Galway 1-12

Kilkenny 2-8

Substitute Enda Fahy's injury-time point handed Galway a dramatic victory over Kilkenny in the first of this year's All-Ireland minor hurling semi-finals at Croke Park.

Extra-time looked to be on the cards until Fahy fired over in the 64^th  minute to secure the Tribesmen's place in the final on September 3 against either Cork or Dublin. Kilkenny, who led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the interval, finished the game with 14 players after centre forward Conor Heary picked up a second yellow card for a heavy hit on man of the match Darren Morrissey just moments before Fahy's winner.

The wet conditions made for a disappointing spectacle in which scores were difficult to come by. Jack Canning, scorer of 1-4, gave the winners an early lead with a brilliant point before Kilkenny hit back with a third-minute goal. Wing forward Jim Ryan fielded a cross-field pass from Heary and broke through the Galway cover to finish smartly to the net.

Canning shot two more fine points from play, but Kilkenny led by 1-2 to 0-4 coming up to the end of the first quarter thanks to efforts from Adrian Mullen (free) and James Brennan. Eoin Cody and Conor Walsh exchanged points, as did Eoin O'Shea and Niall Brassil before Mullen's second free gave the Pat O'Grady-managed Cats a three-point half-time cushion.

Canning's fourth point left the minimum in it before Cody grabbed Kilkenny's second goal in the 37^th minute after Galway 'keeper Darach Fahy had blocked his initial effort.

But Jeffrey Lynskey's charges responded with a goal of their own within a minute when Canning fired a penalty past Dean Mason after substitute Donal Mannion was fouled by Darragh Walsh. Sean Bleahene then levelled before Mullen notched his first point from play. However, Bleahene had the sides level again, 1-10 to 2-7, in the 46^th minute.

As the tension mounted, Mullen edged Kilkenny back in front when he converted a controversial '65' in the 56^th minute. Mannion restored parity before Fahy settled it at the death.

Galway - D Fahy; C Killeen, D Loftus, D Morrissey; R Glennon, C Caulfield, M Gill; C Fahy, J Fleming; B Moran, C Walsh (0-2f), M McManus; S Bleahene (0-3), C Molloy (0-1), J Canning (1-4, 1-0pen). Subs: S Ryan for J Fleming, D Mannion (0-1) for C Molloy, C Elwood for B Moran, E Fahy (0-1) for M McManus.

Kilkenny - D Mason; T Ronan, M Carey, D Walsh; J Brennan (0-1), C Flynn, J Molloy; J Dowd, N Brassil (0-1); E O'Shea (0-1), C Heary, J Ryan (1-0); S Ryan, A Mullen (0-4, 2f, 1'45), E Cody (1-1). Subs: D Barron for S Ryan, J Kelly for E O'Shea, N Brennan for J Ryan.

Referee - J Murphy.

Tweet

Most Read Stories