Kilkenny hold off late Galway rally to win a sixth straight Leinster title
Sunday's fixtures
Leinster Senior Hurling Final:
FT: Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-20
Joe McDonagh Cup Final:
FT: Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-19
Tailteann Cup:
FT: Wexford 5-23 Antrim 2-21
FT: Sligo 1-27 Carlow 2-19
2 hours ago
There'll be more coverage of today's final later on, with Ian O'Riordan's match report from Croke Park. There'll also be further analysis of all the weekend's hurling on irishtimes.com throughout the next few days. That's all from me on today's blog, thanks for joining us for today's Leinster final.
2 hours ago
John Donnelly had a fine showing at wing forward for Kilkenny, and accepted the Bob O'Keefe Cup as captain.
Kilkenny captain John Donnelly receives the Bob O'Keeffe Cup and pays tribute to the entire squad
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame)
2 hours ago
Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy tells RTÉ that Kilkenny were focused on winning the Leinster Championship to get into the semi final of the All-Ireland:
'We're delighted with the six in a row. That was our main focus point from the very start of the year, we wanted to go through the direct route.'
2 hours ago
Kilkenny are through to the All-Ireland semi finals now, while Galway will play a quarter final against the winner of Laois and Tipperary.
2 hours ago
Kilkenny are Leinster hurling champions for the sixth time in a row! Galway made a game of it in the latter stages of the second half, but Kilkenny were deserving winners. Likewise, Huw Lawlor was a deserving man of the match.
2 hours ago
Full Time: Kilkenny 3-22 Galway
1-20
2 hours ago
71 Mins:
GOAL for Kilkenny! A bad mistake from the new goalkeeper sees Keoghan profit again.
Kilkenny 3-22 Galway
1-20
2 hours ago
69 Mins:
Huw Lawlor clutches a high ball out of the sky, then drives out of the Kilkenny defence. He hands off to Billy Ryan who pops it over. Cooney makes the gap four again though.
Kilkenny 2-21 Galway
1-20
2 hours ago
68 Mins:
Adrian Mullen takes a shot under pressure when he had men in space beside him. But it goes over anyway, a brilliant score. Cathal Mannion hits back for Galway, another great strike.
Kilkenny 2-20 Galway
1-19
2 hours ago
66 Mins:
Suddenly the energy all around Croke Park is up massively. TJ Brennan scraps away and gets a free for his efforts. Mannion strikes it over and the gap is just four points.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway
1-18
2 hours ago
63 Mins:
GOAL for Galway! Brian Concannon got the ball a short free from Cathal Mannion and hit the back of the net.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 1-17
GALWAY GOAL - BRIAN CONCANNON - 64 mins
Hope for Galway as Concannon finds the net
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame)
2 hours ago
62 Mins:
Killeen gets another point for Galway.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 0-16
2 hours ago
60 Mins:
Tiernan Killeen scores another for Galway, coming off the bench. That's three in a row for the Tribesmen.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 0-15
2 hours ago
59 Mins:
Galway have their first score from play in the second half from Seán Linnane.
Cathal Mannion adds another then.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 0-14
2 hours ago
57 Mins:
GOAL for Kilkenny! TJ Reid peels away from Daithí Burke and fires it past the new man in goal, Darragh Walsh. Keoghan did so well to feed the full forward when he could have taken the shot on himself.
Kilkenny 2-19 Galway 0-12
KILKENNY GOAL - TJ REID - 58 mins
Icing on the Kilkenny cake
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame)
3 hours ago
55 Mins:
A Stephen Donnelly effort sends us to Hawk-Eye, and it's over the bar again.
Kilkenny 1-18 Galway 0-12
3 hours ago
52 Mins:
Cian Kenny hits another great score. Kilkenny look in control as Martin Keoghan hits a fine score.
Kilkenny 1-17 Galway 0-12
3 hours ago
50 Mins:
Cathal Mannion reduces the gap to five again from a free.
Kilkenny 1-14 Galway 0-12
3 hours ago
47 Mins:
Adrian Mullen has been left in acres of space on multiple occasions today, and this time he punishes Galway with a great score from right out on the sideline.
Kilkenny 1-14 Galway 0-11
3 hours ago
45 Mins:
Cathal Mannion scores a monster of a free, but Cian Kenny hits a quality score in reply.
Kilkenny 1-13 Galway 0-11
3 hours ago
41 Mins:
Billy Ryan plays a somewhat unconventional one-two with Mossy Keoghan and then strikes over from 45 metres. Keoghan did so well to keep hold of the ball under heavy pressure. Mannion points a free for the Tribesmen.
Kilkenny 1-12 Galway 0-10
3 hours ago
39 Mins:
Mikey Carey slings a lovely effort up and over the bar. TJ Reid pops a simple free over to give Kilkenny a bigger cushion. His influence on the game is growing.
Kilkenny 1-11 Galway 0-9
3 hours ago
37 Mins:
Cathal Mannion points a free.
Kilkenny 1-9 Galway 0-9
3 hours ago
36 Mins:
Éanna Murphy has come off after those knocks he got at the end of the first half, with Darragh Walsh replacing him. TJ Reid misses the first shot of the second half.
Kilkenny 1-9 Galway 0-8
3 hours ago
It's been a pretty flat first half at Croke Park. Huw Lawlor's superb display of high catching had been the highlight of the half until Keoghan got the goal.
3 hours ago
Half time: Kilkenny 1-9 Galway 0-8
3 hours ago
35 Mins:
Galway's Éanna Murphy went down after that goal but carries on. John Donnelly puts a high tackle on the goalkeeper very shortly after and gets a yellow.
3 hours ago
33 Mins:
GOAL for Kilkenny! A good bit of poaching from Martin Keoghan as he follows in TJ Reid's saved effort.
Kilkenny 1-9 Galway 0-8
KILKENNY GOAL - 32 mins
Mossy Keoghan the scorer after TJ Reid's initial effort was saved
HT: Kikenny 1-09 Galway 0-08
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame)
3 hours ago
30 Mins:
Neither side has really got much of a rhythm, and it's not being helped by the wides that both teams are hitting. Cathal Mannion gets Galway back on track with a free.
Kilkenny 0-9 Galway 0-8
3 hours ago
27 Mins:
David Burke is penalised for throwing the ball, but Reid hits the free wide into Hill 16.
Kilkenny 0-9 Galway 0-7
3 hours ago
25 Mins:
TJ Reid hits back to back frees for the Cats to put them two in front.
Kilkenny 0-9 Galway 0-7
3 hours ago
22 Mins:
Kilkenny get back in front again, but Cathal Mannion replies from long range.
Kilkenny 0-7 Galway 0-7
3 hours ago
19 Mins:
Billy Ryan strikes over the bar. The half forward was left in acres of space. Cian Kenny gets a yellow and Cathal Mannion puts the resulting free wide.
Kilkenny 0-6 Galway 0-6
3 hours ago
17 Mins:
Cathal Mannion hits a beauty from the Hogan side to put Galway in front again.
Kilkenny 0-5 Galway 0-6
3 hours ago
15 Mins:
Kilkenny are winning a lot of the balls into the Galway forward line and break Galway's early momentum with three scores in a row. Tom Monaghan breaks the Cats' streak with his own score.
Kilkenny 0-5 Galway 0-4
4 hours ago
11 Mins:
Martin Keoghan shoots an uncharacteristic wide from out near the Cusack stand. After Kilkenny win the ball back Keoghan gets another go and this time slots it over.
Kilkenny 0-2 Galway 0-3
4 hours ago
7 Mins:
TJ Brennan and Cathal Mannion both add points for Galway.
Kilkenny 0-1 Galway 0-3
4 hours ago
5 Mins:
TJ Reid misses a free within his range. Kevin Cooney pops one over from close range.
Kilkenny 0-1 Galway 0-1
4 hours ago
2 Mins:
Kilkenny hit the first point of the game through John Donnelly.
Kilkenny 0-1 Galway 0-0
4 hours ago
The national anthem is on, and we're nearly underway at Croke Park.
4 hours ago
The last Leinster final between the Cats and the Tribesmen was a classic, with Kilkenny snatching the victory in the final moments with a goal. Galway's Cathal Mannion didn't play in that 2023 final, but spoke to Ian O'Riordan about that game and this year's renewal of the rivalry.
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Galway's Cathal Mannion only too aware of Kilkenny's extra-time threat
]
4 hours ago
Galway and Kilkenny have some game to live up to after yesterday's other provincial final between Cork and Limerick. Both teams are now out warming up with just over 15 minutes left until throw in.
4 hours ago
The focus now turns to the Leinster final. Kilkenny's Adrian Mullen spoke to Gordon Manning during the week about a campaign affected by injuries and being shifted into new positions.
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'I'll play anywhere I'm told to': Adrian Mullen keen to shine in Leinster final after beating injury demons
]
4 hours ago
Full time: Kildare 2-26 Laois 1-19.
Kildare are the winners of the Joe McDonagh Cup! They've beaten Laois by 10 points in Croke Park.
Kildare will face Dublin and Laois will play Tipperary next week in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter finals.
5 hours ago
66 Mins:
Another goal for Kildare! Jack Sheridan tucks it into the bottom corner and looks to have finished the job for the Lilywhites.
Kildare 2-22 Laois 1-17
5 hours ago
62 Mins:
Kildare hit the back of the net and now lead by seven in the Joe McDonagh final.
Kildare 1-22 Laois 1-15
5 hours ago
In the McDonagh Cup final, Laois have failed to capitalise on their early second half goal. Kildare battled their way back into the game and now lead by two points with 58 minutes played.
Kildare 0-20 Laois 1-15
5 hours ago
Malachy Clerkin spoke to Galway captain Conor Whelan ahead of today's final. The 28 year old spoke about the match up with Kilkenny, as well as opening up on mental health.
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Galway's Conor Whelan: 'Mental health is not as abstract as people sometimes make it sound'
]
5 hours ago
Seán Moran looks ahead to today's Leinster final in an age where Munster hurling dominates.
[
Leinster hurling final and the battle for relevance
]
5 hours ago
The Joe McDonagh Cup final is on currently in Croke Park. The teams went into the break level, but in the first play of the second half Laois score the opening goal of the game.
Kildare 0-11 Laois 1-11
5 hours ago
Today's teams are as follows:
Kilkenny:
Eoin Murphy, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh, Mikey Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan, Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy, John Donnelly, Adrian Mullen, Billy Ryan, Stephen Donnelly, TJ Reid, Martin Keoghan
Galway:
Éanna Murphy, Padraic Mannion, Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke, Cianan Fahy, Gavin Lee, TJ Brennan, Seán Linnane, David Burke, John Fleming, Cathal Mannion, Tom Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Kevin Cooney
5 hours ago
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Leinster hurling final between Kilkenny and Galway.
The Cats are aiming to make it six provincial titles in a row today, while Micheál Donoghue's team are in search of a first title since 2018.
Derek Lyng's side won comprehensively in their first meeting in the Leinster championship this year, but Galway have picked up form since that match.
Throw in at Croke Park for the Leinster final will be at 4pm.
Key Reads:
Leinster SHC final: Unflappable Kilkenny can contain the Galway bounce-back
Galway's Conor Whelan: 'Mental health is not as abstract as people sometimes make it sound'
'I'll play anywhere I'm told to': Adrian Mullen keen to shine in Leinster final after beating injury demons
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The car flags driving in and out of a city that will always be referred to as 'town' by locals, are Orchard County ones. Except McCoy's Bar on the way to the ground and Páirc Esler itself, Down haven't braved marking their territory – yet. But there is belief, genuine belief, that they are ascending. Results are results but relegation to Division 3 this year was undeserved, subsequent championship displays have reinforced that feeling that they can compete with the best. When Laverty was appointed manager in August 2022, he took on a county in disarray. James McCartan oversaw a winless season beforehand and had been close to stepping down after a serious breach of discipline by players at a training camp in Dublin before being convinced to see the campaign out. 'Players have accepted responsibility and have rectified the situation," Down secretary Sean Óg McAteer told Ulster publication Gaelic Life at the time. 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Havern, who looked destined to be one of Ulster's top handballers before giving it up at a young age, has previously been accused of not doing it against the top teams. Such notions have been swept away this season, Galway be warned. The men and red and black aren't back just yet, but a visit to the last eight of the All-Ireland for the first time since 2012, and at the expense of one of the favourites for Sam, and that Down bunting will start to be unfurled.
