Thirteen players hit the target as Galway hammered Kilkenny in their Allianz Hurling Division 1A clash at Pearse Stadium with an awesome display of point scoring.
Derek Lyng’s men, who will be back in Salthill for the opening round of the Leinster championship in six weeks, just had no answer as Aaron Niland led the onslaught with 0-13 in front of a crowd of 5,467.
Galway, having opted to play against the breeze, got on top in most positions and led by 0-15 to 0-09 at the end of the opening half with Aaron Niland leading the way.
Rory Burke of Galway scoring a point from a sideline ball
The Clarinbridge sharpshooter was entrusted with free-taking duties and landed 0-09 in the opening half, two of them from play, one a 65 and the rest from frees.
The Clarinbridge sharpshooter was entrusted with free-taking duties and landed 0-09 in the opening half, two of them from play, one a 65 and the rest from frees.
Their attack, constantly switching positions, stretched the Kilkenny defence and the scores flowed, leading by 0-06 to 0-02 after nine minutes after Niland landed four in a row.
Cian Kenny, who hit three from play and two frees in the opening half, kept Kilkenny in touch but they trailed by double scores at 0-10 to 0-05 after 19 minutes with Tom Monaghan and Cathal Mannion picking off some fine scores.
Jordan Molloy landed a superb point from the right for Kilkenny but Niland matched with a superbly judged effort from the right touchline into the wind.
Two Kenny points inside a minute cut the gap to four ten minutes from the break but Galway hit the next three with two more from Niland and one from Monaghan extended the lead before a Kenny free reduced the gap to two goals at the break.
Galway dominated after the restart and reeled off 0-7 without reply by the 45th minute with Niland adding three more, and Mannion, Burke, Tiernan Killeen and Ronan Glennon also finding the target.
John Donnelly, Tom Phelan and Kenny responded for Kilkenny but Galway were never troubled and pushed the lead out to ten points, 0-23 to 0-13, at the end of the third quarter.
They continued to pick off points from there to the end with Conor Cooney becoming their 13th player to score when he landed the final point in stoppage time.
Galway: Darach Fahy; Cillian Trayers, Joshua Ryan, Kieran Hanrahan; Ronan Glennon (0-01), Padraic Mannion (0-01), Darren Morrissey; Cian Daniels, Tirernan Killeen (0-01); Darragh Neary, Cathal Mannion (0-06), Rory Burke (0-04, 0-01 sideline); Tom Monaghan (0-02), Conor Whelan (0-02), Aaron Niland (0-13, 0-09f, 0-01’65).
Subs: Jason Rabbitte (0-01) for Monaghan (53), Conor Cooney (0-01) for Neary (53), TJ Brennan (0-01) for Morrissey (58), Evan Niland (0-01) for Burke (62), Oisin Lohan (0-01) (Skehana-Mountbellew/Moylough) for A Niland (63).
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Rory Garrett, Mikey Carey, Ivan Bolger; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny (0-10, 0-4f), Jordan Molloy (0-01); Liam Moore (0-02), Eoin Cody (0-02), Luke Connellan; Niall Shortall, Mossy Keoghan, Tom Phelan (0-01).
Subs: John Donnelly (0-01) for Connellan (29), Ian Byrne for Moore (34-36), Killian Doyle for Shortall (36), Richie Reid for Deegan (45), Shane Murphy for Carey (48), Byrne for Molloy (53).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).