Kilkenny relinquish minor crown

Galway 0-16 Kilkenny 1-12

Despite scoring the game's only goal, Kilkenny's champion "Kittens" lost their grip on their All-Ireland Minor Hurling crown as Galway pipped them by a point at Tullamore.

Skipper Eoin Guinan gave Kilkenny hope with a goal just on the quarter-hour, but Wade and 15-year-old Joe Canning, in his first year at the grade, had too much attacking graft for Brother Brennan's three-in-a-row hopefuls.

The sides, following last week's enthralling draw in Croke Park, were still deadlocked at half-time today - Galway's 0-9 to Kilkenny's 1-6.

Canning had a close range shot to put the Tribesmen in front on 28 minutes, but Kilkenny stopper Liam Tierney was equal to his effort.

Canning opened the scoring in the second minute, before Finian Coone added a second and Kilkenny levelled twice through Matthew Ruth, the Cats' goalscorer last Sunday, and Pat Hogan.

Canning struck his second on 10 minutes for 0-3 to 0-2, but the pendulum swung as Guinan goaled, rifling Richie Hogan's brilliant sideline to the Galway net.

Brennan's charges began motoring as Paddy Hogan, Maurice Nolan and Guinan efforts eclipsed two Wade frees.

Wade and Richie Hogan exchanged further points in the final five minutes of the half, but two more Canning efforts and another from Sarsfields marksman Wade left the sides level at the break.

Wade continued his good form with the first of the second half, and then Kevin Hynes broke clear to fire Galway into a 0-11 to 1-6 lead.

Maurice Nolan kept Kilkenny in the hunt with a free, but Galway crept 0-14 to 1-8 in front.

Wade's seventh score kept three between them at 0-15 to 1-9, and with six minutes remaining corner forward Coone had hit the maroon youngsters' 16th.

Pat Hogan's third of the afternoon, wing back Neil Prendergast's first and a fourth Maurice Nolan point with a minute remaining saw some nervous times for Mattie Murphy's side, but they held on for the county's first minor title since 2000. And a fourth championship in ten years.