál Webster and the even more daunting task of minding DJ comes next.

Mr Carey proved the last day he still has plenty to contribute. Kavanagh can't afford another shaky start and Ollie Canning needs to arrive with one of his top performances to stem this lethal attack.

If Kilkenny get a sniff of blood in the Galway defence the game will be over well before the finish.

There is very little hype around Kilkenny but mixed signals are coming from the camp. Training behind closed doors is one thing but moving Tommy Walsh to corner back to mark Hayes could be a grave error. Cody tried this last year and in my opinion it didn't work because their most consistent hurler wasn't in his most dangerous role, which is around the middle. He is the class hurler in the country and moving him effects the team's balance.

The form of Henry Shefflin is another problem that needs remedying. His start against Offaly in the championship has to be overlooked as Offaly lay down. Otherwise, he has been very subdued.

Last year, Shefflin kept the machine in overdrive. He decimated Galway. With his rare combination of strength and hurling ability if he shows up, Kilkenny cannot be stopped.

Kilkenny will be keen to show the country they are capable of regaining their lost crown.

Galway have always loved to meet them at the All-Ireland semi-final stage and going back to years like 1986 they have caused many an upset. Bring their A game and we are in for a cracker with potentially a great victory for hurling.

Still, I can't see past Peter Barry leading Kilkenny back to the second Sunday in September.