It takes some team to win by five points having been six adrift eight minutes into the second half without finding the net, but that’s the amazing feat the reigning champions pulled off. Shooting 10 unanswered points between the 39th and 52nd minutes in a scoring surge which left Galway bewildered, Kilkenny displayed the resolution of champions in rescuing what had been looking like a lost cause.
Kilkenny were plunged into trouble when half-back Eoin Lynch, Niall Healy and Ger Farragher stretched Galway’s lead to six within eight minutes of the resumption of the second half. But somehow, Kilkenny stopped the rot.
The introduction of Sean O’Neill and Eoin Reid suddenly helped to open up gaps in a Galway rearguard which had been admirably secure for over 40 minutes.
Willie O’Dwyer, who had picked up two points from the right corner in the opening half, proceeded to run riot at centre-forward, from where he hit a hat-trick of inspirational scores as Galway virtually collapsed under the pressure.
O’Neill and Reid landed three points between them and with Conor Phelan, Shane Hennessy, raiding wing-back Ciaran Hoyne and James Fitzpatrick all grabbing scores, Kilkenny wiped Galway out when the gun was put to their head.
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Despite notching the opening two scores of the match from Richie Power and Fitzpatrick, Kilkenny struggled to cope with Galway’s mobility and commitment for much of the opening half. Four points from Farragher and an outrageous score from corner-back David Collins left Galway deservedly three ahead at the interval.
But once again Kilkenny proved that when the hard questions are asked on the hurling field these days, there is no county better equipped to come up with the answers.
Tipperary booked their place in the under-21 final for the first time since 1995 when humiliating hapless Down by 4-20 to 0-5 in Portlaoise.
A goal by senior player Tony Scroope after just 90 seconds proved a sad indicator of the mismatch. Further Tipperary goals from Shane Sweeney, Tommy Fitzgerald and substitute Richie Ruth piled the misery on Down in the second half.