Galway storm to Leinster U-20 title

Killeen stars in nine-point win over Cats

Galway 2-20

Kilkenny 2-11

By Billy Coss

At O'Moore Park

It has been the most memorable few days for Galway underage hurling as the county's U-20s followed in their minors' footsteps and collected provincial silverware against Kilkenny in Portlaoise.

Jack Shaughnessy and Vince Morgan netted their goals and Cullen Killeen collected the man of the match award on an evening when the trio's Loughrea clubmate Gavin Keary managed Galway to their third Leinster title at the grade, following on from previous successes in 2018 and '21.

After turning with a four-point lead following a late first half scoring surge, the men in maroon grew their advantage to a game high 11 points with a dominant closing quarter showing.

Underpinning it all was a work-rate and discipline out of possession that Kilkenny were unable to match as Galway restricted the holders to just four second half points until Ruarc Sweeney fired a consolation goal in added time.

Galway were decisive winners and they did it without injured seniors Aaron Niland and Seán Murphy. Jason Rabbitte, another of Micheál Donoghue's panel, was held in reserve until first half injury-time, while they also lost Darragh Counihan and Luke Kennedy before the second half.

The sides shared the game's opening four points before Galway struck for their opening goal on nine minutes. Michael Burke, Counihan and Morgan were all involved in its creation and Shaughnessy, scorer of 1-7 on the evening, was the finisher.

Kilkenny battled back to level at 1-5 apiece by the 25th minute. Patrick Lacey picked off two early points and Ed Lauhoff was their chief threat with 1-2 from centre-forward. His goal on 25 minutes came after Ed McDermott's powerful shot was saved by Chris Callanan.

Hitting five of the half's closing six points, Galway took a firm grip before the break with Shaughnessy, Counihan, Burke, Callanan and Killeen all on target in building a 1-11 to 1-7 lead.

The scoring output slowed at both ends in the third quarter and though the Cats narrowed the gap to 1-13 to 1-10 by the 45th minute, Galway never looked back as they outgunned their opponents with a run of 1-6 to a solitary point from there to the 57th minute.

Killeen, Rabbitte, Shaughnessy and Ronan Cahalan were the point scorers in that key spell before Killeen and Shaughnessy combined for Morgan to finish their second goal and remove all doubt over the outcome.

With Michael Fallon, Thomas Blake and Ed O'Reilly outstanding in the Galway full-back line, Kilkenny's inside threats were curtailed until Sweeney hit a consolation goal in added time. Kilkenny finished with 14 men after David Barcoe picked up a second yellow card.

Galway's reward is an All-Ireland final against Munster champions Clare on Sunday week in Thurles. What a clash that promises to be.

GALWAY: Chris Callanan (Clarinbridge); Thomas Blake (Oranmore-Maree), Mikey Fallon (Clarinbridge), Ed O’Reilly (Liam Mellows); Jonah Donnellan (Pádraig Pearses), Donnacha Campbell (captain, Cappataggle), Gavin Maher (Loughrea); Michael Burke (0-1, Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough), Cullen Killeen (0-2, Loughrea); Luke Kennedy (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), Darragh Counihan (0-2, Clarinbridge), Ciarán Leen (0-2, 0-1 free, Craughwell); Jack Shaughnessy (1-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65, Loughrea), Brian Callanan (0-3, Ardrahan), Vince Morgan (1-0, Loughrea). Subs: Jason Rabbitte (0-1, Athenry), for Counihan inj., 30+2 mins; Ronan Cahalan (0-2, Killimordaly), for Kennedy inj., half-time; Seán Moran (Castlegar), for Burke, 48 mins; Gearóid King (Castlegar), for Blake, 58 mins; Harry Holmes (Ballygar), for Shaughnessy, 58 mins.

KILKENNY: Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Micheál Ahern (Emeralds), Rory Garrett (captain, Fenians), Darragh Vereker (Glenmore); Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), David Barcoe (Clara); Jim Conlon (0-2, Young Irelands), Ben Nevin (Thomastown); Anthony Clifford (0-1 Dicksboro), Ed Lauhoff (1-2, James Stephens), Greg Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels); Jake Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale), Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Patrick Lacey (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65, Dicksboro). Subs: Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own), for Nevin, (temporary) 24-26 mins & half-time; Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), for Kelly, 30+2 mins; Ruarc Sweeney (1-0, O’Loughlin Gaels), for Mullen, 38 mins; Seán Bergin (0-1, James Stephens), for Dollard, 48 mins; Cian Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels), for Lacey, 55 mins.

REFEREE: Adam Kinahan (Offaly).

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Cullen Killeen (Galway).