Cats into another All-Ireland Junior Football decider

A fine individual tally of 1-5 from James Carroll helped Kilkenny book their place in Sunday afternoon's All-Ireland Junior Football Championship Final at Croke Park.

The decider will be Kilkenny's second successive appearance in the final and like in 2022, it will be New York who will be looking to dethrone the defending champions.

Christy Walsh was without a number of players including former all-star hurler Paul Murphy that landed last year's silverware but backed by a significant number from county champions Mullinavat, the Noresiders are on their way back to GAA HQ.

This was far from a straight forward outing though and Kilkenny will have been relieved to hear the final whistle when it came as London were threatening a late revival.

Bennettsbridge's James Carroll was the biggest star on show and his 50th minute goal was crucial on the end result as London had got within a point prior to Carroll finding the top corner of the net.

The Cats bossed a high scoring opening period where it was only the free taking of Connor Spinks and Shay Rafter that kept the overseas side in touch.

As well as Carroll, Jamie Holohan and Jim Culleton stood up to the mark for the winners and they led 0-12 to 0-8 at the half-time interval.

London were a different team in the second half and they looked to have all the momentum until corner forward Darren Lynch was given a rather harsh looking black card for a perceived deliberate trip.

Kilkenny took full advantage of that numerical bonus with Carroll's well taken goal arriving just five minutes later.

Added to an earlier Jamie Holohan point, that 1-1 tally was all that Kilkenny registered in the second half but no matter how hard they tried, London were unable to force an equaliser and the Cats held on.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- James Carroll (1-5), Jamie Holohan (0-3), Jim Culleton (0-2), Mick Kenny (0-1, one free), Mick Malone, Ian Duggan (0-1 each)

London-Connor Spinks (0-7, five frees), Shay Rafter (0-5, two frees), Ryan McCready, Ryan O'Connell, Thomas Waters (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Ciaran Farnan (Railyard); Shane Kelly (Mullinavat), Tom Kenny (Dicksboro), James Darmody (Fenians); Kevin Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Nathan Sherry (Thomastown), Ger Malone (Mullinavat); Conor Hennessy (Tullogher Rosbercon), Tom Aylward (Mullinavat); Mick Malone (Mullinavat), Jim Culleton (Mullinavat), Mick Kenny (Lisdowney); James Carroll (Bennettsbridge), Ian Duggan (Mullinavat), Jamie Holohan (Erins Own). 

Subs- Rory Monks (Thomastown) for Duggan 34 mins, Ciaran Quilty (Mooncoin) for Darmody 46 mins, Adam Mansfield (Mullinavat) for Holohan 52 mins, Sean Gannon (Mooncoin) for Hennessy 62 mins.

London- Frazer Beckles; Eoghan Reilly, Patrick O'Connor, Ryan McCready; Rhys Lennon, Ciaran Houlihan, Ryan O'Connell; Ryan Forde, Christopher Griffin; Tighe Barry, Shay Rafter, Darragh Griffin; Darren Lynch, Connor Spinks, Thomas Waters.

Subs- Matthew Tierney for O'Connell 44 mins, Alfie McNulty for Griffin 50 mins, Ryan Kearney for Waters 54 mins, Aidan McGarvey for Houlihan 58 mins, Jamie Murphy for Lynch 62 mins.

Referee- Enda McFeely (Donegal)