Under-21 Hurling All-Ireland Semi-finals/Kilkenny 0-20 Galway 0-15: Portlaoise is becoming a happy hunting ground for the under-21 hurlers of Kilkenny. On Saturday they made their third appearance at the venue, but, as in their previous outings against Laois and Dublin, they had to come from behind before taking victory.

At the end of the first quarter the sides were level on four points each, but by half-time Galway were 0-10 to 0-7 ahead after points from Niall Healy, Kenneth Burke, Aengus Callanan and free taker Ger Farragher.

Early in the second half, points from Eoin Lynch, Healy and Farragher saw Galway stretch their lead to six points and they looked to be on their way to their third final in succession.

The next 10 minutes, however, saw the reigning champions strike over nine unanswered points - Willie O'Dwyer's fourth point in the 46th minute levelled the sides.

Within five minutes, Kilkenny went four points clear, but a Farragher point in the 54th minute revived Galway hopes. But that was to be their final score.

Kilkenny had introduced substitutes Eoin Reid and Seán O'Neill and they contributed three points to seal the win.

KILKENNY: D Herity; S Maher, J Tennyson, M Fennelly; T Walsh, PJ Delaney, C Hoyne (0-1); R Power (0-1), P Cleere; C Phelan (0-1), J Phelan (0-1), J Fitzpatrick (0-8); W O'Dwyer (0-4), S Hennessy (0-1), B Dowling. Subs: S O'Neill (0-2) for J Phelan; E Reid (0-1) for B Dowling; E Larkin for R Power.

GALWAY: P Dullaghan; D Hayes, S Kavanagh, D Collins (0-1); E Lynch (0-1), T Regan, K Hayes; C Ryan, T Tierney; G Farragher (0-6), A Garvey, J Gantley (0-2); A Callanan (0-1), K Burke (0-1), N Healy (0-2). Subs: A Cullinane (0-1) for K Burke; E Ryan for A Garvey; L Howley for C Ryan.

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).