Kilkenny claw back against three-goal Galway
Galway 3-12 Kilkenny 1-18
Champions Kilkenny staged a dramatic second half comeback at Croke Park, as they earned a replay, with a 1-18 to 3-12 draw against Galway in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling final.
The Tribesmens' hunt for a sixth-ever Minor title, and a first since 2000, looked to be motoring as Sarsfields corner forward Kerril Wade hit a first-half 1-4 to leave the Cats four points behind at the break, and turning into the wind.
Having hit the last three points of the first half, and the first three of the second, Kilkenny were back level in the 47th minute, when wing-forward Nicholas Kenny clawed a high drive off his left over for a 0-14 to 1-11 scoreline.
The next four minutes saw the sides hit a goal apiece, with Barry Hanley hammering low past Kilkenny net minder Liam Tierney, and in the 51st minute, the sides were squared again as Maurice Nolan's free was batted to the Galway net by substitute Matthew Ruth.
In an enthralling end, Hanley grabbed a third Galway goal with five minutes remaining, bundling home substitute Kevin Coen's squared ball for a 3-11 to 1-15 lead.
Athough Mattie Murphy's side went three in front through substitute John Hughes, Kilkenny clawed their way back into the tie as Kenny, Gavin Nolan and Richie Hogan, a cousin of senior DJ Carey, hit the final three points.
Wade, scorer of 1-9 against Cork in Galway's semi-final, pointed twice in the opening 12 minutes, and struck a great goal seconds later, as he outpaced Kieran Joyce and Eamon Walsh to fire high past Tierney in the Kilkenny goal.
The Cats lived off two Paddy Hogan points and a Gavin Nolan point on the run until the 27th minute.
0-3 to 1-7 down, they showed their teeth, as buoyed by the wind, Maurice Nolan (free), Guinan and Kenny, off his left wing, ended the half for Kilkenny with a 0-6 to 1-7 deficit.
Four of the first five in the second half, with Maurice Nolan notching three frees, saw Kilkenny just one down - 0-10 to 1-8 - by the 36th minute.
Two Hanley points restored Galway's one-goal buffer, but another Maurice Nolan free and quick point from Gavin Nolan, after a Richie Hogan run saw them one down.
The momentum was with the Leinster side as Kenny gained parity for the first time in 37 minutes.
Eoin Guinan even had them in front with six minutes remaining, 1-15 to 2-11.
Hanley goal's and Hughes' late point almost undid them again, and although Brother Brennan's champions certainly used their ninth life to force a replay, Gavin Nolan's late point could have certainly been forced under the bar.
