The blistering end to the match seemed befitting of the type of clash that Galway and Kilkenny have started to become.
Drama in both the senior and Under 20 ranks last weekend brought out celebrations and commiserations in both counties. Derek Lyngs men undoubtedly wanted revenge for their senior counterparts, which lead to an epic encounter on Monday night.
Sunday was just as enthralling, but it did not need to be. Only seven points were scored by Galway in the second half, who thought they may be left to rue their missed chances when John Donnelley put the ball passed Eanna Murphy for the third time in the game. Murphy reacted well with a quick puckout, drawing a foul from Paddy Deegan. Conor Cooney stepped up, with many doubts still in his mind after Wexford Park. However, the St Thomas’s man duly delivered and handed Henry Shefflin and his Tribesmen two points.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the game, we caught up with Padraic Mannion who gave in a monster defensive performance last Sunday thus earning himself the accolade of GAA.ie Hurler of the Week receiving 3,643 votes.
“It was a real championship game, you always get that with Kilkenny, you never get anything else. We are delighted to come out on top in a game like that. it is great to give them something after a couple of tough weeks in Galway.”
“With the two goals in the first half, they were sucker punches to take. In fairness, the lads responded well and we finished the half very well. Kilkenny always has the potential to get the goal, and they did it in the end. “
“There are two more games in the round-robin. Nobody has got through or got out yet, we just need to keep going and keep the head down.”
Dramatic conclusion in Galway as John Donnelly draws @KilkennyCLG level with a late goal only for Conor Cooney to slot over the winning point for @Galway_GAA deep into injury time. pic.twitter.com/Yc0cIkhmxQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 1, 2022
Eoin Cody received the KCLR Man of the Match reward for his performance in Salthill. Mannion was forced to mark him later on in the game and proved it proved to be a shrewd move by Shefflin and Co. Despite quitting down Kilkenny’s main danger man, Mannion was still full of praise for the two-time young hurler of the year;
“He is an excellent player. Very good, well able to win his own ball, he is an excellent player. It is a tough job for whoever has to mark him.”
Listen back to the full interview on Scoreline Extra below :
