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2004 Galway minor captain John Leen lifts the trophy. INPHO/Andrew Paton
Memories

Flashback: Galway v Kilkenny, 2004 All-Ireland MHC final replay

Eight years ago Galway and Kilkenny squared off in a replay that featured some of the players involved next Sunday.

Sunday September 19th, 2004
All-Ireland MHC final replay
Galway 0-16 Kilkenny 1-12
The previous Sunday in the drawn match, Galway had lead by 3-12 to 1-17 approaching full-time after corner-forwards Barry Hanley and Kerril Wade had registered 2-4 and 1-4 respectively. Yet Kilkenny whose scoring drive had been lead by Maurice Nolan (0-5), Nicky Kenny (0-4) and Eoin Guinan (0-4), rescued themselves thanks to a last-gasp point by a 16 year-old Richie Hogan.

The second instalment of the tie on September 19th in Tullamore was a classic. Throw-in was delayed fifteen minutes to accommodate a packed crowd at the Offaly venue, and when the match began it proceeded to ebb and flow for sixty minutes as the sides stayed close to each other.

The defensive majesty of John Lee and the attacking instincts of Kerril Wade proved pivotal in ultimately guiding Galway to a 0-16 to 1-12 success. But the defining memory is that it was the game that introduced a 16 year-old to the broader hurling public. Joe Canning from Portumna announced his arrival on the national stage with a strong display that yielded four points, the centrepiece of which was two sublime sideline cuts.

From the Galway side that started that game only Kevin Hynes from Sarsfields, the current full-back who played at centre-forward in that game, and Canning are part of the senior squad that will run out onto Croke Park next Sunday. Ger Mahon, John Lee, Finian Coone and Kerril Wade are amongst those who have seen senior game time in recent years.

On the Kilkenny line-up from that game, Kieran Joyce and Richie Hogan both started the drawn game against Galway earlier this month. While Paddy Hogan, who played at midfield that day, and Matthew Ruth, who grabbed a goal in the drawn game when drafted in as a substitute which lead to him bagging a starting berth for the play, are set to be amongst Brian Cody’s substitutes.

Scorers for Galway: Kerril Wade 0-7, Joe Canning 0-4, Finian Coone, Kevin Hynes 0-2 each, Keith Kilkenny 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Maurice Nolan 0-4, Eoin Guinan 1-1, Paddy Hogan 0-3, Richie Hogan, Matthew Ruth,  Neal Prendergast, Eddie O’Donoghue 0-1 each.
GALWAY: Mark Herlihy; Paul Loughnane, Ger Mahon, Ciaran O’Donovan; Martin Ryan, John Lee, John Hughes; Andrew Keary, David Kennedy; Keith Kilkenny, Kevin Hynes, Finian Coone; Kerril Wade, Joe Canning, Barry Hanley. Sub: David White for Ryan.
KILKENNY: Liam Tierney; James Maher, Kieran Joyce, Paul Cahill; Neal Prendergast, Ronan Maher, Shane Prendergast; Pat Hartley, Paddy Hogan; Gavin Nolan, Maurice Nolan, Nicky Kenny; Richie Hogan, Eoin Guinan, Matthew Ruth. Sub: Eddie O’Donoghue for Kenny.
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)

Brian Cody (Kilkenny) on…

Shefflin leading the way in front of goal