The Kilkenny Observer Friday 06 May 2022
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Hurling matters Kilkenny then pointed via Walter Walsh after good work from GraigueBallycallan’s Billy Ryan. There was just 2 points between the sides with 47 minutes of blood and thunder gone. Young Irelands Mikey Carey then hit a magnificent point to make it a one-point game. The home supporters began to shift a little uneasily in their seats. The sides were level for the fourth time on 55 minutes when Eoin Cody pointed after some lovely play. Kilkenny had tagged on seven points, to just the one from the home side. Thomastown’s John Donnelly entered the fray, in place of Dicksboro’s Cillian Buckley. Shefflin’s men then got just their second score of the half in the 56th minute. Bustling full-forward Brian Concannon sent over a nice point to help settle the Galway nerves. Midfielder Cooney then sent over a lovely point from out on the left, before Conor Cooney pointed after taking Fintan Burke’s short side line cut. The men in maroon had now edged 3 points ahead. Kilkenny substitute Tom Phelan was then illegally stopped as he made for the Galway goal. Alan Murphy popped over the resulting free and his 4th score since being introduced in the first half. Conor Cooney, who had been near flawless from the dead ball, then struck an almighty free from near enough his own ‘45, into the wind to bring the home crowd to their feet. The Noresiders then sent on Mossy Keoghan in place of goal scorer, Billy Ryan as they sought to add a touch more physicality to their attack. Eoin Cody, who appeared to be on his 100th marker of the day, was again fouled and Alan Murphy pointed from the placed ball on 66 minutes to leave his side trailing by 2 points. Free-taker Cooney then turned provider, as he set up Concannon for his 4th point of the game to leave Henry’s men three ahead as the game entered 3 minutes of additional time. Surely Kilkenny’s race was run. As the saying goes, Kilkenny are never beaten, till their on the bus home. A long ball into the Galway defence resulted in a little bit of pinball, before Eoin Cody emerged with the ball. The Cats most dangerous attacker on display somehow managed to pop a pass to John Donnelly and the Thomastown star struck a fierce shot towards the home sides goal. In his attempt to block Donnelly’s effort, keeper Éanna Murphy diverted the shot to his own net. Goal. The sides were now level again. Surely time was up. The Galway keeper restarted the game while the Kilkenny travelling support rejoiced. Then came the most contentious decision of the game, as Cork referee Lyons signaled for a free to the home side for what he deemed to be a foul on Tom Monaghan by Paddy Deegan. Conor Cooney stepped up and after a slight delay, slotted over the pressure free to give his side a 1-point victory in Salthill. Final score, Galway 1-24, Kilkenny 3-17. Eoin Cody was a constant threat Photo: Danny Lahart
Cody & Co will need to regroup for Dubs clash Photo: Danny Lahart
Scorers for Galway: C Cooney (0-6, 0-6 frees); B Concannon, J Cooney (0-4 each); T Monaghan (0-3); J Coen (1-0); F Burke (0-2 sidelines), C Mannion (0-2 each); D Burke, P Mannion, C Fahy (0-1 each). Scorers for Kilkenny: E Cody (1-2); A Murphy (0-5, 0-4 frees); T Reid (03, 0-2 frees), W Walsh (0-3 each); B Ryan, J Donnelly (1-0 each) P Walsh (0-2); M Carey, A Mullen (0-1 each). Galway: É Murphy; D Morrissey, Daithí Burke, J Grealish; P Mannion, G McInerney, F Burke; J Coen, David Burke; T Monaghan, C Cooney, J Cooney; C Mannion, C Fahy, B Concannon. Subs: T Killeen for Grealish (temporary, 40-41); C Whelan for Fahy (45); G Lee for Grealish (53); TJ Brennan for Coen (72). Kilkenny: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; M Carey, P Deegan,
C Browne; J Maher, A Mullen; W Walsh, P Walsh, C Buckley; E Cody, B Ryan, TJ Reid. Subs: A Murphy for Maher (30); T Phelan for Reid (HT); D Blanchfield for Browne (43); J Donnelly for Buckley (55); M Keoghan for B Ryan (66). Referee: C Lyons (Cork).
>> SHERRY SAYS... The Salthill showdown. Shefflin vs Cody. May Bank Holiday weekend. This was the fixture that everyone looked to when the draw was made for the group stages of the Leinster Championship. In terms of excitement, energy, aggression, skill and the usual twists and turns of championship hurling, this game had it all... and then some! Kilkenny went against the wind in the opening period and found themselves 6 down at the interval. The wind advantage was probably worth the lead that Henry’s men had gained. Having said that, had it not been for a couple of uncharacteristic misses from TJ, the Cats may have been a little closer at the break. From the throw-in, TJ didn’t look like his normal self. His manager pulled him ashore at half time. The Shamrocks man had notched 3 points in his 35 minutes of action. Don’t worry, TJ will be back. The most dangerous of Kilkenny’s attackers was captain for the day, Eoin Cody. This was the most encouraging sight for the black and amber faithful watching the Salthill spectacle. Cody must have had nearly all the Galway defenders marking him at some stage of this epic contest. It was only when Henry Shefflin deployed Padraic Mannion on the Ballyhale attacking star did Cody’s influence lessen. The introduction of Alan Murphy proved instrumental in Kilkenny getting back into the game, especially in the second half. The Glenmore man has been unlucky not to start the last couple of games. His free-taking was exemplary and he ended up hitting 0-5 in total. Along with Eoin Cody, I feel Walter Walsh was the next best in terms of his overall contribution to his side’s attacking threat. It really is a delight to see the Tullogher-Rosbercon man fit and firing, and looking like the player we all know was there. His powerful runs, aerial ability and non-stop work-rate make Walter a must on the current starting XV. In defence, the O’Loughlin’s spine of Lawlor and Deegan did well and this will be encouraging was we get deeper into championship hurling. Tommy Walsh and Mikey Carey have shown enough to suggest that they will become regular fixtures in the Cats defensive unit. Ok, I think it’s now time to address the major talking point of last week’s Salthill encounter, the ‘elephant in the room’. Paddy Deegan DID NOT foul Tom Monaghan for the injury-time free that gave Galway the chance to snatch victory. Colm Lyons, for my money, had done a really good job for the majority of the game. He played some, good advantages, tried to allow the game to flow and let the players get stuck-in, as should be the case in championship hurling. I for one would demand that Paddy Deegan goes for the next ball in exactly the same manner. Well done to Galway. Hopefully we will see you again.
