Preview: Galway have a better panel but Kilkenny’s superior team to shade it
FINAL COUNTDOWN: Galway's Darach Fahy will start the Leinster final in place of the suspended Eanna Murphy. Pic: ©INPHO/Leah Scholes.
In the age of where puck-out is power, the import of Darach Fahy’s absence can’t be understated here.
Suspended Fahy has been favoured for the last and while Éanna Murphy will take the promotion in his stride, it is a blow.
As much as Eoin Cody missing out for Kilkenny? Both managers have been given enough time to anticipate their players would be unavailable but that electricity Cody can conjure is a major part of what’s separated The Cats from the chasing pack in Leinster since 2020.
Notwithstanding the loss of Cody and Shane Murphy, who is named on the panel at least, Kilkenny have settled on their team. Billy Ryan’s form augurs well for this game and beyond and TJ Reid’s slow burn should glow brighter with each game.
Cian Kenny was honing in an All-Star last season and is far more suited to midfield. Even if he and Jordan Molloy aren’t the biggest midfield partnership in the world, they are rarely outworked.
Their failing is in the depth of their squad. Fionán Mackessy gives them heft off the bench and surely David Blanchfield can rediscover his hurling but outside of them there isn’t much in the way of like-for-like substitutes.
Compare that to Galway who have the sagely Conor Cooney in their reserves, a goal-getter in Anthony Burns and Ronan Glennon who is getting back to his 2023 self. That’s not to mention their defensive options in Darren Morrissey and Jack Grealish.
Galway have the players to ensure they can finish as strongly as they hope to start but the better team appears to be Kilkenny who are set to go with 12 of the 15 that began the 12-point group win in April.
Cody is undoubtedly a loss but a combination of muscle memory and bullheadedness can ensure Kilkenny barge their way to the five-in-a-row.
Kilkenny.
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