Kilkenny 1-24
Galway 1-17

Holders Kilkenny will face Tipperary in the Allianz Hurling League final on May 5 after easily brushing aside Galway's challenge in the second of the semi-finals at Thurles.

Brian Cody may have been absent from the sideline, but it was business as usual for the All-Ireland champions who, after falling four points behind in the early stages, stamped their authority on proceedings to run out surprisingly comfortable winners.

With Eoin Larkin displaying radar accuracy from frees, and Lester Ryan and Michael Rice superb at midfield, Kilkenny fought back to lead by 0-15 to 1-6 at the break. On the restart, three sublime points from Richie Hogan and a Colin Fennelly goal put the result beyond any doubt as the Cats showed why they are the team to beat again this year.

Joe Canning opened the scoring from a third-minute free before Cyril Donnellan netted a minute later when he beat Eoin Murphy from an acute angle after the Kilkenny goalkeeper had saved his initial shot.

Richie Hogan got Kilkenny off the mark, only for Canning to reply with his second free. Aidan Fogarty had a seventh-minute point for the All-Ireland champions after Galway should have scored at the other end and then Eoin Larkin opened his account from a monstrous free.

In the 10th minute, there was a heavy collision between Fergal Moore and Walter Walsh which resulted in a long stoppage and nine minutes of injury-time at the end of the half. Walsh was treated for a head wound and was reintroduced in the 25th minute in place of blood sub Matthew Ruth. Moore was treated on the pitch for several minutes before being stretchered off, with Andy Smith coming on to replace him.

When play resumed, wing back Aidan Harte restored Galway's three-point lead, 1-3 to 0-3, after finding himself in acres of space. Kilkenny were only warming to their task, though, and Larkin converted a '65 before leaving the minimum in it from another placed ball after Kevin Hynes had illegally blocked Colin Fennelly's path to goal.

Another Hynes foul on Fennelly on the 45-metre line saw Larkin level the game for the first time, 0-6 to 1-3. Eoin Murphy needed to be alert to save Cyril Donnellan's deflected shot at his near post before Niall Donoghue became the second Galway corner back to be replaced, with Paul Killeen taking his place.

Another sweetly-struck Larkin free gave Kilkenny the lead for the first time, but the Tribesmen were soon back on level terms thanks to Joseph Cooney. Goalkeeper Colm Callanan then came to Galway's rescue when he produced a brilliant save to deny Richie Power at the expense of a '65, which the unerring Larkin nailed.

Joe Canning pointed a free following a foul on Davy Glennon in the 30th minute, but that was the last time the sides were level as Kilkenny moved up through the gears to put daylight between themselves and the Leinster champions before the break.

Midfielder Michael Rice scored the first of five unanswered points after collecting a wonderful crossfield pass from Aidan Fogarty. Larkin showed he is human after all by missing a '65, but Kilkenny didn't have to wait long for their next score from Rice.

Larkin tagged on another free and Fogarty also found the target before Lester Ryan dropped a beauty just inches over Callanan's crossbar. Canning momentarily broke the Kilkenny momentum with a free before Larkin slotted another free and the increasingly influential Richie Hogan set up midfielder Ryan for his second to leave the Cats six ahead at the interval.

Cyril Donnellan took a pass from Joe Canning to fire over the opening score of the second half, only for Hogan to reply at the opposite end after peeling away from his marker Kevin Hynes.

Damien Hayes left five in it again before Callanan produced another superb save to deny Richie Power for a second time. From the resultant '65, Eoin Larkin was surprisingly off target.

Richie Hogan scored two more classy points, either side of a Canning free, to extend Kilkenny's advantage to 0-18 to 1-9. Then, in the 45th minute, the game was ended as a contest when the goal the Cats had been threatening to score finally arrived.

Lester Ryan sent in a high ball which was contested by Colin Fennelly and Paul Killeen. The Kilkenny captain used his strength to hold off the Galway defender before dinking the ball past Colm Callanan for a cheeky goal.

Even with 25 minutes remaining, Galway were already resigned to their fate and they fell further in arrears as Larkin (his first from play) and Power added points to push Kilkenny 11 clear, 1-20 to 1-9. Canning converted a free before Cyril Donnellan and Larkin (free) traded scores.

A poor clearance by Johnny Coen was punished by Richie Hogan as the gap remained at 11 points. To their credit, Galway rallied and scored four unanswered points per Canning (two), Donnellan and Aidan Harte to reduce the arrears to seven.

Kilkenny underlined their supremacy, however, with scores from substitute Cillian Buckley and Michael Rice before Canning (free) and sub Andy Smith registered a couple of late consolation scores for the Westerners.

Kilkenny - E Murphy, P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan (0-3), M Rice (0-2); W Walsh, R Power (0-1), E Larkin (0-10, 6f, 3'65); C Fennelly (1-0), R Hogan (0-5), A Fogarty (0-2). Subs: M Ruth for W Walsh, C Buckley (0-1) for Fennelly.

Galway - C Callanan; F Moore, K Hynes, N Donoghue; J Coen, D Collins, A Harte (0-2); I Tannian, J Cooney (0-1); C Donnellan (1-3), C Cooney, D Burke (0-1f); D Glennon, J Canning (0-8, 6f, 2'65), D Hayes (0-1). Subs: A Smith (0-1) for Moore, P Killeen for Donoghue, J Glynn for C Cooney, J Regan for Hayes.

Referee - D Kirwan. Tweet

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