If last week's Guinness All-Ireland hurling semi-final was as clearcut as it was in prospect and yet so spectacularly confounded expectation, what is the world to make of tomorrow's meeting between Kilkenny and Galway? Whereas Kilkenny have obvious advantages, there's a fair bit to be said in Galway's favour.

Three weeks ago they went into their first championship outing against a seasoned Tipperary side with three big matches under their belt. In previous years, Galway have been caught flat at this quarter-final stage, either getting blown out of it or losing big leads. So it was greatly to their credit that they emerged from an edgy, attritional encounter which was decided by which side could hold its nerve better in the final quarter.

They managed to do so without playing particularly well in those sectors where they were expected to pose a threat. In the end, the opportunism of Eugene Cloonan and the acquisitive claw of Joe Rabbitte cleared the way to a narrow but character-building victory.

It is reasonable to expect that Galway will build on that performance now that they have broken the barrier of putting a serious championship match behind them. Matt Murphy and his selectors have moved to strengthen the defence by relocating Ollie Canning from the attack to left corner back to strengthen the restraints on a resurgent Charlie Carter.

Yet there will still be concerns about the defence in the face of Kilkenny's voracious forwards. Carter's return to form has been noted, but otherwise the Leinster champions have a number of interchangeable options. DJ Carey mightn't be enjoying the sort of year he had up until last September, but the essence of his threat is goalscoring and, against Offaly, the widely acknowledged turning-point was his goal after half an hour.

John Power has impressively put behind him the trauma of last year's All-Ireland and provided the physical focus off which the attack launched itself. The likely story of this match is the extent to which Galway's presumed improvement can curb Kilkenny's most obvious assets.

A provincial campaign as uninformative as Leinster's mightn't be the greatest data base, but it does appear that Kilkenny have improved on last year. Certain adjustments have been made around the field and have worked so far. Noel Hickey was very impressive at full back and Eamonn Kennedy played well in front of him.

Up front, Stephen Grehan is the only newcomer and, if the impression was more of solidity than inspiration, he slotted in well. Denis Byrne's return to the attack has also turned out positively after last season's rehabilitation at centrefield. His swap has also suited Brian McEvoy, whose energetic manoeuvres are more obviously accommodated in the middle.

This sector looks a tough challenge for Galway. McEvoy and Andy Comerford are big and athletic, whereas Rory Gantley and Alan Kerins are less physical albeit equally athletic. How Galway fare here will be a major indicator.

The crucial confrontation is likely to centre on Rabbitte's input on the half-forward line. With David Kennedy struggling to cope with the aerial bombardment, Eamonn Corcoran was badly missed in the Tipperary defence, but Kilkenny are much better served by the presence of Peter Barry, who, despite the bouquets tossed to Pat O'Neill, was the team's outstanding defender in last year's All-Ireland. Under his supervision, Rabbitte will struggle to fetch the amount of ball he got the last day.

Cloonan's value to Galway was proved the last day. It was possible to be sceptical about his value to what had been a deadly full forward line during the league, but on the day he lightly disposed of such reservations.

Mentally there is the danger Galway have already made progress this season whereas Kilkenny's championship will be a disaster if they don't win the All-Ireland. But the central problem for Galway is that, aside from Kilkenny's apprenticeship being long and bitter, they have demonstrated a range of performance which exceeds that managed so far by their opponents. The feeling is that this will be a tight match, but Kilkenny's potential all around the field is impossible to ignore.