Allianz Hurling League round-up:How can you gift Kilkenny a 10-point start and have any chance of pegging them back? That was the conundrum facing John McIntyre and his Galway players after just eight minutes at Salthill this afternoon.
A whirlwind start had seen Kilkenny sweep into a 2-4 to 0-0 lead, the early goals coming from Eddie Brennan and Michael Fennelly. At that stage, simply keeping an air of respectability about the scoreboard seemed a tall order.
But the defending champions have added some much needed steel this year, and a smart Joe Gantley lit the touch paper for a remarkable contest. A brace of goals from Iarlaith Tallion and another from Cyril Donnellan proved the difference as Galway ran out 4-13 to 3-13 winners.
Elsewhere, Dublin maintained their push for a place in the final with a resounding 12-point win over Wexford. With both Kilkenny and Cork losing, the result moves Anthony Daly’s side to the top of the Division One standings.
David O'Callaghan scored all three of Dublin’s goals in the 3-21 to 2-15 win, their third of the campaign. Cork were beaten by a point in Waterford while Tipperary had far too much firepower for Offaly.
Allianz Huring League results
Division One
Galway 4-14 Kilkenny 3-13
Tipperary 1-20 Offaly 0-10
Waterford 0-18 Cork 0-17
Wexford 2-15 Dublin 3-21
Division Two
Antrim 0-10 Carlow 1-6
Clare 5-22 Down 0-6
Limerick 1-18 Laois 0-16
Kerry 1-15 Westmeath 1-13
Division Three A
Kildare 2-16 London 1-15
Meath 1-20 Armagh 1-17
Wicklow 2-15 Derry 1-17
Division Three B
Donegal 1-7 Fingal 1-13
Louth 2-14 Mayo 3-12
Sligo 1-12 Monaghan 2-8
Division Four
Longford 6-23 Cavan 1-1
South Down 6-11 Leitrim 0-11
Tyrone 1-10 Fermanagh 3-4