2015 Leinster Senior Hurling Final: Galway v. Kilkenny ; Croke Park; 5th July @16:00

T0001

For the third time in history Galway will play Kilkenny in the LSHC Final.

With it standing at a win each (2010: KK 1-19:1-12 GAL / 2012; GAL 2-21:2-11 KK) who's going to swing the balance in their favour.

Galway haven't beaten Kilkenny in Championship since that Leinster Final having played them 4 times since (2 draws, 2 losses)

Neither side have been tested so no one knows where anyone stands. It should be tight match, hopefully ending the Leinster Championship on some merit after the awful games we've had. As a Galway man, I'm optimistic we can cause an upset(although would it really be an upset?), but when Galway and Kilkenny meet, you never know.

Teams will be posted when named next week

keeponhurling

T0001 wrote: »

As a Galway man, I'm optimistic we can cause an upset(although would it really be an upset?),

Eh, yes

glued

Canning on Holden will be the big contest here. I can see Holden 'Holden' his own, sorry . It'll be his first big test as a full back at Championship level and it'll be an intriguing battle.

Galway have some good forwards but Richie Hogan will run Tannian into the ground if he's at CB. I can't see Galway stopping the Kilkenny forwards especially if Colin Fennelly is back.

You just have to go for Kilkenny but I wouldn't be surprised if Galway run them close. Hopefully we get a good game of Hurling and I'll go for Kilkenny by 5 points.

donnem33

Hopefully it will be an exciting tight match with neither team running away with it. The Championship badly needs a good game!

Obv I hope Galway come out on top! :P

Danno

We hadva good game in Laois V Offaly. Short memories lads.

TCDStudent1

I'd fancy Kilkenny.

They have lost some good players, but man they still have the best forwards around - Larkin, Reid, Fennelly, Hogan are absolute quality and all 4 would walk onto the Galway team. Joe Canning is the only Galway forward that I could say woould get on that Kilkenny team!

corny

Galway aren't lacking up front though. In current form Mannion could be the match winner next day.

Personally i like the look of Galway. If their backs hold their own i think they'll win.

Ollygolf

Very little talk about this match yet. It is this weekend right?!

cson

Danno wrote: »

We hadva good game in Laois V Offaly. Short memories lads.

A 10 point bateing for Offaly?

Championship needs a competitive match soon.

Don't think it'll happen on Sunday unfortunately - KK by 5/6+

Ollygolf

Am I right in saying that there is no other match on before the four o clock throw in?

Ollygolf

Ollygolf wrote: »

Am I right in saying that there is no other match on before the four o clock throw in?

In the ground, possibly a Leinster minor game.... Usually is.

On TV the Munster football final is on at 2.

danganabu

corny wrote: »

Galway aren't lacking up front though. In current form Mannion could be the match winner next day.

Personally i like the look of Galway. If their backs hold their own i think they'll win.

Current form being one game against a farce of a Dublin team , missing their FB and playing an injured corner back??

Mannion may very well go on to have a fine intercounty career but lets not get carried away here, Ger Aylward did the exact same thing against Wexford and his not even guaranteed a starting place on the KK team.

aidan24326

Ollygolf wrote: »

Am I right in saying that there is no other match on before the four o clock throw in?

The Leinster minor final is on first, Kilkenny v Dublin. 2:00 throw-in.

On TV you have Cork and Kerry in Munster Final at 2.

T0001

Kilkenny Team
Eoin Murphy;
Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Jackie Tyrrell;
Padraig Walsh, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley;
Michael Fennelly, Conor Fogarty;
Walter Walsh, Richie Hogan, TJ Reid;
Ger Aylward, Colin Fennelly, Eoin Larkin.

Galway Team
Colm Callanan
Johnny Coen; John Hanbury; Padraic Mannion;
Fergal Moore; Iarla Tannian; Daithí BUrke;
Andy Smith; Aidan Harte;
David Burke; Cyril Donnellan; Johnny Glynn
Davy Glennon; Joe Canning; Cathal Mannion

TheMilkyPirate

Right few hits going in here!

megapixel

Fairly point to point so far

Mars Bar

Why are Galway so incompetent at holding on to the ball after lifting it?!

Mantis Toboggan

Tannions hurling just isn't quick enough for this level.

corny

KK great at pressuring the man in possession but they regularly cross the line. Referee calling them on it.

glued

Holden is fouling a lot for the little pressure on him so far. I'd expect Cunnigham to get more ball in front of him.

letowski

Tj is an artist.

igorbiscan

Galway are terrible at finding their forwards,not looking up before blasting it, kk giving them no time on the ball.

corny

Galway rushed all over the pitch. Making poor decisions. Handing the game to KK.

ceegee

TJ is on fire

Doff

Galway are handing Kilkenny the game, Kilkenny growing in confidence. Half time can't come fast enough for Galway.

corny

****ING BRILLIANT.

megapixel

What skill...amazing goal

Mars Bar

That's an unbelievable goal!

igorbiscan

Goal of the season done and dusted.

wfdrun

Artistry there hon the west

Now that is art

paulie21

What a goal

Professey Chin

That was ridiculous

TheMilkyPirate

What a goal!!

meath4sam

Wow

Slattsy

Very Bored

Thought this would be the first serious championship outing of the summer and I'm not wrong so far. Thought there would be no more than two pucks of the ball in it at the end and so far its looking likely. Really good enjoyable fare, tough play out there and both are showing themselves to be serious contenders.

Mountainlad

It took probably the best goal I've ever seen to keep Galway in touch. Being honest Kilkenny are well on top since about 20 mins in. Galway couldn't keep the intensity up, they tired and then the mistakes came in. Their play has slowed as well. Canning has been well bottled up bar the goal, I wouldn't overly blame him for that but if Galway want to win they need a rethink.

Someone said there hasn't been enough first time ball into the Galway full forward line, but there was three around Canning for the goal. He won't score another like that so that long ball won't cut it.

Interestingly, Kilkenny are setup very defensively. I wonder will there be depth of analysis about this that there has been about Waterford and any other team that has employed a defensive system?

BQQ

Soft goal there

Mantis Toboggan

I'd get aidan harte off rapido

nice_guy80

If that was over carrying, I expect TJ Reid to be pulled up from now on

Utopia Parkway

Tannian needs to get rid of the ball quicker. That's 3 times he's hung onto it and lost it.

corny

Referee a bit whistle happy since the break.

JONJO THE MISER

Come on Galway, ye can do it.

megapixel

https://vine.co/v/enuItgtEB32

Utopia Parkway

Kilkenny getting some soft frees here since the break.

corny

Tannion has been pretty awful in everything he's doing.

Dyr

corny wrote: »

Referee a bit whistle happy since the break.

Pulls a galway player up for dubious steps but ignores kilkenny lads milling around in the tackle with the ball glued to their hand.

Another cody-certified "let it flow (but only for one team)" ref

BQQ

Galway fouling a lot now.
Giving KK easy scores

corny

Galway architects of their own demise. Lots of poor stuff handing the initiative to KK.

windy shepard henderson

corny wrote: »

Tannion has been pretty awful in everything he's doing.

possibaly the most Jekyll and hyde player i have ever seen , he dose'nt do average very much

i would imagine kilkenny by there own standards wont be overly delighted with this performance win/lose or draw going forward in the championship