18th Dec 2020
On a cold December night in MW Hire O’Moore Park Portlaoise, Galway secured a berth in the Bord Gáis Energy U-20 Leinster Final, running out 0-19 to 1-11 winners. The first half was an even affair for the most part, but Galway opened a slight three point lead at half-time. On the restart Kilkenny drew first blood through Eoin Guilfoyle, which he followed up with a point, but from there Galway regained the impetus. From this point in the game, Galway pushed on and secured a five point win and a Leinster Final place in the process. See Match report below from Robert Cribbin of Kilkenny People
Click HERE for images of the game courtesy Willie Dempsey.
O’Shea scores 0-12 as Galway prove too good for Kilkenny in Leinster under 20 Semi-Final
GALWAY 0-19 KILKENNY 1-11
Galway advanced to the Leinster Under 20 Hurling Championship Final after they deservedly ran out 0-19 to 1-11 winners over a disappointing Kilkenny side at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Fresh from winning the last three All-Ireland Minor Titles Jeff Lynskey’s Galway team were always in control after they finished the opening half with efforts from Donal O’Shea and Sean McDonagh to go three points clear at the break.
Just before that spurt Eoin Cody saw a couple of goalbound efforts brilliantly saved from Darragh Fahy in the Galway goal as the Tribesmen worked their way into control after a tightly fought opening period.
Galway were slow starters to the second half however and an Eoin Guilfoyle goal edged Kilkenny in front but the Cats were too reliant on scores from the James Stephens corner forward with all but four points coming from his hurl.
Galway were the better all round team with scores coming that bit easier and after that brief shock of the Kilkenny goal, they pushed clear on the scoreboard with Donal O’Shea who is the son of former Tipperary manager Eamonn knocking over points for fun in a display that totaled 0-12.
Kilkenny had a a couple of goal chances near the end of the game but Galway stood tall to advance to the provincial decider.
Galway: Darragh Fahy; Oisin Salmon, TJ Brennan, Jason Donoghue, Diarmuid Kilcommins, Conor Flaherty 0-1 (0-1f), Dylan Shaughnessy 0-1, Ian McGlynn, Alex Connaire 0-1, Conor Walsh, Sean Neary 0-1, Adrian Prendergast 0-1, Oisin Flannery, John Fleming 0-1, Donal O’Shea 0-12 (0-11fs).
Subs; Sean MacDonagh 0-1 for Flannery 25 mins, Adam Brett for Prendergast 56 mins, Mark Kennedy for O’Shea 60 mins, Eoin Lawless for Salmon 62 mins, Caimin Killeen for Connaire 64 mins.
Kilkenny: Dean Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks); Darragh O’Keefe (Dunnamaggin), Daragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Shane Staunton (Clara), Conor Murphy (Bennettsbridge), David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Martin O’Neill (Mooncoin), Cian Kenny (James Stephens), Killian Egan (Graigue-Ballycallan), Martin O’Connell (Clara), Eoin Cody 0-1 (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Conor Heary 0-2 (O’Loughlin Gaels), Ian Byrne 0-1 (Glenmore), Stephen Donnelly (Thomastown), Eoin Guilfoyle 1-7 (0-7fs) (James Stephens).
