Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster MHC action
Galway overcame Wexford at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Leinster MHC semi-finals
Galway 6-21 Wexford 3-12
Kilkenny 2-18 Dublin 1-20
By Paul Keane
Kilkenny and Galway will meet again in the Electric Ireland Leinster MHC final.
But while six-goal Galway secured their return to next weekend's decider with relative ease, seeing off Wexford with 18 points to spare, it was far tighter for holders Kilkenny.
In fact, just a point separated Kilkenny from Dublin after a terrific Parnell Park encounter that went right to the wire.
Joe Dowling's prolific scoring was the difference again for the young Cats with the Dicksboro talent firing a crucial 1-8.
Kilkenny were grateful also to Ruairí Power who registered the 61st minute goal that shoved the visitors five points clear at that stage.
That margin flattered them as the sides were level four times throughout a blood and thunder second half at the north Dublin venue.
And Dublin duly responded with 1-1 from free-taker Richie Hession, the goal coming in the fourth minute of stoppage time, to cut the deficit back to the minimum.
Time ultimately ran out on Dublin's bid to reach the final as Kilkenny, with seven different scorers on the day, advanced to what will be a repeat of the 2025 decider.
Kilkenny led by 1-10 to 0-11 at half time, the goal coming from Dowling after just seven minutes from a penalty.
Corey Kelly, Jack Ledwidge and Hession, who struck 1-11 in all, were all on the mark with Dublin points in the opening period.
And when Dublin started the second half with points from Tommy Dillon and Hession, it levelled the game and set the tone for a gripping finale.
Galway were more comfortable in Portlaoise where they built on a 3-10 to 1-7 half time lead with three more goals after the break to win with plenty to spare.
The sides were level at 1-4 apiece but when Galway grabbed their second goal in the 16th minute, they moved ahead and didn't look back.
Wexford refused to throw in the towel and were on the mark in the second half with goals from Joey Tobin and Jack Cullen.
All is not lost for the Model County who advance to play Clare or Cork in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
