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Hurling

Electric Ireland Leinster MHC: Kilkenny and Galway through to decider

Kilkenny got the better of Dublin at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny got the better of Dublin at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Electric Ireland Leinster MHC semi-finals

Galway 2-20 Wexford 0-19

Kilkenny 4-19 Dublin 3-10

By Paul Keane

Holders Kilkenny will face Galway in next Saturday's Electric Ireland Leinster MHC decider.

Both sides pulled through their respective semi-finals over the weekend and will head for Portlaoise's Laois Hire O'Moore Park for a 5.15pm provincial decider.

Galway hit Wexford hard and early in Portlaoise on Sunday to secure their third Electric Ireland Leinster MHC final place in a row.

Powered by the significant breeze in the opening half, Kenneth Burke's side put 1-4 on the board before Wexford had opened their account and reached the interval with a 2-14 to 0-6 lead.

Galway vice-captain Cillian Roche struck their opening goal after seven minutes and Loughrea's Jack Shaughnessy added a second major in the 21st minute.

Galway were on fire in this period with all of their scores coming from open play until a 28th minute point from a free which left them 2-13 to 0-5 up.

Wexford, significantly, were without their talisman performer Sean O'Brien and had it all to do as they chased the 14-point half-time deficit.

To their credit, they turned in a strong second-half performance, outscoring Galway by 0-13 to 0-6 in the 30 or so minutes.

The Model County reeled off seven points in a row in the third quarter of the game to cut the gap to nine at that stage.

They finished strongly too with free-taker Darragh Ryan their leading scorer and in top form.

But Galway never looked like being reeled in and timely points from Ronan Cahalan, who finished with 0-4, and Shay Glennon ensured they kept Wexford at arm's length.

Cian Byrne sniped a stunning hat-trick as holders Kilkenny shook off the determined challenge of Dublin to secure their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC final place.

Meanwhile, Cian Byrne sniped a stunning hat-trick on Saturday as holders Kilkenny shook off the determined challenge of Dublin to secure their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC final place.

In what was a repeat of last year's final, Byrne tipped the balance with a terrific 3-3 haul while Jake Mullen continued his strong form and blasted 1-9.

Mullen, younger brother of senior star Adrian, drove Kilkenny to top spot in their Tier 1 group with his precise free-taking and excellence in open play, securing this afternoon's semi-final tie.

He delivered again with a goal after 13 minutes to open up a 1-6 to 0-4 lead at that stage.

Already it was looking ominous for Dublin who previously lost to Dublin by 13 points in the round robin at the start of the month.

The Dubs bounced back from finishing bottom of the group by blitzing Westmeath at the quarter-final stage when they struck 7-17.

They showed impressive resolve again here to cut that early five-point deficit against Kilkenny to just one thanks in part to a Conaill O'Sullivan goal.

Kilkenny's second goal, and Byrne's first, arrived in the 18th minute as the young Cats hit the gas again and reached the half-time break with a 2-11 to 1-7 lead.

Free-taker Rory Flannery, who finished with 1-6 for Dublin, pulled back a goal after the restart and when Sean Culleton netted in the 42nd minute after an eye-catching solo run, Dublin were now just two behind at 2-15 to 3-10.

Dublin didn't score again, however, and Kilkenny showed their ruthless streak with 2-4 from there on, Byrne completing his hat-trick with 51st and 58th minute goals.