Galway survive stern test against Kilkenny in Leinster U20 Hurling Championship
Galway 2-18Kilkenny 1-19BOUND for Portlaoise last Wednesday evening, the head was clear – surely, there could only be one outcome to the Leinster U-20 hurling championship round robin tie between Galway and Kilkenny based on the formbook so far: a big win for the Tribesmen.
Afterall, they had already hammered Wexford by 14 points while Kilkenny had been lucky to draw with the Slaneysiders. But it didn't turn out that way as Galway had to hang tough in the closing minutes to get over the line.
Ultimately, Galway were grateful for a two-goal burst – somewhat against the run of play – coming up to half-time. The first came from centre forward Darragh Counihan who turned over Kilkenny's excellent number six Jack Dollard in the 29th minute before planting the sliotar to the net. Within 120 seconds, they had a second green flag from the bustling Brian Callanan after the spadework was done by Michael Burke and Vince Morgan.
It left Galway 2-8 to 0-12 in front at the break after making a slow start which contributed to them trailing Kilkenny by 0-12 to 0-6 after 25 minutes. Their goals turned a lively encounter on its head, with Ciaran Leen also chipping in with a brace of frees before the interval.
Unlike their seniors a few days previously, you could see Kilkenny's dander was up from the off. They had pride to restore for the county, while team boss Henry Shefflin would have been extra determined for a good show given his time as team manager in Galway didn't work out as we had hoped.
Kilkenny players tore into everything from the off, and they had four points on the board in less than five minutes from accurate free-taker Patrick Lacy (3) and a fine score from wing-back Jim Conlon.
Galway briefly stopped the rot with points from Leen (free) and Counihan, but backed by the wind Kilkenny were the ones largely dictating the exchanges and by the 16th minute, they had surged 0-8 to 0-2 ahead with Ed McDermott, Jake Mullen and Ed Lauhoff all finding the range.
It was starting to look dodgy for Galway but the one player who began to thrive during Kilkenny's period of dominance was number 10 Luke Kennedy who picked off three quality points before the interval. Full forward Callanan also split the posts in the 17th minute.
Given Galway were second best for long periods of the first half to end up two points ahead at the break showed the team's opportunism and when the elements behind them on the resumption, you anticipated the boys in maroon would pull away.
But it didn't work out that way even at one stage of the second half, Galway had forged into a 2-17 to 0-17 lead. They had two points from quality wing back Jonah Donnellan, together with scores from Counihan, Cullen Killeen, who was now hurling up a storm, Callanan and the improving Jack Shaughnessy (3).
Galway also had a score from substitute Jason Rabbitte – not risked from the start due to a hamstring strain – and appeared to have settled the issue despite Kilkenny registering some fine points from Dollard, Kevin Buggy and substitute Sean Bergin.
Kilkenny could also have had two goals within the space of 120 seconds against, unusually, two different Galway 'keepers. Chris Callanan, who injured his knee in the warm up, aggravated the problem during a terrific double save from Lacey and Mullen at the expense of a point.
His replacement, Andrew Canning, with his first touch, superbly denied McDermott with reserve Ollie O'Donovan firing over the rebound. Kilkenny, however, did finally get a goal from Lacey's penalty in the 58th minute after Galway full back Michael Fallon picked up a black card for fouling O'Donovan.
READ MORE: Galway Hospice Foundation shine on green
It set up a grandstand finale and Kilkenny fought like demons to salvage a draw, but Galway held their nerve with Shaughnessy sealing the deal from a free in the 62nd minute. They are now through to the semi-finals.
The winners' stand out performers were the excellent Fallon, Ed O'Reilly, Donnellan, Killeen, Kennedy (first half), Counihan, Callanan, Shaughnessy (second half) and Rabbitte, who proved a handful on his introduction. Both keepers Callanan and Canning made critical interventions too.
Galway: C Callanan; T Blake, M Fallon, E O’Reilly; J Donnellan (0-2), D Campbell, G Maher; S Moran, C Killeen (0-1); L Kennedy (0-3), D Counihan (1-2), J Shaughnessy (0-4, 0-2 frees); C Leen (0-3, frees) B Callanan (1-2), V Morgan. Subs: J Rabbitte (0-1) for Leen (40), A Canning for Callanan (inj. 44), M Burke for Killeen (52), G King for Moran (57), H Holmes for Callanan (63).
Kilkenny: J O'Doherty; M Ahern, R Garrett, D Vereker; J Conlon (0-1), J Dollard (0-1), E Murphy; K Buggy (0-1), B Nevin; A Clifford, E Lauhoff (0-2), R Sweeney; J Mullen (0-3), E McDermott (0-2),P Lacey (1-7, 1-0 pen, 0-7 frees). Subs: S Bergin (0-1) for Garrett (38), O O'Donovan (0-1) for Sweeney (42), L Raggett for Nevin (44), C Treacy for Mullen (50), E Brennan for Buggy (60).
Referee: A Kinahan (Offaly)