Paddy Deegan’s reaction to hard belt sums up toughest game of hurling you’ll watch

Paddy Deegan is tough as old boots anyway.

Kilkenny and Galway's Leinster final in Croke Park was as scrappy as it was hard-hitting. But with the intensity so high it seemed like the pair of those went hand in hand. Nothing came easy in this provincial decider between the Tribesmen and the Cats where every single ball was ferociously contested and extremely hard won. The unusually low 0-8 0-8 half-time scoreline was a fitting reflection of the 35 minutes of hurling just played. With both defences suffocating their opposition attackers out of it, there was a scarcity of loose, free-flowing hurling on show. Instead, and in a direct contrast to the Munster hurling final played out in Semple Stadium earlier in the day, the Galway and Kilkenny players didn't get a second to compose themselves. There was guts, bravery and courage aplenty on show but with players throwing their bodies on the line at every given opportunity. No man was braver than Kilkenny's resolute corner back Paddy Deegan. At a time where we're all sick of seeing soccer players at the World Cup diving and feigning injury, his reaction to a hard looking belt from the hurl of Conor Cooney was a standout moment. He was haring it back to his position straight away. Kilkenny full back Padraig Walsh put his hand into the fryer on countless occasions in that first half. With Niall Burke's hurl flailing in mid-air, the Tullaroan tank put up a strong left hand to pluck dropping sliotars from the sky. Cillian Buckley was similarly impressive manning the centre out in front of him while at the other end of the field Walter Walsh and Daithí Burke were going hard at it. Padraig Mannion was fist-pumping his way to glory while James Maher was having no problems retrieving hospital passes all day long. It opened up a little bit more in the second half and in a game where scores were at a premium, it was crucial for Micheal Donoghue's men that their most sharpshooting forward Cathal Mannion was the man on the end of their chances. He tacked on three invaluable points from play in that second half while twin towers Conor and Joseph Cooney sprung to life. Galway began to kick for home down the home stretch but as we've said on so many occasions in the past, Brian Cody's Kilkenny are never dead. Despite trailling by three with only one minute left, they were patient, they were cool under pressure. Half back Enda Morrissey ventured up the field to split the posts to leave one between them and TJ Reid levelled it up just moments later. Fittingly, it was that man Deegan who came up with a crucial interception right at the death when Galway were pushing for a winner. A draw was undoubtedly the fairest result, the teams tied at 18 apiece after 73 minutes of a titanic tussle.