Kilkenny 1-22, Galway 1-18
Are Galway destined to forever be the bridesmaid? For all those of a Tribesman persuasion, it must feel that way after the performance they put in during the first half was followed up by the second half's subsequent collapse in Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park in Dublin. In spite of a dominant first 35 minutes, at the end of the day it was Kilkenny lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a second year in a row.
In what was a thrilling All-Ireland Final, Galway saw their comfortable 0-14, 1-8 halftime lead evaporate in the space of a few minutes.
The game's opening exchanges saw neither side able to really grab the game by the scruff of its neck as both sides traded well taken points. Galway came out looking energized, and were it not for TJ Reid's goal for Kilkenny in the 13th minute might have seen their lead grow more than it did. As it was, immediately following the goal the Tribesmen came alive, and were first to every ball. With each strong catch or gang tackle, the noise level around Croke Park seemed to rise.
Joe Canning starred for Galway throughout the opening period, seeming to make any shot he took as he picked up three points from play in addition to a handful of frees. Once the sliotar moved out of Canning's range, young Jason Flynn stepped up to the task and converted three frees from long distance, one of which was from over 100 metres away.
Following the break it was a different story. While Galway remained resolute at the back, they struggled mightily going forward. Although Canning scored a goal in stoppage time once the result was all but assured, his impact was nullified. Kilkenny emerged for the second period ready for war, and although the hurley wasn't pretty, they won the war.
The Cats gradually ground down the Galway resistence, breaking up play at every opportunity, and tackling the sliotar away in packs. Once they assumed the lead partway through the second period they never looked back. As time came close to running out, a couple of clinically taken points from play stretched the Cats' lead from 1-20, 0-18 to 1-22, 0-18. Although Canning did pull a goal back at the beginning of stoppage time, there was nowhere near enough time on the clock for Galway to pull back level.
It wasn't the dominating performance many expected, but it was the performance that Kilkenny needed. TJ Reid led the way for the Cats with 1-7, and is now the hot favorite to be named Hurler of the Year. Ger Aylward chipped in three points for Kilkenny while Richie Hogan, Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly, Michael Fennelly, and Walter Walsh added two apiece to carry them over the line and to their 36th title.