Jeffrey Lynskey bullish for replay

Kilkenny 0-26 Galway 2-20 (AET): Drama at the death in the opener at HQ yesterday — both after the 70 minutes and extra-time — but the sum of this first All-Ireland minor semi-final added up to significantly less than its parts and, in that, it was no different to the senior contest that followed.

Kilkenny and Galway are the market leaders at this grade in recent times and both offered the usual sprinkling of individual talent yesterday, with nine starters mined from St Kieran’s and Presentation Athenry alone.

Those schools contested a standout Croke Cup semi-final last March and, though the Kilkenny side triumphed then, their county minors have so far failed to cut loose, despite the capture of another Leinster title and their continuing All-Ireland ambitions.