Kilkenny Firsts bag crucial league victory at home to Clondalkin

Kilkenny produced a dominant, bonus-point victory over Clondalkin in Foulkstown on Sunday to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation firmly alive.

In a must-win encounter, Kilkenny burst from the blocks and were rewarded inside the opening seven minutes when captain Garry Dunne crossed for the game’s opening try to give the hosts a 5–0 lead.

The tone was set early up front, with the Kilkenny scrum — marshalled superbly by Josh Evans, Ben Devlin and Brian Howe — laying a solid platform and putting Clondalkin under immediate pressure.

That pressure soon told again as winger Tommy Murphy finished well in the corner for Kilkenny’s second try, although Aaron Askins was narrowly wide with the conversion.

Kilkenny continued to play with an intensity rarely seen this season and Murphy added his second try moments later, this time converted by Askins, to stretch the lead to 17–0 and give the home crowd plenty to cheer.

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Kilkenny were dominant across the park, with Harry Prineas, Wes Carter and Jason Connolly putting in huge defensive efforts as Clondalkin struggled to gain any foothold.

Twelve minutes later, leading try scorer Podge Mahon crossed the whitewash, Askins converting to secure the all-important try bonus point and extend the advantage to 24–0.

The hosts finished the half strongly, continuing to play with pace and purpose. Connolly powered over for another try to leave Kilkenny comfortably ahead at 29–0 at the break after a whirlwind opening 40 minutes.

Kilkenny eased off at the start of the second half and Clondalkin capitalised with two quick tries to reduce the deficit to 29–10, providing a brief reminder that the contest still needed closing out. However, Clondalkin were soon reduced to 14 men following a yellow card, and Kilkenny made them pay immediately.

Murphy completed a deserved hat-trick, Askins again adding the conversion to push the score out to 36–10. Some indiscipline and handling errors crept into Kilkenny’s game at this stage, much to the frustration of the coaching staff, and Clondalkin struck once more to bring their tally to 17 points.

Any fears of a late wobble were quickly put to rest as Kilkenny regrouped, tightened their defence, and finished the contest in emphatic fashion. Further tries from Askins, Conor Walsh and Wes Carter sealed an impressive 55–17 victory and ensured Kilkenny claimed the full five points from a crucial fixture.

The five-point win moves Kilkenny onto 23 points in Leinster League Division 1B as they continue their fight to steer clear of relegation.

Attention now turns to cup action, with Kilkenny set to host Enniscorthy Seconds in the opening round of the Provincial Towns Cup in Foulkstown on January 25.