Leinster U20 hurling: Donal O’Shea’s dozen sees Galway past Kilkenny

Cats will face Dublin in final after they prove too strong for Wexford in other semi-final


This group of Kilkenny players must be sick of the sight of Galway in particular Donal O’Shea who struck 0-12 to secure their Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U-20 final place.

O’Shea, the minor Hurler of the Year in 2018, fired 0-10 in the 2018 minor final defeat of Kilkenny and returned to haunt the Cats in Portlaoise.

Galway outscored the holders by 0-8 to 0-2 in the closing 20 minutes and seven of those points came from free-taker O’Shea, son of former Tipperary senior manager Eamon.

Galway led 0-11 to 0-8 at half-time but had been level on eight occasions and were grateful to goalkeeper Darach Fahy who denied Eoin Guilfoyle with two excellent saves.

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Guilfoyle eventually got his goal early in the second half and a point too from Ian Byrne left Kilkenny 1-9 to 0-11 up but they didn't score from play again as Galway rallied.

They'll play Dublin in the January 3rd final after the Sky Blues held firm in Carlow to see off Wexford 1-19 to 1-10.

Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time and surged ahead in the third quarter with points from Darach McBride, Kevin Desmond and Eddie Gibbons.

Gibbons also struck their 41st-minute goal to leave nine points in it and Dublin could afford to concede a 52nd-minute Wexford goal and still cruise home.