Ominous signs for Cats’ rivals

Kilkenny 1-24 Galway 1-17

Yes, had they taken their early point opportunities rather than trying to create goals where there were none they might well have made a real contest of this.

The truth is though, that were it not for three phenomenal saves by keeper Colm Callanan — two from Richie Power — Kilkenny would have won this match by a cricket score.

It was an odd kind of an afternoon in Thurles weather-wise, the cold showers that blighted the first semi-final giving way eventually to sunshine and a lessening in the strong wind.

Galway captain Fergal Moore won the toss and opted to play with the elements.

Unfortunately for Moore it was to be one of his last acts of the afternoon.

Less than 10 minutes into the game, with no regard for his own well-being, he slammed head-first into the giant Walter Walsh. Walsh went off for stitches, Moore went off on a stretcher.

Thankfully the word later was that the injury wasn’t as serious as first feared, though the Galway captain was concussed.

At that stage Galway already had a goal on the board, full-forward Cyril Donnellan converting the rebound of his own initial shot in the fourth minute, after Eoin Murphy had saved well.

Leading Kilkenny 1-2 to 0-3, the possibility of an upset was on the cards. Fleeting, as it transpired.

At least three times in the opening quarter Galway spurned clear point opportunities. There was no such profligacy at the other end, no such poor decision-making as the champions first drew level with an Eoin Larkin pointed free and gradually began to put clear water between themselves and Galway.

Three points from midfielder and man of the match Lester Ryan, seven from placed balls by Larkin, Aidan Fogarty and Richie Hogan with one each and Kilkenny went in at the break six clear, 0-15 to 1-6.

It wasn’t looking good for Galway, their early burst now well and truly over, even the normally dangerous Joe Canning well shackled from play.

What they needed on the restart was a score to reignite their challenge and with the wind now at their backs Donnellan, their most impressive performer on the day, quickly got them going again with a drilled point.

Kilkenny, however, weren’t about to be caught.

Even in the absence of manager Brian Cody, even without marquee players Henry Shefflin, Michael Fennelly and TJ Reid, the machine looked as smooth and as powerful as ever.

The old guard of JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh and Brian Hogan were all to the fore in a dominant defence, the returning Paul Murphy looked like he had never been away, while youngster Kieran Joyce cemented the form of last year.

Ryan was the outstanding midfielder on view, but he was pushed all the way by Michael Rice who is working his way back to full fitness. Cillian Buckley came on for his first appearance of the season and immediately impressed with a fine point.

When Michael Fennelly returns, that midfield is going to take some selecting.

Up front again the old guard shone. Larkin doing well from placed balls and from general play, Fogarty popping up for two points, Richie Hogan continuing his rich vein of form this season.

With all those guys firing Kilkenny were maintaining that six-point lead, but 11 minutes into the second half came the coup de grace and it was team captain Colin Fennelly doing the necessary.

Twice Callanan denied Power from point-blank range but when Colin got on the end of a Ryan centre and made space for himself the Galway keeper had no chance. At 1-18 to 1-9, even with 20 minutes still to play, the writing was on the wall.

Credit to them, Galway kept pushing right to the end and paradoxically, though they were well outplayed as a partnership, both Iarla Tannian and Joseph Cooney did hit a lot of ball in this period. Only Donnellan, however, threatened from play and Canning had to make his contribution from placed balls.

Galway even threatened goals. Delaney twice saving, once from a 20m Canning free, the second time getting his rear-end in the way of a Donnellan shot, while sub James Regan lost his footing when a Canning pass would have left him through on goal.

All told though, ominous signs for the rest of hurling, the Cats still the ones with all the cream.

Scorers for Kilkenny: E Larkin 0-10 (5f, 3 65), R Hogan 0-5, C Fennelly 1-0, L Ryan 0-3, M Rice, A Fogarty 0-2 each, R Power, C Buckley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: J Canning 0-8 (6f, 2 65), C Donnellan 1-3, A Harte 0-2, J Cooney, D Burke (f), D Hayes, A Smith 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan, M Rice; W Walsh, R Power, E Larkin; R Hogan, C Fennelly (c), A Fogarty.

Subs for Kilkenny: M Ruth for W Walsh (blood, 10/26, full 55), C Buckley for Fennelly (62).

GALWAY: C Callanan; F Moore (c), K Hynes, N Donoghue; A Harte, D Collins, J Coen; J Cooney, I Tannian; D Burke, C Cooney, J Canning; D Glennon, C Donnellan, D Hayes.

Subs for Galway: A Smith for Moore (inj. 16), P Killeen for Donoghue (26), J Glynn for C Cooney (47), J Regan for Hayes (57).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).