Joe Canning returns as Galway hold on to beat Kilkenny in Salthill

Galway 0-20 Kilkenny 0-18

The prodigal from Portumna returned to settle nerves and a league win for Galway against the All-Ireland champions on a turbulent day in Salthill.

Kilkenny, as ever, did little to soothe Galway nerves, dropping balls in around the house and threatening to steal a game which the home side had led all afternoon. It took a smart save from Colm Callanan on Jonjo Farrell's snap shot to prevent a miserable conclusion for Galway but on an afternoon when Joe Canning got his season up and running in what was a crucial win for Galway.

In scoring terms, the match boiled down to a shoot-out between the rangy Jason Flynn and Kilkenny's Mr Reliable, Richie Hogan, who put in another terrific hour before retiring with a hamstring injury.

Kilkenny pressed Galway on every possession and on a day when ball was hard won , Jonathan Glynn emerged time and time again from a thicket of stripy jerseys to alleviate the pressure on the home team.

Greg Lally came through a demanding debut at centre back for Galway and John Hanbury had a solid afternoon at full back. Iarla Tannian imposed himself through the tense last 10-minute period. Galway had opened up a 0-17 to 0-12 lead with 20 minutes to go but were reeled in when Hogan landed a point he simply had no right to and then added two more frees, the second after Canning flattened Pádraig Walsh with a marginally late shoulder.

The first half was tightly contested and both teams struggled to control the ball in the swirling wind and the deep ridges which remain the legacy of the extensive drainage work carried out on the Salthill ground.

Galway kept their noses in front through the accuracy of Flynn and he and James Regan both scored splendid points from play.

But even though Kilkenny lagged on the scoreboard, there was a sense that they were in control in open play. Galway struggled to get any change out of the high ball they rained down towards Jonathan Glynn and Flynn as Kilkenny's wing forwards Matthew Ruth and Walter Walsh tracked back to add to the deathless zest for work which Kilkenny bring to the game in all seasons.

An early injury to fullback Michael Walsh was solved decisively by the Kilkenny backroom: they simply sent in Jackie Tyrell. A rumour travelling around the city all morning was confirmed when Joe Canning was added to the Galway side as a late substitute and as the first half progressed, it seemed increasingly likely that his presence would be required if Galway were to profit here.

The whistling of Barry Kelly was a subject of intense interest for the visiting Marble city crowd and the first point of contention occurred in the 23rd minute, when a free was awarded against Kieran Joyce after he carried the ball into contact. Brian Cody stood on the sideline, adapting a stance which could best be described as diplomatic. A minute later, a chorus of cheers greeted a free for Richie Hogan: cynics might say those cheers were ironic. It finished 0-11 to 0-8 at the break, hardly much of a lead for Galway to discuss defending.

If anything, the wind changed in the second half and Galway hung onto their narrow lead. A beautifully worked point by Canning, after a slick, short passing exchange with Andy Smith settled them early in the half and although they were coughed up several scores under the relentless Kilkenny pressure, they held out for a valuable win.

GALWAY: 1 C Callanan; 2 P Mannion, 3 J Hanbury, 4 J Coen; 5 D Collins, 6 G Lally, 7 G McInerney; 8 I Tannian, 9 J Cooney; 10 A Smith (0-1), 11 J Glynn, 12 D Higgins (0-2); 13 J Regan (0-1), 14 C Mannion (0-1), 15 J Flynn (0-11, seven frees, one '65).

Substitutes: J Canning (0-4, two frees, one 65) for D Higgins (half-time), B Molloy for J Flynn (62 mins), A Harte for I Tannian (65 mins), K Hynes for G Lally (69 mins), E Burke for J Regan (70 mins).

KILKENNY: 1E Murphy; 2 P Murphy, 3 M Walsh, 4 S Prendergast; 5 P Walsh (0-1), 6 K Joyce, 7 C Buckley; 8 W Phelan (0-1), 9 L Ryan (0-2); 10 W Walsh (0-1), 11 R Hogan (0-10, eight frees), 12 M Ruth; 13 M Kelly (0-2), 14 J Farrell (0-1), 15 J Power.

Substitutes: J Tyrell for M Walsh (11 mins), K Hogan for R Hogan (56 mins), K Kelly for M Kelly (60 mins).

Referee: B Kelly.