Magnificent Cats Prevail

Leinster SHC Semi-Final
Kilkenny 2-20 Galway 3-13

By Denis O'Brien

All Ireland Champions Kilkenny got a stern test from Leinster newcomers Galway at Tullamore last Saturday evening as the Cats were rattled early and often and had to pull out all the stops to win victory in this thrilling hurling semi-final.

Kilkenny had four points to spare in the end in a game that had spectators on the edge of their seats in a classic encounter that was the best game of the Championship season to date.

Galway were fired up from the word go. Inside five minutes they led by 1-3 to a point. Full forward, Joe Canning collected the major when, after grabbing a high ball and turning his marker JJ Delaney, he made off before burying the ball in the left corner of the net for a great goal.

Just before that the crowd was electrified when young Canning went for a goal from a 20-meter free but it was brilliantly saved by Kilkenny keeper, PJ Ryan.

Henry Shefflin frees kept Kilkenny in touch but Galway were looking dangerous in attack in a packed and excited O'Connor Park.

Then Martin Comerford had a good chance of a goal for Kilkenny but his shot went across the goal mouth and just wide.

A 20th-minute Aidan Fogarty point made it a three-point game only for a Canning free to leave the margin at four with minutes left to play in the half.

That's when the Cats struck for two goals in two minutes. The first arrived after a good burst upfield from Michael Fennelly saw his pass find Comerford who, under pressure, tapped to Shefflin.

The Kilkenny ace stepped inside two players before again coming under severe pressure from a battling Galway defense and he let the ball drop but found Fennelly again. He kicked the ball onwards and a resulting scrum on the edge on the goalmouth saw Fogarty bat the ball home for a goal from his knees.

This got Kilkenny going.

A fine pass by impressive midfielder Michael Rice set up Richie Power who headed towards goal after beating two men out on the wing. His hand pass picked out Eddie Brennan unmarked and the lethal goal-getter made no mistake from close range.

This quick turn of events left Kilkenny ahead by 2-7 to 1-8 at half-time after Galway had looked the sharper early on.

Three minutes after the break Galway struck again for their second goal. Niall Healy was giving Kilkenny corner back Michael Kavanagh a lot of trouble and was fouled by the defender. From 20 meters out Canning went for a goal again and this time he struck the ball into the roof of the Kilkenny net.

Then amazingly, three minutes later Galway hit their third goal when Healy scraped home from close range to leave his side five ahead and the Champions in serious trouble.

Healy and Fogarty swapped points before Brennan nearly got in for another goal but this time his effort went left of the post.

Then Brian Cody acted on the sideline and hauled the weakening Michael Fennelly ashore and replaced him with Derek Lyng in a move that would prove crucial as the latter took control of midfield.

Three points from Shefflin (2f), the third a mammoth effort from 100 yards out, inspired his team on and it was all Kilkenny after that. They hit a further seven points without reply with last year's Hurler of the Year outstanding in that period as he grabbed four brilliant scores.

Substitute Sean Cummins also made a difference when he came on for Kavanagh as the Kilkenny defense tightened considerably.

Galway were reduced to 14 men with minutes remaining when sub Richie Murray received a straight red card for pulling wildly for a high ball.

Canning and Hayes grabbed late points but it was not enough.

Galway gave it one hell of a go but the manner in which Kilkenny came back when under severe pressure is a measure of their greatness.

It was a magnificent performance in a great game.

Teams & Scorers:
Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrell; T Walsh, J Tennyson, J Dalton; M Fennelly, M Rice; H Shefflin (0-10, 6f, 1 '65'), M Comerford, E Larkin (0-5); E Brennan (1-0), R Power (1-0), A Fogarty (0-3). Subs: D Lyng (0-2) for Fennelly (47 mins), S Cummins for Kavanagh (49), R Hogan for Brennan (61)
Galway: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; F Moore, J Lee, A Cullinane; E Lynch, K Hynes; A Callanan (0-1), C Donnellan (0-1), A Smith; D Hayes (0-1), J Canning (2-9, 1-7f, 0-2 '65'), N Healy (1-1). Subs: D Tierney for Hynes (30), A Kerins for Smith (59), R Murray for Donnellan (60)
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)