Kilkenny 1-24
Galway 1-17
KILKENNY ROMPED INTO a third successive Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 final this afternoon.
The Cats scored a seven-point victory over Galway in what was a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final between the counties.
In a game that was overshadowed by a serious injury to Galway captain Fergal Moore, Kilkenny set up a final showdown with Tipperary on 5 May, a fixture confirmed for Nowlan Park.
14,210 spectators watched Kilkenny get the job done at Semple Stadium, despite the fact that the Noresiders were without the services of manager Brian Cody, following recent heart surgery.
Eoin Larkin hit 0-10 for the winners, including nine points from placed balls. Joe Canning was Galway’s leading scorer with 0-8 but the Portumna star failed to score from play.
Cyril Donnellan’s fourth minute goal handed the Tribesmen a 1-1 to 0-0 lead but the Noresiders proved too hot to handle.
Wind-assisted, they had recovered to lead by 0-15 to 1-6 at the end of a first half that required nine minutes of stoppage time.
Moore and Kilkenny’s Walter Walsh were involved in a sickening collision in the tenth minute and the game was held up for a prolonged period of time.
Moore was reportedly transferred to hospital in Clonmel, where he is understood to be suffering from concussion. Walsh was also forced off with a blood injury following the clash but later returned, before being substituted in the second half.
Kilkenny killed the game stone dead in the 46th minute when Colin Fennelly pounced from close range for their second goal of the game. Their win sets up a repeat of the 2009 League final against Tipperary, a memorable encounter won by the Cats.
Richie Hogan contributed five points for Kilkenny this afternoon, with midfielder Lester Ryan crowning an impressive individual display with three points from play.
Galway were disappointing but Donnellan, Aidan Harte and goalkeeper Colm Callanan deserve honourable mentions for their endeavours. Callanan pulled off two brilliant saves to deny Richie Power – one in each half.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Larkin 0-10 (6f, 3 65s), Richie Hogan 0-5, Colin Fennelly 1-0, Lester Ryan 0-3, Michael Rice & Aidan Fogarty 0-2 each, Richie Power & Cillian Buckley 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 0-8 (6f, 2 65s), Cyril Donnellan 1-3, Aidan Harte 0-2, David Burke (f), Joseph Cooney, Damien Hayes & Andrew Smith 0-1 each.
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Paul Murphy (Danesfort), JJ Delaney (Fenians), Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens); Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge); Lester Ryan (Clara), Michael Rice (Carrickshock); Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), Richie Power (Carrickshock), Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds).Subs: Matthew Ruth (James Stephens) for W Walsh (55), Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro) for Fennelly (62).
GALWAY: Colm Callanan (Kinvara); Fergal Moore (Turloughmore), Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields), Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty); Johnny Coen (Loughrea), David Collins (Liam Mellowes), Aidan Hart (Gort); Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan), Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields); Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearse), Conor Cooney (St Thomas’s), David Burke (St Thomas’s); Davy Glennon (Mullagh), Joe Canning (Portumna), Damien Hayes (Portumna).Subs: Andrew Smith (Portumna) for Moore (inj, 15), Paul Killeen (Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry) for Donoghue (26), Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan) for C Cooney (46), James Regan (St Thomas’s) for Hayes (57).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
