Cats to face Tipp in U21 final

Galway 0-15 Galway 0-20

Kilkenny's young hurlers could repeat their county's All-Ireland U21 double winning heroics of the 1974-75 season after coming through a stern test of their Erin championship credentials at O'Moore Park.

In a repeat of last year’s final, Galway, at one stage in the second half, led by as much as six points but two inspired substitutions by Martin Fogarty and the switching of Shane Hennessy to centre field paid dividends for the Cats as they struck ten consecutive points in a stunning 13-minute spell to keep alive their hopes of a third U21 crown in six years.

Driven by peerless Allstar Tommy Walsh, Kilkenny looked ragged by the seventh minute of the second half as Galway half-forward Ger Farragher, having recovered from a mild injury, pointed a ’65 to put the Connacht side six points up.

Back came Fogarty’s champions though, rekindling their county’s hopes of a unique minor-U21-intermediate and senior quartet of All-Ireland wins in 2004, as James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick twice, Hennessy, substitute Sean O’Neill and wing back Ciaran Hoyne reduced the gap with successive points.

Busy corner forward Willie O’Dwyer, a goal scorer in last year’s semi-final win over Down, levelled and then put Kilkenny in front for the fifth time with thirteen minutes remaining.

A run of four consecutive Galway points in the first half, helped them to a 0-10 to 0-7 half-time lead, with Farragher, Niall Healy and fit-again forward Aongus Callanan amongst the scorers.

Hennessy’s revert back to midfield did not yield immediate results in the second half, and Kilkenny were hanging on as Healy ghosted in from the left wing to pummel a 31st minute goal shot off the side-netting.

Shane Kavanagh then became the second of the Galway rearguard to score and Craughwell forward Healy put five between the sides with a well struck free on 36 minutes.

Farragher stretched that lead to two goals with his ‘65, but ultimately it was not enough.

Kilkenny reeled Galway back in, and opened up the heavens over Portlaoise with a stunning run of points. Fitzpatrick begin nailing the Galway coffin with his sixth free – and Kilkenny’s tenth point in-a-row – on 51 minutes, putting Fogarty’s charges four points clear.

Farragher then notched Galway’s first point for 17 minutes, but by then Kilkenny were already on course for a tilt at a ninth U21 title.

Galway: P Doolagher; D Hayes, S Kavanagh, D Collins; E Lynch, T Og Regan, K Hayes; C Ryan, T Tierney; G Farragher, A Garvey, J Gantley; A Callanan, K Burke, N Healy.

Subs used: A Cullinane for Burke (37 mins), L Howley for Ryan (44), E Ryan for Garvey (48)

Kilkenny: D Herity; S Maher, J Tennyson, M Fennelly; T Walsh, PJ Delaney, C Hoyne; R Power, P Cleere; C Phelan, J Phelan, J Fitzpatrick; W O'Dwyer, S Hennessy, B Dowling. Subs used: S O’Neill and E Reid for J Phelan and Dowling (both 37 mins)

Referee: S McMahon (Clare)