Cats beat Galway to earn semi spot

Galway 0-10 Kilkenny 1-16

A late goal from substitute Willie O’Dwyer crowned a workmanlike victory for champions Kilkenny against Galway in Salthill today.

The win meant that Brian Cody’s charges booked a place in the NHL Division 1 semi-finals as table-toppers.

It was their fourth win in five league games in a repeat of last year’s memorable All-Ireland semi-final tussle.

Galway relied heavily on their league top scorer Ger Farragher in the opening half. The player came into the game having hit 2-25 in four games, and he notched another five points today to help the home go in at the break at 0-07 apiece.

Kilkenny began well with Michael Reid and James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick raising white flags but their 0-03 to no score advantage soon evaporated and the Cats were held scoreless between the seventh and 27th minutes.

A Richie Power free saw Kilkenny cut the gap to 0-04 to 0-05. Points from Martin Comerford, Power and Eoin Larkin then pushed Cody’s men back in front before an injury-time point from Farragher levelled matters.

The Cats charged out to a 0-14 to 0-09 lead, with 14 minutes remaining. Niall Healy and Farragher were on target for the Tribesmen, but a five-point burst that included fine scores from Aidan Fogarty, Donnacha Cody and impressive sub O’Dwyer effectively handed the win to Kilkenny.

Healy pulled one back with a free, before Fogarty was hauled down for a late penalty. Power hit a rising shot over the bar, but moments later, O’Dwyer was on hand to rifle to the Galway net and close the deal for the holders.