Galway stun champions

Galway's Joe Rabbitte under pressure from Kilkenny

Guinness All-Ireland Hurling semi-final :
Galway 2-15 1-13 Kilkenny

Galway are heading back to Croke Park after an emphatic victory over defending champions Kilkenny in Dublin on Sunday.

Despite being reduced to 14-men in the first half, the Tribesman were just too strong for Kilkenny and they will now face Tipperary in next month's final.

After Galway hero Eugene Cloonan opened the scoring with a goal after four minutes, Kilkenny were always fighting an uphill battle against the men from the west.

The Cats were clear favourites going into the game, with Galway being something of an unknown quantity.

Frentic opening

That early goal by Cloonan, who finished with two goals and nine points, gave Galway inspiration.

It was a superb all-round team display that saw them reach their first hurling final since 1992.

There was a tense, frentic opening and then Galway got a lucky break when Cloonan's fourth minute attempt for a point dropped short of the bar and into the net.

Both teams struggled to find their form and Kilkenny failed to get on the scoreline until the ninth minute.

They had come close to equalising a minute earlier when Henry Shefflin almost found the net from an overhead flick.

DJ Carey's flourish too late for Cats

Kilkenny were very rushed up front and did not look at all comfortable.

They had to rely on Shefflin's frees to keep them in touch and it was 27 minutes before John Power rifled over Kilkenny's first point from open play.

Cloonan, though, continued to find his range for Galway who also had Mark Kerins on the scoresheet.

A high tackle by Gregory Kennedy on DJ Carey earned the Galway defender a second yellow card and an early bath.

But it was Galway who knuckled down and deservedly went in at half-time 1-6 to 0-6 ahead.

Never recovered

The game opened up in the second half but the big Kilkenny comeback never materialised.

Galway held their three point advantage, and doubled it on 50 minutes when Cloonan slipped behind the Kilkenny defence booted the ball into the net.

That, in effect, was that as the Cats just never recovered.

DJ Carey did manage to score his first point of the game in the 64th minute, and six minutes later found the net from a 20-yard free.

But there was just no stopping Galway, or Cloonan who had the last say with a late point.

Meanwhile, There was no luck for Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Minor semi-final when they went down 3-12 to 1-13 to Cork.

It was Cork forward Kieran Murphy who did the damage scoring 3-6 for the winners.

Results

Donegal SFC semi-final
N Chonaill 2-5 1-9 St Eunans

Tyrone Senior Football
Donnaghmore 0-10 1-15 Errigal Ciaran

Fermanagh SFC quarter-finals
Enniskillen 1-18 0-12 Lisnaskea
Erin Gaels 1-10 2-9 Teemore
Newtownbutler 0-11 0-7 St Patrick's
Devenish 1-9 0-10 Belcoo

Monaghan Senior Football
Truagh Gaels 0-12 0-6 Donaghmoyne
Castleblayney 0-11 1-7 Magheracloone