MOSTLY HURLINGKilkenny will prove too strong for Offaly as they begin their quest for the coveted three-in-a-row, writes John Allen

AMERICAN SINGER/songwriter Paul Simon comes to Cork to play in a venue called the Marquee in early July. We'll be in the front row hopefully to hear this musical icon. It'll be all Paul Simon on the ipod for the next month. One of my favourites is a lesser known song called American Tune. It tells of the Pilgrim Fathers' journey to America.

In the 1600s when James I came to the throne in England, he adopted a moderate Protestant religious policy. Both Catholics and Puritans were forbidden to practise their religion. Many extreme Puritans left England for Holland where Puritanism was accepted,

In 1620, 100 Puritans, known as the Pilgrim Fathers, boarded the ship 'The Mayflower' bound for a new life in the New World.

After they had enjoyed good weather and fair winds early in the journey, they ran into more treacherous seas and had to endure fierce storms which tested the ship to the limit. The upper decks were leaky and winds were so fierce and the seas so high they could not carry a scrap of sail.

However by November 9th, 1620, the 'Mayflower' sighted what is now known as Cape Cod. But the crew still had to search for another month to find somewhere appropriate to land, a place they called New Plymouth, and on Christmas Day the 'Mayflower' could, finally, be safely anchored after an epic voyage.

Will the journey of the Mayflower resemble the journey the Kilkenny hurlers must make over the next few months before they arrive in their own 'New World?' Will they meet cross winds and fierce storms? What strength of wind will they encounter on their first day at sea?

I remember convening a meeting of all the backroom in Cape Town (only the most exotic locations for our staff meetings) in January 2006 to discuss the plans for the forthcoming season when we were setting out for our own New World. The three-in-a-row was on the horizon but we were preparing for the sharks and piranhas and the choppy waters that lay ahead. Already we were getting some unfavourable press and not a ball had been pucked. Some of our players were accused of being anti-social and maybe getting above themselves. In a quiet time of the hurling year (unless there's a strike ongoing) many of the journalists were exploring the three-in-a-row subject in great depth.

But we weren't going to fail for the lack of preparation. So while we were getting ready for all-comers, the rest of the hurling world was preparing to topple us at the first given opportunity.

We decided to shelve all talk of you-know-what and carry on as normal.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has been on the Mayflower before without reaching the New World. Other Kilkenny teams have also failed to dock when land was in sight.

So what makes this year different? Will the same crew do the business? Does he need some fresh legs? (or some sea legs in case of seasickness). Where is he most likely to meet the fiercest storms?

Can Joe Dooley and his merry men cause an upset before they head for the real deep water? Or will it be fair sailing out of Leinster with the new trade winds to guide them safely to within sight of land. Will the tribes from the west brew up a storm to cause a stunning upset or will it be left to Munster's finest to halt the history-makers at the final hour?

Unfortunately, because of global warming I'm finding it difficult to forecast the outcome but I'm fairly sure that the journey won't be easy.

I'll leave the last word on the subject to Paul Simon:

"We come on the ship they call the Mayflower

We come on the ship that sailed the moon

We come in the age's most uncertain hour

and sing an American tune

But it's all right, it's all right

You can't be forever blessed

Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day

And I'm trying to get some rest

That's all Im trying to get some rest."

It's difficult to see anything other than a Kilkenny win at the weekend. I'm sure Offaly will put up a gallant performance but I just can't see them winning. They will look to be competitive in both halves and hopefully will take some positives from the display.

The other semi-final is very finely balanced. There is a feeling abroad that Wexford are there for the taking. Dublin are more or less in the same position that they were in at this time last year but Wexford's league and challenge game results would indicate that they have gone back. The bookies don't necessarily agree, installing Wexford as favourites. The Dublin team has a more settled look about it and they should become the next batch of fodder for the Cats.

Tipperary went to Cork last weekend and broke the 85-year-old hoodoo of never having beaten the Rebels at home in the championship. They are a work in progress. Their backline is tight and strong. Shane McGrath, at midfield, is a shoo-in for an All Star already. Their forwards, though, in my estimation, are not yet good enough as a unit to achieve All-Ireland honours. Only Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly are showing consistency since the beginning of the year. Too many of their attackers blow hot and cold. This has to be a worry for manager Liam Sheedy. But they are improving and not too many teams will fancy meeting them.

So as the season progresses, there are a few down but nobody yet out.