Impressive team display seals thundering win for Cats
30/09/2012 - 17:35:49
Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 3-11
Kilkenny staged an impressive team display to register their 33rd All-Ireland SHC win, following an 11-point final replay victory over Galway at Croke Park this afternoon before 82,274 spectators.
Henry Shefflin bagged nine points, and a record ninth All-Ireland SHC medal, becoming the first player to do so by starting in all nine deciders.
Shefflin's 62nd SHC appearance was a memorable occasion for the Cats, with manager Brian Cody certainly getting it all right.
Cody took the brave decision to hand a first Senior Championship start to 21-year old Walter Walsh, but Cats supporters need not have worried as the UCD student put in a superb display.
The Tullougher-Rosbercon clubman belied his years to score 1-3 from play, including a 58th-minute goal which propelled Kilkenny to a 2-19 to 2-8 lead.
Walsh was immediately substituted, but again Cody's prowess shone through, with his replacement Colin Fennelly netting the Cats' third goal inside three minutes of his introduction.
Earlier, Kilkenny made a powerful start to this contest with Walsh and Shefflin among their scorers, to claim a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 14 minutes.
Joe Canning kept Galway in touch, with the Tribesmen supporters springing to life following a 16th-minute David Burke goal to tie the game at 1-2 to 0-5.
The St Thomas clubman capitalised on a high ball and left Kilkenny keeper David Herity with little chance.
TJ Reid pegged a quick point back for Kilkenny, before Burke registered his side's second goal inside 90 seconds.
But Kilkenny had some ammunition in storage and fired immediately with an 18th-minute goal from Richie Power.
Kilkenny failed to look back after this with six unanswered points as Power, Eoin Larkin, Shefflin, walsh and Richie Hogan claimed scores.
1-11 to 2-2 in front, the Cats were in firm command but a 29th minute Joe Canning point broke Galway's scoring deadlock.
The Tribesmen needed further scores quickly, but a 36th minute Cyril Donnellan goal shot was blocked by David Herity.
Galway keeper James Skehill couldn't play through the pain barrier any more and was replaced by Fergal Flannery at the interval.
Scores came quickly in the opening stages of the second half, with Kilkenny outscoring Galway by two points to one in a five-minute spell after the break.
Galway looked back in contention after Donnellan had placed the ball in the Kilkenny net in the 44th minute, but referee James McGrath had already blown for a free.
Canning popped over that free and added a sideline cut soon after.
Three points now separated the sides.
However, Kilkenny found an extra gear, buoyed on by the dismissal of Donnellan on a straight red card in the 49th minute.
Kilkenny added five points without reply, and although Tony Og Regan pointed for Galway, Kilkenny failed to stop.
Goals from Walsh and Fennelly pushed Kilkenny 3-20 to 2-8 ahead with nine and a half minutes remaining, and although substitute Jonathan Glynn netted for Galway late on it was mere consolation.
After the game GAA President Liam O'Neill had a special word in his speech for the achievement of Henry Shefflin in taking his ninth medal, before handing the Liam MacCarthy Cup to Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin.
For Galway manager Anthony Cunningham, it was a second dose of heartbreak in an All-Ireland Final replay this year, having lost with Westmeath side Garrycastle to another Black and Amber clad team - Crossmaglen Rangers - earlier this year in the All-Ireland Club SFC decider.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Henry Shefflin (5f, 2 '65) 0-9; Walter Walsh 1-3; Richie Power 1-2; Colin Fennelly 1-0; Richie Hogan 0-3; TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin, Cillian Buckley, Michael Fennelly, Kieran Joyce (1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning (5f, 1 '65, 1 s/l) 0-9; David Burke 2-0; Andrew Smih, Tony Og Regan 0-1 each.
KILKENNY: David Herity; Paul Murphy, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Kieran Joyce; Michael Fennelly, Richie Hogan; Cillian Buckley, Richie Power, Eoin Larkin; TJ Reid, Walter Walsh, Henry Shefflin. Subs: Noel Hickey for Delaney (Blood 49-63); Colin Fennelly for Walter Walsh (59); Noel Hickey for Joyce (65); Aidan Fogarty for Reid (66)
GALWAY: James Skehill; Johnny Coen, Kevin Hynes, Fergal Moore; Niall Donoghue, Tony Og Regan, David Collins; Iarla Tannian, Andrew Smith; David Burke, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnellan; Damien Hayes, Joe Canning, James Regan. Subs: Joseph Cooney for Donoghue (28); Jonathan Glynn for James Regan (34); Fergal Flannery for Skehill (HT); Conor Cooney for Niall Burke (52); Davy Glennon for Smith (64)
REFEREE: James McGrath (Westmeath)
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