Kilkenny have the revenge factor and based on the Tipp game are as brilliant as ever. They will go in as the strongest of favorites. and I see shrewd hurling minds like Mac and Turenne are already writing Galway off.
Galway have beaten Kilkenny by 10 points already winning a Leinster Championship in the process and they will show no fear whatsoever. This was the game Joe Canning was born to play in.
I think Liam [font=sans-serif][size=3]is heading west[/size][/font]
Poorly formatted title. Bad omen for Galway. Good thing this isn’t the official thread.
Im gonna go with galway
Anthony Daly says it looks ‘ominous’ for Galway.
Lovely
I will be pledging my full support to Galway.
Foregone conclusion. What happened to your Minors today Laz? I missed it. Any stand out hurlers?
One thing is for certain - Liam McCarthy is staying in the eastern province.
Tipp were better but I though Galway would grow into the game more as the 2nd half progressed. Was a gripping game until the ref ruined it sending off our captain Paul Killeen for a 2nd yellow, neither yellow being worthy of a foul let alone a booking. The game petered out into a challenge match thereafter. Willie Maher had Tipp well organised and they dominated midfield. John McGrath was brilliant for them and Mark McArthy scored a super goal. Our best player I thought was Eanna Burke.
Galway have my full support
Kilkenny will be back strong favourites after today and that will suit Galway down to the ground. Unlike the Leinster final tho they are not an ‘unknown’ quantity as such and tho I didn’t see their semi they will have to instigate plan B and C the next day out if an average Cork team was able to curtail them.
It doesn’t matter what Anthony Daly says…Anthony Cunningham is the only man the Galway lads need to listen to for the next few weeks. It will be a huge challenge, but this Galway team certainly won’t be going to Croker simply to make up the numbers. Kilkennys hunger may have been sated somewhat by todays victory, and they certainly won’t have the same savage hatred of Galway as they would have of Tipp. While they will have revenge for the Leinster final on their mind, who knows what doubts may creep in if Galway can get off to a decent start in the All Ireland Final. It’ll make for a fascinating contest, but with the shrewd management of Anthony Cunningham, and maybe a little bit of help from St. Anthony, the West might just awaken.
My heart with Galway, my head with Kilkenny. Should be a good game whatever, the build up will be immense, excitement levels in Galway must be tremendous altogether.
Galway are going to Croke Park simply to make up the numbers. Kilkenny will destroy them.
Poor ol Galway, its almost like the Leinster Final didnt happen.
Granted I haven’t seen the semi yet, but by all accounts Tipp’s tactics, whether by design or through certain players going rogue, will surely not be repeated in any way by Galway. They’ll be a far sterner test for Kilkenny and they seem to have a shrewd coach who can adapt to specific games. And they have Joe Canning. Out of hand statements that Kilkenny will walk this based on the win over Tipp can’t be taken seriously. Fact still remains that Galway destroyed Kilkenny in Leinster, at least for a half and have come through the dodgy second game where they had to show some consistency against a Cork team playing well above their station. I’d say plenty in Kilkenny will be more than nervous about this final, particuarly Locke who will now don sackcloth and cry poor from the rooftops.
Look Fitzy, I’m not trying to wind up people here but Galway beat a team without Delaney, Fennelly and Rice… Delaney is quite simply the best defender I’ve ever seen and how he has only 4 All Stars is beyond me. He is worth 10 points to Kilkenny for a start. Canning won’t get a puck of the ball near the goal…
Fair enough Fagan, all good points, I just think its a bit premature to be talking about Kilkenny destroying Galway. Kilkenny will more than likely win it, but it will be a sight closer than what was by all accounts a strange semi final. I just hope it is a competitive game.
Well said Fitzy. Kilkenny went in a point down at half time yesterday to a Tipperary team who hadn’t even played particularly well. They blew Tipperary out of the water in the second half, but it must be said that Tipperary provided very little resistance and tactically shot themselves in the foot. The worst thing from a Galway point of view is the boost in confidence yesterdays win will have given to Kilkenny players who hadn’t been at their brilliant best this year.
The Galway midfield of Tannian and Smith, Tony Óg at centre back, and Hynes at full back will be targeted by Cody as Galways soft centre, Those boys are really going to have to stand up and be counted in the Final, if they can hold it together, then Galway will push Kilkenny all the way.
Some great examples of wishful thinking here.