After Kilkenny's intimidatingly comprehensive defeat of Wexford, the question of the team's invincibility has surfaced once more. With a consensus emerging that the All-Ireland champions are indeed an exceptional side, it is also true that they are set in the unflattering context of a particularly weak Leinster championship.

The two men who have the most recent experience of defeating Kilkenny in championship believe that, whereas the champions are in pole position for this year's title, the issue is not a foregone conclusion. Michael Bond, in 1998, and Jimmy Barry-Murphy a year later led Offaly and Cork respectively to All-Ireland titles by defeating Kilkenny in the final.

"Kilkenny were awesome," says Bond, "in that they could take Wexford apart with only 14 men. They have great strength-in-depth on the panel. Subs come in to matches to prove a point. It's the hallmark of a great team that they can keep going for 70 minutes, particularly in a game like hurling where players get so many knocks.

"Their backs are so strong, wonderful stoppers. Kilkenny have only conceded five goals in the last three seasons (10 matches). Against us (in last month's Leinster semi-final) they rained ball after ball down on their forwards.

"They're also well able to mix it whereas a few years ago they were a bit timid."

Barry-Murphy came to the same conclusion as Bond. "It's early yet but they look awesome at the moment. Their hurling is brilliant, a combination of skill and physical strength. Offaly were fairly physical early on in the Leinster semi-final but Kilkenny are well able for it now - they won't be horsed out of it.

"Then there are players who have really raised their game. Philly Larkin is a player whose career could be tapering off but he is really coming into his own. I think as a team they see a chance of being together for a few years."

The lack of competition in Leinster has been noticeable over the past couple of years. That didn't inhibit them from winning last season's All-Ireland but Bond rejects the idea that Kilkenny are unbeatable.

"Galway had them on the rack last year and would have pushed them all the way but for the Andy Comerford goal. Galway could beat them this year, Tipperary could beat them. Kilkenny's great asset is that they capitalise on mistakes that the opposition make. But there may be a day when they won't capitalise or that the other team won't make the same number of mistakes.

"Every team has an off-day and if Kilkenny are playing a stronger team than Wexford, they could well be in trouble. Forwards can be marked but if the supply of ball is good, a team has to score. If a team can break their half-back line, they'll have a good chance."

Barry-Murphy is equally unwilling to call this year's championship. "I wouldn't think that they're certainties. Tipperary shouldn't be ruled out. All the team can do is win and win impressively but until Kilkenny's defence is really tested, they won't know how they'll react to pressure."

Both refer to the weekend's All-Ireland football qualifier matches and contrast them with the state of the hurling championship. "This summer we're seeing so many football games," says Bond, "and so much interest in the game. Wouldn't it have been great if hurling was getting the same exposure"?

"It shouldn't be a case of just worrying about Kilkenny," according to Barry-Murphy, "but it does seem a shame that a side like Clare, serious contenders who were only beaten by a point by Tipperary, should be out of the championship after one game. Looking at the overall picture this year, it's very hard to argue against the open draw.

"Football has shown that the new structure works well. It should have been implemented in hurling. The idea is to promote the game and I can only imagine what that win at the weekend's done for football in Sligo."

Again, both see it as premature to pronounce on Kilkenny's place in the history books on the basis of one All-Ireland win. But Bond pays tribute to their consistency in recent seasons.

"This is their fourth year at it full-time, hurling all year around and if this team keeps it up it will be one of the greatest of all time."