
14 minute read
Sport............................. P48


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Eoin Cody was a constant threat Kilkenny then pointed via Walter Walsh after good work from GraigueBallycallan’s Billy Ryan. ere was just 2 points between the sides with 47 minutes of blood and thunder gone.
Young Irelands Mikey Carey then hit a magni cent point to make it a one-point game. e home supporters began to shift a little uneasily in their seats. e 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. omastown’s John Donnelly entered the fray, in place of Dicksboro’s Cillian Buckley.
She in’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. Mid elder 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. e men in maroon had now edged 3 points ahead. Kilkenny substitute Tom Phelan was then illegally stopped as he made for the illegally stopped as he made for the Galway goal. Alan Murphy popped Galway goal. Alan Murphy popped over the resulting free and his 4th over the resulting free and his 4th score since being introduced in the score since being introduced in the rst half. rst half.
Conor Cooney, who had been near Conor Cooney, who had been near awless from the dead ball, then awless from the dead ball, then struck an almighty free from near struck an almighty free from near enough his own ‘45, into the wind to enough his own ‘45, into the wind to bring the home crowd to their feet. bring the home crowd to their feet. e Noresiders then sent on Mossy e Noresiders then sent on Mossy Keoghan in place of goal scorer, Billy Keoghan in place of goal scorer, Billy Ryan as they sought to add a touch Ryan as they sought to add a touch more physicality to their attack. Eoin more physicality to their attack. Eoin Cody, who appeared to be on his Cody, who appeared to be on his 100th marker of the day, was again 100th marker of the day, was again fouled and Alan Murphy pointed fouled and Alan Murphy pointed from the placed ball on 66 minutes to from the placed ball on 66 minutes to leave his side trailing by 2 points. leave his side trailing by 2 points.
Free-taker Cooney then turned Free-taker Cooney then turned provider, as he set up Concannon provider, as he set up Concannon for his 4th point of the game to for his 4th point of the game to leave Henry’s men three ahead leave Henry’s men three ahead as the game entered 3 minutes of as the game entered 3 minutes of additional time. Surely Kilkenny’s additional time. Surely Kilkenny’s race was run. As the saying goes, race was run. As the saying goes, Kilkenny are never beaten, till their Kilkenny are never beaten, till their on the bus home. A long ball into on the bus home. A long ball into the Galway defence resulted in a the Galway defence resulted in a little bit of pinball, before Eoin Cody little bit of pinball, before Eoin Cody emerged with the ball. e Cats emerged with the ball. e Cats most dangerous attacker on display most dangerous attacker on display somehow managed to pop a pass to somehow managed to pop a pass to John Donnelly and the omastown John Donnelly and the omastown star struck a erce shot towards the star struck a erce shot towards the home sides goal. In his attempt to home sides goal. In his attempt to block Donnelly’s e ort, block Donnelly’s e ort, keeper Éanna Murphy keeper Éanna Murphy diverted the shot to his diverted the shot to his own net. Goal. e sides own net. Goal. e sides were now level again. were now level again. Surely time was up. Surely time was up. e Galway keeper restarted the e Galway keeper restarted the game while the Kilkenny travelling game while the Kilkenny travelling support rejoiced. en came the support rejoiced. en came the most contentious decision of the most contentious decision of the game, as Cork referee Lyons signaled game, as Cork referee Lyons signaled for a free to the home side for what for a free to the home side for what he deemed to be a foul on Tom he deemed to be a foul on Tom
Monaghan by Paddy Deegan. Monaghan by Paddy Deegan. Conor Cooney stepped up Conor Cooney stepped up and after a slight delay, and after a slight delay, slotted over the pressure slotted over the pressure free to give his side free to give his side a 1-point victory a 1-point victory in Salthill. Final in Salthill. Final score, Galway score, Galway 1-24, Kilkenny 1-24, Kilkenny 3-17. 3-17.


















































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, Daithí Burke, J Grealish; P Mannion, G McInerney, F Burke; J Coen, David G McInerney, F Burke; J Coen, David Burke; T Monaghan, C Cooney, Burke; T Monaghan, C Cooney, J Cooney; C Mannion, C Fahy, B J Cooney; C Mannion, C Fahy, B Concannon. Concannon. Subs: T Killeen for Grealish Subs: (temporary, 40-41); C Whelan for (temporary, 40-41); C Whelan for Fahy (45); G Lee for Grealish (53); TJ Fahy (45); G Lee for Grealish (53); TJ Brennan for Coen (72). Brennan for Coen (72). Kilkenny: E Murphy; M Butler, H Kilkenny: Lawlor, T Walsh; M Carey, P Deegan, 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 Blanch eld 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.



The Miracle Prayer
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.R
The Miracle Prayer
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. JCB

St. Anthony Prayer,
O Holy St. Anthony gentlest of Saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms. The gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen M.R
The Miracle Prayer
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.F
The Miracle Prayer
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. E.B
The Miracle Prayer
Dear heart of Jesus, in the past I have asked many favours. This time I ask you this special one (mention favour). Take it dear heart of Jesus and place it within your heart where your father sees it. Then in his merciful eyes it will become your own favour not mine. Amen. Say this prayer three times for three days and your favour will be granted. Never been known to fail. Must promise publication of prayer. M.M

