Ian O'Riordan talks to Antrim manager Dinny Cahill about Kilkenny's six-week break from action

Kilkenny will start Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Tipperary without having played a competitive or challenge game since their Leinster final win six weeks ago. According to Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill, whose team endured a similar lay-off before their All-Ireland quarter-final, such idleness can be a disadvantage when it comes to championship hurling.

"Oh, definitely," says Cahill. "You just can't beat the preparation of championship games. You can be training away for weeks but you still can't know for sure if you are going to be totally ready or not for the team you're going to be facing.

"And you don't really know either if a player or two has lost a bit of his touch. I think if the other team has been getting games then essentially they will be that bit better prepared."

While Kilkenny have been keeping to themselves since the win over Wexford on July 7th, Tipperary have been out twice since losing their Munster title to Waterford on June 30th. Two weeks later they regained some confidence with a win over Offaly and were then given a stimulating test by Cahill's Antrim side.

Last Sunday saw Waterford fail to maintain their finest form against Clare, and Cahill reckons their long lay-off was part of the problem: "I thought they were caught out a little by the lack of games last Sunday. They definitely found themselves in trouble, and were sucked into a sort of game that maybe they just weren't ready for."

According to Kilkenny secretary Pat Dunphy, an effort was made to set up a challenge game against Waterford in the last few weeks but that fell through. "It wasn't totally deliberate to go that long without a game," he says, "but that's the way it's worked out and it's not a problem for us."

Cahill agrees Kilkenny are less likely to suffer from staleness compared to most other counties who would have gone six weeks without a game. The strength and depth of their panel, combined with the diligent attention from manager Brian Cody, creates a team that is never too far from championship hurling. They also head for Croke Park off an unbeaten run that extends back to March 10th when they lost to Galway in the league.

"I know Kilkenny will be very, very well prepared for this game, championship practice or not. They have a huge number of experienced players in their panel, and they have the confidence still in them from the Leinster final win over Wexford

"And maybe challenge games aren't what they used to be either, in that it's next to impossible now to get good challenge games. Most counties will have their club championships started by now and a lot of players are involved in that."

Before their quarter-final with Tipperary, Antrim played two challenge games against Waterford but, in hindsight, Cahill doesn't rate their true importance: "Of course they were useful for us but it still wasn't championship hurling. It's hard to tell from a game like that if your team is really improving."

What the championship needs, says Cahill, is a revamp that favours a more balanced programme of games for every county. "We really get one game in Ulster before the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Sometime down the road there may be an All-Ireland series run on an open draw."

For Cahill, a Tipperary man, the question of who'll win on Sunday needs little thought: "Tipperary had a chequered campaign, and they have been blowing hot and cold. But they've been trying out new players and after the game against us I expect they'll be as well prepared as they could be. And I know they're starting to think again about winning the All-Ireland now."