Echoing the downbeat mood of the summer, Nicky English admits he has been disappointed by the 2015 hurling championship. Coming off the highs of the 2013 and 2014 championships, this year's event has seen a proliferation of one-sided games and defensive, niggling encounters.
English instances the Kilkenny-Galway Leinster Final as the best game of the season thus far.
Speaking to Oisin Langan on Monday Rewind, he feels Kilkenny are in excellent form but says they are not without worries.
"I was very impressed with Kilkenny in the Leinster Final, because, when you see Galway since, Galway are in good form and they put up a big challenge in the Leinster Final and they're physically very strong and Kilkenny met that physicality and ultimately ran out pretty comfortable winners."
However, he cautions that Kilkenny have less strength in depth than in other years.
"They're suffering a few injuries. Richie Power hasn't got his way back. No you've Jackie Tyrrell off this week with a foot injury, Michael Fennelly is a bit more fragile. TJ Reid and Richie Hogan are carrying a huge amount of the weight for Kilkenny. That's probably their achilles heel, but at the same time they're playing so well, those players."
He still fancies Kilkenny to win, with the two best hurlers in the country (Reid and Hogan) in imperious form. Waterford, he believes, will play well, but doubts they will have to enough to win.
