Kilkenny 1-19 Galway 1-12:As much as Kilkenny were good value for their 67th Leinster SHC title they were afforded the win by virtue of a below par performance by Galway in today's final Croke Park.
In many ways the Cats are like Kerry, who were in action in Killarney earlier in the day, they know how to get the job done. No matter what opposition they face they somehow find a way to get over the line, even it they are not at their dazzling best.
So Kerry landed the Munster SFC title and hours later Kilkenny landed their sixth title Leinster in a row.
The problem for Galway was lack of retention when in possession and an inability to covert chances when they presented themselves with Joe Canning having an off day.
Granted the blustery conditions didn’t make it easy, particularly for the marksmen. That said Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin found his range, the pinnacle coming with a 13th minute goal.
Galway’s goal came through Damien Hayes as they trailed 1-08 to 1-05 at the break.
In the second period Brian Cody’s side pulled away at their own leisure and were never really threatened and the manger accepted the game was far from a classic.
“That’s part and parcel of going through the process of the championship,” said Cody afterwards. “We have five weeks until an All-Ireland semi-final and that’s the next challenge.”