Mullen helps Kilkenny to come from behind victory over Offaly

Adrian Mullen led the way as Kilkenny came from six points down to defeat Offaly in a competitive league outing at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Mullen scored six points from play over the course of the 70 minutes and he was instrumental in leading Kilkenny to their second win of the campaign.

Offaly were very stern opposition and with the aid of a very strong breeze in the opening period they caused the Cats more than an odd issue so the half-time whistle probably arrived at the right time for the hosts.

The hosts were relentless on the resumption however as they outscored the Faithful County 0-10 to 0-1 in the openig ten minutes of the second half before Eoin Cody practically put the game to bed with a brilliant individual goal.

Offaly kept at it and in Eoghan Cahill they had an ace free-taker while Charlie Mitchell also stood out in scoring 1-2 from play with goal arriving minutes from time.

The likes of Walter Walsh, Kevin Blanchfield and Timmy Clifford all got scores off the bench for Kilkenny and while the performance may have been patchy, the Cats still sit joint top of the division alongside Clare who they face next at Cusack Park in Ennis in two weeks time.

For a full report on the game, see this week's Kilkenny People Newspaper.

Kilkenny- Billy Drennan (0-11, 8fs and 2 65's), Adrian Mullen (0-6), Eoin Cody (1-1), John Donnelly (0-2), Darren Brennan (0-1, 1f), David Blachfield, Shane Murphy, Kevin Blanchfield, Timmy Clifford, Walter Walsh (0-1 each)

Offaly- Eoghan Cahill (0-10, 9fs), Charlie Mitchell (1-2), Dan Ravenhill (0-2), Jason Sampson, Cillian Kiely, Eimhin Kelly, Jack Clancy, Adam Screeney (0-1 each)

KILKENNY: Darren Brennan; Mikey Butler, Conor Delaney, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran, Shane Murphy; Peter McDonald, Mikey Carey; Adrian Mullen, Cian Kenny, John Donnelly; Billy Drennan, Liam Blanchfield, Eoin Cody. 

Subs: Walter Walsh for McDonald (26 mins), Martin Keoghan for W.Walsh (57 mins), Timmy Clifford for L.Blanchfield (60 mins), Kevin Blanchfield for Kenny (62 mins), Padraic Moylan for Carey (66 mins).

OFFALY: Mark Troy; Cathal King, Ben Conneely, Sam Bourke; Jason Sampson, Cillian Kiely, Killian Sampson; Dan Ravenhill David Nally; Eoghan Cahill, Eimhin Kelly, Jack Clancy; Adam Screeney, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell. 

Subs: Dan Bourke for Kiely (26 mins), Paddy Delaney for Clancy (43 mins), Oisin Kelly for Nally (55 mins), Dara Maher for Ravenhill (65 mins).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)