A last-minute goal from substitute Cian Salmon handed Galway a thrilling 3-10 to 0-17 replay victory over Kilkenny in today's Croke Park opener.

Just like last week, the young Tribe looked dead and buried when trailing by four with five minutes remaining (after conceding four points without reply) only for subs Jack Kenny and Salmon to turn the game on its head with crucial late three-pointers.

It was tough luck on Pat Hoban's charges as there was more than a hint of 'Square Ball' to the decisive score, but there was certainly no denying the spirit of Jeffrey Lynskey's team, who showed tremendous battling qualities to progress to the decider.

Having trailed by four points early on, the losers finally got into their stride to lead by 0-9 to 1-4 at half time.

Midfielder and Man of the Match Jack Coyne's seventh-minute major had the westerners ahead by 1-2 to 0-2 after ten minutes. Coyne had also opened the scoring and Evan Niland (free) added the Tribe's second point after Conor Hennessy and Shane Mahony pointed for the Leinster champions.

Joe Connolly closed the gap to two and captain Daniel O'Connor added another before a long-range Andy Gaffney free tied the scores up for the first time on 15 minutes. Michael Lynch restored the Galway lead; Gaffney (free) replied and Connolly's second score - a real beauty - edged the Noresiders ahead for the first time in the 21st minute.

As he had done in the drawn match, corner back Michael Cody lofted over a stunning Kilkenny point before Leahy slotted the fourth successive Kilkenny point. A last-gasp Niland free ensured that Galway were within two at the short whistle.

Gaffney ('65') stretched the gap upon the restart but back came Galway with points from Ian O'Brien and Thomas Monaghan before Tadhg O'Dwyer and Niland (free) swapped scores to leave a point between them with 20 minutes left, 0-11 to 1-7.

Gaffney (free) and Coyle exchanged points. Niland's free from midfield levelled the scores but another Gaffney '65' had the Leinster champions ahead as we passed the three-quarters stage.

Gaffney's fourth point of the second half came from open play and Hennessy's second of the match was followed by a point from substitute Edmund Delaney as the Black & Amber moved four clear.

Substitute Jack Kenny planted the ball in the bottom right corner of the Kilkenny net in the 55th minute and points were traded by John Donnelly and Niland (free) to set up a tense finale. On 59 minute, Salmon - who had created the Kenny major - snuck into the square to bat the winning goal to the net from close range.

Galway - D Gilligan; S Bannon, J Fitzpatrick, C Connor; C Mulry, I O'Brien (0-1), A Greaney; J Grealish, J Coyne (1-2); B Concannon, T Monaghan (0-1), F Burke; M Lynch (0-1), E Niland (0-5f), S Loftus. Subs: C Fahy for J Grealish, L Forde for M Lynch, C Salmon (1-0) for F Burke, J Kenny (1-0) for B Concannon, R Malone for T Monaghan.

Kilkenny - S Murphy; M Cody (0-1), T Walsh, C McGrath; D Mullen, D Joyce, C Doheny; R Leahy (0-1), J Connolly (0-2); D O'Connor (0-1), S Mahony (0-1), R Bergin; A Gaffney (0-6, 5f), C Hennessy (0-2), T O'Dwyer (0-1). Subs: J Donnelly (0-1) for D O'Connor, E Delaney (0-1) for J Connolly, B Sheehan for T O'Dwyer, N Walsh for R Bergin, J Cuddihy for S Mahony.

Referee - C Lyons.

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