Goals do the trick as young Cats find their way past Kildare test

The scoreline probably doesn’t do the game justice after Kilkenny were throuroughly examined by Kildare before advancing to the Leinster semi-finals.

The Cats came into the last eight provincial clash on the back of successive defeats to Dublin and Wexford and with home side Kildare enjoying a four match unbeaten run, it was always going to be a tough evening for Niall Bergin’s outfit.

While the Lilywhites had their moments particularly from full forward Tom Power, Kilkenny were the more clinical team and goals from Jake Mullen, Ollie O’Donovan, Jason Cody and Robbie Doherty gave them the edge.

Add in seven points from play between Bill McDermott and Eoin Brennan and there was certainly plenty to be optimistic about from a Kilkenny poit of view even if improvement will be needed against Galway this weekend.

The Cats showed no ill-effects of their previous poor form early on as they led 1-1 to 0-0 after only three minutes of play at a roasting Manguard Park.

Jake Mullen got the scoring underway for the winners and a minute later, Ollie O’Donovan shot past Kildare stopper Fionn Kelly and the signs were very promising for the side in black and amber.

Kilkenny did only score two points over the following fifteen minutes however as Kildare drew level with efforts from Tom Power and Oran Byrne.

The Cats ended the half the better though as points from Mullen, Eoin Brennan and Bill McDermott edged them back in front.

Kildare kept fifghting for their lives and when Power knocked over his fifth point of the half, only four seperated the sides at the break (1-8 to 0-7).

Another Power score brought the gap back to three but a quickfire 1-2 which included a Jason Cody goal suddenly had Kilkenny in a double scores lead.

That buffer on the scoreboard was definitley needed after Kildare scored six of the next seven points and it was very much anyone’s game at this stage.

Kilkenny’s ruthlessness in front of goal stood out throughout and when Jake Mullen netted in the 48th minute, the Cats were eventually able to shake off their opponents.

The home side did have goal chances themselves before the end but ulike Kilkenny they couldn’t take them.

There was even still time for Robbie Doherty to get a fourth Kilkenny goal five minutes from time as last year’s beaten Leinster finalists showcased their quality as they ran out 4-16 to 0-15 winners in the windup.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny: Jake Mullen (1-5, 4fs); Bill McDermott (0-4); Eoin Brennan (0-3); Ollie O’Donovan, Jason Cody, Robbie Doherty (1-0 each); Cian Byrne (0-2); Anthony Clifford, Mikey Rohan (0-1 each)

Kildare: Tom Power (0-9, 7fs); Oran Byrne (0-3, 2fs); Oisin O’Neill (0-2); Tom Boran (0-1)

Kilkenny: Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Oisin Henderson (Dicksboro), Larry Phelan (James Stephens), Bobby Brennan (Erin’s Own); Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock); David Barcoe (Clara), Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own); Eoghan Cahill (Graigue Ballycallan), Bill McDermott (James Stephens), Jake Mullen (Shamrocks); Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Conor Holohan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Eoin Brennan (Erin’s Own).

Subs: Jason Cody (Glenmore) for O’Donovan, 23 mins; Robbie Doherty (Mooncoin) for Holohan, 37 mins; Conor McEvoy (James Stephens) for Mullen, 57 mins; Cian Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels) for Cahill, 57 mins; Jake Connery (Erin’s Own) for McDermott, 59 mins.

Kildare: Fionn Kelly; Darragh Devine, Conall Knox, Joey McNulty; Colm Gordon, Ciaran Dunne, Oisin O’Neill; Oran Byrne, Conor O’Brien; Tom Boran, Paddy Kennedy, Ronan O’Malley; Cian McGrath, Tom Power, Michael Owens.

Subs: Odhran Conaty for O’Brien, h-t; Fionn Frisby for Kennedy, 35 mins; Gavin Kenny for McGrath, 40 mins; Sean McLoughlin for O’Malley, 49 mins; Luke Kelly for McNulty, 56 mins.

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)