Luckless Murphy set to miss final

Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy is almost certain to miss Sunday’s Leinster decider against Dublin, according to manager Brian Cody.

Murphy injured his elbow saving Andy Smith’s goal-bound effort four minutes into Saturday’s contest. Jason Flynn crashed home the rebound and Murphy was subbed minutes later, cradling his elbow as he departed.

Moreover, the Kilkenny boss does not expect either Richie Power (knee) or Michael Fennelly (back) to be fit for the provincial final.

“Eoin’s injury is a hyper extension of the elbow. He is probably going to be out for a few weeks,” said Cody.

“Highly unlikely for Michael Fennelly and not a hope Richie Power will be back.”

Dublin stand in Kilkenny’s path of a first Leinster crown since 2011 and Cody said the players owe it to themselves to reclaim the Bob O’Keeffe Cup.

“We haven’t won a Leinster final for the last two years. It’s not a question of owing Dublin at all — we owe ourselves. Regardless of who we are playing, we try to win.

“I’ve no problem with three games in three weeks. There is no sense that it’s going to be hard for us to do that — it won’t be hard to do that in the slightest. Our lads were flying at the end of the game the same as if they could have kept going forever. Brian Hogan got a ball near the end and was just driving forward. So tiredness doesn’t come into it or anything.”

Galway boss Anthony Cunningham lamented TJ Reid’s game-changing goal on 52 minutes, arriving as it did against the run of play.

“I suppose it was very hard luck halfway through the second half to really have battled very, very close to them. It was a brilliant effort by us to get back into the game, got it back to three points and I think their goal came against the run of play. We’d be disappointed but we’ll have to bottle that hurt now for next weekend.

“We didn’t always find a man with our clearances out of defence and a few puckouts as well, we didn’t find a man — they’re areas we’re going to have to sharpen up on. If you give away a ball against Kilkenny, even if it’s their corner-back that gets it, they’ll punish you.”

Cunningham conceded talisman Joe Canning, so effective in the drawn game, had delivered a below-par performance; he is optimistic, however that his side can turn it around for the qualifier with Tipperary on Saturday.

“I think Joe was unlucky with a lot of chances as well, that happens as well, you get evenings like that. Always when you’re beaten in championship the best way to get that out of your system is to be playing the following weekend, not to leave it two or three weeks, so that’s a plus for us. We are going to regroup during the week and then get back to Thurles next Saturday evening.

“The two games will stand to us. We’re sharp now, you can’t beat sharpness and pace, the competitive nature of these matches; we have two great battles under our belt with Kilkenny. It’s a huge challenge but we’re well up for it. We’ll be fighting like lions the next day.”