In assessing Sunday's Leinster SHC battle between Galway and Kilkenny, Niall Moran feels the Tribesmen have a little bit more going for them at the moment, but adds that neither county are at the level to bring home Liam MacCarthy later in the summer.
Henry Shefflin's side edged it by the bare minimum after Conor Cooney nailed a last-gasp free, this coming seconds after Kilkenny's John Donnelly struck for an equalising goal.
There was a tense handshake afterwards as Shefflin went to commiserate with Brian Cody, with the Kilkenny manager clearly unhappy with referee Colm Lyons after a dramatic contest.
"Galway have a little bit more in them," was one of the takeaways Moran took from the Pearse Stadium encounter.
Speaking further on RTÉ's Game On, the former Limerick player said: Conor Whelan came on yesterday, he wasn't his full self but he ultimately was the difference. Kilkenny are Kilkenny; their ability to stay in a game.
"They were outclassed for a major part of the game. When you look at the scoreboard there was only three points in it and the game nearly up - like the game against Cork last year (All-Ireland semi-final). They repeated the trick; the only difference was that the ref added on 30 seconds."
While Moran is looking forward to the possibility of another Galway-Kilkenny clash in Leinster, he is ruling out the prospect of either of them getting their hands on the ultimate prize.
"Are they capable of winning an All-Ireland? I don't think so," he said.
"Credit to Henry Shefflin, though. He has integrated a number of new players and it takes time for that to bed in. It will be an intriguing battle if they face each other again. Don't rule Dublin out of it, there are still key games to be played in Leinster.
TJ Reid was called ashore at half-time for the Cats. It's a decision Moran would not have taken, but such a move he says is in keeping with the often ruthless nature of Brian Cody.
"It was strange to take him off at half-time. He hadn't a whole pile played since the All-Ireland club championship. Maybe there was an injury concern but I would leave TJ on all day. He can still produce those couple of moments of magic.
"That's the one thing about Brian Cody; he's never had a problem in removing the marquee players. I expect to see TJ back the next day; there will be a few more twists from him before the year is out."
