All Ireland JFC- London bring an end to Kilkenny's junior football hopes

Kilkenny's All-Ireland Junior Football Championship hopes came to an end after they fell to a three point defeat at the hands of London in Abbotstown on Friday evening.

Helped by a second half Ali Carney goal and a final nine point tally from Noel Maher, the overseas outfit had the Cats measure in what proved to be an entertaining affair in boiling warm conditions.

Kilkenny were headlined by All-Ireland hurling winning hero Walter Walsh and the Tullogher Rosbercon man scored two points from centre forward and his team looked to have the initiative for a large spell until London took control inside the final quarter.

Early scores from Walsh, James Carroll and Darragh Hartley helped the Noresiders into an early 0-4 to 0-1 advantage before London gradually worked their way back into the contest.

A two pointer free from James Carroll as well as further efforts by Fionn Cody and Caleb Roche made it a double score advanatge for the Cats but London did get the last four points of the half to leave the sides deadlocked at the break.

Christy Walsh's Kilkenny team made a break for home with early second half scores via Mick Malone, Walter Walsh, James Carroll and Dylan Simpson but they still couldn't quite fend off their opponents.

Back to back two pointers from Noel Maher changed the mometum in London's favour before Ali Carney's goal left the English team 1-12 to 0-12 to the good.

Kilkenny didn't relent though and they kept at it with James Carroll and Karl Dwney scoring from placed balls but no matter what they tried, they couldn't force the required goal as London held on to secure a place in Sunday's final with New York in Croke Park.

Teams and Scorers

London: Noel Maher (0-9, 3 tpf, 1 tp); Ali Carney (1-1); Gavin McEvoy (0-2, tp); Sean Hickey (0-2); Conor Redican (0-2, 2fs), Christopher Morris (0-1). 

Kilkenny: James Carroll (0-8, 1tpf, 5fs), Darragh Hartley (0-2, tp), Walter Walsh (0-2); Karl Downey (0-1, 1 '45) Mick Malone, Caleb Roche, Fionn Cody, Dylan Simpson (0-1 each) 

London: Caolan Doyle; Jack Power, Patrick O'Connor, Eoghan Reilly; Eoin McGivney, Ryan McCready, Donncha Byrne; Noel Maher, Conor Redican; Matthew Joyce, Christopher Morris, Matthew Tierney; Ryan Kearney, Sean Hickey, Ali Carney.

Subs: Brendan Rice for Joyce 39 mins, Ryan O'Connell for Kearney 39 mins, Kieran Clarke for Hickey 55 mins, James Cawley for Carney 55 mins, Niall Duggan for Redican 59 mins.

Kilkenny: Karl Downey; Oisin O'Reilly, Ciaran Wallace, Ned Kirwan; Darragh Hartley, Nathan Sherry, Harry Roche; Alex Cass, Ger Malone; Tommy Coogan, Walter Walsh, Dylan Simpson; James Carroll, Caleb Roche, Fionn Cody.

Subs: Mick Malone for Cass h/t, Thomas Mullally for Coogan h/t, Conor Walsh for Caleb Roche 47 mins, James Coogan for Simpson 57 mins.

Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath)