Kilkenny captain John Donnelly lifts the Bob O'Keeffe cup at Croke Park. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Leinster SHC Final
Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-20
By Cian O'Connell at Croke Park
Ultimately, it ended in another Kilkenny triumph on Leinster SHC Final day.
With 12 minutes of normal time remaining, it appeared that Kilkenny would coast to victory. Following a burst of 1-5 without reply, Kilkenny's advantage was stretched to 13 points.
Galway, though, responded with spirit and style, clipping 1-6 on the spin, narrowing the gap to four, but Kilkenny remained cool.
That is the Kilkenny way. TJ Reid made a brilliant fetch, enabling Adrian Mullen to land a crucial point. Galway kept battling, but Martin Keoghan's second goal sealed the deal.
Initially, it was tense and tactical in the opening period. Cathal Mannion's accuracy from frees and play was a feature of the first half, but at the opposite end Kilkenny enjoyed productive moments too.
Adrian Mullen, Keoghan, and John Donnelly nailed points from play, while Reid was sharp from frees. As the interval approached Derek Lyng's outfit were 0-9 to 0-8 ahead when they pounced for a vital goal.
Reid's effort extracted a splendid save from Éanna Murphy following Paddy Deegan's delivery, but Keoghan steered the rebound home.
Stephen Donnelly, Kilkenny, and Pádraic Mannion, Galway, in Leinster SHC Final action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
It meant Kilkenny departed at the break 1-9 to 0-8 in front. In the third quarter Kilkenny, with Huw Lawlor impressing, restricted Galway to only two shots from play, underlining their diligent work ethic.
Galway mustered four Mannion frees, but Kilkenny were 1-14 to 0-12 clear by the 51st minute.
Mikey Carey, dynamic in the second half, launched a gorgeous point. Then the equally industrious Cian Kenny, Keoghan, and Stephen Donnelly added further points for a pumped up Kilkenny.
Keoghan turned provider for Reid, who mined a 57th minute goal, and when Deegan added a point, Kilkenny led by 2-19 to 0-12.
Galway rallied. Mannion, substitute Tiernan Killeen, and the pacy Kevin Cooney were prominent in the revival. Mannion's quick free located Brian Concannon, who blasted a Galway goal in the 64th minute, reducing the deficit to six.
Cooney and Mannion (free) supplied points ensuring the damage was down to four, but that was as close as Galway came.
A delivery from Luke Hogan was bundled to the Galway net by the opportunistic Keoghan. The Bob O'Keeffe cup was hoisted by John Donnelly.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Martin Keoghan 2-2, TJ Reid 1-4 (4fs), Adrian Mullen 0-4, Billy Ryan 0-3, Mikey Carey, Cian Kenny, and Stephen Donnelly 0-2 each, John Donnelly, Jordan Molloy, and Paddy Deegan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Cathal Mannion 0-11 (7fs), Kevin Cooney 0-3, Brian Concannon 1-0, Tiernan Killeen 0-2, TJ Brennan, Seán Linnane, John Fleming, and Tom Monaghan 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Tommy Walsh, Huw Lawlor, Mikey Butler; Mikey Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, Billy Ryan, John Donnelly; Stephen Donnelly, TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan.
Subs: Luke Hogan for S Donnelly (59), David Blanchfield for Walsh (59), Shane Murphy for Butler (66), Killian Doyle for Molloy (70), Harry Shine for Ryan (70).
Galway: Éanna Murphy; Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke, Padraic Mannion; Cianan Fahy, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan; Seán Linnane, David Burke; John Fleming, Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan; Cathal Mannion, Brian Concannon, Kevin Cooney.
Subs: Darren Morrissey for F Burke (35+2), Darragh Walsh for Murphy (HT), Ronan Glennon for David Burke (43), Tiernan Killeen for Fleming (55), Anthony Burns for Monaghan (66).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
