First half goals decisive as Kilkenny end reign of Offaly minors

KILKENNY 2-15

OFFALY 0-14

TWO goals in four first half minutes proved decisive as Kilkenny ended Offaly's reign as Leinster Minor Hurling champions with a hard fought victory in a well contested game at The Faithful Fields on Sunday.

Offaly put up a tremendous effort and certainly can't be faulted for their endeavour but those two goals early in the second quarter undid a lot of their good work. They never gave up and got the lead down to a point on a couple of occasions in the second half but Kilkenny edged away in the final quarter to progress to the semi-finals.

It was a very good contest between two committed teams and the fine crowd at The Faithful Fields was treated to a wholehearted game, full of commitment and total effort and the game was in the balance until the closing stages.

Offaly started very well and looked sharper than they had in previous games. They put it up to Kilkenny in the early stages and were 0-5 to 0-3 up after 11 minutes. However goals after 18 and 22 minutes put Kilkenny four points up but to Offaly's credit they came back well and trailed by three at half time, 2-5 to 0-8.

Offaly threw themselves into the contest early in the second half and the lead was down to one twice in the first eight minutes but they were unable to get level and Kilkenny pushed four clear again. Offaly did get it down to two again early in the final quarter but four points in succession gave Kilkenny breathing space and they were able to see the game out from there.

Scoring goals has been a problem for Offaly with just one in their five games in this campaign and they never really looked like getting one in this game. You felt that if they could have got one in the second half here, it might have been decisive in driving them forward but bar one opportunity when Mark Mulrooney, under pressure, opted to take a point when there was a glimmer of a goal chance, they never really looked like breaching the Kilkenny defence.

Instead it was Kilkenny who struck for a couple of goals and Offaly will be disappointed with both of them. The first came when a high ball dropped in the goalmouth and no one really dealt with it and Conor Doyle netted. Then Offaly lost a ball they had under control in their own defence and with all the backs drawn towards the ball, two Kilkenny men were left free and when Ed McDermott took the pass he had time to pick his spot in the net.

Offaly have to be commended for the way they fought back from those setbacks. They got the next score after both goals and their efforts in getting the gap down to one early in the second half gave the local crowd plenty of encouragement. But they were unable to get any closer despite their endeavour and they had to relinquish hold of their provincial crown.

Kilkenny were a little better in picking out their men and moving the ball quickly and while they hit some loose wides in the second half, they did pick off their scores a little easier than the home side and had a better spread of scorers.

Offaly can hold their heads high and they made a strong defence of their crown. One of their best players Mark Mulrooney went down for treatment a couple of times in the first half and when they came out for the second half he was sited in the full forward line. His presence was missed out the field and while he did pose problems in the forward line, Offaly weren't able to get sufficient good ball in to him in the second half.

Elsewhere Caelum Larkin, Daire Daly and Gearoid Maher did well in defence, Ajay Cleary put in a good effort and scored two fine points, while in attack Liam O'Riordan was Offaly's best.

Centre back Mikey Stynes stormed into the game in the second half for Kilkenny, and Evan Murphy and David Barcoe also did well in defence. Darragh Vereker had a good game in the middle of the field and in attack Ed McDermott and Sean Bergin were best.

Offaly had an early goal chance when Liam O'Riordan passed to James O'Sullivan but he couldn't get his shot away quickly enough and the ball was blocked for a '65' which Gearoid Maher pointed. Ajay Cleary then added another from out the field before Conor Doyle's free opened Kilkenny's account. Gearoid Maher pointed another free before Sean Bergin was on target for Kilkenny and they had a goal chance but Eanna Mulhare saved well from Brian Moore. Liam O'Riordan pointed from play and a free with Ed McDermott replying with two for Kilkenny to leave it 0-5 to 0-4 midway through the half.

Then a high ball from Ed McDermott dropped in the Offaly goalmouth and no one took charge of it and Conor Doyle kicked the ball to the net. Liam O'Riordan pulled one back from a free but then Offaly lost possession in their own defence and with the backs all drawn towards the ball, Ed McDermott was left free and when the ball came to him he fired to the net. Liam O'Riordan pointed another free and after Greg Kelly pointed for Kilkenny, Mark Mulrooney scored a great point from out on the left to leave it 2-5 to 0-8 at half time.

Offaly got the first two points of the second half through Liam O'Riordan (free) and Ajay Cleary and after Mikey Stynes lofted over one for Kilkenny, Mark Mulrooney made a great run and had a chance of a goal but under pressure he popped the ball over the bar to leave one in it again.

Mikey Stynes pointed a free and Ed McDermott and Darragh Vereker pushed the lead out to four midway through the half, but Offaly weren't giving up and Dylan Hollywood and Mark Mulrooney cut the gap to two again. However the goal they needed didn't come and Sean Bergin, Bill McDermott, David Barcoe and Mikey Stynes ('65') put six between them. Fionn Carney pointed another for Offaly but Mikey Stynes hit another '65', after Eanna Mulhare had saved brilliantly from Ed McDermott, and McDermott himself added another point, when he probably should have goaled but that would have been cruel on Offaly.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

KILKENNY: Billy O'Sullivan; Conor Brophy, Evan Murphy, David Barcoe; Rory Garrett, Mikey Stynes, Micheal Ahern; Darragh Vereker, Ed Lauhoff; Sean Bergin, Greg Kelly, Bill McDermott; Conor Doyle, Ed McDermott, Brian Moore. Subs. Steven Kinsella (for Conor Doyle, 48 mins), Robbie Doherty (for Brian Moore, 54 mins), Cian Phelan (for Ed Lauhoff, 58 mins), James O'Neill (for Greg Kelly, 59 mins).

OFFALY: Eanna Mulhare (St Rynagh's); Caelum Larkin (Carrig & Riverstown), Richard Bracken (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Daire Daly (St Rynagh's); Luke Bracken (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Gearoid Maher (Shinrone), Mark Mulrooney (Kilcormac/Killoughey); James O'Sullivan (Shinrone), Harry Sweeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey); Niall Flannery (St Rynagh's), Liam O'Riordan (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Ajay Cleary (Coolderry); Cillian Bourke (Tullamore), Rob Carney (Ballyskenach-Killavilla), Darragh Scully (St Rynagh's). Subs. Dylan Hollywood (Drumcullen) (for Rob Carney, 39 mins), Fionn Carney (Ballyskenach-Killavilla) (for James O'Sullivan, 47 mins), James Morkan (Shinrone) (for Niall Flannery, 55 mins).

REFEREE: Brian Kearney (Kildare)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kilkenny full forward Ed McDermott proved to be a real handful for Offaly. A big tall player, well over six foot in height, he finished with 1-4 from play and probably should have had more. He put one over the bar when it looked easier to goal and was also denied by a fine save from Eanna Mulhare. He was an effective target man and Kilkenny made good use of him.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Those two goals in four first half minutes were the decisive scores. Offaly had made a good start and were taking the game to Kilkenny and were full value for their lead at that stage. But those two goals left them trailing and chasing the game and while they made a valiant effort to get back into the contest, at the final whistle it was still those two goals which effectively separated the sides.

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Kearney did a very good job throughout. He controlled the contest efficiently and was always on top of things. There were very few quibbles with his decisions throughout.

TALKING POINT

Offaly's defence of the Leinster title came to an end with this defeat. They were progressing and improving as the campaign advanced and had they got through this game who knows where they might have gone. Their lack of goals, just one in five games, was a drawback and four of their starting forwards failed to score in this game, while five of the six Kilkenny forwards found the mark. To their credit they went down fighting and didn't give up their crown easily.

WHAT’S NEXT

Kilkenny progress to the Leinster semi-finals while it's the end of the road for Offaly as their reign as Leinster champions is over.

VENUE WATCH

The Faithful Fields was in very good condition for the contest. There was a good crowd present and there were plenty of stewards on duty to organise parking before the mark. Perhaps some of the stewards could be utilised after the game to control traffic emerging onto a very busy road.

STATISTICS

Wides; Kilkenny 12 (3 in first half) Offaly 9 (7 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Kilkenny 2 (David Barcoe, Mikey Stynes) Offaly 1 (Niall Flannery)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Kilkenny; Ed McDermott (1-4), Conor Doyle (1-1, 0-1 free), Mikey Stynes (0-4, 0-1 free, 0-2 '65s), Sean Bergin (0-2), Greg Kelly, Darragh Vereker, Bill McDermott, David Barcoe (0-1 each).

Offaly; Liam O'Riordan (0-5, 0-4 frees), Mark Mulrooney (0-3), Ajay Cleary (0-2), Gearoid Maher (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 '65'), Dylan Hollywood, Fionn Carney (0-1 each).