1992: All-Ireland semi-final

Kilkenny: 2-13, Galway: 1-12

Defeated in the previous year's All-Ireland final by Tipperary, Kilkenny swept through Leinster and came into this game as favourites. They were so nearly unhinged.

Galway, blending a mix of stalwarts from the glory years of the late 1980s along with newer faces like the Heleberts and Joe Rabbitte, played with tremendous verve and hit 1-8 in a mesmerising first half.

Justin Campbell, Joe Cooney and Liam Burke had the Kilkenny half-back line under incessant pressure and, with just 12 minutes remaining in the game, the westerners looked to have the winning of it.

But Kilkenny turned the screw at the vital time. Willie O'Connor managed to bottle up Campbell for the last quarter and, once DJ Carey was set loose deep in the forward lines, he became a lot more involved in the game.

With the Galway attack stifled, Carey cracked the point that re-asserted Kilkenny's supremacy and, from there, they never looked back. Three minutes later, Liam McCarthy marauded through and booted a goal, breaking the heart behind the Galway challenge.

That win set up the first All-Ireland meeting between Cork and Kilkenny for nine years, a final in which the Leinster side triumphed.

KILKENNY: M Walsh; E O'Connor, P Dwyer, L Simpson; L Walsh, P Phelan (0-1), W O'Connor; M Phelan, B Hennessy; L McCarthy (1-0), J Power, DJ Carey (0-7, 4 frees); E Morrissey (1-2), L Fennelly (1-1), A Ronan. Subs: C Heffernan (0-1) for L Walsh (half-time), J Brennan for Ronan (48 mins).

GALWAY: R Burke; P Cooney, S Treacy, S Helebert; T Helebert, M Coleman, G McInerney; B Keogh, P Malone; J Campbell (1-1), J Cooney (0-6, 5 frees), L Burke (0-3), M McGrath, J Rabbitte (0-2), M Kenny.

1993: All-Ireland final

Kilkenny: 2-17, Galway 1-15

A late flourish by the champions defined a flowing and utterly absorbing game. Galway returned to the final for the first time since 1990 with a solid victory over Tipperary and again showed promise enough to overcome Kilkenny at times in this game.

The match turned on an instant. Joe Cooney angled a clever pass out towards the sideline which fooled even the intended recipient. Kilkenny assembled for a standard sideline cut, which Adrian Ronan fetched and lobbed on towards goal.

His shot, dropping wide, was collected by PJ Delaney who weaved inside the arriving Sean Treacy and Murt Killelea and nailed a goal. With their opponents reeling, Delaney and DJ Carey whipped two swift points and, like that, the match was over.

It was a tough loss for Galway who had just worked themselves into a position from which victory was attainable. They excelled in patches, but had trouble finishing, which cost the team ultimately.

Again, Kilkenny demonstrated an intuitive knack for seizing matches at the perfect moment. They struck with devastating stealth during the crucial minutes. The full-forward line of Eamonn Morrissey, PJ Delaney and Adrian Ronan stung Galway for 1-8.

KILKENNY: M Walsh; E O'Connor, P Dwyer, L Simpson; L Keoghan, P O'Neill, W O'Connor; B Hennessy (0-1), M Phelan; L McCarthy (0-3), J Power (0-1), DJ Carey (0-4, 3 frees), E Morrisey (0-2), PJ Delaney (1-4), A Ronan (1-2).

GALWAY: R Burke; P Cooney, S Treacy, M Killelea; T Helebert, G McInerney, P Kelly (0-2, 1 free); M Coleman, M Malone; B Koegh, J McGrath, J Cooney (0-4, frees); M McGrath (0-2), J Rabbitte (0-4), L Burke (1-0).

1997: All-Ireland quarter-final

Kilkenny: 4-15, Galway 3-16

One of the lingering gems from a period that already carries the shroud of nostalgia. An out and out shoot-out, Kilkenny craft and know-how once more carried the day against an exciting young Galway team.

It was a time when both counties appeared to have lost their way a little in the midst of a hurling revolution initiated by Clare and extended in 1996 by Wexford. Kilkenny found themselves as the first-ever Leinster team to walk through the "back door".

Galway reminded the country of the wonderful attacking talent available, with Eugene Cloonan, Kevin Broderick and Franny Forde on fire as they blitzed Kilkenny for a 3-9 to 1-6 lead at half-time.

The Leinster team had a wind advantage and a nothing-to-lose attitude left to keep them alive. They used both wonderfully. John Power was introduced and destroyed the serenity which had marked Galway's earlier defensive play with his slashing, abrasive play.

DJ Carey held Thurles spellbound with a frightening display which yielded 2-8 on the day. Galway, however, didn't buckle and were still in the game during the final few minutes.

Kilkenny subsequently lost the semi-final to Clare, but this game was remembered as one of the best of the year.

KILKENNY: A Ronan; E O'Connor, L Simpson, W O'Connor; L Keoghan, P O'Neill, D O'Neill; P Larkin, A Comerford (0-3); P Barry, C Brennan (0-2), DJ Carey (2-8, 6 frees); PJ Delaney, M Phelan (1-1), C Carter (0-1). Subs: K O Shea (1-0) for Delaney (60 mins).

GALWAY: P Costello; F Gantley, W Burke, B Feeney; N Shaughnessy, C Moore (0-1), V Maher; L Burke (1-0), F Forde (0-3); J Campbell (0-3), J McGrath, K Broderick (1-4); A Kerins (0-1), J Cooney (1-0), E Cloonan (0-4).