Kilkenny defeat Galway to retain All-Ireland title
Thursday 10 September 2015 15:48, UK
Kilkenny are All Ireland champions after a superb second-half performance swept Galway aside by 1-22 to 1-18 at Croke Park.
The Cats had been second-best all over the field through the opening 35 minutes and despite TJ Reid's goal, they trailed by 0-14 to 1-8 at the interval.
Joe Canning was imperious from play as well as placed balls while Jason Flynn hit inspirational scores from the depths of the arena.
Galway had imposed their will on Kilkenny in what was almost a homage to the old masters in black and amber.
That Kilkenny were not further adrift at the break was all that they could take store from - with Reid's neat goal a lone highlight.
But when they emerged after half-time, Kilkenny started anew. The first-half showing was like something from a season past as they set upon Galway with relentless ferocity.
This wasn't a turnaround of gradual gains. Kilkenny were transformed in an instant and strong-armed a Galway team who had earlier outmuscled them.
They took control of the middle and established a supply line to Reid, Colin Fennelly, Ger Aylward, Walter Walsh and the rest, to make good.
And there was nothing going the other way as Canning, Flynn and Glynn faded into the background, while Cathal Mannion was eerily quiet.
Conor Whelan and David Collins landed the occasional reminder now and again, but the reality pinch was a thing of savage intensity as Kilkenny swarmed the breaks, winning more than their share.
So typical of Kilkenny, they won the war off the back of that third quarter battle and they looked nailed on winners by the time Richie Power entered for Richie Hogan.
There was one final play for Galway, with Joe Canning striking a goaled free in injury time to cut the deficit.
But it was a score too late and Galway will rue missed chances, scratch sore heads and rub sore bones while wondering how Kilkenny's bully tactics ended up being more effective than that which the Tribesmen employed in the first half.
For the evergreen Brian Cody, the complete turnaround will be marked down as yet another thing of triumph.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh (0-1), K Joyce, C Buckley; M Fennelly (0-2), C Fogarty (0-1); C Fennelly (0-2), R Hogan (0-2), TJ Reid (1-7, 5f, 2 '65s); W Walsh (0-2), G Aylward (0-3), E Larkin (0-2).
Subs: R Power for Hogan (61), J Power for Aylward (62).
Galway: C Callanan; J Coen, J Hanbury, P Mannion; A Harte, I Tannian, Daithí Burke; A Smith, David Burke (0-1); C Whelan (0-2), C Donnellan (0-1), J Glynn; J Flynn (0-4, 3f), J Canning (1-8, 1-5f), C Mannion.
Subs: D Collins (0-2) for Harte (24), C Cooney for Smith (56), G Lally for Donnellan (64), S Moloney for Flynn (65).
Ref: J Owens (Wexford).
