Kilkenny continue development

Kilkenny 0-17 NUI Galway 0-15

Kilkenny earned another chance to develop what they termed a development squad while the students got valuable playing experience for the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup.

Kilkenny struck for two late points to seal victory but the students, who had beaten Westmeath earlier in the competition, gave a good account of themselves and could easily have won if they could have cut down the number of wides.

“Our focus is on the Fitzgibbon Cup,” insisted NUI manager, Johnny Kelly. “We did well against Westmeath last week and to get the chance to then play Kilkenny was worth 10 training sessions to us. All I could ask of the players was to battle hard and give what was in them. They did that.”

Kilkenny U21 team manager, Richie Mulrooney, was in charge of the development squad and was happy enough. “The players dug out a good win,” he said. “Because we had a new team it took us a long time to find our way. In the second half we chased the game well, and it was nice to sneak a win.”

Victory earned a semi-final place against Wexford or Offaly.

Kilkenny, fielding without any of their All-Ireland team, had points during the closing two minutes from John Power and Mark Bergin to see off the students who had led most of the way.

Galway star, Niall Burke, who shot nine points, converted a free to leave NUIG two ahead nine minutes from the end. However, the next four scores were claimed by the Cats.

NUIG were the better team in the opening half and, after shooting seven wides, were not flattered by their 0-10 to 0-8 interval lead. However, try as they might they could not contain Kilkenny’s late surge.

Scorers for Kilkenny: J. Power (0-8, 0-7 frees), R. Reid (0-3, 0-1 free), S. Donnelly, M. Kelly, M. Ruth, S. Maher, M. Power, M. Bergin (0-1 each).

NUIG scorers: N. Burke (0-9, 0-8 frees), D. Higgins, K. Downes (0-2 each), J. Cooney, A. Cunningham (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: A. Duggan, J. Corcoran, P. Keating, B. Kennedy, C. Martin, J. Holden, O. McGrath, T. Breen, R. Reid, M. Bergin, M. Kelly, R. Hickey, M. Ruth, S. Maher, J. Power. Subs: M. Power for Hickey, inj 13th min, G. Teehan for Holden, inj h-t, S. Donnelly for Maher 41st min.

NUIG: D. Touhy, D. Magner, E. Fahy, K. Moynihan, L. Markham, B. Flaherty, S. McCormack, J. Cooney, E. Glynn, D. Higgins, N. Burke, K. Downes, A. Cunningham, G. O’Donoghue, N. Deasy. Sub: E. Teagle for O’Donoghue 58th min.

Referee: B. Gavin (Offaly).