Too easy as Kilkenny sweep aside Galway with 12-point victory
CLASH OF THE CALF: Martin Keoghan of Kilkenny tussles with Jack Grealish of Galway during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Kilkenny and Galway at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Too easy. Kilkenny’s defence of their Leinster crown kicked off with a comfortable triumph over Galway in UPMC Nowlan Park.
In recent years, Galway have come close without prevailing in this fixture. They are now without a win over Kilkenny in five championship meetings. The portion of the 8,243 crowd that travelled from out west was minimal.
A new beginning is yet to generate renewed excitement. Saturday was about giving their absent support a reason to return. They failed in that pursuit.
The start was helter-skelter and hella loose. Kerry native Fionán Mackessy got Kilkenny off the mark with an early 65 and added another from play before the break. His excellent long-range striking was on full display with another two immense efforts in the second half.
A short Billy Ryan shot was inadequately dealt with by goalkeeper Darach Fahy for an Adrian Mullen goal after just three minutes. It took 16 minutes for the game’s first free and Kilkenny were awarded one in the entire half, expertly slotted by Eoin Cody.
The Ballyhale star was tracked by Darren Morrissey with Mikey Butler taking care of Conor Whelan at the other end. That stalemate ensured the middle third was heavily congested as both sides played with isolated men inside.
Micheál Donoghue’s first championship team selection of his second reign sparked a great intrigue around the county. A four-year term suggested a completed rebuild, however the fifteen was made up of familiar faces with one U20 on the bench. Rory Burke did come on for a debut when the game was done.
The home outfit led 1-14 to 0-11 at half-time despite suffering two early injuries to Mullen and Shane Murphy. Galway had responded well to the early green flag setback and were level after 20 minutes thanks to a Cathal Mannion free. Puckout difficulties soon inhibited their challenge.
Eight of the ten points before the turnaround came from the black and amber. Jordan Molloy was an electric presence all over the pitch. Donoghue moved Padraic Mannion to full-back in a bid to mind the house. His fine pass to the brother produced their first point of the second half. At that juncture the margin was seven.
It was a lone fight. The contest started to turn ugly. Conor Cooney came on and was booked for an off-the-ball clash with Mikey Butler. Substitute Stephen Donnelly elected to tap over his second point with a ball on. Cody did not make the same mistake. He kicked on the break, raced away from TJ Brennan and buried the sliotar in the bottom corner.
Only an extraordinary Fahy save denied Keoghan a third. He eventually tapped over and earned his goal before the final whistle, collecting from Stephen Donnelly to complete the hammering.
E. Cody 1-5 (2 free); M. Keoghan 1-2; F. Mackessy 0-4 (1 65, 1 free); A. Mullen 1-0, J. Molloy 0-3; B. Ryan, C. Kenny, M. Carey, S. Donnelly 0-2 each; L. Hogan, J. Donnelly 0-1 each.
C. Mannion 0-10 (6 frees); C. Fahy, J. Fleming, C. Cooney 0-2 each; T. Killeen, D. McLoughlin, C. Whelan, T. Brennan, G. Lee 0-1 each.
D. Fahy; J. Grealish, F. Burke, D. Morrissey; P. Mannion, G. Lee, TJ. Brennan; C. Fahy, T. Monaghan; J. Fleming, C. Mannion, T. Killeen; C. Whelan, B. Concannon, D. McLoughlin.
C. Cooney for McLoughlin, R. Glennon for Monaghan (both 48), R. Burke for Killeen (53), D. Burke for Fleming (60), A. Burns for Brennan (64)
E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor, S. Murphy; M. Carey, R. Reid, P. Deegan; C. Kenny, J. Molloy; A. Mullen, J. Donnelly, F. Mackessy; B. Ryan, M. Keoghan, E. Cody.
S. Donnelly for Mullen (17 – Inj), D. Blanchfield for Murphy (22 – Inj), T. Walsh for Blanchfield (61), H. Shine for J. Donnelly (63), L. Hogan for Ryan (66)Â
S. Stack (Dublin).
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