Can familiar Kilkenny-Galway plot find a way to surprise us?

On the law of averages, Galway are due a win against Kilkenny tomorrow. Scrap that; on that law of averages Galway are overdue a win against Kilkenny tomorrow.

Six meetings since the 2012 Leinster final. Two draws and four Kilkenny victories, the most recent of them last summer’s brace, both of them little more than handy saunters. On the bridle to halfway, made ground rounding the home turn, soon clear, never troubled. Winner all right.

On the face of it, the very fact they haven’t beaten Kilkenny since blowing them away in the first half of that provincial decider four years ago renders Galway more dangerous, not less dangerous. But yes, we hear you: statistics won’t win it for the challengers.