Whereas a major focus in tomorrow's Erin All-Ireland hurling final will be on the potential for Kilkenny to complete a clean sweep of the major titles, there is a bleaker perspective. The treble of minor, senior and under-21 hasn't taken place since 1975 when Kilkenny last achieved it. But Galway are in the midst of a darker sequence.
Since the county last won the under-21 title in 1996, Galway have been beaten in five of the past six finals. It is a depressing record, which has been accompanied by declining levels of interest on the part of the county's support and culminated in last year's mortification before a crowd of about 30,000, nearly all of whom were from Limerick.
That was hard on John Hardiman, Galway's manager, who led much the same players to back-to-back minor All-Irelands and he returns this year with realistic hopes of putting the record straight. The semi-final win over Tipperary was achieved after a late, late goal saved the westerners and pushed the match into extra time.
That at least is a more recent run-out than Kilkenny have had. The Leinster final was over two months ago and didn't pose as great a challenge as Kilkenny expected with Dublin faltering on the threshold of taking a grip on the match. Kilkenny decided enough was enough towards the end and rattled off the points for a comfortable victory.
The weather that evening in Carlow was wet and drizzling and not the ideal showcase. Three of the Leinster champions' line-out - JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh and Conor Phelan - played in last weekend's senior final and a further four were on the bench.
One of the advantages of Kilkenny's underage supply line is that there isn't an unreasonable burden placed on the senior players with the under-21s. In the Leinster final Delaney marked Dublin's danger man Conal Keaney and this he accomplished - comfortably - without having to save the world elsewhere.
This looks like a battle of defences. Galway are hard and driven in the backs and have been strengthened by the return of Eoin Lynch to centre back. Kilkenny have the latest Hickey, Canice, at full back and he is highly rated in the county, a reputation he more than lived up to when marking Daithí O'Callaghan in the Leinster final.
At centrefield Tommy Walsh was quiet in the same match but his form last Sunday raises expectations for tomorrow but the Galway pair of Brian O'Mahony and senior footballer Kevin Brady will scrap very hard.
It's up front that the imponderables kick in. Galway are able to bring back Tom Tierney at centre forward and he will add some heft to a line where the emphasis is more on finesse. Ger Farragher plays at full forward and scored well against Tipperary (1-10 - 1-3 from play), his free-taking a formidable weapon. But Hickey will test him severely.
Kilkenny's attack looked a bit prosaic against Dublin even allowing for the conditions but as might be expected they worked hard and provided the necessary cut - Willie O'Dwyer and Aidan Fogarty especially - when the match required it.
Despite the presence of senior All-Ireland medallists Kilkenny are more of a unit than Galway, who have the more flamboyant individuals. It's not the best under-21 side the county has produced but there's a feeling here that Kilkenny can ride the waves breaking after last Sunday's double success and cause a bit of an upset and further agonies for Galway.
GALWAY: A Divinney; D Collins, T Óg Regan, F Moore; S Kavanagh, E Lynch, A Cullinane; B O'Mahony, K Brady; R Murray, T Tierney, D Hayes; K Burke, G Farragher, D Greene.
KILKENNY: D Herrity; M Phelan, C Hickey, G Joyce; K Coogan, J Tyrrell, JJ Delaney; T Walsh, S Hennessy; C Phelan, P Cleere, W O'Dwyer; A Fogarty, M Rice, B Dowling.
Referee: M Wadding (Waterford).
Kilkenny v Galway
Semple Stadium, Sunday, 3.0
On TV: TG4
