Galway v Kilkenny Sunday, Semple Stadium 6.15 On TV: Network 2: Brian Cody is protesting too much when he says the public reaction to his side's Leinster championship defeat by Wexford has been disproportionate for a defeat brought about by a last-minute goal, writes Seán Moran

After all it was the Kilkenny manager who left only three outfield positions unchanged when he made his selection for the qualifier against Dublin.

Anyhow Wexford were worthy winners.

That defeat takes the All-Ireland champions to an unfamiliar place, the qualifier series and its random perils. There tomorrow they face the team that took their league title in May. In the interim Galway have largely stood still watching the world speed up but are reportedly in good spirits with a settled team.

Kilkenny's plight is a natural one for any team that has been on the road as long and as successfully. Retaining the edge becomes harder and harder.

The slide from favour of Michael Kavanagh was visible in the league match against Galway earlier this year. Given how he suffered at the hands of Damien Hayes, his demotion for tomorrow is not that surprising and the likely corner combination of JJ Delaney (likely to switch with James Ryall) and Tommy Walsh is more obviously configured for the speed of Hayes and Kevin Broderick.

Form in the forwards is another concern for Kilkenny with neither Henry Shefflin nor Martin Comerford at their best.

None of this should ignore Galway's potential pressure points and there are quite a few untested at this sort of level, from David Hayes at centre back through centrefield to David Forde on the 40 - the whole central diamond in other words.

At the extremes Galway have been excellent. Diarmuid Cloonan has been solid at full back whereas his corners Damien Joyce and Ollie Canning were little short of sensational in the league final against Waterford. Full forward Eugene Cloonan is in prolific scoring form even by his standards.

This is a critical match for both sides. Kilkenny will lose out on their Holy Grail of three successive All-Irelands - achieved for the only time nearly a century ago.

For Galway, however, another false dawn generated by the league would be a disaster for a county that has promised infinitely more than it has delivered since last winning the All-Ireland.

Now in a state of uncertainty Kilkenny face one of the primary contenders for their crown. Galway should win.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, David Hayes, F Moore; F Healy, T Regan; A Kerins, D Forde, D Tierney; Damien Hayes, E Cloonan, K Broderick.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; J Ryall, N Hickey, T Walsh; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; K Coogan, D Lyng; C Phelan, M Comerford, E Brennan; J Hoyne, DJ Carey, H Shefflin.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).