Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

GALWAY 1-21 KILKENNY 2-11

By Daragh Small

Dean Reilly scored 1-4 from play as Galway continued their defence of the All-Ireland minor championship with another win, this time against Kilkenny at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

The opening game in this group finished in a big 1-20 to 0-12 win for Jeffrey Lynskey’s side against Limerick last weekend so they're now assured of a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals, while Kilkenny and Limerick will now battle for the final spot in the last four.

Galway were 1-14 to 2-3 in front at half-time after Reilly’s goal put them in command, when Cathal O’Leary and Ciarán Brennan had goaled for Kilkenny in the first-half.

Galway dominated again after half-time, and despite Conor Kelly’s best efforts Kilkenny couldn’t steal a comeback win.

Galway started well and raced into an early 0-6 to 0-1 lead. Donal O’Shea scored Galway’s first point after just 36 seconds before Cathal O’Leary tied things up one minute later but Galway took off.

They asserted their dominance on the basis of their strong defensive line and a speedy midfield unit were winning their respective battle too.

O’Shea scored a second free in the fourth minute and further points followed from Keelan Creaven, Jason O’Donoghue, Diarmuid Kilcommins and Reilly.

Kilkenny were in trouble already and there was only a quarter of the game played. They could have had a goal as early as the third minute but a combination of Shane Jennings and Seán Neary got across to clear the danger when William Halpin looked to be through on goal.

But Galway drew confidence from that and when Reilly scored in the 15th minute they were five points ahead and in complete control. Kilkenny needed a goal and they got one against the run of play.

The move stemmed from a mix-up in the Galway rearguard, Jack Morrissey claimed possession and he crossed for O’Leary to blast past Patrick Rabbitte in the Galway goal.

Kilkenny scored two of the next three points and when George Murphy scored in the 23rd minute Kilkenny were back within one point. But Reilly drove forward and skilfully finished Galway’s first goal to the net in the 24th minute.

Galway were 1-7 to 1-3 in front again but in that same minute Ciarán Brennan doubled Kilkenny’s goal tally. It was a one-point margin again however Galway took the reins before half-time.

O’Donoghue began a seven-point burst and when wing forward Oisín Flannery tapped over his second point Galway were 1-14 to 2-3 ahead at half-time.

Kilkenny manager Richie Mulrooney brought on Dan Coogan and Dylan Crehan at the break and they started with points from Jamie Young and Kelly to reduce the arrears. But O’Shea scored his sixth free and Coogan had a goal disallowed when he fouled Galway goalkeeper Rabbitte in the 41st minute as Galway eased to the win.

Scorers for Galway: Donal O’Shea 0-10 (0-9f, 0-1 65), Dean Reilly 1-4, O Flannery (Padraig Pearses) 0-2, Jason O’Donoghue 0-2, Diarmuid Kilcommins 0-2, Keelan Creaven 0-1

Scorers for Kilkenny: Conor Kelly 0-7 (0-4f, 0-2 65), Cathal O’Leary 1-1, Ciarán Brennan 1-0, George Murphy 0-2, Jamie Young 0-1.

GALWAY: Patrick Rabbitte; Michael Flynn, Shane Jennings, Ian McGlynn; Shane Quirke, Sean Neary (c), Evan Duggan; Oisín Flannery (St Thomas), Jason O’Dongohue; Diarmuid Kilcommins, Seán McDonagh, Oisín Flannery (Padraig Pearses); Keelan Creaven, Donal O’Shea, Dean Reilly. Subs: Adam Brett for McDonagh (40), Conor Flahery for McGlynn (43), Niall Collins for O’Donoghue (54), Colm Cunningham for Creaven (56), 23 Alex Conaire (Sarsfields) for Flannery (St Thomas) (61).

KILKENNY: Jason Brennan; Pádraig Dempsey, Jamie Young, Chris Korff; Jamie Harklin, Shane Staunton, Darragh Maher; Cillian Rudkins, Conor Kelly (c); William Halpin, Cian Kenny, George Murphy; Cathal O’Leary, Ciarán Brennan, Jack Morrissey. Subs: Jack Buggy for Halpin (30), Dylan Crehan for Korff (h-t), Dan Coogan for Rudkins (h-t), Killian Hogan (Mooncoin) for Murphy (56).

Referee: Colum Canning (Antrim).