Galway scored a dramatic 2-15 to 1-13 victory over defending All Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Guinness All Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park this afternoon. A tally of 2-9 from Eugene Cloonan and tremendous defending secured an All-Ireland final berth for Galway against Tipperary.
Galway got off to the better start in an unsettled and frantic opening half. Eugene Cloonan outfoxed the Kilkenny defence when he scored a surprising goal from a free in the fourth minute to give Galway the perfect start. Cloonan's puck looked to be going over the bar but dropped perfectly over the head of a very surprised James McGarry.
Galway built on that lucky goal and continued their determined attack on an unsettled Kilkenny with a great point from Joe Rabbitte. 11 minutes had elapsed before Kilkenny got their first point courtesy of Henry Shefflin, and after three more points from frees from Shefflin, Kilkenny finally got their first point from play in the 27th minute from Power to leave Kilkenny trailing 1-4 to 0-5.
Galway were dealt a blow in the 28th minute when Gregory Kennedy was sent off for his second bookable offence when he pulled down DJ Carey but Kilkenny's extra man proved to be of no great advantage as the Tribesmen pulled together. Five minutes later, Galway were awarded a penalty when Rabbitte was pulled down in the square. But Cloonan's shot for goal was tipped over the bar to keep Galway's three-point lead. Cloonan and Carter exchanged points before half-time to leave Kilkenny trailing 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
At the restart, Galway continued their drive and Cloonan continued to punish Kilkenny with his seventh point of the match coming in the 47th minute, to extend Galway's lead to 1-9 to 0-7. Kilkenny soon cut the deficit back to three points but an amazing second goal from the boot of Cloonan in the 52nd minute put Galway 2-10 to 0-10 ahead. The defending All Ireland champions were in serious trouble for the first time this season.
The tribesmen continued to deny Kilkenny possession and an inspiring 45-yard run from the Number 12 Kevin Broderick extended Galway's lead 2-14 to 0-13 in the 68th minute.
Kilkenny finally counter-attacked with a well-needed Carey goal from a free in the 70th minute. But Galway maintained their composure and, overall, managed to keep Kilkenny's points from play down to three points, a great tribute to Galway's defence especially Ollie Canny who kept Charlie Carter's tally down to one point. Cloonan, fittingly, scored the last point in the 73rd minute to seal Galway's incredible 2-15 to 1-13 victory over Brian Cody's men.
