'Character' was the key ingredient in Galway's winning formula against Kilkenny, according to Joe Canning.

The Portumna ace, who contributed 0-10 to his side's winning tally of 1-28, was proud of how they weathered the second-half storm in Semple Stadium.

 "It was very important because we have been in those situations in the past three years and Kilkenny have come out on top," he commented when interviewed by The Sunday Game shortly after the final whistle.

"We knew the scoreline at half-time wasn't a reflection of what it was going to be.

"Look, they came back with two goals in the second-half. We were a little bit worried to be straight up about, there is no point in saying otherwise, but it shows the different character in this group that we powered on again and finished strong."

The 'Hurler of the Year' wasn't surprised by the Cats' second-half fight-back.

"You are always worried when you are playing Kilkenny.

"They have that history, they're a great team We knew it was going to be a battle and that it was going to be to the very end.

"We upped the work-rate again, we had stopped a little in the first-half around the middle third and we stopped a little again in the second-half. We can't afford to do that against Kilkenny and lucky enough we picked it up again."

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