A successful Saturday

Mighty Reid leads Kilkenny to thrilling championship victoryKILKENNY 2-23, DUBLIN 1-21  Kilkenny reshaped their team during the second half and thundered to a thrilling win over Dublin in a sizzling Leinster senior hurling championship first round game in Nowlan Park this evening.

Team skipper, TJ Reid proved himself to be a real leader, shooting a terrific 2-12 as he led Kilkenny to victory.

Dublin tore into the opposition from the start, and there were times during the opening half when they looked really threatening.

The Cats turned on the power after the turn, and with Reid leading the way by rifling two goals and Padraig Walsh an absolute force at centre-back they dragged together a super winning performance. 

Brian Cody had five players making their championship debut, and they all stepped up to the plate.

The losers led by 1-13 to 0-12 at the break after playing well, very well at times. The winners earned parity in the 46th minute when Reid pieced a lovely move together with Ballyhale Shamrocks colleague, Colin Fennelly before shooting to the net (1-15 each).

Twice subsequently the teams were together, but Kilkenny struck a serious blow in the 56th minute when they nabbed another goal. Colin Fennelly won a huge clearance from Huw Lawlor, and when he was fouled Reid shot the Cats into a 2-16 to 1-17 lead from a penalty.

Kilkenny powered on strongly from there and they kept the Dubs in a tight bind until the finish.  

It was helter-skelter action from the throw-in. Dublin were full of movement and menace. The opening two points were shared by Alan Murphy and David Treacy (free).

The next four scores were also shared, but when Dublin hit the front with a goal from a penalty in the eight minute they got a huge lift.

The penalty was awarded when Liam Rushe was fouled after taking a pass from Fergal Whitely. Centre-back Sean Moran belted the ball into the net to put the visitors 1-3 to 0-3 in front.

Kilkenny battled on and points from Alan Murphy and Walter Walsh had the gap back to the minimum. It was the same on the quarter hour (1-5 to 0-6), but when Dublin put points together through Danny Sutcliffe and Sean Moran (free) they were moving really well.

Padraig Walsh charged up the field to score a good Kilkenny point in the 22nd minute, but Dublin’s response was massive. Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe, David Treacy and Fergal Whitely after a great block down on left by Treacy all landed points to shoot them into a good 1-11 to 0-8 lead in the 27th minute, their biggest of the half.

Kilkenny scrambled for scores. A TJ Reid point helped lift the team. But seconds later Dublin nearly goaled again, Paul Ryan sending the ball whistling past the left upright at the country end.

Rushe won a second penalty in the 34th minute after fielding a high ball from Chris Crummey. Sean Moran extracted maximum reward, shooting them into a merited interval lead of 1-13 to 0-12.

TJ Reid produced three scores for Kilkenny before the 42nd minute to inject a bit more belief in the troops. When he levelled it at 1-15 each when shooting a goal in the 46th minute the momentum was with the Cats, and they roared on home.

SCORERS: Kilkenny – TJ Reid (2-12); Alan Murphy (0-3); Ger Aylward, Richie Leahy (0-2 each); Tommy Walsh, Padraig Walsh, Walter Walsh, Adrian Mullen (0-1 each). Dublin – David Treacy (0-6); Sean Moran (1-2); Danny Sutcliffe (0-4); Chris Crummey, Fergal Whitely (0-2 each); Tomas Connolly, Sean Treacy, Darragh O’Connell, Paul Ryan, Liam Rush (0-1 each).  

Kilkenny –  Darren Brennan; Paul Murphy, Paddy Deegan, Tommy Walsh; Enda Morrissey, Huw Lawlor, Conor Fogarty; Padraig Walsh, Alan Murphy; Adrian Mullen, Walter Walsh, TJ Reid; Billy Ryan, Colin Fennelly, Ger Aylward. Subs: Richie Leahy (0-2) for morrissey h-t; Richie Hogan for Ryan (39).

Dublin – Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Tomas Connolly; Chris Crummey, Sean Moran, Shane Barrett; Sean Treacy, Darragh O’Connell; David Treacy, Danny Sutcliffe, Fergal Whitely; Paul Ryan, Liam Rushe, Eamon Dillon. Subs: Riain McBride for T Connolly (50); Conal Keaney for P Ryan (60); Cian Boland for S Treacy (65); Jake Malone for D Treacy (71); Ronan Hayes for Rushe (73).

 Kilkenny minors turn on the style as semi spot is wrapped upKILKENNY 5-29, OFFALY 1-9

John Knox

Kilkenny had wrapped-up a place in the semi-finals before a ball was even struck at Nowlan Park today, but they still let rip in this electric Ireland Leinster minor hurling championship third round match.

The draw earlier in the day between Wexford and Dublin meant the Cats were through to next month’s semis, but they showed Offaly no mercy as they hit the target 34 times. Kilkenny simply took off following the throw-in. Early points from Billy Drennan, the sweet moving Liam Moore and Andy Hickey were followed by a goal from Jack Doyle in the eight minute.

Offaly were already 1-3 to no score behind. By the time they had their first score from a free by David Tooher in the 14th minute the winners had 2-5 on the ’board.The gap rose to 2-8 to 0-2 in the 22nd minute after Timmy Clifford pointed for the Cats. Within five minutes Offaly hit back for a point from Luke Nolan and then a goal from Dan Murray, but Kilkenny and Timmy Clifford struck for a late goal to leave the Noresiders 3-11 to 1-4 clear at half-time.

It was more of the same in the second half, when four home subs joined in the scoring.

SCORERS: Kilkenny – Liam Moore (1-7); Timmy Clifford (2-2); Billy Drennan, Ian Byrne (0-4 each); Senan Doyle (1-1); Jack Doyle (1-0); Denis Walsh (0-3); Andy Hickey, Zach Bay Hammon, Aidan Tallis (0-2 each); James Aylward, Pierce Blanchfield (0-1 each). Offaly – Luke Nolan (0-5); Dan Murray (1-0); Charlie Mitchell (0-3); David Tooher (0-1).   

Kilkenny – Alan Rafter; Billy Reid, William Murphy, Padraig Foley; Peter Mcdonald, Padraig Moylan, James Aylward; Andy Hickey, Denis Walsh; Colman O’Sullivan, Liam Moore, Zach Bay Hammond; Billy Drennan, Timmy Clifford, Jack Doyle. Subs – I Byrne for J. Doyle; Pierce Blanchfield for A Hickey; S Doyle for Drennan; A Tallis for Bay Hammon; J McNamara for O’Sullivan. 

Offaly – Adam Fitzgerald; JJ O’Brien, Kelan Rigney, Conor Hardiman; Joe Ryan, Ronan Cleary, Joe Hoctor; Charlie Mitchell, Sam Burke; Jack Screeney, Luke Nolan, Sean Buckley; Niall Lyons, Dan Murray, David Tooher. Subs – Luke Wyer for S. Buckley; Luke Watkins for J. Hoctor; David Murray for D. Tooher; Luke Carey for J. Ryan; Paul Cleary for N. Lyons.

Referee – Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).