Kilkenny 1-27 Offaly 1-13
Sunday, 10 June 2007 19:41
by Ger Canning
Defending champions Kilkenny advanced to another Leinster Hurling Championship final as they beat Offaly 1-27 to 1-13 at sun-drenched Portlaoise today.
A 14-point winning margin for Kilkenny sounds impressive in the Leinster Hurling semi-final. Cats manager Brian Cody wasn't overly impressed as he praised Offaly's battling qualities, but the win sets up another Leinster final meeting with Wexford in three weeks' time.
The fact is that Kilkenny did all that was expected of them in the second-half, when they outscored the Faithful County to the tune of 1-13 to 0-03. However, 0-14 was Kilkenny's tally at half-time and they considerably upped the ante during the second 35 minutes.
Played in glorious sunshine at O'Moore Park, Kilkenny stole into a three-point lead early on, with Martin Comerford completely out-playing rookie full-back Paul Cleary.
Time and again Comerford won ball in the air and distributed cleverly. To their credit, John McIntyre's side showed great tenacity and quickly drew level in a lively, entertaining first half.
But each time Offaly seemed on the verge of a major breakthrough the Cats fired over scores in quick-fire fashion.
Indeed, Offaly had to be thankful to goalkeeper Brian Mullins for a series of fine saves during this match, none more so than one terrific shot from Aidan Fogarty.
It came about in a familiar manner. Comerford, ever-dominant in the air, touched the ball into the path of Fogarty, whose pile-driver was brilliantly deflected out for a '65' by virtue of a diving save.
Kilkenny were four points in front as the game headed towards half-time.
However, Offaly's resistance was given a great boost in the 35th minute when a high ball into the square was won by Derek Molloy, just switched in to full-forward, and he battled with Michael Kavanagh. The Cats' defender was deemed to have dragged down the Shamrocks star.
Michael Wadding, the match official (some of whose decisions infuriated both sections of the crowd in equal measure) awarded a penalty.
Damien Murray, who had already pointed seven frees, blasted the ball in past PJ Ryan and two associates on the line to leave it 0-14 to 1-10 at the break in Kilkenny's favour.
Offaly had been using a three-man midfield during the opening half, and Kilkenny countered by withdrawing Derek Lyng at the break and replacing him with the imposing Michael Fennelly.
The Faithfuls just could not score freely from play and were heavily dependent on placed-balls.
However, there is no doubt that Kilkenny manager Cody will be hoping for a big improvement in the Leinster decider from some of his backs.
Scoring only three points after half-time paints a bleak but accurate picture of Offaly's efforts this afternoon. Their first-half endeavours will have helped them win back deserved respect, remember Kilkenny's winning margin was 31 points in 2005.
The major problem was trying to contain Comerford and Henry Shefflin, who remain Kilkenny's major players in attack, and Offaly had no answers.
Eoin Larkin was in the right spot to score Kilkenny's only goal after 57 minutes. Shefflin was bearing in on goal, chasing a loose ball, when Mullins came off his line, failed to clear and Larkin was on hand to score his first-ever Championship goal.
Both sides made lots of late substitutions as the flow of the game was interrupted, but Brian Cody will not be entirely sure that his team is as deadly and decisive as last year.
However, there were no cups on offer in O'Moore Park, only a passageway to Croker, where Wexford are waiting.
And the chances are that Kilkenny will improve even more.
For now, a 14-point winning margin isn't half bad!
Story from RTÉ Sport:
www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0610/kilkenny.html?gaa