Kilkenny way off the pace as Galway claim huge league win in Salthill

It was a sobering night for the Kilkenny senior hurlers after they succumbed to an 18 point defeat at the hands of Galway in Pearse Stadium this evening.

Apart from being level twice inside the opening five minutes, Derek Lyng's men were left chasing shadows as the Tribesmen firmly laid down a marker ahead of the Leinster Championship next month.

Cian Kenny was probably Kilkenny's only bright spark as he scored 10 points in total including six from play but that was scant consolation as Galway ran riot on a night to forget for the Cats.

Even with the aid of a slight breeze in the opening period, Kilkenny were chasing shadows with ace Galway attacker Aaron Niland scoring nine points as the home side went into the break leading on a 0-15 to 0-9 scoreline.

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Things didn't get any better for the Leinster champions upon the resumption with Galway landing the first seven points in succession and there was simply no way back for Kilkenny from there.

Cian Kenny continued to tap away at the scoreboard with John Donnelly, Tom Phelan and Liam Moore also on target but with Galway scoring at will, there was no answer for the side in black and amber.

In total Galway scored 20 points in the second period and their sheer dominance was illustrated by all five of their subs getting on the scorecard before the end.

A terrible night for Kilkenny and it now means they may need to get a result in their final game away to Tipperary to be sure of the their Division 1A survival.

Teams and Scorers

Galway: Aaron Niland (0-13, 7fs and 1 '65); Cathal Mannion (0-6); Rory Burke (0-4); Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan (0-2 each); Oisin Lohan, Evan Niland, Conor Cooney, TJ Brennan, Tiernan Killeen, Ronan Glennon, Padraic Mannion, Jason Rabbitte (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: Cian Kenny (0-10, 4fs); Liam Moore, Eoin Cody (0-2 each); Tom Phelan, Jordan Molloy, John Donnelly (0-1 each)

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Kieran Hanrahan; Ronan Glennon, Padraic Mannion, Darren Morrissey; Cian Daniels, Tiernan Killeen; Darragh Neary, Cathal Mannion, Rory Burke; Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Aaron Niland. 

Subs: Conor Cooney for Monaghan, 55 mins; Jason Rabbitte for Neary, 55 mins; TJ Brennan for Morrissey, 59 mins; Evan Niland for Burke, 62 mins; Oisin Lohan for A.Niland, 64 mins.

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Rory Garrett, Mikey Carey, Ivan Bolger; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Liam Moore, Eoin Cody, Luke Connellan; Niall Shortall, Martin Keoghan, Tom Phelan.

Subs: John Donnelly for Connellan, 30 mins; Killian Doyle for Shortall, h-t; Richie Reid for Deegan, 47 mins; Shane Murphy for Carey, 48 mins; Ian Byrne for Molloy, 55 mins.

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)