Reid on double as Kilkenny see off Galway

TJ Reid hit 2-11 to inspire Kilkenny into the Leinster hurling final against Dublin next Sunday after a pulsating 3-19 to 1-17 replay victory over Galway at O’Connor Park Tullamore.

Just two points separated the sides at the break, but four points in a row after the restart from Brian Cody’s side and Aidan Fogarty’s 52nd minute goal clinched the win.

Galway relied heavily on Conor Cooney accuracy to remain in touch with Kilkenny, but Reid’s second goal in injury-time ensured there would be no repeat of last week’s late antics.

After their epic drawn game, both sides continued where they had left off and tore into each other from the start.

TJ Reid and David Burke hit a point for each side, before a goal each in the fourth minute meant neither side could pull clear early on.

Reid hit the Kilkenny goal when he ran onto a breaking Padraig Walsh delivery, but Galway replied instantly when Andy Smith’s goal was parried into the path of Jason Flynn, who batted the ball past Eoin Murphy.

Murphy was injured in the concession of the Galway goal and limped off soon after, but the Cats rallied and hit six unanswered points to work a 1-7 to 1-4 lead by the 19th minute.

Apart from their goal, Padraig Walsh’s point in the 15th minute was Kilkenny’s sole score from play in the half until Richie Hogan put them five points up in the 26th minute.

But Galway rallied well in the five minutes before half-time and three Conor Cooney frees and Andy Smith meant Galway only trailed by 1-11 to 1-9 at the interval.

Reid, Aidan Fogarty, Padraig Walsh and Tommy Walsh all found the target for Kilkenny after the resumption, but there was little doubt about the winners when Fogarty hit the net and Joe Canning’s late 25-metre free flashed wide.

Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; J Holden, B Hogan, C Buckley; C Fogarty, R Hogan (0-02); T Walsh (0-01), P Walsh (0-03), TJ Reid (2-11, 0-10f); C Fennelly, A Fogarty (1-01), E Larkin (0-01).

Subs: D Herity for E Murphy (8 mins), J Power for C Fennelly (52), L Ryan for Fogarty (58), H Shefflin for T Walsh (62), W Walsh for A Fogarty (68),

Galway: C Callanan; F Moore, R Burke, D Collins; P Killeen, Daithi Burke, I Tannian (0-01); David Burke (0-01), A Smith (0-01); J Cooney, J Canning (0-01, 0-01 sl), C Cooney (0-12, 0-08f, 0-01’65); J Flynn, N Burke, J Glynn (1-01).

Subs: D Hayes for Killeen (half-time), J Coen for N Burke (45), A Harte for J Cooney (51), P Brehony for Smith (57), C Mannion for David Burke (57),

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)