All-Ireland Hurling Championship 2015: Kilkenny vs. Galway, Date, Time and More

Kilkenny will defend their All-Ireland Hurling Championship title against Galway on Sunday at Croke Park in Dublin, hoping to win their fourth championship in the last five years.

The Cats are once again the favourites to win the title but will face a strong challenge from the Tribesmen, who shocked Tipperary in the semi-finals and now have the chance to win their first title since 1988.

In a repeat of the 2012 final, Galway will be hoping for a different outcome when Kilkenny emphatically took the title after a dominant performance in the replay. Here's everything you need to know about the 2015 final.

Date: Sunday, September 6

Time: 3:30 p.m. BST/10:30 a.m. ET

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland

Preview

While fans and pundits alike will be careful never to bet against Kilkenny, the team that has dominated hurling in the past decade, there are reasons to believe Galway could finally win their first title in 27 years on Sunday.

The team looks more experienced than ever, Joe Canning leads the Championship in scoring, and the Cats may not be as good as they've been in the past, according to Galway legend Conor Hayes. Speaking to The42's Jackie Cahill, he said:

"

I think Galway will never get a better chance and I’m not trying to rub that in, they’ve had the perfect run-in, to be honest.

This is their seventh game of the championship and they couldn’t ask for more.

If it goes to a replay, Galway might be tired and beginning to burn out and while you might compare it to 2012, it’s a bit similar in that they’ve had a really good run at it.

For a team trying to settle in and get together, you’ll never get a better chance and Kilkenny are not as good as they were.

They’re still good but they wouldn’t be as good as 2007, ’08 or ’09, nowhere near that.

They’re still the best team in the country and the team to beat but I’d give Galway a really good chance.

"

Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, JJ Delaney, Aidan Fogarty and John Dalton all retired after last season's title, stripping away a ton of experience from the Kilkenny side.

This season was supposed to be one of transition, with Tipperary favourites for the title, but once again, the Cats managed to defy belief and qualify for the final.

Jackie Tyrrell and Richie Powers are both injury concerns ahead of the final, and even if the two play, they won't be fully fit. Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is confident a thumb injury won't hold back veteran left-wing forward Eoin Larkin, however, per RTE Sport.

Walter Walsh knows his team has a target on its back, and he isn't underestimating the Tribesmen:

No starting 15 comes close to Kilkenny's, but Galway's talented forwards match up well with the Cats. Coupled with their high intensity and work rate, the Tribesmen can overcome their perceived weaknesses, something they showed against Tipperary.

Scoring will be key for Galway, so fans should keep an eye on the battle between their relatively inexperienced group of forwards, led by the prolific Canning, and Kilkenny's experienced defence.

The Cats' history in big finals may prove too much for Galway, and Colm Callanan will have a busy day in goal, but if the Tribesmen can match Kilkenny's attack early, anything could happen on Sunday.

The last three All-Ireland Hurling Championship finals have ended in a draw, forcing a replay; don't be shocked if that trend continues, as Sunday's match is shaping up to be a cracking final.