Irish Republican News · September 9, 2012

All-Ireland final ends in a draw

Galway 2-13 - Kilkenny 0-19

A spectacular All-Ireland hurling final between Galway and Kilkenny ended this afternoon in a draw, ensuring a replay in three weeks time.

Neutral supporters of the world’s fastest field sport cheered the chance to watch the two of them in action again after what was a classic performance at Croke Park.

An injury time free from Galway’s Joe Canning ensured the replay after he and Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin dominated the scoring.

It was a fitting finale to a showcase tussle between the two, in which Galway raced into an early lead to leave ‘the Cats’ trailing by five points at the break.

Two stunning goals, one in each half, helped Galway build a lead and then regain that lead in the second half.

But a second-half fightback by Kilkenny -- the overwhelming favourites -- brought them to the brink of yet another title, their ninth in thirteen years.

As Canning began to misfire, and amid a stream of Galway substitions, Shefflin’s long-range striking inexorably reeled in ‘the Tribesmen’.

Having missed a free from a similar position minutes earlier, Canning was given the chance to make amends in injury time. At the second time of asking, he bravely drilled it low and over the bar from the touchline.

Galway will have another chance to overcome Kilkenny on September 30th.

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