Allianz HL D1A: Kilkenny defeat Offaly
Martin Keoghan, Kilkenny, and Ben Conneely, Offaly, in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Kilkenny 0-20 Offaly 0-16
Kilkenny made a winning start to Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League after they ran out four point winners over Offaly at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Eoin Cody top-scored for the Cats with 10 points, but it was an afternoon where Derek Lyng’s men never really found their flow as they eventually prevailed.
Similar to Eoin Cody on the opposite side, Adam Screeney had a fine afternoon for Offaly even if the visitors ultimately fell just short in the end.
It was a slow start to the contest which commenced in tough underfoot conditions with Kilkenny registering five wides in the opening 10 minutes alone.
Dan Ravenhill and Liam Watkins took advantage of Kilkenny's inefficiency when they landed the first two points of the game.
Kilkenny ultimately found their flow with centre-forward Eoin Cody landing four points on the spin with two from play and two from placed balls.
A pair of Adam Screeney frees and a Liam Watkins effort from play then levelled matters before the Cats took control at the latter end of the opening half.
Jordan Molloy, Gearoid Dunne and Mossy Keoghan all found the target as the Noresiders went into the break with a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage.
The contest gradually improved with Cody and Cathal Beirne initially extending the Kilkenny lead before the Faithful county replied via Screeney and Oisin Kelly to leave the minimum between the Leinster neighbours.
It proved to be one of three occasions that Offaly got within touching distance of Kilkenny in the second, but they could never get level to really push the home outfit.
Eoin Cody kept Kilkenny tapping away in between a couple of Offaly goal attempt and by the 50th minute, the advantage for the winners went out to three points.
Screeney, Patrick Taaffe and sub Ciaran Cleary added further to the Offaly score, but Kilkenny finished strongly with Shane Murphy and Paddy Deegan offsetting further points from Cody and Keoghan as they ran out winners.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Eoin Cody 0-10 (8fs), Jordan Molloy, Mossy Keoghan 0-3 each, Gearoid Dunne, Cathal Beirne, Paddy Deegan, Shane Murphy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-9 (6fs), Luke Watkins 0-2, Dan Ravenhill, Patrick Taaffe, Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Cleary 0-1 each.
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Michael Carey, Rory Garrett; David Barcoe, Darragh Corcoran, Shane Murphy; Killian Doyle, Jordan Molloy; Luke Connellan, Eoin Cody, Cathal Beirne; Gearoid Dunne, Liam Moore, Martin Keoghan.
Subs: Ed McDermott for Moore (48); Stephen Donnelly for Dunne (48); Paddy Deegan for Garrett (50); Niall Shortall for Connellan (55); Richie Reid for Barcoe (61).
Offaly; Liam Hoare; Patrick Taaffe, Ben Miller, Ben Conneely; Dan Ravenhill, Donal Shirley, Brecon Kavanagh; Luke Watkins, Cathal King; Conor Doyle, Brian Duignan, Ross Ravenhill; Daniel Bourke, Oisin Kelly, Adam Screeney.
Subs: Colin Spain for Shirley (25); Daniel Hand for Duignan (48); Leigh Kavanagh for Watkins (53); Eimhin Kelly for Kavanagh (66); Ciaran Cleary for King (68).
Referee; Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
