Galway 0-21
Kilkenny 0-14
Declan Rooney reports from Croke Park
GALWAY CLAIMED A third All-Ireland minor title in four years as ten points from Donal O’Shea and a strong second half showing from Jeffrey Lynskey’s side saw them overtake Kilkenny for victory.
Despite trailing by four points early on Galway recovered well and with Diarmuid Kilcommins and Dean Reilly impressing in the second period they eventually ran out deserving winners in Croke Park.
Considering they have been so convincing in their three games to date it was a surprise to see Galway dominated in the opening stages. Only 20 seconds had elapsed when wing-back Darragh Maher roamed forward for a point, while Conor Kelly’s first of four first-half frees doubled their lead in the fourth minute.
Kilkenny’s bright start was aided by their form under the Galway puck-out and Ciarán Brennan robbed a Patrick Rabbitte clearance to put Kilkenny 0-3 to 0-0 ahead, before he slotted a sideline cut in the sixth minute following another stray Galway restart.
All was not rosy in that period though as Kilkenny should have been even further ahead. They stuck four wides in the first five minutes – and eight by the interval – which allowed Galway to stay in the game.
Galway finally got the ball into their dangerous full-forward line in the seventh minute and a pull on Niall Collins by Padraig Dempsey resulted in a penalty, which flew over the bar off the stick of Donal O’Shea.
Coming into the final O’Shea had been Galway’s top scorer with 1-27 and after nine minute he found a yard of space to fire his second of the game and he repeated the dose a minute later with a good point from distance.
Galway were well and truly settled at that juncture and further scores from both Oisín Flannerys and an O’Shea free saw them take the lead by the 12thminute.
The worry for Kilkenny was that they found themselves in arrears after such dominance early on, but Cian Kenny pointed for them before Jack Buggy slotted a second sideline cut of the half by his team and Kenny’s frees saw them into a 0-9 to 0-7 lead five minutes from the break.
O’Shea was off target with a routine free for Galway, but he hit two scores before half-time, including a huge free from his own half in injury-time as his side trailed by 0-10 to 0-9.
Kilkenny were fast out of the blocks in the second half when Kenny points after ten seconds, and despite a free moments later from Kelly, Galway soon took over.
Diarmuid Kilcommins landed a great score from the right to split those two Kilkenny points, and Galway then kicked on with four points without reply – including Kilcommins’ brilliant second from the sideline – to move 0-14 to 0-12 clear.
A Kelly free halted Galway momentarily but the Tribesmen’s progress, but with his bench making an impact, Lynskey’s side made further inroads with scores from Evan Duggan, Dean Reilly and Sean McDonagh and they ran out convincing winners in the end.
Scorers for Galway: Donal O’Shea 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 pen, 1 65), Dean Reilly 0-3, D Kilcommins 0-2, Sean McDonagh 0-2, O Flannery (St Thomas) 0-1, O Flannery (Pearses) 0-1, Evan Duggan 0-1, Colm Cunningham 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: C Kelly 0-7 (0-7f), C Kenny 0-2, D Maher 0-2, C Brennan 0-2 (1 sl), J Buggy 0-1 (1 sl).
Galway
1 Patrick Rabbitte (Athenry)
2 Michael Flynn (Ballygar)
3 Shane Jennings (Ballinasloe)
4 Oisin Salmon (Clarinbridge)
5 Shane Quirke (Athenry)
6 Séan Neary (Castlegar) (captain)
7 Evan Duggan (St Thomas)
8 Jason O’Donoghue (Gort)
9 Oisín Flannery (St Thomas)
10 Diarmuid Kilcommins (Annaghdown)
11 Oisin Flannery (Padraig Pearses)
12 Adam Brett (Killimordaly)
15 Dean Reilly (Pádraig Pearses)
14 Donal O’Shea (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
13 Niall Collins (Cappataggle)
Subs
19 Colm Cunningham (Maigh Cuillin) for O’Donoghue (33)
22 Connell Keane (Beagh) for Brett (34)
24 Sean McDonagh (Mountbellew/Moylough) for Flannery (Pearses) (41)
17 Ian McGlynn (Kilconieron) for Flannery (St Thomas) (45)
23 Keelan Creaven (Sylane) for Collins (49)
Kilkenny
1 Jason Brennan (Young Irelands)
2 Pádraig Dempsey (Mullinavat)
3 Jamie Young (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4 Dylan Crehan (Dunnamaggin)
5 Darragh Maher(St Lachtains)
6 Shane Staunton (Clara)
7 Jamie Harkin (Bennettsbridge)
8 Conor Kelly(O’Loughlin Gaels)
9 Cian Kenny(James Stephens)
10 Ciarán Brennan (Bennettsbridge)
11 Jack Buggy (Erins Own)
12 George Murphy (Rower Inistioge)
13 Cathal O’Leary (St Lachtain’s)
14 Jack Morrissey (St Patrick’s)
15 Killian Hogan (Mooncoin)
Subs:
19 Eoin Guilfoyle (James Stephens) for O’Leary (41)
17 Pádraic Moylan (Dicksboro) for Buggy (43)
24 Jack Doyle for Murphy (52)
21 Killian Rudkins (Barrow Rangers) for Hogan (57)
18 Dan Coogan (Erin’s Own) for Morrissey (62)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
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Pleasantly surprised with that team selection. Great to see Lowry get a chance. Would have liked to have seen Coombes or Timoney and Carty on the bench over Sexton/Conan as we know what they can do. Pretty sure Baloucoune, Conway, Ryan all have knocks, weren’t training anyway. Great to see Lowe back after his impressive last few months. People like to not like him but he offers something we don’t have, a savage left boot (only option in squad) and and the KBA- spoke about by ROG is prominent throughout the 80 mins. Him, Carbery, Hansen, Lowry and Ringrose all playmakers which is a real plus. Italy will struggle to cope. Ireland by 35…
@Stanley: good call with team selection except Lowe .
@Stanley: O’Mahoney really shouldn’t be playing this type of game. Everyone already know what he brings, which is very little. Should have tried someone like coombes there.
@Dave Moran: need a bit of balance and a leader for the troops. His experience will help the other lads settle in on the pitch, and he’s a great captain. He’s not in the plans long term but he’s a savage option for this game
@Sean Barry: talk to someone it will help
@Dave Moran: So O’ Mahoney brings very little. Take off those blue tinted glasses.
@Dave Moran:….sorry, disagree….we know what we missed vs France , experienced leadership….worth his place for that.
@Dave Moran: and you as a self proclaimed English man shouldn’t be commenting on here
@Sean Barry: the guy says he’d rather see Coombes ahead of O’Mahony and you say he has blue tinted glasses. Either you haven’t a clue what you’re taking about or you flew into a Munster rage without reading the full reply.
@Sean Barry: keep posting mate. It’s guys like you who have told Lowry his whole career he won’t make it. Currently a nominee for European player of the year and now an international.
@Sean Barry: lol, the lad that will probably bag a hat-trick in the same match, yeah terrible selection.
@Dave Moran: Haven’t been O’Mahony’s biggest fan but he has been playing out of his skin since last autumn. If people can’t see that they are actively choosing not to. Also, given the poor decision making 2 weeks ago, leadership is an issue for this group.
Baird and Treadwell is a bit of a concern in terms of 2nd row options. We look light there.
Great to see Lowry and Sheehan start. They deserve a shot. Great to see Hume, Casey and Kilcoyne involved too. Kilcoyne definitely a better bench option than Healy
@Dave Moran: I’m Leinster through and through but in fairness to O Mahoney he is playing great ball these days. He is a senior player and has massive experience. He deserves his place in the squad, it’s only a pity that by him being there Coombes misses out on the experience but you can have it every way
@Eoin Roche: And miss three tackles in return
@Stanley: I agree. POM will first of all help a line out composed of two locks who’ve never played together before. But also he is an excellent leader. Personally as a Leinster man I think he’s underrated by many Ireland fans outside of Munster. Only real issue I have is id like to have seen Coombes start but all in all I think this is the right team for this game.
@Sean Barry: I suppose you would have went for Zebo??
@Emmet Martin: re POM, agreed that he’s been playing well, but is he going to be around for the World Cup? His experience got him sent off V wales and he got dropped from the squad for the lions. Would have preferred coombes & Carty instead of Conan & sexto. Nice to see Lowry, Lowe and henshaw start. Green Tinted glasses
@Sean Barry: is coombes heading to Dublin as part of the Jenkins deal?
@Dave Moran: Coombes is a number 8
@Pete Slattery ✏️: To add to the mix I would prefer to see Coombes ahead of Conan on the bench. Jack has been very poor in the last two games.
@Sean Barry: Jim? Is that you?
@Will: zebo Well passed it. Lamour all day long.
@Jeremy Kilpatrick: being nominated isn’t quiet the achievement people make … Jimmy O’Brien is nominated too.
@Danger: yes, O’Mahony probably will be in the Irish squad for RWC. Don’t think that’s particularly far fetched? He’ll be just turning 34. Will probably be captain for some of the easier pool games.
@Emmet Martin: I hope not. He won’t be in the 23 for the big games. Why bring someone who is not pushing for selection for the 23?
@whoowhat?: a touch of dictatorship with that comment, ign0rant at best.
@Dave Moran: Line-out. You have a new hooker starting and with him you need an experienced leader calling the the throws. Also Baird’s first start and POM gives us another option in the line-out. Horses for courses. Great balance in the forwards. Good call by Farrell.
@Dave Moran: very little? You clearly know f all about rugby
@Dave Moran: Cop yourself on, O’Mahony brings very little ? Ridiculous Leinster type comment, put on your bloody green jersey and not the blue one, no wonder Leinster are despised outside the M50.
@Emmet Martin: Treadwell is 6ft 7 & 18.5 stone. Not exactly light haha
Congratulations to Michael Lowry, well deserved.
@Bob Cummings: has the potential to be a 10. Cracking footballer
Great to see Mike Lowry in there. He has been genuinely thrilling to watch at times this season. TV does not do justice to his acceleration.
@Justin Robinson: when he opens his legs, do you get excited?
@Danger: perv
Happy enough with this selection, great chance for carbery to try stake his claim . Delighted fo Lowry , he’s been amazing for ulster since he came in . Hopefully he can bring that same intent to the national squad . Would have liked to see Hume starting this one though , we are all very familiar with the other midfield combinations.
Very harsh on Larmour considering Hansen is primarily a left wing and wouldnt be played there against any top nation. Farrell clearly not a fan even though he has been in good form. Excited to see Lowry in full back..
@Dave Moran: labour over Lowe any day.
@Sean Barry: keep dreaming have u not watched Lowe this season
@Dave Moran: Last time they met Hansen have a lovely try that involved an unfortunate a$$ to face tackle technique from Larmour… Bruising, ego wise
@thesaltyurchin: was that the game Hansen made a fantastic try saving tackle on Dan Shehan
@Sean Barry: ‘labour over Lowe any day.’ well they are both supposed to be left wingers
@Dave Moran: crying a river that there ANY non Leinster players in an Irish rugby team
@Dave Moran: there’s enough leinster players on I’d say. Larmour hasn’t performed in a green Jersey. He had his chance
Glorious! Christmas has come early ^^*
Only one missing for me is Robert Baloucoune
@GrassHopper: he’s injured
Looking at the bench, Farrell must be looking to move Carbery to fullback if lowery needs to come off.
Exciting experimental team here.
@Aaron Tynan: Hansen or Henshaw can also cover full back. Lowry can also cover 10 and I would expect to see him offering himself as an option in the 10 channel as the game progresses.
Down to 12 Leinster International picks this time prefer to see Harry Byrne twiddling his thumbs rather than wasting Jacks time again. France is beckoning
Great to see Lowry getting a start
With six changes (plus 1 positional) from the team that started against France, anything other than a comfortable bonus point win and Farrell risks being very conservative in his future selections.
Just asking what Treadwell is like, haven’t seen him play much, is he a ball playing or grunting forward
@Michael Hanrahan: He’s a younger, poorer, English version of Ross Moloney.
@Michael Hanrahan: He’s a mobile lock who likes to carry and get his hands free. He’s nothing like Molony, Molony is more like O’Connor.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: I meant in terms of quality. He also seems like a bit of a penalty machine? Even for Ulster I would take O’Connor ahead of him.
@Richard James: I’d take O’Connor too but I think AF selected him for his mobility, he’s more mobile than AOC and RM. And it’s a bit harsh to call him a penalty machine based on the one mad tip tackle against Munster.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: 3 penelties this season to malonys 6. Albeit Molony has played nearly twice as much. Can’t see how you can lable one a penalty machine when both are about even.
Jack Carty hard done by again