Kilkenny cruise past Galway

GALWAY 1-10 KILKENNY 4-20M

Kilkenny have hammered Galway in the Guinness Hurling Championship Round Three Qualifier today.

A 62nd Leinster title may have eluded Kilkenny but their three-in-a-row All-Ireland dream is still very much on as centre half-forward Henry Shefflin helped them outpace and outgun Galway 4-20 to 1-10 in front of 21,855 at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

It looked effortless at times for the champions who saw Shefflin strike 2-11 with Eddie Brennan and substitute John Hoyne claiming late goals.

League champions Galway were a shell of themselves, scoring just once in the final 25 minutes.

Afterwards Kilkenny boss Brian Cody described it as "a good win". "It was a good performance and we knew it had to be as there's no second chance around here," he said. "The players worked very hard and there's no doubting they have the hunger."

"Whatever the quarter finals through up, at least we're there now."

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork)

Scorers: Galway: E Cloonan 0-07 (5f, 1 ‘65), Damien Hayes 1-02, K Broderick 0-01

Kilkenny: H Shefflin 2-11 (9f), E Brennan 1-03, J Hoyne 1-00, M Comerford 0-02, DJ Carey (1 ’65), D Lyng, R Mullally, C Phelan 0-01 each

Galway: L Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, David Hayes, F Moore; F Healy, T Og Regan; A Kerins, D Forde, D Tierney; Damien Hayes, E Cloonan, K Broderick.

Subs used: A Cullinane for Healy (26 mins), K Fahy for Canning (blood sub – 31-34), D Collins for Kerins (ht), M Kerins for Tierney (50)

Kilkenny: J McGarry; J Ryall, N Hickey, T Walsh; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, K Coogan; M Comerford, H Shefflin, C Phelan; E Brennan, DJ Carey, J Coogan. Sub used: J Hoyne for Comerford (60 mins)

Yellow cards: Galway: D Hardiman (35 mins), F Moore (71); Kilkenny: T Walsh (1 min), N Hickey (7), D Lyng (28)