Kilkenny lay down marker in win over Offaly

Kilkenny 2-13 Offaly 0-11

If Kilkenny were not odds-on to avoid Division One relegation, they are now, as All-star forward DJ Carey inspired them to a 2-13 to 0-11 beating of Leinster championship rivals Offaly at Nowlan Park.

In a slack opening, in which Offaly went 20 minutes without a score from play, Carey hit over a 20-metre free on six minutes for the opener.

Rory Hanniffy, who was later forced off with a knee injury, levelled from 40 metres out three minutes later, before Offaly’s hopes were dealt their first blow with the substitution of Brian Whelehan for a blood injury that saw him remain off the field for the entirety.

Brian Carolan struck Offaly’s second score soon after before Pat Tennyson sallied over for the Cats on 13 minutes.

Carey drove over a free from 65 metres out and Aidan Fogarty’s short lob over, sandwiched Hanniffy’s second free in the nineteenth minute, for a 0-04 to 0-02 home lead.

Kilkenny led 0-06 to 0-03 after the half-hour, with Carey contributing four points from placed balls and much around the field.

As Hanniffy and Damien Murray pulled back (2f) for Offaly, Carey set up Fogarty to blast to the Faithful net two minutes into first half injury time for a 1-06 to 0-06 score line.

A run of three straight Murray frees for Offaly inside the first 5 minutes of the second half pegged Kilkenny back again, but two points from Fogarty, the second from an acute angle on 45 minutes, and Carey’s fifth and sixth frees before being taken off with a leg muscle injury, saw Kilkenny hold firm again.

Jackie Tyrell found his range there after and substitute Jimmy Coogan’s goal with 23 minutes remaining settled the affair at 2-11 to 0-09.

Murray, who finished with 0-06, answered back on 50 minutes, but with a third Offaly player forced off with injury – this time forward Neville Coughlan, their challenge fell apart.

Kilkenny newcomer Brian Hogan exchanged points with Dylan Hayden on 56 and 57 minutes.

The visitors did threaten the Kilkenny goal in the final minutes, but Damien Murray’s 67th minute penalty was saved on the line.

A Coogan free and a strong run forward by substitute Eddie Brennan saw out the Kilkenny scoring on 69 and 72 minutes.