Kilkenny finish with a flourish
A nip and tuck first-half saw Offaly go in 0-9 to 0-8 in front, and a goal from a Stephen Quirke free in the 39th minute cancelled out a good start to the second half from the Cats. Substitute Michael Brennan put Kilkenny back in front with a well taken finish from a tight angle and once Quirke had a penalty saved by Aaron Duggan with seven minutes remaining, Kilkenny powered home with five points in succession to close out the victory.
Scorers for Offaly: S Quirke 1-10, 1-6f, T Geraghty 0-2, A Kealey 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: J Power 0-10, 0-6f, 0-3 ’65, K Kelly 0-4, M Brennan 1-1, S Donnelly, R Reid, C Buckley, G Aylward 0-1 each.
OFFALY: C Clancy; N Wynne, D Kelliher, M Cleary; S Gardiner, P Camon, D King; S Cleary, T Carroll; S Dolan, A Kealey, P Geraghty; S Quirke, T Geraghty (0-1), A Hynes.
Subs: J Sampson for Kealey (56 mins)
KILKENNY: A Duggan; J Nolan, W Phelan, P Walsh; J Corcoran, L Harney, B Kennedy; C Buckley, O McGrath; R Reid, J Power, O Walsh; G Aylward, K Kelly, S Donnelly.
Subs: J Langton for Nolan (26 mins), M Brennan for Reid (38), C Martin for O Walsh (49).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford).
