Cillian Buckley’s goal in the sixth minute of injury-time saw Kilkenny snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and deny Galway at the death in this afternoon’s Leinster senior hurling championship final.

It finished 4-21 to 2-26 at Croke Park, where Walter Walsh’s goal helped the Cats go in level at the break (2-19 to 1-12) and another major from Mikey Butler – his first ever in the champions – would surge Derek Lyng’s in front early in the restart and eventually towards an eight-point lead.

Galway fought back however and it was goal from Jason Flynn on 50 minutes that ignited them, as Evan Niland, Conor Whelan (2) and Kevin Cooney narrowed their deficit down to three.

The closing stages saw Henry Shefflin’s men ride their moment and points from Brian Concannon, marksman Niland (3) and Cooney saw them hit the front two minutes into injury-time.

Concannon looked to have sealed a first Bob O’Keeffe Cup in five years for the Tribesmen with a point in the 74th minute, but after a scramble and kicked clearance in their square it was Buckley that gathered possession and somehow found the corner of the net to seal Kilkenny’s four-in-a-row triumph and break the opposition’s hearts.

Kilkenny win it at the death! - Cillian Buckley's last-gasp winner seals the 2023 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship for Kilkenny. pic.twitter.com/9g1BZVPdQS

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 11, 2023

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