There's only one place to start today folks - Kilkenny v Galway. A blip by Kilkenny or have the years finally caught up with them?
Anyone - and I haven't seen too many - writing off Kilkenny need their ceanns examined. Remember last year's league final. They've a shorter timespan to recover but they'll be meaner now.
I don't think anyone IS writing off Kilkenny, but it does give us all an opp to write up Galway!
Outstanding Donna but of almost no use (they did win a Leinster title!) if they don't drive on from it.
Never saw it coming given how porous Galway defence had been against Westmeath and Offaly. A fantastic performance by them and they've finally shown what they're capable of. Can they sustain it, is the question.
A really good day for hurling. Blows the championship wide open. Am sure Clare and Limerick, inter alia, took a lot of heart from it. And Waterford too with next Sunday in mind.
Just for the day that was in it, as Enda says, it was great to see. Just enjoyable. And fresh. But I know I wouldn't like to be playing Kilkenny next.
Enda, you had written before the weekend that Galway needed to be almost perfect to win, were the perfect though or were Kilkenny off their game in a way we've rarely seen before under Cody?
Am kicking myself, said to the Sweeney/Manning twins before the game that if Galway won, they'd win big - dammit!
I think the only mistake Galway made yesterday was letting The Sunday Game broadcast live from their hotel. The king isn't dead yet.
And what about Anthony Cunningham lads? Whatever IT is, he has it. A remarkable record as manager
Doesn't it show the importance of positive mental attitude? Of going out and having a cut? Terry: Galway WERE almost perfect, in terms of attitude and application. And Kilkenny WERE completely off their game. The second part was by far the more surprising part!
Colm, presume you meant Galway had beaten KK nine times in championship, only won twice afterwards; MUST do better than that this year, make the final at least.
Just thinking back to Cunningham after the league game in Nowlan Park, Daragh, when they had their rears handed to them by Kilkenny. The defence was all at sea that day. Remarkable what a difference a few months makes.
Yes, D, it'll now be the biggest downer of all time - even by Galway's standards - if they get chinned in the semi-final!
Galway will be warned at least. 2005? Beaten by Cork the next day. 2001? Beaten by Tipp the next day. Bubbles burst.
On Sunday Game visiting Galway hotel - don't think there's any issue there, it was history made after all. If Clare had won in Munster would anyone complain if Marty went to their hotel afterwards? Non-issue. On Anthony Cunningham, great job by him and his management team, Galway were perfectly primed.
Were they off their game from the start or did they actually meltdown because of what happened so early? Henry missing frees, Tommy having a fresh air from a line-ball?
Got the feeling yesterday that the last thing Galway needed was a big break. Momentum is key to a side like that. Will they suffer from the wait or will it help get their feet back on the ground?
Very impressive about Galway was the way they answered every KK attack in the second half. Got first point of the half also, VIP!
Kilkenny were off their game from the start. Galway began in top gear and stayed there. Er, I don't think we need be worrying about a Galway/Cork final just yet..!
July celebrations always looks so premature, Diarmuid. As I tweeted last night, three cheers for Kilkenny in July sound so redundant.
Warnings for Galway are appropriate. You could even see the dangers in the second half when they starting becoming self-indulgent. Tony Óg soloing up the field, trying to play the sliotar off the stick over a Kilkenny lad's head and blind hand-passes. Stupid stuff. Instead of pucking it over the bar. Very dangerous. Apart from the fact that it will be stored.
I think Daragh they were a bit shell-shocked, reacted badly - in fact didn't react at all. Still a long way to go though in this year's championship.
Did you see their faces on the field afterwards, Bren? Fuming with themselves.
Good point, P Buckley, about those ones going over from way out the field. It's your day alright when that happens. Goes without saying it won't happen every day for Galway.
What about the Canning and Burke points? Surely they will two of the most memorable moments from this year's championship.
Inspirational performance #galwaygaaby MorrisseyDonna via twitter 7/9/2012 12:02:19 PM
Beaten by a better team yesterday , down but not out ! , roll on the qualifiers #Kilkennygaaby Cardynal6 via twitter 7/9/2012 12:05:00 PM