Cats lose to Galway in close contest

Galway 4-14 Kilkenny 3-13

Defending Division 1 champions Galway handed Kilkenny their first league defeat in an enthralling clash at Pearse Stadium this afternoon.

Early goals from Michael Fennelly and Eddie Brennan had the Cats 2-03 to 0-00 ahead, but they gradually lost their way.

A resurgent Galway netted through Joe Gantley and Iarla Tannian to take a 2-07 to 2-05 advantage into half-time.

Two more green flags from Cyril Donnellan and Tannian gave Galway enough of a buffer to seal the result, with Colin Fennelly grabbing Kilkenny's third goal.

This was a vital victory for the Tribesmen after they lost to Cork seven days ago. It puts them second in the Division 1 table behind new leaders Dublin.

Kilkenny, who now lie third, charged ahead in the opening minutes in Salthill as they cut the Galway defence wide open. Midfielder Michael Fennelly collected the first goal after a hand pass from his brother Colin.

Brennan was afforded far too much space when he was picked out by PJ Delaney and he fired a brilliant shot to the corner of the net past goalkeeper Colm Callanan.

Points from Eoin Larkin and Richie Hogan (0-02) made it a nine-point game and Galway were staring at a heavy defeat.

But John McIntyre's men managed to turn things around. They got a boost of confidence when Gantley clipped past Kilkenny's debutant goalkeeper Colin McGrath for an 11th minute goal, with Tannian and Donnellan involved in the build-up.

Hogan replied with a free for the visitors, only for Galway to hit their stride with five unanswered points. With Tony Og Regan tightening things up at the back, the Galway forwards began to find their range - Adrian Cullinane, Tannian, Ger Farragher and Aonghus Callanan all pointed.

With the difference pared back to 2-04 to 1-05, it was most certainly game on. Michael Fennelly and Andy Smith swapped scores before full-forward Tannian won a ball ahead of John Dalton and found enough space to shoot low past McGrath for a well-taken goal.

Kilkenny ended the half with seven wides, having been outscored by 2-07 to 0-02 since their early blitz. A final point from Farragher, his third of the opening 35 minutes, made it 2-07 to 2-05 for the break.

Hogan claimed the Cats' sixth point as the action resumed, but Galway were soon firing again. Farragher added two more points and then a high ball in from Donal Barry led to the home side's third goal. McGrath's attempted clearance bounced off Tannian and into the empty net.

TJ Reid pointed to close the gap to 3-10 to 2-08, before McGrath was dispossessed by David Burke as he tried to clear the ball and Donnellan had an easy finish.

A shellshocked Kilkenny gathered themselves for a comeback. Michael Fennelly and Hogan landed a couple of encouraging scores and Colin Fennelly soon swept home his goal after Galway stopper Callanan dropped the ball when trying to clear away from his area.

The pressure increased on Galway when Reid and Hogan made ot 4-12 to 3-13 and incredibly Kilkenny looked poised to land a knockout blow.

But Farragher's eighth point of the day and Aonghus Callanan's second, in injury-time, gave Galway their winning margin.