Galway will meet Kilkenny in the 2009 All-Ireland MHC final following a 2-22 to 1-18 victory over Waterford at Croke Park. The favourites / winners led by four points at half time (1-12 to 0-11) thanks to a goal five minutes from the interval by full forward Ronan Badger and three points apiece from dangerous corner men Shane Moloney and Richie Cummins. In contrast, the Waterford full forward line had failed to raise a flag between them during the opening half-hour, as the Munster county appeared overly-dependent on the accuracy of midfielder Martin O'Neill (0-5), wing forward Paudie O'Mahoney (0-3) and centre forward Brian O'Halloran (0-2) to keep them in contention. There was nothing between the teams in the early stages and Galway led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the end of the opening quarter. Paudie Mahony twice drew the Decies level with nice points either side of a Jason Grealish effort for the Tribe. Grealish almost got through for a Galway goal on 17 minutes but his low shot was well saved by Stephen O'Keeffe before Martin O'Neill fired the Munster champions ahead with an expertly-converted free. In the 21st minute, O'Neill's midfield partner Finan Murray doubled the Waterford lead with an excellent point from a sideline cut into the old Canal End from out on the left wing. Cummins' third point had the westerners back within a point in the 23rd minute and Galway took over in the closing stages of the first half. Full forward Badger struck decisively for the game's opening goal in the 25th minute - an excellent finish which he struck low into the ground on the turn. The sides then traded points before Galway pulled away with two points in as many minutes from Shane Moloney and Niall Burke to lead by 1-11 to 0-10 with two minutes left in the first half. Moloney tagged on his third point in the last minute of the first half and a lovely injury-time free from O'Neill left four between them at the interval: 1-12 to 0-11 in Galway's favour. Centre forward Niall Burke (free) and James Regan landed Galway points inside the first three minutes of the second half and some super defensive play from Joe Cooney confirmed that the Connacht boys were well on top. Cummins was almost through for another Galway goal but again O'Keeffe stood firm to make an excellent save and keep his team in the contest. O'Neill's free on 36 minutes closed the gap to five, 1-14 to 0-12. Regan's third point - expertly despatched between the uprights from distance in the 39th minute - restored Galway's six-point cushion. O'Halloran replied for Waterford with a good finish at the end of a purposeful run and Burke converted a free as the sides continued to trade scores. O'Halloran and Regan had wides at either end as the match crept into its final quarter and both sets of players began to look a little weary. Substitute Mark Horan dropped a long-range effort into O'Keeffe's grasp after more intelligent defending by Cooney before O'Neill's seventh point was cancelled out immediately by midfielder Davy Glennon. When Cummins was knocked over close to the Waterford goal, Niall Burke had no problem from the resultant free, his sixth point making it 1-18 to 0-14 with eleven minutes left. Badger and Cummins almost combined for a Galway goal in the 51st minute but the latter's shot was deflected out for a 65, which Burke sent inches wide. In the 53rd minute, Mahony poached a Waterford goal following a misjudgement from Galway goalie Fergal Flannery and the sides traded scores, with Murray floating over a particularly impressive point for the Decies. Badger powered through for a Galway point and O'Neill responded with a pointed free to leave four between them with as many minutes to play: 1-20 to 1-16. After sterling defending by brilliant Galway full back Daithi Burke, Niall Burke settled the match as an issue with a superb goal on 57 minutes. The No.11 finished ruthlessly when he found himself in a one-on-one with O'Keeffe, slamming a low shot to the net. O'Halloran and O'Neill (free) pulled back a couple of Waterford points and James Regan claimed his fourth point in the last minute of normal time. Niall Burke stroked over an injury-time free from in front of the posts to ensure Mattie Murphy's charges of a seven-point victory. Galway - F Flannery; S Coen, D Burke, C Burke; J Brehony, D Fox, J Cooney; J Regan (0-4), D Glennon (0-2) ; B Flaherty, N Burke (1-7, 5f, 1 '65), J Grealish (0-1); R Cummins (0-3), R Badger (1-1), S Maloney (0-3). Subs - M Horan for Brehony (17), C Creaney for Flaherty (40), T Harran (0-1) for Fox (49), M Keating for Grealish (55). Waterford - S O'Keeffe; L Egan, T Costello, M Wyse; J Dee, P Mahony, D Fives; F Murray (0-2, 1sl), M O'Neill (0-9, 7f, 1 65); P Mahony (1-3), B O'Halloran (0-4) , R Cahill; P Prendergast, J Dillon, I Galgey. Subs - K Moore for Prendergast (36), J Prendergast for Cahill (42). Ref - T Carroll (Offaly). Tweet

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