KILKENNY SURVIVED A real first half scare to book their place in the Leinster SHC semi-finals.
Ollie Baker’s Offaly made a dashing bid to cause a shock in front of 8,237 spectators in Tullamore, but Kilkenny recovered from the initial aerial bombardment to advance to the penultimate stage of the provincial competition.
There was plenty of early drama at O’Connor Park as Offaly’s direct approach stunned the All Ireland Champions’ in the opening quarter.
Moving the sliotar quickly inside Offaly bagged two goals in the first 13 minutes to disturb a Kilkenny outfit, who are missing talisman Henry Shefflin.
Another crucial Kilkenny contributor Jackie Tyrell was forced off injured in the sixth minute by which time Offaly had already netted once.
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That strike came in the first minute when Colin Egan reacted smartly to slam a smashing goal past Eoin Murphy.
Three points on the spin from Eoin Larkin (2) and Richie Hogan had Kilkenny back on terms, but a Chris McDonald effort was followed by a Joe Bergin major.
A blistering shot from Bergin rattled the Kilkenny net and though Offaly were injected with confidence Eoin Larkin has been sharp from dead balls for the Cats, who surprisingly trailed 2-6 to 0-11 at the interval.
But Kilkenny seized the initiative after the restart reeling off five points without reply and suddenly Offaly were in bother. Larkin was sharp from frees, while TJ Reid, Richie Power (2), and Lester Ryan also split the uprights.
Shane Dooley drilled over a 43rd minute free, but two Larkin frees either side of a splendid Tommy Walsh score had Kilkenny 0-19 to 2-7 in front. Another Dooley free was a brief interruption as Brian Hogan, Larkin, and Richie Hogan nudged Kilkenny eight clear with 13 minutes remaining.
By then Offaly were busily seeking to put a respectable gloss on the final scoreline as their sterling start was rendered insufficient. Egan clipped a point and then in the 63rd minute substitute Dan Currams wriggled away to stitch a goal as the deficit was trimmed to four.
Hogan, Power, and replacements Matthew Ruth and Walter Walsh stretched Kilkenny’s advantage again before a last gasp consolation goal from Bergin.
Offaly’s David Kenny and Kilkenny’s Colin Fennelly in a tussle
Pic: INPHO/Ken Sutton
Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Larkin 0-11 (10fs, 165), Richie Power 0-4 (1f), Richie Hogan 0-3, TJ Reid 0-1, Colin Fennelly 0-1, Richie Hogan 0-1, Lester Ryan 0-1, Brian Hogan 0-1, Matthew Ruth 0-1, Walter Walsh 0-1, Aidan Fogarty 0-1. Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-5 (5fs, 165), Joe Bergin 2-0, Colin Egan 1-2, Dan Currams 1-0, Brian Carroll 0-1, Chris McDonald 0-1.
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Paul Murphy (Danesfort), JJ Delaney (Fenians), Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens); Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge); Lester Ryan (Clara), Michael Rice (Carrickshock), TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Richie Power (Carrickshock), Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds).
Subs: Conor Fogarty (Erins Own) for Tyrell (6 mins), Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon) for Fogarty (34 mins), Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro) for Reid (57 mins), Matthew Ruth (James Stephens) for Larkin (57 mins), Paddy Hogan (Danesfort) for Rice (59 mins).
OFFALY: James Dempsey (Kinnitty); Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels),David Kenny (Belmont), Kevin Brady (Coolderry); Rory Hanniffy (Birr), Ger Healion (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Cathal Parlon (Coolderry); Conor Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran); Colin Egan (Belmont), Brian Carroll (Coolderry), Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Shane Dooley (Tullamore), Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran), Sean Cleary (Shinrone).
Subs: Dan Currams (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Cleary (36 mins), Paul Cleary (Birr) for Kenny (42-47 mins), Derek Molloy (Shamrocks) for Mahon (44 mins), Tomas Carroll (Seir Kieran) for Slevin (52 mins), Sean Ryan (Shinrone) for Brady (52 mins).
Everytime kilkenny run down the centre towards goal offaly foul them so the ref has to give frees. 5 offaly defenders on yellows so maybe thats why kilkenny have so many frees! Offaly are fouling alot, its not the refs fault they are he still has to give the frees
I’m a Kilkenny man and I am not too proud to say I was slightly ashamed by the performance my county put in today.
All this synical fouling , sly hits off the ball , grabbing the legs of the opposition if they fall down and the unnecessary wanting of a free. Like deliberately running into someone or diving.
That’s not the game we used to play and it’s not the game or way I loved to watch as I was growing up .
The passion doesn’t appear to be there . Our tactics are shocking and if god forbid we are losing we become very unsportsmanlike and it is not a pretty sight .
Seems like some referees are terrified to make decisions against our county ?
Are u nuts your no Kk man. Iam from cork Kk played shit in first half because yeah had a lot of lads back from injuries and prop not fully fit yet. Kk will be in croke park in September
Offaly played a super game and well done to them and it will bring them on a tone and I wouldn’t say it was a dirty game as all them lads know how to hurl but the cats can be beet and Offaly are one of the teams to show that and am sure the Offaly supporters will get behind them as they do .
'I don't know if you know the game Werewolf, but we're playing it literally every night'
1 hr ago
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Keep the Faith
Playing against Troy Parrott, captaining Offaly to football glory, and the Mickey Harte effect
1 hr ago
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FreeAs it happened
Ireland v Greece, Nations League
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Offaly jersey is actually nice. Usually gaa tops are mank.
Lovely collar on it.
Ref made sure KK stayed in touch. Now they’re pulling away.
He gave Kilkenny some very soft frees in the first half, but ultimately I think Offaly’s wides cost them dearly.
Ref kept all Offaly players on the field when deffo one should have being seen red TWICE. Offaly didn’t get all those yellows for Notting
How did an offaly lad deserve to be sent of clean ur glasses
You cant hit another lad with the hurley twice and get away with it!
Its disappointing that the All Ireland champion’s first game wasn’t updated live where a rugby game with Treviso playing would.
Why is there no live updates for this match?
Offaly half back should of been sent off in the first half, ref doing kilkenny no favours
No favours?
Once again 11 points from frees in 50 minutes. And that’s not taking into account the ones he hasn’t given Offaly.
Offaly have three.
Everytime kilkenny run down the centre towards goal offaly foul them so the ref has to give frees. 5 offaly defenders on yellows so maybe thats why kilkenny have so many frees! Offaly are fouling alot, its not the refs fault they are he still has to give the frees
The ref may as well pull a Kilkenny jersey on.
And you should put your glasses on
the ref is from galway. believe me he doesnt want to give them an advatage. kk are simply superior every day.
Kilkenny gettin going now! Mon de cats!
Luckily no Kilkenny players were seriously injured during this match.
If only that was the final whistle rather than half time
We live in hope, we can hope to make a good game of it at the very least..
Great win for Kilkenny. This game will help them iron out a few problems. Blessing in disguise to have had this extra game.
3 of offalys goals were from brutal Kilkenny play. I dont expect Kilkenny to be as poor in those areas again.
Ive never seen so many hurls thrown by a team as we saw from offaly today. One stopped a certain Kilkenny goal but went unpunished.
5 yellow cards for Offaly by half time, should have been two reds. Shocking bad discipline from Offaly.
There wasnt much hurls thrown nd 2 offaly lads shouldnt of been sent of we were just tough
A bit rich kk calling another team dirty ,only learning off the cats how to play dirty
Ref Brutal must have cousins in kk
Noreen you’re an idiot.
Offaly are filty oh and Iam from cork. Ref made few bad calls on both sides but over all was nt to bad.
What the f%$k is that profile picture about ?
Offaly Jersey is class
G’wan da BiffOs
KK goalkeeper v poor today.
I’m a Kilkenny man and I am not too proud to say I was slightly ashamed by the performance my county put in today.
All this synical fouling , sly hits off the ball , grabbing the legs of the opposition if they fall down and the unnecessary wanting of a free. Like deliberately running into someone or diving.
That’s not the game we used to play and it’s not the game or way I loved to watch as I was growing up .
The passion doesn’t appear to be there . Our tactics are shocking and if god forbid we are losing we become very unsportsmanlike and it is not a pretty sight .
Seems like some referees are terrified to make decisions against our county ?
Are u nuts your no Kk man. Iam from cork Kk played shit in first half because yeah had a lot of lads back from injuries and prop not fully fit yet. Kk will be in croke park in September
A lot of the frees we are seeing wooly be given later in the year.
KK have 11 points from frees already.
Not good for Brian’s heart…
On the basis of this poor Kilkenny performance I can’t see Wexford or Dublin having any problem in beating the Cats.
Did you see yesterday’s game between the Dubs and Wexford? It was poor enough.. Kilkenny will eat either of them!
I was at it. It was engrossing – like a game of chess.
I just wanted to check mate
Patrick ive seen better junior b games in December than the Shite in Wexford Park yesterday , brutal standard of hurlin..
Offaly played a super game and well done to them and it will bring them on a tone and I wouldn’t say it was a dirty game as all them lads know how to hurl but the cats can be beet and Offaly are one of the teams to show that and am sure the Offaly supporters will get behind them as they do .