Galway romp to shock win over Cats

Galway 2-21 Kilkenny 2-11

Galway outmuscled and outwitted defending champions Kilkenny in stunning fashion to claim the Leinster SHC title for the first time.

At a dull and drizzly Croke Park, Anthony Cunningham’s men provided all the colour as they handed Kilkenny their first provincial defeat since 2004.

The Cats were held scoreless for the opening 19 minutes as Galway put in an almost faultless first half display, launched on the back of Joe Canning’s third-minute goal.

Canning swooped on a high ball and sent a thunderbolt past David Herity from close range, with the talismanic young forward ending the final with 1-10.

Galway’s midfield dominance, with Damien Hayes dropping back, and the clearing of Johnny Coen and company were two other key factors as they left a shell-shocked Kilkenny trailing in their wake.

The combination of physical intensity and intelligent, skilful possession play helped the Tribesmen build an almost unassailable lead by the break 2-12 to 0-04.

Only one of those points was from play with Henry Shefflin knocking over three frees.

David Burke blazed home a brilliant 23rd-minute goal for Galway, and Cyril Donnellan chipped in with three points from play.

The second half was much more competitive with the Cats nabbing goals through Richie Hogan (44) and Shefflin (49), whittling the gap down to eight points.

But despite Shefflin finishing with 1-8 and Brian Cody introducing some fresh legs off the bench, Galway held firm to create history as first-time winners of the Bob O’Keeffe Cup.

The eye-catching win is most definitely the shock of the 2012 Championship and a huge transformation for a Galway side that lost by 25 points to Kilkenny in the league and conceded seven goals in their previous two SHC ties.

It is also a massive boost for Cunningham in his first season in charge.

He got his tactics exactly right and has the fitness and spirit of the panel at a peak level.

As well as bringing a rare piece of senior silverware back west, the Tribesmen are straight through to an All-Ireland semi-final and Kilkenny will have to lick their wounds for a quarter-final clash.

Cody and his charges are not used to such defeats on the big stage and the manager’s 58th birthday next Thursday is likely to be a reflective one as he plots Kilkenny’s response.

Galway applied the early pressure in the provincial decider, and David Herity did well to hold onto a dropping ball under his crossbar.

In the very next attack, Niall Burke landed the opening point.

JJ Delaney’s injury-enforced absence from the Kilkenny full-back line was exposed soon after, with Iarla Tannian’s long delivery in taken down by Joe Canning and rasped high to the roof of the net.

Canning beat Jackie Tyrrell to the high ball and gave goalkeeper Herity no chance with a powerful shot.

The superb start saw Galway oozing confidence and Canning then set up Niall Burke for his second point from play.

Henry Shefflin miscued a long range free and all over the pitch, Kilkenny were struggling to find their rhythm.

A foul by Tyrrell on Canning allowed the Portumna man shoot his side 1-3 to 0-0 ahead.

Brian Hogan had to bring down the onrushing Andy Smyth as Galway pressed again, with Canning duly converting the free.

The Cats were being crowded out in midfield and losing Herity’s puck-outs, while a hugely confident Canning continued to dominate the game, he landed a free from distance after Damien Hayes was fouled.

The Tribesmen were certainly in the mood as evidenced by David Collins’ 18th-minute point, the product of some stellar stick work and a neat assist from Conor Cooney.

Shefflin replied with a much-needed free for Kilkenny, but in playing short balls and isolating the Kilkenny defenders the men from the west maintained their advantage.

Canning sent over another free and Donnellan increased his tally from play before Burke rippled the net with a sumptuous angled shot from the left.

Kilkenny were well and truly rocked and a glimpse of that was shown when Shefflin pushed a straightforward free wide of the posts.

Galway kept the scoreboard ticking over as Canning played a sideline cut short for David Burke to point from the right and Donnellan notched a quick brace, the latter score seeing him get the better of Noel Hickey.

An injury to Colin Fennelly also disrupted Kilkenny but they showed signs of recovery before half-time as Richie Power, who was switched to centre forward, pointed from play and Shefflin landed two more frees.

Galway’s last point of the half saw Canning gather a misplaced sideline ball from an off-form Tommy Walsh and launch over a monster score from the middle of the pitch.

Kilkenny gave themselves a shot in the arm with an early surge in the second period.

After a Donnellan point, Shefflin converted a free and there was a good burst forward and point from substitute Michael Rice.

The loss of injured 2011 Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly was keenly felt by the Cats, but they were making a decent fist of reeling Galway in.

The Tribesmen were caught out overplaying the ball at times and Kilkenny made them pay when Power claimed a high ball and offloaded it for Richie Hogan to slam home a goal.

Stung into action though, there was a composed response from Galway.

David Burke delighted the crowd with a deft effort after his initial shot was blocked.

Then Canning landed two points in-a-row, the second a sublime point having outfoxed two Kilkenny defenders.

The lead was back out to 2-16 to 1-6.

Cody’s side answered back with a second goal. Shefflin showed his awareness as his well-timed jump saw him bat home a point attempt from Richie Hogan that had dropped short.

The roaming Hayes got a deserved point, profiting from a pinpoint David Burke pass, before top scorers Shefflin and Canning engaged in a shoot-out between themselves.

Shefflin rattled off three successive points, including two frees, to reduce the arrears to eight (2-17 to 2-9) with 54 minutes on the clock.

But the scores dried up for Kilkenny when it mattered most and they could only add two more over the remainder, with Power and Shefflin on target.

Galway were guilty of some poor decision making in attack and wild shooting, with the otherwise impressive Donnellan hitting their 11th wide.

Canning showed the way with another textbook point after substitute Jonathan Glynn picked him out with a diagonal ball.

He also weighed in with a late free and Donnellan moved his haul to 0-5, thanks largely to a clever pass from another substitute James Regan.

Kilkenny needed goals at that stage and the closest they got to a third came when substitute Matthew Ruth skidded a shot away to the left of the goal.

Galway’s first half exploits and doughty performance in the closing 35 minutes saw them prevail by 10 points.

Their captain Fergal Moore proclaimed, “The west’s awake”, at the end of his acceptance speech, and after this result there is no denying that.

Scorers: Galway: J Canning 1-10 (0-7f), D Burke 1-2, C Donnellan 0-5, N Burke 0-2, D Collins, D Hayes 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: H Shefflin 1-8 (0-7f), R Hogan 1-0, R Power 0-2, M Rice 0-1.

GALWAY: James Skehill; David Collins, Kevin Hynes, Fergal Moore (capt); Niall Donoghue, Tony Og Regan, Johnny Coen; Iarla Tannian, Andy Smyth; David Burke, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnellan; Conor Cooney, Joe Canning, Damien Hayes.

Subs used: Jonathan Glynn for Cooney (53 mins), James Regan for Tannian (57), Tadhg Haran for N Burke (61), Joseph Cooney for Donnellan (70+1).

KILKENNY: David Herity; Paul Murphy, Noel Hickey, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Richie Doyle; Cillian Buckley, Paddy Hogan; Henry Shefflin, TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin (capt); Colin Fennelly, Richie Power, Richie Hogan.

Subs used: Aidan Fogarty for Fennelly (23 mins), Michael Rice for P Hogan (27), Matthew Ruth for Reid (57).

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).