Galway made an impressive start to their Leinster senior hurling championship campaign by seeing off holders Kilkenny on a comprehensive 3-25 to 1-16 scoreline at Pearse Stadium.

Rory Burke (2) and Jason Rabbitte netted the goals for the hosts who finished with 14 men following the late dismissal of full-forward Conor Whelan.

The Tribesmen were 0-7 to 0-6 behind when Burke’s first goal surged them in front in the 25th minute and he’d find the net again eight minutes later to move his side towards a 2-8 to 0-9 half-time lead.

The Cats lost centre-forward John Donnelly to a red card in the first minute of the restart and would be left with a mountain to try and climb after a goal from debutant Rabbitte was backed up by four Aaron Niland points.

A TJ Reid penalty in the 61st minute offered Derek Lyng’s men a glimmer of hope before the points of Conor Cooney, Daithi Burke and Darragh Neary all but shut the door on them, with white flags from Ronan Glennon, Cooney, Thomas Monaghan and Niland (free) rounding off Galway’s tally.

It's all over here in Pearse Stadium and Galway are winners after a triumphant win over Kilkenny!🎉🙌 #GALvKK

Watch the highlights below!👀@Galway_GAA @KilkennyCLG pic.twitter.com/B9QxUYKU7g

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 18, 2026

Tweet

Most Read Stories