Kilkenny 1-19
Galway 1-12

There's no stopping the Cats, as a strong second half display earned Kilkenny their sixth Leinster Senior Hurling title in succession, before 31,376 at Croke Park.

Just three points separated the sides at the interval, but Brian Cody's side stepped it up a gear on the restart, leaving Galway with limited scoring opportunities; particularly in the third quarter.

Joe Canning was held to just two points, both of which arrived in the closing four minutes - as Kilkenny stood firm in defence, with Jackie Tyrrell and Noel Hickey among those impressive.

Despite Kilkenny's overall dominance in this game, it was the Tribesmen who got off to a quick-scoring start; with Aidan Harte firing the opening point inside 20 seconds of the throw-in.

Harte's score ensured Galway held the lead for a further eight minutes, with Kilkenny coming unstuck in front of the posts from early scoring opportunities for Michael Fennelly, Henry Shefflin and TJ Reid.
However, once Shefflin bagged the first of his three first half points in the ninth minute it kick-started a strong scoring spell from the Cats, who fired 1-4 in succession to break 1-4 to 0-1 ahead in the 14th minute.

Shefflin was Kilkenny's main talisman in the opening half, with the Cats only goal of the contest arriving in the 13th minute from the Championship's all-time top scorer, who smashed to the net after the ball was played in over the heads of Galway full-back Shane Kavanagh, and Cats full-forward Richie Power.

Michael Rice picked off fine points either side of a Ger Farragher pointed free, as Kilkenny claimed a 1-5 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Galway's wides tally stood at six, before the Tribesmen were handed a life-line in the 19th minute, when Damien Hayes flicked the ball to the net from close-range; as PJ Ryan and Noel Hickey failed to clear under pressure.

Points were traded on three occasions between the 20th and 32nd minutes, with Eddie Brennan, Shefflin and Power on target for Kilkenny, while Iarla Tannian and Farragher (2) claimed Galway scores.

Indeed Shefflin's 23rd minute point, equalled Galway's tally of 1-3 at that stage, with the Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman gifted plenty of scoring opportunities early on.

Kilkenny half-forward Eoin Larkin was a strong thorn in the Galway defence, but half-back Donal Barry made a superb block approaching the break, with Kilkenny shading a 1-8 to 1-5 interval lead.

Free-taker's Shefflin and Farragher traded points within two minutes of the restart, but Kilkenny gained a firm foot-hold, and held Galway scoreless for almost 21 minutes, as they built up a 1-16 to 1-6 advantage.

The Cats were dominant in all sectors at this stage, with Shefflin, TJ Reid and Power claiming points, while substitutes Richie Hogan and Aidan Fogarty also bagged scores.

48th minute substitute Hogan's point particularly impressive, as he used his craft and skill to outfox Shane Kavanagh and place the Cats seven points ahead at that stage.

Galway substitute Kevin Hynes broke the Cats scoring streak in the 58th minute, with a much required point.

But Kilkenny looked firmly on target for the 67th Leinster crown at this stage, despite Eoin Lynch, Joe Canning and Cyril Donnellan claiming late scores for Galway.

After the game, TJ Reid became the fourth Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman in succession to lift the Bob O'Keefe Cup. What odds that he can repeat that feat with Liam MacCarthy silverware in September?

Kilkenny - PJ Ryan; J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; M Rice (0-2), M Fennelly; TJ Reid (0-3), E Brennan (0-1), E Larkin (0-1); M Comerford, R Power (0-3), H Shefflin (1-7, 4f, 1 65). Subs: J Tennyson for B Hogan (29); A Fogarty (0-1) for Comerford (43); R Hogan (0-1) for Brennan (48); J Mulhall for Power (67).

Galway - C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan, D Collins; G Farragher (0-4, 4f); A Cullinane; A Callanan, A Harte (0-1), A Smith; D Hayes (1-1), J Canning (0-2, 1sl), I Tannian (0-1). Subs: E Lynch (0-1) for Cullinane (25); C Donnellan (0-1) for A Callanan (43); K Hynes (0-1) for Farragher (53); J Gantley for Smith (67).

Ref - M Wadding (Waterford) Tweet

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