Galway 2-20 Kilkenny 2-11
Galway were crowned U-20 Leinster Hurling champions after overcoming Kilkenny by nine points in Laois Hire O'Moore Park tonight.
Gavin Keary's side, who were without their star attacker Aaron Niland, were too strong for Henry Sheffln's side and cantered home to book their spot in the All-Ireland final against Clare - a repeat of the 2023 All-Ireland minor final featuring many of the same players.
There were brilliant performances all over the field as Cullen Killeen excelled in the second half, but Jack Shaughnessy was the difference as he contributed 1-07 and also had a hand in the second goal.
It was a first half of high intensity and hard hitting which made for compelling viewing throughout.
Galway concluded the half four in front after a strong scoring burst in the run-up to the interval.
The contest ebbed and flowed throughout with Kilkenny making the better start with two quick fire points through Ed Lauhoff and Patrick Lacey.
The Galway response was an emphatic one as they hit 1-02 without reply to take control of the game.
Darragh Counihan got the scoreboard going before Shaugnessey came to the fore. First, he added a point to draw the teams level and then he struck for the first goal of the game.
It was a brilliant team move with Darragh Counihan and Vince Morgan involved, the latter finding Shaughnessy who finished clinically to put the westerners in front for the first time.
Both teams traded points through Jim Conlon for Kilkenny, Brian Callanan replying for Galway.
Lacey got another point for Kilkenny but Galway were starting to turn the screw around the middle.
A Shaugnessy free and a Callanan point edged Galway four clear by the 15th minute mark.
Kilkenny nabbed the next two scores, levelling the game through a goal from Lauhoff, who pounced on the rebound after Galway keeper Chris Callanan had blocked away Ed McDermott's effort.
Shaughnessy and Ciaran Lee hit points at either end but Galway upped the gears in the period up to half-time, hitting five in row, Shaughnessy, Counihan, Callanan, Killeen and Michael Burke all on target.
The half ended with a '65 from Lacey but it was a decisive burst from Galway, who led 1-11 to 1-07 at the break.
After a cagey opening to the second half, the prolific Shaughnessy reeled off another point for Galway, with Conlon hitting back for the Cats.
A brace of points from Anthony Clifford and Lacey brought it back to a one-score game at 1-13 to 1-10 - but that was as good as it got for Kilkenny.
Galway took a firm grip of the contest and powered home from there.
The increasingly influential Loughrea midfielder Killeen floated over a point, with senior star Jason Rabbitte adding a fine score, followed by yet another from Shaughnessy and the gap was out to six.
Kilkenny were starting to struggle but did land the next score through Kevin Buggy.
However, Galway headed for home with points from Shaughnessy and Ronan Cahalan, stretching seven clear, before landing the killer blow.
Shaugnessy powered through the heart of the Kilkenny defence, before finding Vince Morgan, who, on his knees, fired to the net.
The game was done and dusted by now, Ciaran Leen tagging on a point.
Kilkenny went in search of goals and got one from Ruarc Sweeney, but it was too late. They ended the game with 14 men as David Barcoe was shown a second yellow card for dragging down Jason Rabbitte and Leen finished the scoring.
Galway: Chris Callanan; Thomas Blake, Michael Fallon, Ed O’Reilly; Jonah Donnellan, Donnacha Campbell, Gavin Maher; Michael Burke (0-01), Cullen Killeen (0-02); Luke Kennedy, Darragh Counihan (0-02), Jack Shaughnessy (1-07, 0-5 fs, 0-0165) ; Vince Morgan(1-00), Brian Callanan (0-03), Ciaran Leen (0-02)
Subs: Jason Rabbitte (0-01) for Darragh Counihan (31), Ronan Cahalan (0-02) for Kennedy (HT), Sean Moran for Burke (47), Gearoid King for Blake (57), Harry Holmes for Shaughnessy (59)
Kilkenny: Jake O’Doherty; Michael Ahern, Rory Garrett, Darragh Vereker; Jim Conlon (0-02), Jack Dollard, Mikey Rohan; David Barcoe, Ben Nevin; Anthony Clifford (0-01), Ed Lauoff (1-02), Greg Kelly; Jake Mullen, Ed McDermott, Patrick Lacey (0-05, 0-03 fs, 0-01 65)
Subs: Ollie O’Donovan for Kelly (29), Kevin Buggy for Nevin (HT), Ruarc Sweeney (1-00) for Mullen, (HT), Sean Bergin for Dollard (47), Cian Byrne for Lacey (55)
