Fulfil Leinster U-20 HC final: Glory for Galway who finish with a flourish

​​Fulfil Leinster U-20 hurling championship final

Galway 2-20 Kilkenny 2-11

By Paul Keane at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

A Fulfil Leinster U-20 HC final that simmered for the longest while finally came to the boil in the final quarter, and it was Galway that applied the heat.

They led by just three points at that stage but suddenly moved up a couple of gears, allowing them to speed to a third title at the grade, their first since 2021, and an All-Ireland final clash with Clare on Sunday week.

Between the 45th and 57th minutes, Galway reeled off 1-6 to Kilkenny's solitary point, a decisive period that underlined just how lethal Gavin Keary's crew can be when they catch fire.

Jack Shaughnessy, Galway's goalscorer in the first half, helped them to turn the screw in those closing stages with two important points and he finished with 1-7 in all.

Vince Morgan grabbed the killer second goal in the 56th minute which finally did for a talented young Kilkenny team who were simply outfought and outthought.

Whether Galway will have county senior Aaron Niland available for the All-Ireland decider in Thurles remains to be seen. He was a notable absentee for this provincial showpiece, the first at the grade between Galway and Kilkenny, though fellow senior Jason Rabbitte came on and lent to the second half fight.

Cullen Killeen, one of the stars of Loughrea's run to last January's All-Ireland club decider, returned to the Galway team.

That was the only change from the side that overcame Wexford after extra time on the same pitch a week earlier.

That meant that senior star Rabbitte, who made such an impact from the bench against Wexford, was kept in reserve again.

An ankle injury ruled out Niland, although the Clarinbridge phenom may have been rested anyhow with Sunday's crucial Leinster SHC tie against Wexford in mind.

What's certain is that Galway still had enough quality to push hard for a first provincial title success since 2021 and they led 1-11 to 1-7 at half time.

Kilkenny had the breeze initially but wides cost them as they registered seven in the opening half.

They led briefly early on after points from Ed Lauhoff and Patrick Lacey, the man of the match in the semi-final win over Dublin.

But Galway got it back to a level game at 0-2 apiece and when Shaughnessy netted for Gavin Keary's crew in the ninth minute, they didn't look back.

It was a well taken goal by Shaughnessy who was fed by Loughrea clubmate Morgan following an impressive move that began in the full-back line.

Kilkenny briefly drew level at 1-5 to 1-5 when Lauhoff showed his composure to stroke home the loose ball after Ed McDermott's stinging shot from the right broke kindly off the goalkeeper.

But five Galway points in a row late in the half put them in a commanding position.

They almost grabbed a second goal but Jack O'Doherty in the Kilkenny goals somehow blocked Brian Callanan's shot after a barnstorming run through by the Ardrahan attacker.

Galway played their trump card in first half stoppage time - bringing on Athenry ace Rabbitte who was immediately shadowed by Kilkenny senior David Barcoe.

Perhaps it was the gravity of the occasion, with an All-Ireland final spot at stake, but the third quarter was forgettable.

Kilkenny at least cut the deficit by a point with Galway 1-13 to 1-10 ahead after 44 minutes.

Galway finally raised the tempo with three points in a row, seizing the initiative and doubling their lead to six.

Ronan Cahalan impressed as a substitute and his second point nudged Galway seven clear, 1-18 to 1-11.

Galway wrapped it up with their second goal four minutes from time, Shaughnessy the provider this time for Morgan who was in acres of space.

Ruarc Sweeney clawed back a consolation goal for Kilkenny who lost Barcoe to a second yellow card in the closing moments.

Galway scorers: Jack Shaughnessy 1-7 (0-5f, 0-1 65), Vince Morgan 1-0, Brian Callanan 0-3, Ciarán Leen 0-2 (0-1f), Darragh Counihan 0-2, Cullen Killeen 0-2, Ronan Cahalan 0-2, Jason Rabbitte 0-1, Michael Burke 0-1.

Kilkenny scorers: Ed Lauhoff 1-2, Patrick Lacey 0-5 (0-3f, 0-1 65), Ruarc Sweeney 1-0, Jim Conlon 0-2, Anthony Clifford 0-1, Sean Bergin 0-1.

Galway: Chris Callanan; Ed O'Reilly, Michael Fallon, Thomas Blake; Jonah Donnellan, Donnacha Campbell, Gavin Maher; Michael Burke, Cullen Killeen; Luke Kennedy, Darragh Counihan, Ciarán Leen; Vince Morgan, Brian Callanan, Jack Shaughnessy.

Subs: Jason Rabbitte for Counihan 30+2, Ronan Cahalan for Kennedy h/t, Seán Moran for Burke 47, Gearóid King for Blake 57, Harry Holmes for Shaughnessy 58.

Kilkenny: Jake O'Doherty; Darragh Vereker, Rory Garrett, Micheál Ahern; Mikey Rohan, Jack Dollard, David Barcoe; Jim Conlon, Ben Nevin; Anthony Clifford, Ed Lauhoff, Greg Kelly; Jake Mullen, Patrick Lacey, Ed McDermott.

Subs: Kevin Buggy for Nevin 24-26, Ollie O'Donovan for Kelly 30, Buggy for Nevin h/t, Ruarc Sweeney for Mullen 38, Seán Bergin for Dollard 47, Cian Byrne for Lacey 55.

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly).