Kilkenny's demolition of holders Galway would suggest they will have too much for Munster champions Clare in the ESB All-Ireland minor hurling final.

While it's never advisable to read too much into All-Ireland semi-final performances, Kilkenny's five-star showing against Galway was truly exceptional and makes them the hottest of favourites to claim a 20th Irish Press Cup at the expense of a Clare team who were put to the pin of their collar by Dublin.

Richie Mulrooney's latest crop of young Cats are 1/16 on to regain the ESB All-Ireland minor hurling title, having lost to Galway in last year's decider. By contrast, odds of 15/2 are available on Clare to upset the formbook and win a first All-Ireland in the grade in 13 years.

While the Banner County can take encouragement from last year's All-Ireland under 21 final when they defeated the Cats, their joint-management team of Gerry O'Connor and Donal Moloney will realise they have a huge task on their hands. Kilkenny's 19-point trouncing of the reigning All-Ireland champions was as good a performance as seen at this level in recent years and was not unlike the displays we have become accustomed to from Brian Cody's senior side.

Ominously for Clare, it wasn't the first hammering Kilkenny have meted out this summer. With the exception of their first round win over Dublin, all of the Cats' winning margins have been in double figures. They've twice beaten Dublin comfortably which must be a worry for Clare as they had just a point to spare over the same opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Banner deserve credit for the manner in which they have recovered from a disastrous start to the championship, They didn't look like a team that would end up in an All-Ireland final after losing their Munster championship opener to Waterford by 0-16 to 1-21 at Walsh Park. The Deise were the better team throughout and were never headed after full forward Cormac Heffernan first-timed Pauric Mahony's pass past Ronan Taaffe in the 11th minute.

Fortunately for Clare, a 1-21 to 2-7 playoff victory over Kerry provided them with the perfect pick-me-up. Niall Arthur top-scored with 0-9, 0-7 coming from frees, while Aaron Cunningham bagged 1-4 in what was a routine win.

A quarter-final against Tipperary represented a step-up in class for Clare who showed real mettle to hold on for a 0-17 to 1-13 victory after having wing back Enda Boyce sent off on a second yellow card with 10 minutes remaining. Full forward Arthur was once again their scorer-in-chief, finishing with a personal haul of 0-7, including 0-4 from frees.

Clare's best spell came midway through the second half when they surged into a 0-16 to 0-11 lead, but Tipp came back to level with a 59th minute goal from Liam McGrath before midfielder Tony Kelly hit a last-gasp winning point for the Banner.

Another impressive display of free-taking by Niall Arthur proved decisive in Clare's 1-17 to 2-12 Munster semi-final victory over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. Arthur posted 0-8 from placed balls for the visitors who got off to a flying start and led by 1-7 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.

Limerick had the margin down to three points at half-time and, incredibly, they were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart thanks to a Michael Ryan goal. But Clare steadied themselves and were full value for their win with the home side's second goal coming in the final minute.

Revenge was sweet for the Banner County when they defeated holders Waterford by 1-16 to 1-11 to capture their first Munster title in 21 years at Semple Stadium. Aided by the breeze in the first half, Clare looked the better side, but Waterford went into the break on level terms (0-6 apiece) thanks mainly to the accuracy of free-taker Padraic Mahoney.

The Deise opened up a three-point lead on the restart, only for David O'Halloran to bring Clare level when he finished a three-man move to the net in the 38th minute. O'Halloran and Niall Arthur added points to push the underdogs four points clear before Eamon Murphy revived Waterford's challenge with a 45th minute goal.

But with O'Halloran, Daire Keane and Kevin Lynch to the fore, Clare shot six unanswered points in the final quarter to end their long wait for provincial success.
Just as they had done against Limerick, Clare made a blistering start to their All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin. Showing no Croke Park nerves, they led 0-8 to 0-1 by the 18th minute, but Dublin outscored them by 0-6 to 0-1 in the remaining 12 minutes to only trail by 0-7 to 0-9 at half-time.

With free-taker Arthur helping himself to 0-8, the Banner managed to keep their noses in front throughout the second half. They led by five points in the 35th minute, four points in the 48th minute and again by four points in the 53rd minute. But they were left hanging on for a 0-20 to 2-13 victory after Cormac Costello banged in a second goal for the Dubs late on.

Kilkenny have enjoyed a trouble-free run to the All-Ireland final. Ger Aylward struck 1-4 in their 2-13 to 1-9 opening round win over Dublin at Nowlan Park. After trailing Offaly by a point after 13 minutes of their Leinster semi-final clash at Tullamore, the Cats never looked back after Aylward goaled to help them to a 1-10 to 0-9 interval lead.

Kilkenny stepped up a gear in the second half with a second goal from John Power putting the seal on a 2-22 to 1-13 triumph.

Dublin once again provided the opposition for Richie Mulrooney's side in the Leinster final at Croke Park and this time Kilkenny were even more emphatic winners. The game was up for the Metropolitans after just 17 minutes when Thomas O'Hanrahan's goal propelled the Cats into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead.

John Power was denied a second goal for Kilkenny soon afterwards after a brilliant parry from Dublin goalkeeper Eamonn Dillon, but the resultant '65 was fired over by the Carrickshock man and further points from Ger Aylward, Kevin Kelly, Padraig Walsh and Ollie Walsh gave the defending champions a 1-11 to 0-4 cushion at half-time.

Dublin lifted their game after the restart, with John Hetherton's frees giving them hope, but Power and Aylward kept the scoreboard ticking over at the opposite end as Kilkenny coasted to a 1-20 to 0-10 success and their third provincial title on the trot.

The Cats saved their best performance of the season so far for the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. Clearly hurt by their defeat to the same opposition in last year's decider, they produced an exhibition of hurling to run out emphatic 5-19 to 0-15 winners.

Kilkenny struck for early goals from team captain Cillian Burke and Michael Brennan, but Galway trailed by just a point, 0-10 to 2-5, after Daithi Burke pointed in the 23rd minute. However, a third goal from John Power left the Cats sitting pretty on a 3-9 to 0-10 interval lead.

The Cats were relentless in the second half and had amassed a whopping 2-10 without reply before substitute Cathal O'Brien scored Galway's first point in 21 minutes. During that second half, Ger Aylward claimed four brilliant points and pounced on an error by Galway 'keeper Shane Kelly for a 33rd minute goal. The fifth green flag was raised by Kevin Kelly in the 52nd minute after he capped a mazy run.

Backboned by half a dozen players from St. Kieran's All-Ireland Colleges winning side, Kilkenny boast six survivors from last year's All-Ireland final loss to Galway - John Power, Luke Harney, Cillian Buckley and Ollie Walsh - while Ger Aylward and Willie Phelan missed the final through injury and illness respectively.

Midfielder Walsh is a son of Kilkenny under 21 manager and former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Michael, while half forwards Power and Padraig Walsh, who scored 1-6 between them against the Tribesmen, are younger brothers of senior stars Richie and Tommy.

Walsh, Jason Corcoran and Brian Kennedy were also members of last year's panel, with Walsh making an appearance as a substitute in the All-Ireland final and Corcoran playing in the Leinster final.

Clare are back in their first All-Ireland final since 1997 when John Reddan captained them to a 1-11 to 1-9 victory over Galway. That triumph was notable for the fact that it was Clare's first in the grade and that they were the first team to win an All-Ireland via the backdoor system.

Clare are not short on quality with Tony Kelly, Paudge Collins, Niall Arthur, Daire Keane and David O'Halloran some of the players Kilkenny will need to keep a close eye on. If they can keep things tight, they will be in with a chance, but this Kilkenny team has been untouchable all year, and unless they suffer a serious bout of complacency, they won't be denied. Verdict: Kilkenny.

Ladbrokes.com odds: Clare 15/2; Draw 16/1; Kilkenny 1/16 Tweet

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