HURLING ANALYST:BEFORE THE Leinster final I didn't give Galway a chance. I said at the time that the teams were on totally different levels, which left me a bit stuck for an explanation at the end of an incredible performance.

They “out-Kilkennyed” Kilkenny and did so much damage early on that Kilkenny were blown away. Is that repeatable?

It’s still hard to get a level on where Galway are because unlike 2001 and 2005 when they were in the final because of big semi-final displays – and I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to hit that level again in 2012 – this time they’ve a more mixed portfolio.

The opening 20 minutes of the Leinster final were as good as I’ve seen from any team; they did everything you’d expect Kilkenny to do. Although the defeat of Cork was a far more edgy performance, when – admittedly late in the day – the shackles came off and they relaxed and played the semi-final with some abandon, they were impressive.

We also aren’t sure to what extent Galway were brilliant in the Leinster final and how much Kilkenny contributed to their downfall by sleep-walking into it, but we do know that the plan appeared to be to keep the ball out of Kilkenny hands. They managed this by breaking possession everywhere and created a “planned chaos”.

Kilkenny’s defence was turned by this quick-striking game. I don’t think anyone is going to out-catch the champions. Tipperary tried it but Kilkenny have more six-footers than most and even smaller players like Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney who can catch well above their height.

Galway got them out of that comfort zone, to which they returned against Tipp and managed to catch around 20 balls; they hadn’t done that in the Leinster final because they’d been knocked out of their rhythm.

Hurling is a game where you win the ball and move it as efficiently as you can and is ultimately decided by one-to-one battles. Galway brought to the Leinster final a determination to keep the ball moving as much as possible and not allowing possession to be simply the outcome of a man-to-man catching contest.

Even on the occasions when Kilkenny are outfielded, they are able to challenge the man in possession and smother his options by closing space down quickly.

Galway’s midfield and half backs, with Damien Hayes dropping back to help, went for everything and even if the deliveries weren’t ultra-precise, the quick ball turned the Kilkenny defence and forced them to head back to their own goal.

When defenders have been turned and are being chased by the hounds, the whole momentum of the game has changed.

Galway’s attack moved all the time and caught Kilkenny flat-footed. David Burke and Cyril Donnellan tormented the defence and the quality of Joe Canning was allowed to shine through rather than having to generate its own light. If Galway get him the same supply in the same positions tomorrow, he’s virtually unmarkable.

I think it’s going to be very difficult for Galway to replicate this tomorrow. In July Kilkenny were missing some of their best players.

Now JJ Delaney returns at full back and Michael Fennelly’s back to midfield where the early trouble started and the makeshift pairing of Paddy Hogan and the immensely promising Cillian Buckley weren’t able to stop Galway swarming and driving the ball forward. With them back Brian Hogan won’t be so exposed.

Michael Rice is however a loss.

It’s a pity he will be missing an All-Ireland in these circumstances. He’s a player who has soldiered against injury a lot and even made a difference when coming on during the Leinster final.

Kilkenny looked bewildered that day from the word go and were beaten after about 10 minutes. I can’t imagine that they’ll be so unprepared this time.

The start of the match is going to be hugely important. Galway mightn’t start as well as in the Leinster final but they have to cause problems from the start. Kilkenny will also go for it.

Against Tipp, within seconds Aidan Fogarty – another big addition since the last day – was up, bang! and over the bar.

I’m not as cocksure as I was about this in July but I still can’t see beyond Kilkenny because of their motivation to redress what went wrong, the exposure to their opponents’ game that day and the desire to help Henry Shefflin to a record ninth All-Ireland medal.

Finally, for all of Galway’s vast strides this year, Kilkenny still have the better players and crucially more strength in depth.