Kilkenny produce five star second half in victory over Offaly

Kilkenny and Offaly had their last blowout in advance of the Allianz Hurling League whe they met in a competitive affair at the Faithful Fields on Saturday.

Both sides will be in opposite Division 1 sections throughout the league campaign and they also had different approaches to this challenge game.

This game was well touted in advance on Noreside but it appeared as if their opponents were a lot less open in showcasing their hand.

The Offaly team on show wasn’t made available while there also wasn’t a working scoreboard at the venue despite the ground having the use of one.

Those issues aside, it was definitley a worthwhile excercise for the visitors with Derek Lyng now having all eyes on their league opener in Ennis.

“I’m reasonably happy with how we played as it was a good workout but there are still a couple of things I wouldn’t be too pleased about with our first half performance.

“It’s just about preparation for next week at the same time and we’re looking forward to a big week of training.

“There’s a lot of games going on at the moment with colleges and things like that and we just have to manage the minutes with some fellas over the next while.

“We are trying to mix it up and see as many lads as we can and give them a fair chance”, the Kilkenny boss added.

Offaly who will face the Cats in the Leinster Championship later this summer raced out of the traps as they hit the first five points of the game.

The likes of Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell and Dan Ravenhill showed well early on for the Faithful County before Kilkenny finally found their way with successive scores from Billy Drennan.

As like most challenge outings, there was a real open feel to proceedings and it seemed to suit Offaly until the Cats somewhat got to grips with Johnny Kelly’s team when Adrian Mullen, Shane Murphy, Fionan Mackessy, David Blanchfield and Luke Connellan pointed to level up matters at 0-10 apiece.

Charlie Mitchell did score a cracking goal before the break however as Offaly went into the dressing rooms with a 1-13 to 0-12 advantage.

Kilkenny made a number of changes for the second period and it certaily worked as the side in black and amber took command of proceedings.

1-3 without reply upon the resumption was just a sign of thigs to come with a goal from Billy Drennan being added to by points from Jordan Molloy, Peter McDonald and Billy Ryan.

The 2024 Joe McDonagh Cup winners did briefly keep tabs with Kilkenny but with the likes of Mossy Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Mikie Butler and Zach Bay Hammond all coming off the bench, the final quarter belonged to the Cats.

The winning side went on to score four more goals with Gearoid Dunne on the double as well as Drennan adding to is tally.

Tullogher Rosbercon’s Marty Murphy also found the net late on as Kilkenny won well in the end with Billy Reid, Jeff Neary and Colman O’Sullivan among some of the new faces to get another run out with the big league action now only a few days away.

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis (Lisdowney); Peter Connellan (Thomastown), Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels), Shane Murphy (0-1) (Glenmore); Mikey Carey (Young Irelands), David Blanchfield (0-1) (Glenmore), Fionan Mackessy (0-1) (O’Loughlin Gaels); Jordan Molloy (0-1) (O’Loughlin Gaels), Peter McDonald (0-1) (Thomastown); Luke Connellan (0-1) (Thomastown), Adrian Mullen (0-1) (Shamrocks), Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels); Denis Walsh (0-1) (Dunnamaggin), Eoin Cody (Shamrocks), Billy Drennan (2-7, 0-5 frees) (Galmoy).

Subs: Colman O’Sullivan (Tullogher Rosbercon), Billy Reid (0-2) (Glenmore), Shane Staunton (Clara), Cian Kenny (James Stephens), Dean Mason (Shamrocks), Zach Bay Hammond (Thomastown), Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels), Martin Keoghan (0-1) (Tullaroan), Gearoid Dunne (2-1) (Tullaroan), Billy Ryan (0-2) (Graigue-Ballycallan), Jeff Neary (0-1) (Graigue-Ballycallan), Killian Doyle (Emeralds), Marty Murphy (1-1) (Tullogher Rosbercon).

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