Canning converts pressure free to force replay
09/09/2012 - 18:24:48
Galway 2-13 Kilkenny 0-19
A 73rd-minute Joe Canning point earned Galway another chance at All-Ireland silverware after a pulsating drawn All-Ireland SHC Final at Croke Park this afternoon.
GAA President Liam Ó Neill predicted last night that this game would ensure the first Senior All-Ireland Hurling Final Replay since 1959 and thus materialised after a strong second-half comeback by Kilkenny was met with a late Canning score.
The Portumna freetaker delivered under pressure at the death into a packed Dineen Terrace to ensure a replay on September 30th, finishing with a tally of 1-9.
In a repeat pairing of this Summer's Leinster decider, once again Galway showed that they were no flash in the pan as Anthony Cunningham's charges got going from the off.
Henry Shefflin claimed the first of his 12 points after four minutes, but once Andrew Smith opened the Galway account after eight minutes it was all about the newly crowned Leinster champions.
Galway produced zest and guile in abundance in the opening 22 minutes and left the Cats once again mesmerised at GAA Headquarters.
Canning was a spiritual leader in this Galway powerpacked display, netting the lone goal of the opening half in the ninth minute after gathering a pass from James Regan, shaking off the challenge of the Kilkenny defenders and planting the ball past Cats keeper David Herity.
Galway moved 1-5 to 0-2 ahead after 22 minutes, with Canning providing the bulk of their points, but both sides were guilty of further missed chances during this spell.
Canning unlucky not to snatch a goal in the 19th minute after rounding full-back JJ Delaney, but smashing the ball wide of the target.
Kilkenny were also hungry for scores, but found little reward amassing five wides by the 21st minute, most of those from Shefflin, but the eight-time All-Ireland winner turned on the style as this game progressed.
Cody's charges came fully into contention before the break, with three Shefflin frees in a row lifting their spirit and ensuring just a six-point deficit at the break on a 1-9 to 0-7 score-line.
Kilkenny lucky not to be further in arrears at the interval after Herity denied Smith in first half injury-time.
Shefflin and Niall Burke traded points inside 90 seconds of the restart, but suddenly Galway opened-up and the Cats capitalised with six unanswered points.
Shefflin on target with three of these scores, as Kilkenny claimed the lead on a 0-14 to 1-10 score-line for the first time since early in the opening half.
Galway responded in tremendous fashion with a goal from Niall Burke, an absolutely rasping shot to put the Tribesmen back in front.
Kilkenny went in search of a goal of their own through Colin Fennelly in the 59th minute, but James Skehill was on target with a superior block.
The Cats kept plugging away and although Shefflin put a 69th minute penalty over the cross-bar they looked in the ascendancy late on.
However, there was one further twist in the tail when Canning stepped up to take a last gasp free and make no mistake to ensure the ticket scramble once again has begun in the West and in the Marble County.
The Senior final will form a double-header with the Minor decider after Dublin and Tipperary finished level earlier at Croke Park.
The Ladies Football finals will be now played on Sunday October 6th at Croke Park.
Scorers
Kilkenny: H Shefflin 0-12 (10f, 1 pen), E Larkin, TJ Reid 0-02 each, A Gogarty, R Power, R Hogan.
Galway: J Canning 1-09 (0-08f), N Burke 1-02, A Smith, N Donoghue 0-01 each
GALWAY: James Skehill; Johnny Coen, Kevin Hynes, Fergal Moore; Niall Donoghue, Tony Óg Regan, David Collins; Iarla Tannian, Andrew Smith; David Burke, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnellan; Damien Hayes, Joe Canning, James Regan. Subs: Joseph Cooney for Hynes (Blood 30-32); Conor Cooney for James Regan (51); Jonathan Glynn for Conor Cooney (61); Joseph Cooney for Niall Burke (62); Davy Glennon for Damien Hayes (68).
KILKENNY: David Herity; Paul Murphy, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Kieran Joyce; Michael Fennelly, Richie Hogan; Henry Shefflin, TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin; Colin Fennelly, Richie Power, Aidan Fogarty. Subs: Matthew Ruth for Colin Fennelly (62).
REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).
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