Kilkenny keep hold of Leinster Championship

Kilkenny 1-19 Galway 1-12

An Historic day for Galway hurling ended in failure as the all conquering Kilkenny Champions overcame the Tribesmen, as a strong second half display earned the Cats their sixth Leinster Senior Hurling title in succession, before 31,376 at Croke Park.

Just three points separated the sides at the interval, but Brian Cody's side stepped it up a gear on the restart, leaving Galway with limited scoring opportunities particularly in the third quarter, as the Cats drove on. An inability of win primary possession and Kilkenny’s dominance between numbers 5 to 9 made life very difficult for Galway with talisman Joe Canning held to just two points as Kilkenny stood firm in defence, with Jackie Tyrrell and and the half back line in regal form.

Galway got off to a lively start, with Aidan Harte firing the opening point inside 20 seconds of the throw-in. However, once Henry Shefflin bagged the first of his three first half points in the ninth minute it kick-started a strong scoring spell from the Cats, who fired 1-4 to edge 1-4 to 0-1 ahead in the 14th minute. Shefflin was Kilkenny's main talisman in the opening half, with the Cats only goal of the contest arriving in the 13th minute from the Championship's all-time top scorer, who smashed to the net. Michael Rice picked off fine points either side of a Ger Farragher pointed free, as Kilkenny claimed a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.Galway's wides tally stood at six, before the Tribesmen were handed a life-line in the 19th minute, when Damien Hayes flicked the ball to the net from close-range as PJ Ryan and Noel Hickey failed to clear under pressure.Points were traded on three occasions between the 20th and 32nd minutes, with Eddie Brennan, Shefflin and Power on target for Kilkenny, while Iarla Tannian and Farragher (2) claimed Galway scores, with Kilkenny leading 1-8 to 1-5 at the interval.

Free-taker's Shefflin and Farragher traded points within two minutes of the restart, but Kilkenny gained a firm foot-hold, and held Galway scoreless for almost 21 minutes, as they built up a 1-16 to 1-6 advantage. Indeed Galway’s fade-out was alarming as they simply couldn’t win puck-outs or possession of any type, despite the best efforts of Shane Kavanagh, Ollie Canning and Damien Hayes to drive their team on. The Cats, who shot 17 wides, were dominant in all sectors at this stage, with Shefflin, TJ Reid and Power claiming points, while substitutes Richie Hogan and Aidan Fogarty also notched scores as Tommy Walsh excelled at wing back. Galway substitute Kevin Hynes broke the Cats scoring streak in the 58th minute, with a much required point, but Kilkenny remained firmly on target for the 67th Leinster crown at this stage, despite Eoin Lynch, Joe Canning and Cyril Donnellan claiming late scores for Galway.  Thus Kilkenny now march on to the All-Ireland Semi-final in 5 weeks, while for Galway the All-Ireland Quarter Final beckons on July 25th.

Kilkenny - PJ Ryan; J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; M Rice (0-2), M Fennelly; TJ Reid (0-3), E Brennan (0-1), E Larkin (0-1); M Comerford, R Power (0-3), H Shefflin (1-7, 4f, 1 65). Subs: J Tennyson for B Hogan (29); A Fogarty (0-1) for Comerford (43); R Hogan (0-1) for Brennan (48); J Mulhall for Power (67).

Galway - C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan, D Collins; G Farragher (0-4, 4f); A Cullinane; A Callanan, J Canning (0-2, 1sl), A Smith; A Harte (0-1), D Hayes (1-1), I Tannian (0-1). Subs: E Lynch (0-1) for Cullinane (25); C Donnellan (0-1) for A Callanan (43); K Hynes (0-1) for Farragher (53); J Gantley for Smith (67).

Ref - M Wadding (Waterford)