An experimental Kilkenny team progressed to a Walsh Cup semi-final meeting with Westmeath after edging past NUI Galway at a rain-soaked Freshford yesterday.

Kilkenny 0-13
NUI Galway 0-12

For long stages, it looked as if the students would prevail, but a late run of scores was enough to see Kilkenny through. The Cats didn't take the lead until the 53rd minute when John Power pointed a free to make it 0-11 to 0-10. Further scores from Martin Gaffney and Power extended their advantage before Niall Burke left the minimum in it. Burke could have snatched victory in the final minute, but his free in front of goal went over rather than under the crossbar.

With Burke and Patrick Kelly in fine scoring form, the students were the better side in the early stages, but Power kept the All-Ireland champions in touch from frees. However, efforts from Dean Higgins, Burke and John Paul O'Connell had NUI Galway 0-8 to 0-7 in front at the break.

The teams were level on 0-10 apiece before Power's free gave Kilkenny a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Kilkenny: D Breathnach; J Corcoran, W Phelan, B Kennedy; P Walsh, C Tobin, P O'Carroll; C Buckley, P Butler; J Power (0-9, 0-7, frees), L Harney, J Cassin (0-2); J Nolan, G Aylward, M Gaffney (0-2). Subs: C Walsh for Nolan (half-time); R Reid for Cassin (48 mins); P Gahan for Butler (56 mins); S Kearns for Aylward (56 mins).

NUI Galway: D Tuohy; D Magner, E Fahy, S McCormack; M Kelly, D Kenny, P Kelly (0-1); JP O'Connell (0-1), C Diviney; D Murphy, N Burke (0-6, 2 frees), D Higgins (0-1); R Shanahan, E O'Farrell, C Morey (0-3). Subs: A Armstrong for O'Farrell (43 mins); C Hynes for Murphy (53 mins).

Referee : D Hughes (Carlow). Tweet

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