Kilkenny snatch title at the death - Leinster Final Flashback

Just when a fourth Leinster Senior Hurling Championship title looked beyond Kilkenny, a Cillian Buckley goal in the fifth minute of injury time helped the Cats to a sensational victory over Galway in Croke Park.

The clock looked to be very much against Kilkenny when Galway led by two points with time practically up but in a trait that the Noresiders made famous under Brian Cody's tutelage, Kilkenny again refused to go away and when John Donnelly launched a hopeful ball across field after emerging from a bunch of players it went straight to Padraic Mannion but in a panic the Galway wing back kicked the ball in a panic to Buckley and after  sidestepping inside a last gasp tackle, the Dicksboro man buried a shot past Eanna Murphy.

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It was a remarkable ending to a game that ebbed and flowed throughout and with the Cats minus of the likes of Adrian Mullen, Richie Reid, Mikey Carey and Richie Hogan it will certainly go down as one of the better wins for Derek Lyng's men.

Kilkenny were very slow out of the blocks and trailed 0-6 to 0-1 early on but Mossy Keoghan then found the net and the winners were soon into their groove.

The Cats scored 1-5 without reply in that spell and while Galway battled back with a Conor Whelan goal, Kilkenny were still on level terms by the half-time break after the impactful Walter Walsh who came on as a first half sub for Keoghan netted in the 25th minute.

Kilkenny then dominated the third quarter and on the back of a well worked Mikey Butler goal which was set up by David Blanchfield, the Cats led 3-17 to 1-15 by the 48th minute.

Derek Lyng's men only scored four more points though as Galway rallied for a revival that was kickstarted by a goal from sub Jason Flynn. 

Extra-time then looked a distinct possibility but when Kevin Cooney and Brian Concannon both pointed late on, Galway looked to have a first provincial crown since 2018 within their grasp.

Kilkenny had other ideas and Cillian Buckley's goal at the death saw the Cats crowned provincial champions for a 75th time and they can now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday July 9.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- TJ Reid (0-9, six frees), Walter Walsh (1-2), Cillian Buckley, Martin Keoghan, Mikey Butler (1-0 each), Eoin Cody (0-3), Cian Kenny, John Donnelly (0-2 each), David Blanchfield, Padraig Walsh, Billy Drennan (0-1 each)

Galway- Evan Niland (0-12, eight frees), Conor Whelan (1-6), Jason Flynn (1-0), Brian Concannon, Kevin Cooney (0-3 each), Cathal Mannion, Joseph Cooney (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Conor Fogarty, David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran; Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Tom Phelan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs- Walter Walsh for Keoghan 18 mins, Padraig Walsh for Fogarty 51 mins, Cillian Buckley for Corcoran 57 mins, Timmy Clifford for Phelan 61 mins, Billy Drennan for Ryan 67 mins.

Galway-  Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Gearoid McInerney, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Fintan Burke; Joseph Cooney, Cathal Mannion; Tom Monaghan, Conor Cooney, Kevin Cooney; Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Evan Niland.

Subs- Jason Flynn for Monaghan 46 mins, Sean Linnane for C.Cooney 59 mins, TJ Brennan for Morrissey 63 mins.

Referee- Sean Stack (Dublin)

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