Cats win, but at what cost?

NO winners here.

Not Kilkenny who, despite earning a league final place, picked up four injuries — two of them serious ankle injuries — and certainly not Offaly who drop to Division 2 after Wexford’s late rally against Tipperary.

Offaly manager Joe Dooley played the magnanimous role to perfection afterwards but surely he must have considered the All-Ireland champions were a banker to win on their home patch.

In the 66th minute and with a lengthy stoppage due to Aidan Fogarty’s ankle ailment, it was revealed on the tannoy Tipperary were four ahead.

With nothing else to do, the Offaly players could only but listen as it appeared they were going to be safe ahead of Wexford on the head-to-head differentiation. Six points down at that stage, Barry Kelly then added eight minutes of injury-time.

Could they have come back?

It was unlikely and Dooley admitted as much. But as the news broke to the players at full-time that Wexford had drawn and crept above Offaly, it was hard not to think what effect the announcement had on the players.

However, Dooley played down its significance: “I don’t think so, no. I don’t know what point the announcement came at but I don’t think it had any effect on us. We were six points down at the time and we probably weren’t going to get it back anyway.”

The dejection around the Offaly dressing room was palpable but Dooley was trying to put a brave face on it.

“I suppose you would have expected Tipperary to beat Wexford but to be fair to Wexford they went up to Thurles and got a result.

“A draw is enough to keep them in Division 1 so you have to hand it to them. We wish them the best of luck.

“It means we’re back in Division 2 for next year and that’s not where we want to be. You need to be in Division 1 and getting good games against the top teams. But we were in Division 2 two years ago and I hurled in Division 2 in my time as well.

“Offaly won All Irelands from Division 2 and won National Leagues from Division 2. There’s no reason these lads can’t be the same.”

Cody’s predicament was a different matter altogether with John Dalton having to go to hospital after with a suspected broken ankle. Fogarty’s problem appears to be an Achilles heel issue while Michael Fennelly broke his hand and Richie Hogan went over on his ankle.

Even with the injuries, after winning by eight points and scoring 1-27, it seemed almost unimaginable that Cody could class Kilkenny as the underdogs against Dublin. But he attempted to after the game.

“They are there on merit absolutely. They are the form team of the whole league from the point of view of performance, they are going to be very difficult to beat.

“Going on their last couple of matches against us they will be entitled to be favourites.”

This was a game in front of a 4,014 Nowlan Park crowd certainly not short in scores but definitely lacking in intensity as Kilkenny went about doing the necessary to qualify for the final.

James Dempsey’s shot stopping prevented them from stretching a lead into double digits and by half-time they were 1-15 to 0-11 ahead.

Their goal came in the fifth minute when David Kenny failed to negotiate a high ball in and Eddie Brennan pounced to hit the net.

With TJ Reid in fine fettle in midfield, Kilkenny kept the scoreboard ticking over although they were haemorrhaging themselves at the back, Shane Dooley the keenest recipient of their slack marking.

Two early second-half points and Kilkenny were 10 ahead. With Reid’s 47th minute free, it became 11 but Offaly reduced their arrears back to nine seven minutes later before Dooley beat PJ Ryan after a Brian Carroll pass.

Kilkenny never retrieved their double-digit lead but then didn’t look in any trouble either, especially with Paddy Hogan landing two massive points in injury-time.

But apart from the injury concerns, Cody had cause for worry with the 1-19 total his side conceded.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, you can look at the positive side of what we scored but you also have to look at what we conceded as well which was too much.”

Cody also confirmed Henry Shefflin is back training but won’t be lining out for his club Ballyhale Shamrocks next weekend.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-9 (four frees, one 65); E Brennan 1-3; R Hogan, M Rice, J Fitzpatrick 0-3 each; M Ruth, P Hogan 0-2 each; M Fennelly, E Larkin 0-1 each

Subs for Kilkenny: J Mulhall for Reid (temp 19-22); PJ Delaney for Fennelly (inj h-t); A Fogarty for Hogan (66); Mulhall for Fogarty (inj 71); C Fogarty for Dalton (inj 78).

Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 1-8 (five frees); C Parlon, B Carroll 0-3 each; C Mahon 0-2; D Molloy, J Bergin, G Healion 0-1 each.

Subs for Offaly: B Mulrooney for Kenny (inj 42); G Healion for Egan (44); J Mulrooney for Molloy (56); S Kelly for Morkan (69)

Referees: A Stapleton (inj 8) (Laois); B Kelly (Westmeath).