Honourable truce as Tribe live to fight again
In a ferocious battle that swung both ways, neither side was prepared to take a backward step as two titans simply refused to lose.
That the late Galway equaliser should come in such controversial fashion, a disputed free, is regrettable as referee Barry Kelly and his team of officials performed at the very highest level.
That the magnificent Joe Canning, having just minutes earlier missed a free from an easier angle, was given another opportunity to equalise this game was, however, a gift from the sporting gods.
Not even the most partisan of Kilkenny supporters would have wished the fledgling career of hurling’s finest to suffer such blemish. Taking full advantage of that second chance, Joe duly delivered, the sliotar fired between the posts.
And so they get to do it all again. Back to Croke Park in three weeks on September 30 for a double-header with Tipperary and Dublin minors who, as it happens, also drew in similarly controversial but ultimately fair late fashion following a disputed free.
Even before throw-in, there was drama. Only four Kilkenny outfield players — full-back JJ Delaney, centre-back Brian Hogan and midfielders Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan — lined out as selected. The half-forward and full-forward lines were swapped in their entirety. TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin and Henry Shefflin took up positions inside with Colin Fennelly, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty heading outward.
It was no great surprise as exactly the same thing happened in the semi-final win over Tipperary.
At the other end, Kilkenny obviously decided in advance who was going to pick up each player, a decision Galway seemed to have anticipated. Therefore we saw wing-backs Tommy Walsh and Kieran Joyce dragged back to the corners, Jackie Tyrrell and Paul Murphy pulled out to the wings and full-back JJ Delaney lured out beyond midfield.
So who won that tactical battle? Apart from JJ Delaney, the rest of those defenders playing out of position did not concede a score as nothing came down the flanks for Galway and only Joe Canning and Niall Burke got on the scoresheet.
Nonetheless Galway dominated in the first half due mainly to the steely grip exerted by their superb defence. Fergal Moore, Kevin Hynes, Johnny Coen, David Collins, Tony Óg Regan and Niall Donoghue combined and covered exceptionally.
Midfield was the major difference between the sides where the mismatch of the giant Iarla Tannian on Richie Hogan worked really well for Galway while his partner Andy Smith was also getting the better of Michael Fennelly.
With all those elements working in their favour, Galway took the early lead going 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after 11 minutes, Joe Canning with the goal with a powerful individual effort after being put through by James Regan.
This wasn’t quite a repeat of Galway’s Leinster final overwhelming early dominance but in the 32nd minute they were seven to the good (1-8 to 0-4). Niall Burke and Niall Donoghue augmented Joe in the scoring stakes with Richie Hogan, TJ Reid and Eoin Larkin doing the business for Kilkenny.
Galway were determined not to concede a goal at any cost. But that cost them a hat-trick of pointed frees before the break by Henry and brought the Cats back into it. Though Joe Canning replied with a rifled 20m free from the left sideline, Kilkenny were back in the game at the break, 1-9 to 0-7.
The second half was the Brian Hogan/Henry Shefflin show. Yes Kilkenny had other big performers, Paul Murphy, Tommy Walsh and TJ Reid in particular but Hogan and Shefflin orchestrated the comeback. Time after time, big Brian put up that big hand to bring ball down from the clouds and made big clearances.
And who was waiting at the other end? Shefflin. What a second half he had.
He didn’t win his record ninth All-Ireland medal yesterday but he certainly earned one. The one question was why didn’t he go for goal with the 68th-minute penalty? A head-high shot and possibly a deflection over the bar, possibly a 65, but the way Henry hits them it would probably have been a game-winning goal.
Into the final minutes, then, and such was the ferocity of the exchanges and commitment that it eventually spilled over on to the sideline when Brian Cody and Anthony Cunningham got up very close and very personal in a discussion of the final disputed free.
As with the overall sporting tenor of this contest, however, it was all over and forgotten as soon as the final whistle sounded. Both managers and indeed both sets of management teams made it their business to be seen to kiss and make up.
A draw it was, then, and given Galway’s eight second-half wides to Kilkenny’s one disputed free, they deserved a second chance.
Scorers for Kilkenny: H Shefflin 0-12 (10fs, 1p), TJ Reid, E Larkin 0-2 each, R Hogan, R Power, A Fogarty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: J Canning 1-9 (8fs), N Burke 1-2, N Donoghue, A Smith 0-1 each.
Kilkenny subs: M Ruth for C Fennelly (63).
Galway subs: C Cooney for Regan (52), J Glynn for Cooney (61), J Cooney for N Burke (63), D Glennon for Hayes (69).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
