Kilkenny survive early scare from Offaly

Kilkenny 0-26 Offaly 4-9

Reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny needed a strong second-half showing to claim a five-point win over Offaly at O'Connor Park, Tullamore this afternoon.

The odds were stacked against the hosts coming into this game, as not since the 1998 All-Ireland Final had Offaly gotten the better of Kilkenny in a Championship fixture.

Fresh from their supporters helping break the world record for the number of sandwiches made in an hour (3,140) in aid of Autism Ireland, on the pitch the players were keen to break records of their own.

Ollie Baker's charges failed to read the script and began in powerful form, with a Colin Egan goal in the first minute setting the tone for the opening 35 minutes, and at half-time they led by 2-6 to 0-11.

But the Kilkenny team of the past decade have shown that they rarely capitulate in the second half of Championship hurling, and as they have done in Leinster openers in the recent past they launched a firm assault in the closing 35 minutes.

Offaly held to just three points in a 28-minute spell, as Kilkenny ran rampant with Eoin Larkin in superb form from placed balls, showing that Henry Shefflin's absence from a Championship outing for the first time since his debut in 1999, didn't have any ill-effects on the Cats proud tradition of dead-ball accuracy.

The hosts gaining some hope thanks to a 63rd-minute goal from substitute Dan Currams, but Joe Bergin's second three-pointer two minutes into injury-time came too late for his side as Kilkenny held out for a Leinster semi-final date with either Dublin or Wexford.

Offaly couldn't have asked for a better start to this game, with Egan's goal coming in the opening minute as the hosts showed great spirit from the throw-in.

Keeper James Dempsey delivering a long-ball upfield, before Bergin's initial effort rebounded off the post.

However, Egan made a quick reaction with great pace and alertness to power the ball to the net and hand Offaly a three-point lead.

Kilkenny levelled the tie after four minutes, with Larkin bagging a brace of points, the James Stephens player's score's book-ending a first point of the day from Richie Hogan.

The Cats were dealt a major blow at this stage with the loss of Jackie Tyrrell through injury, but his replacement Conor Fogarty was super for the remainder of the tie.

Offaly upped their game yet again with Conor McDonald and Shane Dooley on target, but while Kilkenny also ran at the Offaly defence during this spell, the two Richie's - Hogan and Power weren't accurate in front of the posts.

Aidan Fogarty broke this scoring dead-lock but a first goal for Bergin handed Offaly a 2-2 to 0-4 lead after 13 minutes.

Offaly matched Kilkenny point for point over the next 10 minutes, but Kilkenny were strongest before the break with the efforts of Larkin ensuring that the visitors trailed by just a point at the break.

Buoyed by a half-time team-talk and a never-say-die attitude, Kilkenny hugely raised their game on the restart.

The Cats bagged five unanswered points from the second half throw-in until the 41st minute, with Larkin, TJ Reid, Richie Power and Lester Ryan on target.

Offaly's scoring chances were limited during this spell as Kilkenny snuffed out every opportunity for the hosts, but Dooley eventually managed to break the scoring deadlock with a pointed free soon after.

Two Dooley pointed frees were all Offaly could account for in the third quarter, with Kilkenny in super form.

Thirty-year-old Tommy Walsh showing his eagerness to burst up-field and take a score in the 48th minute, following good support play by Colin Fennelly.

No Hawkeye detection systems were in place in O'Connor Park, so after some deliberation in the 53rd minute, a Brian Hogan effort was given the all-clear by the umpires to hand the visitors a 0-20 to 2-8 lead.

Scores from Hogan and Power extended this lead to eight points with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Offaly responded with their first score in eight and a half minutes following a Colin Egan point, with Currams netting four minutes later.

A trio of points cancelled out the half-time substitutes goal, and while Bergin netted his second goal at the death it was too little too late as Kilkenny progressed.

Scorers:

Kilkenny: Eoin Larkin (10f, 165) 0-11; Richie Power (1f) 0-4; Richie Hogan 0-3; TJ Reid, Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, Lester Ryan, Brian Hogan, Matthew Ruth, Walter Walsh, Aidan Fogarty 0-1 each.

Offaly: Shane Dooley (4f, 1 65) 0-5; Joe Bergin 2-0; Colin Egan 1-2; Dan Currams 1-0; Brian Carroll, Chris McDonald 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce; L Ryan, M Rice, TJ Reid, R Power, E Larkin; C Fennelly, R Hogan, A Fogarty. Subs: C Fogarty for Tyrrell (6); W Walsh for Fogarty (34); C Buckley for Reid (57); M Ruth for Larkin (57); P Hogan for Rice (59).

OFFALY: J Dempsey; C McDonald, D Kenny, K Brady; R Hanniffy, G Healion, C Parlon; C Mahon, D Mooney; C Egan, B Carroll, C Slevin; S Dooley, J Bergin, S Cleary. Subs: D Currams for S Cleary (36); P Cleary for Kenny (Blood 42-47); D Molloy for Mahon (44); T Carroll for Slevin (52); S Ryan for Brady (52)

Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).