Kilkenny young guns outsmart brave students

Kilkenny 3-16 NUI Galway 2-12

The Cats fielded a team made up almost entirely of players from the minor squads from the past two seasons with U21 manager Michael Walsh while Cody was understood to be supervising a training session with his squad back in Kilkenny City.

NUI were in trouble from an early stage after conceding unanswered points to Rory Hickey (2) and Canice Maher before Padraig Walsh, brother of All Star Tommy, goaled in the 20th minute to extend the difference to 1-6 to 0-2. Niall Burke grabbed NUI’s third point in the 26th minute, but by then Kilkenny had a second goal via a penalty from Rory Hickey following a foul on Ger Aylward. That goal helped the Noresiders to a 2-10 to 0-3 interval lead. The contest was over within three minutes of the restart after Cathal Kenny pointed and Padraig Walsh clipped home his second goal. NUI dominated territory afterwards with Rory Shanahan, John Conlon, Paul Nihill and Niall Burke hurling strongly, but a rescue act was never on the agenda.