Kilkenny have won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in the most dramatic of fashions, overcoming Galway on a scoreline of 4-21 to 2-26 at Croke Park thanks to a last gasp goal from Cillian Buckley.
The first half was a very close affair, with both sides trading scores throughout. That included three goals, with the scores tied at 1-12 to 2-9 at the interval.
GOAL GALWAY - Conor Whelan profits from a mix-up in the Kilkenny defence to level matters in Croke Park
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📺Watch: https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/g1m77D1qzz— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 11, 2023
Once the second half got underway, it was Kilkenny that were in the ascendancy.
A goal from Mikey Butler soon after the restart set the tone for his side.
GOAL KILKENNY - All-Star corner-back Mikey Butler goes on a blistering run and applies a forward's finish as Kilkenny make a flying start to the second half
⌨️Updates: https://t.co/SrTqTcm8O4
📺Watch: https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/yJT86BHTj0— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 11, 2023
From this point on, it always looked like The Cats were going to win the game. Galway put a good fight, plugging away in an effort to keep within touching distance of their opponents.
They slowly chipped away at what was at one point a sizeable Kilkenny lead, eventually levelling the game with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining.
Henry Shefflin's men would then retake the lead in injury time, but the most dramatic moment was yet to come.
With Kilkenny two points down in the final seconds of injury time, Cillian Buckley scored a dramatic goal with the final puck of the game to hand his side the victory.
Cillian Buckley will never have to buy a pint again in his life!
What a way to win a Leinster final 🤯pic.twitter.com/lNUsNuRR7U— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 11, 2023
Absolutely sensational, and from the most unlikely of sources.
The referee would blow the final whistle soon after, resulting in an outpouring of emotion from both players. With the way the game played out, it was one neither side will feel like they deserved to lose.
The reaction to the goal said it all.
There’s hurling. And there’s Kilkenny hurling.
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) June 11, 2023
A 35-year-old TJ Reid struggling to stay upright with exhaustion and still fighting to keep the ball in play to force a late goal is the perfect summary of Kilkenny
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) June 11, 2023
No other team gets a goal there than Kilkenny.
— Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) June 11, 2023
Sweet Jaysus. Kilkenny would fight you lying on their back #GAA
— Michael McMullan (@malmcmullan) June 11, 2023
Kilkenny, every fucking time pic.twitter.com/irwT99ThEr
— Minister for Spuds at the Dept of Bacon & Cabbage (@FCTwenteBenson) June 11, 2023
This is Kilkenny's fourth consecutive Leinster title, while Galway's wait for their first provincial crown since 2018 goes on.
Kilkenny will now prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final next month, while Galway will be facing into a quarter-final against Offaly or Tipperary.
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