Kilkenny see off stubborn Kildare in Leinster Under-20 Hurling opener

Kilkenny were made to battle as they secured victory over Kildare in Round 1 of the Fulfill Leinster Under-20 Hurling Championshipm at a windswept Manguard Park earlier this afternoon.

Henry Shefflin's side were forced to score the last six points of the contest as they eventually pulled away of the hosts.

Kildare kept with Kilkenny throughout the first half and it was only when Patrick Lacey found the net three minutes from the end of the half that the Noresiders took control as they went into the break as 1-7 to 0-4 leaders.

The Lilywhites then got the gap back to three points going down the straight with Tom Power registering all six second half points for the side in white.

Kilkenny eventually found their groove inside the final 10 minutes with Colm Tracey, Ollie O'Donovan, David Barcoe, Jack Dollard, Jake Mullen and Patrick Lacey all splitting the posts as the Cats came out on top with nine points top spare in the end.

Kilkenny wll be happy to get a win on the board and they can now look forward to a home tie with Wexford in Nowlan Park next Saturday.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny: Paddy Lacey 1-3 (3 fs), Jake Mullen 0-3, Greg Kelly 0-2, Evan Murphy 0-1, Fionn Mahony 0-1, Kevin Bubby 0-1, Ollie O'Donovan 0-1, Kevin Buggy 0-1, David Barcoe 0-1, Colm Donavan 0-1. Ed Lauhoff 0-1.

Kildare: Tom Power 0-8 (7 fs), Tim Ryan 0-1, Oisin O'Neill 0-1.

KILKENNY: Billy O'Sullivan; Josh Dowling, Darragh Vereker, Rory Garrett; Evan Murphy, David Barcoe, Jack Dollard; Kevin Buggy, Sean Bergin; Patrick Lacety, Ed Lauhoff, Jake Mullen; Fionn Mahony, Ed McDermott, Greg Kelly.

Subs: Colm Tracey for Fionn Mahony (41 minutes); Ollie O'Donovan for Ed Lauhoff (41 minutes); Anthony Clifford for Sean Bergin (48 minutes); Louis Raggett for Greg Kelly (55 minutes); Jim Conlon for Jack Dollard (58 minutes).

KILDARE: Cormac Doolan; Darragh Devine, Paddy Connolly, Dylan Doherty; Oisin O’Neill, Cian Brody, Odhran Conaty; Michael Owens, Tim Ryan; Cillian Power, Charlie Carroll, Oran Byrne; Mark Kiernan, Tom Power, Tom Boran.

Subs: Alex Bell for Charlie Carroll (41 minutes); Cillian Harrington for Mark Kiernan (43 minutes); Rian Cramer for Cillian Power (52 minutes); Rian Curran for Tom Boran (53 minutes); Colm Gordon for Oran Byrne (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Sean Maher (Offaly)