There were some interesting similarities between Kilkenny’s victory over Offaly in the Leinster hurling championship last week and the Cats’ triumph over the same opposition in last year’s All-Ireland final...

First there was the media hype about Kilkenny superpowerdom and Offaly’s decline. In fact, as with last September’s game, it was not a case of Kilkenny playing Offaly off the park, as some would have us believe, but of more efficient use of a similar number of scoring chances - especially in terms of raising green flags. One significant difference was that, on this occasion, Kilkenny’s goals were gifted by very uncharacteristic poor defending by the Offaly backs (particularly the normally redoubtable Hubert Rigney and Kevin Martin).

A recurring weakness of the current Offaly team is the absence of a reliable goalscorer. This contrasts with previous All-Ireland winning sides, which had Johnny Flaherty in 1981, Pat Cleary in 1985, and Billy Dooley in 1994. As with last year’s All-Ireland, had Offaly been able to raise a green flag at a couple of crucial stages - midway through the first half and early in the second they would probably have made a real game of it. But just as Michael Duignan missed a crucial first-half chance last year, so John Troy messed up the one clear goal-scoring opportunity which came Offaly’s way in the same period last week.

There were two outstanding differences between last week’s Offaly team and those that have gone before. One of these was a high degree of nervousness, especially early in the game (although some players were affected throughout), leading to poor ball control and a hurried approach which contrasts with the steady assuredness which one associates with the great Offaly teams of yore. Thus, when the goal chance came his way, Troy snapped at it in haste, whereas in the past he would have taken the correct option of allowing the ball to run through to his protected left side, thus minimising the chances of being blocked.

The second key difference was Offaly’s preoccupation with striking the ball on the ground. It is true that there is far too little ground hurling in the modern game, and it almost defies belief that its cause should now be espoused by a coach from Galway, where the commitment to what that notable scribe, Kevin Cashman, terms the “jennet express” is as pathetic as it is total. However, just as in a game of poker one has to know 'when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em', so in hurling there is a time when it is better to lift and a time when one should pull on the ground. Indeed, Offaly themselves have been the masters of choosing the correct options in this respect over the years. Last week Offaly were pulling purely for the sake of it, and on several occasions this only served to give away possession to loose and advantageously positioned Kilkenny men.

In the end, Offaly managed a very respectable 18 points, to which could be added several very bad misses from good positions. It was surprising, given that goals were needed to haul back Kilkenny, that they did not throw Joe Errity up front to try to create openings with his drive and strength. The obvious switch would have been to move Hubert Rigney to his favourite position at centre back with Colm Cassidy coming on in the corner. Bringing on Cassidy in the forwards was unlikely to strike fear into the Kilkenny defenders or rescue the Offaly men from the fine mess they had gotten themselves into.

Johnny Pilkington was almost totally ineffective last week. While one might try to blame this on his unfortunate car crash a few days earlier, it is clear that the bould Johnny has been in decline for some time. Ultimately one supposes that his all-action game and forty fags a day had become fundamentally irreconcilable. John Troy also looks like someone who has passed his sell-by date. His languid style may have been okay when there were other strong forwards creating openings. Last week, when the need was for all shoulders to the wheel, he was a bit of a luxury. Ger Oakley once again showed that he does not possess the temperament for the big occasion, while Brendan Murphy needs a few more games to become attuned to what is needed at this level.

However, Offaly will have taken some solace from the brave second-half showing of young Rory Hannify. When he puts on another stone and gets some experience he could become as big a handful as his brother Gary. Joe Brady also seemed to slot in well when introduced to defence at half time. The key for Offaly now will be to get enough of the older brigade to stay on and nurture the scattering of nuggets thrown up by last year’s relatively successful minor and under-21 teams.

Kilkenny, of course, are blessed with the most awesome full forward line since the days of Brennan/Purcell/Keher. When one of them has a relative off-day (as DJ had last week), the others tend to row in with massive performances, as Charlie Carter did on this occasion. While their midfield and half-forward line are modest enough, further back a platform is provided by a really strong halfback line (although Eamon Kennedy’s one-sidedness may prove his downfall some day), while their fullbacks are tight and tidy, with JJ Delaney slotting in quite comfortably on his first big day. An Moltóir had previously noted this youngster playing for Johnstown in the Vocational Schools championship, but had not expected him to emerge into senior ranks as rapidly as he did.

Overall, Kilkenny have to be clear favourites to retain their All-Ireland crown. However, there is no such thing as an unbeatable team in any sport. The Cats themselves know all about turning over red-hot favourites, as Cork will ruefully recall from 1982 and 1992. It is hard to see Wexford in their current state stopping them, but the Model County have pulled it off in similar circumstances before, and even if the Cats do get out of Leinster, Limerick, Tipperary and maybe even Galway (who unexpectedly trumped the Noresiders in 1979 and 1986) will relish having a cut at the defending champions.