Kilkenny 5-14, Galway 3-12 (after extra time)

When it comes to winning tight matches Kilkenny are experts and in the All Ireland intermediate semi final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday evening the Cats fought back to force extra time and leave Galway shattered.

Kilkenny had forced extra time a week earlier in the Leinster final, but with just over ten minutes left Galway looked the only winner as they led by nine points but, remarkably, had to come from behind to force extra time after the Cats rallied.

An Eamon Hyland goal helped Galway go six clear when they led by 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, but a Noel Doherty goal brought Kilkenny back, but when Noel Kenny struck for Galway's second goal, the Tribesmen led by 2-6 to 1-5 at half time.

Hyland added Galway's third goal at the start of the second half and Galway raced into a nine point advantage early in the final quarter.

Kilkenny don't read such scripts and when Patrick Hogan crashed a penalty and two frees to the back of the Galway net in the final ten minutes, Kilkenny turned the game on its head to take the lead with two minutes left to play. Galway's Niall Carr pointed a pressure free to force the game into extra-time with the scoreboard reading Kilkenny 4-8 Galway 3-11.

In extra time Galway lay shattered and when Hogan scored his fourth goal Galway had no answer as Kilkenny booked a place in the final.

Kilkenny: L Tierney; M Phelan, K Joyce (0-1,'65), J Cahill; N Walsh, C Phelan, S Prendergast; P Hartley, P Lonergan; B Beckett, P Cleere (0-1), P Hogan (4-4, 2-2 frs, 1-0 pen, 0-1'65); C Dunne, M Grace (0-3), N Doherty (1-1).

Subs: E Heneberry (0-4) for Dunne (22 mins), D Brennan for Tierney (40 mins), D Prendergast for Cahill, (47 mins), A Healy for Beckett (54 mins), J Nolan for Doherty, (75 mins).

Galway: J Grealish; D Dunne, R Whyte, B Costelloe; P Flynn, A Keary, E Joyce; D McEvoy (0-1), N Carr (0-6, 0-4frs, 0-2'65); M Kelly (0-1), R McGauran, K Huban (0-1); T Flannery (0-2), E Hyland (2-1), N Kenny (1-0).

Subs: B Lawless for Kell (52 mins), B Lucas for Kenny (64 mins), N Qualter for Huban (70 mins), G McInerney for Hyland (71 mins).

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).

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