Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Kilkenny picked up a trio of injuries as they kicked off their bid for a Leinster Championship six-in-a-row in style. The Noresiders lost TJ Reid, scorer of more than 700 points during his career, before the game and then Adrian Mullen and Shane Murphy in the first half. But Galway surrendered the initiative at the start of the second half when they conceded unanswered points to Mikey Carey and Eoin Cody (2) that saw the Cats streak 1-17 to 0-11 clear. However, it was a spectacular Cody goal in the 57th minute that really weakened Galway and a third in the 71st minute buried them. The Tribe, whose attack lacked any sort of penetration, put four scores together through Gavin Lee, Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion and Conor Cooney at the end to cut the gap to reasonable levels. But they weren’t even allowed a strong finish with Martin Keoghan netting the third Kilkenny goal after getting a touch to a long ball from Stephen Donnelly and diverting the sliotar past Darach Fahy. Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng will be happy with this showing and in attack their Kerry arrival, Fionan Mackessy, enjoyed a fine Championship debut. He helped himself to four points – one free, one 65 – and two of the scores came from huge distances. The opening half exchanges lacked the fury of a do-or-die Championship match. Missed chances were few and far between until the Cats hit a bit of a rocky spell nearing the break when they shot three wides in quick succession. Luck appeared against Kilkenny as they lost Mullen and Murphy to injury by the 22nd minute but Galway were always on their heels. During the opening 58 seconds Tiernan Killeen and Jordan Molloy traded points to set the trend with the scores level six times. The big strike of the half was a goal for Kilkenny in the third minute, Mullen flicking the ball home from close range after a fierce low drive by Keoghan had been blocked on the line by Fintan Burke. Galway hit back smartly and scores from Cianan Fahy, Declan McLoughlin and John Fleming got them back on terms. It was shortly after losing Murphy that Kilkenny recovered the lead they were never to surrender as they led 1-14 to 0-11 at the break. To keep up to date with all the latest GAA news, sign-up to our GAA newsletter here.