Kilkenny 2-21
Offaly 2-9
By Michael O’Leary
Kilkenny regained the Leinster under-21 title in emphatic fashion as they easily defeated Offaly in Tullamore last week.
Playing against the advantage of a stiff first-half breeze, Kilkenny were level at 0-9 to 1-6 at half-time.
A significant statistic though from the opening-half was that all bar one of Kilkenny’s points came from play, while Offaly only scored 0-2 from play.
Cathal Coughlan and Richie Hogan opened the scoring with early pointed frees, before Derek Markam regained Offaly’s lead with a fine point.
Niall Walsh replied with the leveller, before points from Richie Hogan and TJ Reid with an excellent effort, stretched Kilkenny’s lead to double scores. 0-4 to 0-2.
Offaly replied with three unanswered points from Diarmuid Horan (2 frees ) and a Coughlan (free ) to regain the initiative but Kilkenny replied with points from Colin Fennelly and John Mulhall as they led once more. 0-6 to 0-5.
Cathal Coughlan equalised with a pointed free in the 23rd minute, before an excellent TJ Reid solo-run led to a Matthew Ruth point as the game swung and turned.
However, Offaly were awarded a dubious penalty when a long clearance downfield wasn’t dealt with properly by the Kilkenny defence.
Francie Kerrigan fell over the sliothar but the referee deemed the situation to be otherwise, and a harshly awarded penalty was given.
Joe Bergin stepped up and his rocket blast effort gave Colin McGrath no chance. 1-6 to 0-7.
Points from John Mulhall and Richie Hogan ensured the sides were level at half-time, but Kilkenny were clearly the better performers and that was evident during the second-half as they outscored 2-12 to 0-3.
Cathal Coughlan and TJ Reid exchanged early points, before TJ Reid struck over a brilliantly well executed sideline cut.
Richie Hogan converted two frees (including a 90 yard effort ) to stretch the lead, before Colin Fennelly added a point. 0-14 to 1-7.
Joe Bergin added a point following a good solo run, but Kilkenny replied immediately to put distance between themselves and the midlanders.
A long puck-out from Colin McGrath was well caught by TJ Reid.
Reid was taken out under a challenge, with the sliothar eventually leading into the path of Nicky Cleere, and the Bennettsbridge forward skipped clear to slot the slitohar into an empty net. 1-14 to 1-8.
Kilkenny added an unanswerable 1-4 between the 41st and 52nd minutes to establish their superior dominance.
Colin Fennelly, Paddy Hogan (2, 1free ) and wing-back Lester Ryan, added points as Kilkenny’s second goal came as a result of poor defending by Offaly.
An intended handpass out of defence from Cathal Hernon to Brian Watkins was intercepted and TJ Reid had the easiest of tasks of slotting the sliothar into an empty net 2-18 to 1-9.
Points from Nicky Cleere, sub Joe Maher and a Richie Hogan free completed Kilkenny’s scoring total.
Offaly had the last word as Joe Bergin emphatically blasted home a 25m free that was harshly awarded in the first place.
It was an impressive performance from Kilkenny with Paul Murphy, Kieran Joyce, Lester Ryan and Paddy Hogan all solid in defence, while the Ballyhale Shamrocks’ duo of Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid were magnificent throughout.
Fennelly was heavily involved in the majority of Kilkenny’s attacks, while also providing an incredibly work ethic and unrivalled hunger to win and regain lost possession.
Man of the match: Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks ).
Scorers: Kilkenny – TJ Reid 1-3 (0-1 sideline cut ), Richie Hogan 0-6 (0-4 frees ), Nicky Cleere 1-1, Colin Fennelly 0-3, John Mulhall + Paddy Hogan (0-1 free ) 0-2 each Niall Walsh, Lester Ryan, Matthew Ruth and Joe Maher all 0-1 each.
Offaly: Joe Bergin 2-1 (1-0 free and penalty ), Cathal Coughlan 0-4 (0-3 frees ), Diarmuid Horan 0-2(frees ), Derek Molloy + Derek Markam 0-1 each.
Teams: Kilkenny: Colin McGrath (St Martins ) Paul Murphy (Danesfort ) Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge ) Eoin O’Shea (Clara ), Lester Ryan (Clara ), Paddy Hogan (Danesfort ), Neal Prendergast (Clara ), James Dowling (St Martins ), (captain ) Niall Walsh (Slieverue ), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Nicky Cleere (Bennetsbridge ), TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shmarocks ), Matthew Ruth (James Stephens ), John Mulhall (St Martins ), Richie Hogan (Danesfort ).
Substitutes: Joe Maher (St Martins ), JJ Farrell (Thomastown ), Kieran Mooney (Conahy Shmarocks ).
Offaly: Brian Dempsey, Conor Herno, Brian Watkins, Stephen Wynne, Ger Treacy, Brian Leonard, Derek Markam, Diarmuid Horan, Conor Mahon, Daniel Currams, Colin Egan, Derek Molloy, Cathal Coughlan, Joe Bergin, Francie Kerrigan.
Subs: Daragh Molloy, Ciaran Flannery.
Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois ).
