Kilkenny minors suffer as Galway grab big win
Galway 1-23, Kilkenny 0-13
A powerful performance saw the Galway minor hurlers go West with two Leinster league points and a place in the championship semi-finals as they blitzed Kilkenny.
The Cats were left shell-shocked as the Aaron Niland-inspired Tribesmen made sure they would enjoy the Easter weekend following a comprehensive win at UPMC Nowlan Park on Good Friday.
In a tight first half there was little to choose between the sides. Niland did most of the scoring for Galway, helping himself to seven points (six frees), but four from Windgap’s Conor Doyle (0-2 frees, 0-1 65) ensured Niall Bergin’s side would be in close contention for a wind-assisted second half (Galway 0-9, Kilkenny 0-6).
A slow start upon the resumption - they leaked six points to Galway and scored just two - saw Kilkenny begin to fall further behind. The gap grew even further when Niland hit the net from a close range free in the 44th minute. When Jason Rabbitte added a point a few minutes later the gap was out to 10 points (1-16 to 0-9).
There was no way back for Kilkenny, who finished the game with 14 men after Andrew Phelan was sent off in the closing minutes.
SCORERS
Galway - Aaron Niland (1-13, 1-9 frees, 0-1 65); Jason Rabbitte, Conor Gilligan (0-3 each); Michael Burke (0-2); Colm Burke, Luke Kennedy (0-1 each).
Kilkenny - Conor Doyle (0-9, 0-7 frees, 0-1 65); Bill McDermott, James O’Neill, Mikey Stynes, Brian Moore (0-1 each).