Five star Kilkenny make winning start to Walsh Cup campaign

Kilkenny and Carlow belatedly got their 2024 inter-county season underway with the Cats claiming a huge victory over their neighbours at a frosty Netwatch Cullen Park.

The Round 1 Dioralyte Walsh Cup affair was postponed as a result of fog last Sunday and Kilkenny definitley made up for lost time as they ruthlessly punished last year's Joe McDonagh Cup winners.

From the minute Billy Ryan golaed less than 120 seconds into the contest, the writing looked firmly on the wall for the hosts and when Liam Blanchfield doubled the goal tally minutes later, it was effectively game over.

Martin Kavanagh kept Carlow competitive throughout the opening period with four frees but only one point from play in the opening 35 minutes told it's own story.

Billy Ryan stood out in that opening half as he scored four points from play to offset his goal while the likes of Kevin Blanchfield, Billy Drennan, Paul Cody and Mossy Keoghan also found the target as the Noresiders led 2-12 to 0-5 at the break.

Derek Lyng's team then notched 1-8 without reply at the beginning of the second half with James Stephens star Eoin Guilfoyle finding the net on the back of lapse defending from Carlow.

Subs Ted Dunne and Denis Walsh added goals before the end in a game that never sprung to life and Kilkenny can expect to get a much stiffer test in their next game at home to Wexford on the weekend after next where a place in the final will be at stake.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny: Billy Ryan (1-4); Billy Drennan (0-7, 0-4fs and 0-2 65's); Liam Blanchfield (1-1); Eoin Guilfoyle, Denis Walsh,  Ted Dunne (1-0 each); Paul Cody (0-3); Billy Reid (0-2); Paul Henebery, Kevin Blanchfield, Timmy Clifford, David Blanchfield, Martin Keoghan (0-1 each)

Carlow: Marty Kavanagh (0-6, 0-5f); Jake Doyle, Chris Nolan, Paddy Boland (0-1 each)

Kilkenny: Darren Brennan (St Lachtain's); Niall Rowe (Dicksboro), Padraic Moylan (Dicksboro), Shane Murphy (Glenmore); Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin), Darragh Corcoran (Shamrocks), Paul Henebery (Mooncoin); David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Kevin Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge); Timmy Clifford (Dicksboro), Billy Drennan (Galmoy), Paul Cody (Clara); Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan), Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Cian Kenny (James Stephens).

Subs: Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan) for Kenny (7 mins); Billy Reid (Glenmore) for K Blanchfield (h-t); Paddy Langton (Young Irelands) for Fitzpatrick (h-t); Eoin Guilfoyle (James Stephens) for Ryan (42 mins); Bill Hughes (Bennettsbridge) for D Blanchfield (55 mins); Ted Dunne (Graignamanagh) for L Blanchfield (56 mins); Andy Hickey (Dunnamaggin) for Cody (56 mins); Denis Walsh (Dunnamaggin) for Drennan (59 mins).

Carlow: Brian Tracey; Niall Bolger, Dion Wall, Sean Joyce; Paudie O'Shea, Kevin McDonald, Jack McCullagh; Fiachra Fitzpatrick, James Doyle; John Michael Nolan, Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh; Fiach O'Toole, John Doyle, Jake Doyle.

Subs: Ciaran Whelan for James Doyle (h-t); Diego Dunne for Bolger (h-t); Conor Lawlor for Wall (h-t); Conor Kehoe for John Michael Nolan (h-t); Ciaran Abbey for Tracey (50 mins); Paddy Boland for Nolan (50 mins); Eric English for McCullagh (54 mins); Evan Kealy for McDonald (59).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)