Galway are hoping to end a five-year hiatus since their last Leinster Hurling title when they take on Kilkenny, in Croke Park tomorrow afternoon. Since the Tribesmen last got their hands on the Bob O’Keefe cup, Kilkenny have dominated the provincial scene and are on the hunt for a fourth Leinster title in a row and their 75th crown in all.
Henry Shefflin had just hung up the hurl after nearly two decades in the famed and feared black and amber when Galway clinched back-to-back Leinster titles in 2017 and 2018, beating Kilkenny after a replay in 2018.
But this time around, the Kilkenny legend is in the maroon corner and it’s a situation he’s all to familiar with at this stage. Since taking the Galway reigns at the end of 2021, Shefflin has come up against his native county three times in the championship and his record currently stands at one win, one draw and one loss.
Shefflin’s victory in the group stages of last year’s Leinster championship is best remembered for his infamous handshake with Brian Cody, who avenged that loss and reversed Kilkenny’s fortunes in the 2022 Leinster final, at the final whistle.
The Cats proved too strong in the decider and left Croke Park with not only another piece of silverware for their crowded trophy cabinet, but a final win chalked up by Cody against his former star pupil.
Cody has since departed the scene, with Derek Lynch stepping into the bainisteoir bib and the transition has been perfectly smooth, despite having big boots to fill. Without Cody’s guidance, Kilkenny still reached the league final and will compete in another provincial decider.
Limerick toppled Lynch’s men in the league final by 11-points while Kilkenny have lost just once so far in the championship, a final round defeat to Wexford when their spot in the Leinster showpiece had already been declared.
Galway secured a share of the spoils when these side met in round two of the Leinster Championship group stages, in Nolan Park, with a late rally from Shefflin’s side, and an injury time score from substitute Declan McLoughlin, earning a 0-28 to 1-25.
And battling back from the death has been the hallmark of the men in maroon this season as they are the only team in the country without a championship loss against their name.
Indeed, that record was under severe attack in their final round tie against Dublin, when Galway had to summon all their might to claw back a 12-point deficit to earn a draw. It’s a quality Shefflin had as a player and it’s certainly one he’s installed in his team.
But no county sums up a never die attitude quite like Kilkenny and no team displays a will to win like they do. There’s a privilege that comes with pulling on that famous striped shirt and they carry the undying confidence that all winners do.
TJ Reid, a clubmate of Shefflin’s, remains the main man in the Kilkenny attack and he’s chasing a 12th Leinster title tomorrow while Eoin Cody is another sharpshooter that the Cats can rely on.
Evan Niland is the man Galway will look for to penetrate the Kilkenny rearguard and he’s hit 0-48 across their championship campaign. In Gearóid McInerney and Daithi Burke, Galway have a strong central spine to their defence.
And that will be key against a Kilkenny forward line that has bagged ten goals in their last three outings. If Galway can keep their third clean sheet of the campaign, then they may just end their wait for provincial glory.