Ruthless Kilkenny quick to expose Galway's frailties

ALL-IRELAND MHC SEMI-FINAL/Kilkenny 5-19 Galway 0-15:SO THIS ultra-talented group of Kilkenny youngsters are the real deal.

With so many schooled at St Kieran’s College, the breeding is certainly good and Galway were Kilkenny’s latest victims on an afternoon that confirmed that future stars are being constructed on the Noreside.

Having scorched through Leinster, Richie Mulrooney’s charges expected to encounter some turbulence against fellow perennial All-Ireland contenders Galway. That didn’t materialise as Kilkenny’s performance dripped with craft leaving Galway bruised, battered, and bewildered.

A potent cocktail of substance and style from Kilkenny ensured Galway weren’t permitted any opportunity of taking a prized scalp. Even though Galway rallied at stages initially, Kilkenny had that extra drop of class and hit 2-10 on the spin either side of the interval to settle the issue. Kilkenny were operating on a higher plain and they ticked all the boxes.

A safe and sound defence protected goalkeeper Dylan Walsh, the midfield duo buzzed about craving involvement, and the attack was typically exact as all six Kilkenny forwards had scored from play by the 27th minute.

The opening period was flecked with crisp hurling as Galway contributed to a half that despite being loose was never short on cool Kilkenny invention.

Galway exhibited an encouraging efficiency, but Kilkenny were ruthless, taking maximum advantage of the champions’ laxness when failing to adequately deal with runners from deep.

Ultimately that was the decisive factor in the first 30 minutes as Galway leaked goals at an alarming rate. There had been plenty to admire in the manner Galway thundered into the contest against a polished Kilkenny outfit and after eight minutes the sides were deadlocked at four points each.

But there had been ominous signs for Galway because Michael Brennan, Ger Aylward, and the sweet-striking Thomas O’Hanrahan were dovetailing nicely. Galway were struggling to stay afloat and Kilkenny were intent on inflicting damage.

Nine minutes in Cillian Buckley pocketed a goal book-ending an incisive run with an equally assured strike that flew past Shane Kelly. Kilkenny captain Buckley turned provider for a Brennan goal on 11 and while Galway were raising white flags it was green ones that were required.

John Power rifled a third goal in the 25th minute and by the interval Kilkenny’s advantage had increased to a significant 3-9 to 0-10 buffer.

All that needed to be determined thereafter was the margin of Kilkenny’s victory. Aylward pounced on a Kelly mistake to flick a fourth goal as Galway’s torture continued. It was a relentless demonstration of Kilkenny’s ability with Aylward providing the wristy flicks inside alongside the talented O’Hanrahan.

Struggling Galway eventually terminated a 19-minute search for a score when substitute Cathal O’Brien split the uprights, but Kilkenny had smashed 2-10 without reply during that brutal barren spell. Late on Mulrooney gave the influential Kevin Kelly a stint at full forward and the Galway net danced again in the 52nd minute. This really is a cool collection of young Cats.

KILKENNY: D Walsh; J Corcoran, W Phelan, B Kennedy; P O’Carroll, L Harney, O McGrath (0-2, two frees); K Kelly (1-2), O Walsh; J Power (1-2, 2fs), P Walsh (0-4), C Buckley (1-1); M Brennan (1-0), T O’Hanrahan (0-3), G Aylward (1-5). Subs: R Reid for O’Hanrahan (52 mins), P Buggy for Brennan (52), C O’Neill for Kennedy (53), D Waugh for Walsh (57 mins), C O’Shea for O’Carroll.

GALWAY: S Kelly; C Diviney, Darragh Burke, P Hoban; M Keating, Daithi Burke (0-1), M Horan; P Brehony (0-2), C Cooney (0-3, two frees); A Mullins (0-1), J Glynn, J Flynn (0-1); N Keary, T Moran, S Moloney (0-5, four frees). Subs: B Lane for Glynn (26 mins), G O’Donoghue for Moloney (30 mins), S Morrissey for Hoban (31 mins), K Cullinane (0-1) for Moran (41 mins), C O’Brien (0-1) for Keary (43 mins).

Referee: D Coops (Cork).