McDermott influence helps Kilkenny Minors to Leinster semi-final

First half goals from Conor Doyle and Ed McDermott proved crucial as Kilkenny got the better of Offaly in a hard fought contest at the Faithful Fields on Sunday afternoon.

While Kilkenny had many big performers, it was the display of James Stephens giant Ed McDermott that stood out.

The full forward was making his first appearance of the year for the minors and he was simply unmarkable as he scored 1-4 as well as assisting a number of other scores.

The St Kieran’s College All-Ireland winner was equally assisted by centre back powerhouse Mikey Stynes who reverted back to the defence and scored four second half points in a fine individual showing.

The Kilkenny success brought an end to Offaly’s reign as Leinster kingpins but in reality it was the Cats who had the more experienced look and while they had to dig deep to see off the Faithful County, they were thoroughly worthy winners in the windup.

Offaly fancied causing an upset against their more illustrious opponents and they had the better start with early points from Gearoid Maher and Ajay Cleary.

Conor Doyle responded with his only point of the game but a Maher free soon left Offaly ahead 0-3 to 0-1.

Liam O’Riordan and Sean Bergin then swapped efforts before Ed McDermott broke through a few Offalyy challenges on the way to setting up Brian Moore who had a shot saved and McDermott himself then had a shot rebound off the crossbar.

While Offaly escaped punishment on that occasion, it was a signal of what was to come as the visitors soon struck for two goals in four minutes.

The first one arrived when an Ed McDermott point attempt dropped short at the dressing rooms end of the Offaly training facility and after communication broke down in the home side’s defence, Conor Doyle was there to kick the ball past Eanna Mulhare.

Offaly did reply with a Liam O’Riordan free but they were soon taking the sliotar from their net once more when Brian Moore found an unmarked Ed McDermott in space and he fired a shot past Mulhare to leave Kilkenny 2-4 to 0-6 to the good.

Darragh Vereker added on another Kilkenny point before the break and while Offaly replied via Liam O’Riordan and Mark Mulrooney, the Cats still led by three at the halfway mark.

Kilkenny gradually took control of the last eight tie in the second half and it was centre back Mikey Stynes who did most of the damage as he fired over some fine points from distance.

Offaly remained comepetitive with O’Carroll and Mulrooney in particualr keeping them in touch but they only scored once in the final 13 minutes and it was during this spell that Kilkenny had clear road on the scoreboard.

Away from the excellent long distance free taking from Mikey Stynes, there was also points from Sean Bergin, David Barcoe and Bill McDermott that set the Noresiders up for a seven point victory which in turn seals a provincial semi-final clash with Wexford at home in Nowlan Park on the May Bank Holiday Monday.

Teams and scorers

Kilkenny - Ed McDermott (1-4), Conor Doyle (1-1, one free), Mikey Stynes (0-4, two 65’s and one free), Sean Bergin (0-2), Greg Kelly, David Barcoe, Darragh Vereker, Bill McDermott (0-1 each)

Offaly- Liam O’Riordan (0-5, four frees), Mark Mulrooney (0-3), Gearoid Maher (0-2, one free and one 65), Ajay Cleary (0-2), Dylan Hollywood, Fionn Carney (0-1 each)

Kilkenny - Billy O’Sullivan (James Stephens); Conor Brophy (Erins Own), Evan Murphy (Dicksboro), David Barcoe (Clara); Rory Garrett (Fenians), Mikey Stynes (Dicksboro), Michael Ahern (Emeralds); Darragh Vereker (Glenmore), Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens); Sean Bergin (James Stephens), Greg Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), Bill McDermott (James Stephens); Conor Doyle (Windgap), Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Brian Moore (Dicksboro).

Subs- Steven Kinsella (Graignamanagh) for Doyle 48 mins, Robbie Doherty (Mooncoin) for Moore 54 mins, Cian Phelan (Young Irelands) for Lauhoff 58 mins, James O’Neill (St Martins) for Kelly 58 mins.

Offaly - Eanna Mulhare; Caelum Larkin, Richard Bracken, Daire Daly; Luke Bracken, Gearoid Maher, Mark Mulrooney; James O’Sullivan, Harry Sweeney; Niall Flannery, Liam O’Riordan, Ajay Cleary; Cillian Bourke, Rob Carney, Darragh Scully.

Subs- Dylan Hollywood for Carney 38 mins, Fionn Carney for O’Sullivan 47 mins, James Morkan for Flannery 55 mins.

Referee - Brian Kearney (Kildare)