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.
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.
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
E Murphy
J Holden
R Lennon
M Walsh
Kieran Joyce
P Murphy
C Fogarty
O Walsh
L Ryan
P Lyng
C Martin
M Malone
R Hogan
JJ Farrell
R Leahy
Subs
C O’Shea for C Fogarty (h.t)
L Blanchfield for M Malone (42)
S Morrissey for R Leahy (52)
J Maher for C Martin (61)
A Murphy for J J Farrell (70)
Galway
C Callanan
P Killeen
J Hanbury
J Grealish
A Tuohy
M Dolphin
A Harte
J Coen
D Nevin
S Maloney
J Cooney
D Glennon
S McInerney
J Flynn
C Whelan
Subs
T Monaghan for D Nevin (28)
M Donohoe for J Grealish (h.t)
G McInerney for M Dolphin inj (50)
P Flaherty for S McInerney (59)
K McHugo for C Whelan (64)
Referee: P Murphy (Carlow)
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