Kilkenny 0-20

Galway 0-18

KILKENNY WRAPPED UP the first silverware of the 2017 hurling season with a two point win over Galway at Nowlan Park.

Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Richie Hogan fired over 0-11, including nine placed balls, as the Cats came out on top in a relatively high-scoring affair.

This may not be the last time these sides clash for honours in 2017, with a Leinster SHC final meeting looking likely in July as both counties are on opposite sides of the provincial draw.

Hogan fired over six frees in the first-half, while Ollie Walsh and Lester Ryan were also on target for Cody’s side.

Kilkenny took a 0-13 to 0-10 lead into the interval, with both goalkeepers pulling off important saves in the opening 35 minutes.

Kilkenny wing-forward Pat Lyng was sent off for a second yellow in the 56th minute, but the Tribesmen failed to make their extra man count as they hit a number of wides after the break.

Joe Canning arriving in Nowlan Park Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

No Galway player scored more than two points from play, but Jason Flynn’s frees kept them in touch.

David Glennon and Aidan Harte reduced the deficit late on with a score apiece, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Cats.

Scorers for Kilkenny - R Hogan 0-11 (7f,2 65s); O Walsh 0-3; L Ryan 0-2; K Joyce, C Fogarty, P Lyng, C Martin 0-1 each

Scorers for Galway - J Flynn 0-6 (5f); S Maloney 0-2 (1f); J Cooney 0-2;  D Glennon 0-2; J Coen, C Callanan  ,(f); S McInerney, A Tuohy,  T Monaghan, A Harte 0-1

Kilkenny

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