Cats survive Galway comeback to secure Leinster title No. 77
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster SHC Final 2025
Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-20
Croke Park, Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
The Bob O’Keefe Cup will remain on Noreside for another year following Kilkenny’s 8-point victory over Galway in Croke Park last Sunday. Goals win games and so it proved in the Leinster provincial decider as the Cats raised a trio of green flags over the 70 plus minutes at the Jones’ Road venue. Derek Lyng’s attacking unit contributed 3-16 of his sides total as they achieved 6-in-a-row provincial titles for the third time in their history in a deserved victory over the Tribesmen. Both defences showed well throughout the encounter, but it was those in black and amber that appeared to be more at home in headquarters in front of a crowd of just over 37,000. While the forwards steal the headlines, in Huw Lawlor, Kilkenny had the finest full-back in the country on duty, and the towering O’Loughlin Gaels defender had an absolute stormer of a game and was named player of the match for his imperious display.
Adrian Mullen, opened the scoring in the second minute, striking over a cracking point having taken a nice pass from Thomastown’s Stephen Donnelly. Galway opened their account three minutes later when Kevin Cooney beat Tommy Walsh before firing over. The Sarsfields forward was getting the better of his early tussles with his Tullaroan marker and won a free which top scorer Cathal Mannion duly converted. The next score was one from the west also. Cianan Fahy played a nice pass to TJ Brennan and the Clarinbridge man dispatched his effort between the Kilkenny posts. Captain John Donnelly then set up Mossy Keoghan for their sides second point of the afternoon on 12 minutes. The creator then became scorer from the restart to draw the sides level before another of the O’Loughlin Gaels contingent, Jordan Molloy sent over a lovely score.
Craughwell’s Tom Monaghan then deadlocked matters firing over from 50-odd metres at the end of the first quarter but again the Cats responded with a beauty from Stephen Donnelly who was ably assisted by Cian Kenny. Meelick’s John Fleming then rifled over a tidy score which was followed by one from play by dead ball specialist Cathal Mannion as Galway edged ahead, six points to five. Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan then showed his class, firing over from out on the right sideline just ahead of a booking for Cian Kenny, which seemed a little harsh on the James Stephens player. TJ then popped over a free following a foul on his captain but his Galway Nemesis, Cathal Mannion struck a high-quality effort from play on halfway. TJ repeated this feat twice more over the next few minutes after fouls on himself and Adrian Mullen to leave his side two points ahead. Another placed ball from Cathal Mannion reduced the deficit to just one point, but the first goal of the game was just around the corner.
Paddy Deegan launched a searching delivery into the Galway defence which TJ rose and plucked from the air with his right hand. The Shamrocks legend then came on the loop and raced into the space before striking a fierce low shot which Eanna Murphy stopped, but as the ball spilled, Mossy Keoghan reacted to nudge the sliotar home. The Galway netminder required some attention following the collision with the Cats number 15. Captain John Donnelly then became the second Kilkenny player to be shown a yellow card for a high challenge on the Tommy Larkins keeper, just ahead of the short whistle as Derek Lyng’s men headed to the changing rooms with a 4-point lead.
Galway manager Micheál Donoghue was forced to be one change during the interval. Eanna Murphy was had started the game in place of the suspended Darrach Fahy was unable to resume between the posts, which meant U20’s goalkeeper Darragh Walsh came into the decider. The first score of the second period came from Ashascragh’s Cathal Mannion, another placed ball effort after he had been fouled himself. Kilkenny got going in the 38th minute, a sweet score from Mikey Carey after another brilliant catch and pass from TJ, who extended his sides lead further having won and converted the next free.
Billy Ryan then showed great desire, winning possession before exchanging passes with Mossy and then splitting the Tribesmen’s posts. A brace of placed balls from Cathal Mannion reduced the Cats lead to four points, but the Noresiders replied with a couple fo scores of their own, courtesy of the impressive duo, Cian Kenny and Adrian Mullen. Roaming centre back Gavin Lee was then fouled by Jordan Molloy and Cathal Mannion converted the free. Young Ireland’s Mikey Carey then rifled over another trademark score from 65 out. This point was the signal for Kilkenny to push on and extend their lead. Paddy Deegan gave a nice pass to Cian Kenny and the James Stephens man fired over just ahead of Mossy Keoghan’s lovely effort which was set up by Mikey Carey. Stephen Donnelly then notched his second point of the game, after confirmation from Hawkeye, perhaps the umpires could be booking with Specsavers soon!
Having taken a few lovely catches in the game, TJ then found the net. Some great pressure from Kilkenny saw the Cats turnover Galway and Tommy Walsh did well to bat the ball towards Mossy. The Tullaroan attacker picked the ball up and drove towards goal and gave a hand pass to TJ, who steadied himself before rifling his shot past Walsh in the Tribesmen’s goals. It was now a double score game, Derek Lyng’s team led by 12 points. Building on this seemingly unassailable lead, Paddy Deegan reminded all of his long-range shooting ability, striking over from deep inside his own half. It was at this point that the Noresiders made their first changes of the afternoon with Luke Hogan and David Blanchfield replacing Stephen Donnelly and Tommy Walsh.
Galway needed something and they got their first score from play since the 22nd minute, thanks to a fine point from midfielder Sean Linnane with about 12 minutes of normal time remaining. This appeared to jolt the westerners into action, and they went on to register the next six scores of the provincial decider. Cathal Mannion rifled over a nice effort while sub Tiernan Killeen notched a brace of points to reduce the Cats lead to nine points in the 61st minute. Then came the score that set up a nervous last period for those from the Marble City. As Cathal Mannion stood over a free, Brian Concannon made a run towards him. The placed ball specialist went short to the willing full forward who collected the ball and ran at the Kilkenny defence, turning inside Richie Reid before rifling a fierce shot off his left side beyond Eoin Murphy and into the roof of the Cats net. The gap now just six points, game on in Croke Park.
As the Tribesmen’s supporters found their voice, Kevin Cooney notched his second point of the game, just ahead of Derek Lyng’s next change which saw the hard-working Mikey Butler replaced by Glenmore’s Shane Murphy. Another Galway free, another Cathal Mannion point. Adrian Mullen then got his sides first score in over ten minutes, when he became the latest beneficiary of another fine catch by TJ. Galway’s talisman, Cathal Mannion who had been moved into the full-forward line was causing lots of problems for the previously comfortable Kilkenny defence then pointed from a tight angle to leave is side just four points in arrears. Those in black and amber didn’t panic. Billy Ryan responded with his third of the game from out on the left following a stunning catch and run from Huw Lawlor.
Kevin Cooney matched the scoring of the Graigue Ballycallan man as the clock hit 70 minutes. Then came the clinching score, to remove any doubt as to where Bob O’Keefe would reside for the next year. Luke Hogan sent a delivery deep into the Galway defence. As sub keeper Darragh Walsh rose to claim it, he spilled the ball and Cats predator Mossy Keoghan pounced to nudge home. A really tough moment for the young Turloughmore keeper who appeared distraught in the aftermath of the third Kilkenny major. From the restart, the holders turned over their opponents yet again, Cian Kenny passed to Adrian Mullen and the Shamrocks Ballyhale man let rip from distance, close to the Cusack stand sideline for the games last score. Job done. Final score, Kilkenny 3-22, Galway 1-20.
Scorers for Kilkenny: M. Keoghan (2-2); T.J. Reid (1-4, 0-4 frees); A. Mullen (0-4); B. Ryan (0-3); C. Kenny, M. Carey, S. Donnelly (0-2 each); J. Donnelly, J. Molloy, P. Deegan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Galway: C. Mannion (0-11, 7 frees); K. Cooney (0-3); B. Concannon (1-0); T. Killeen (0-2); T.J. Brennan, T. Monaghan, J. Fleming, S. Linnane (0-1 each).
KILKENNY: E. Murphy; T. Walsh, H. Lawlor, P. Deegan; M. Carey, R. Reid, M. Butler; C. Kenny, J. Molloy, J. Donnelly (c), A. Mullen, B. Ryan; S. Donnelly, M. Keoghan, T.J. Reid.
Subs for Kilkenny: L. Hogan for S. Donnelly, D. Blanchfield for T. Walsh (59); S. Murphy for M. Butler (67); K. Doyle for J. Molloy (70+1); H. Shine for B. Ryan (70+3).
GALWAY: É. Murphy; F. Burke, Daithí Burke, P. Mannion; C. Fahy, G. Lee, T.J. Brennan; S. Linnane, David Burke; C. Mannion, T. Monaghan, C. Whelan; J. Fleming, B. Concannon, K. Cooney.
Subs for Galway: D. Morrissey for F. Burke (inj 35+2); D. Walsh for É. Murphy (inj h-t); R. Glennon for David Burke (43); T. Killeen for J. Fleming (54); A. Burns for T. Monaghan (67).
Referee: J. Murphy (Limerick).
