Classy Cody bags 1-13 as Kilkenny turn up the heat in second half

A storming second-half display eventually overwhelmed Antrim.

Eoin Cody of Kilkenny in action against Paddy Burke of Antrim during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 2 match between Antrim and Kilkenny at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Leinster SHC: Antrim 2-12 Kilkenny 2-30 

A STORMING second half display saw Kilkenny take over against Antrim at Corrigan Park to make it two wins from two in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Trailing by one, the Cats certainly had work to do in the second period and they delivered it, but it took until Martin Keoghan punished a mistake in the 51st minute to grab a goal when they finally began to pull away.

From the 48th minute on, they outscored Antrim 2-13 to 0-1 on a day in which Eoin Cody shone, finishing with 1-13. His leadership was vital when his team was under the cosh.

Kilkenny flew out of the traps and seemed intent in putting this game away early as Stephen Donnelly pointed seconds in and the scores flowed as Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly, Fionán Mackessy (free) and Paddy Deegan landed before James McNaughton got Antrim on the board from a free.

The Cats were destroying the Antrim restarts with the hosts unable to get on the ball despite playing with the wind in the opening period. Three further scores from Kilkenny had them 0-8 to 0-1 up after 11 minutes with the threat of a rout on the cards.

However, Antrim found their feet as after McNaughton landed a free, Keelan Molloy pointed out on the right, followed by a monster effort by Conall Bohill.

Just three separated them when the Saffrons got their first goal when Conor Johnston did brilliantly to get on the ball in the left corner, play in McNaughton who cracked home from the angle to level.

The Loughgiel man almost had a second goal three minutes later, only to be denied by the post, but three Eoin Cody scores seemed to settle Kilkenny once again.

McNaughton and Cody traded scores but then Antrim got a second goal in the 34th minute as Keelan Molloy got onto a long delivery and under pressure, whipped home. The hosts took a 2-8 to 0-13 lead into the break.

The free-takers continued to trade in the second period with Cody's three to McNaughton's one before substitute Harry Shine landed for the visitors who had clearly upped the ante. After McNaughton pulled one back, Nigel Elliott was through with the goal opening up but Eoin Murphy tipped the shot over as the sides were level.

But Kilkenny completely took over after with Billy Ryan and Cian Kenny landing to ensure the starting front eight were on the board. From the restart in the 51st minute, Martin Keoghan overturned Paddy Burke and galloped through for the goal, which put his side 1-21 to 2-11 ahead.

That was the game-breaker as Antrim's resistance was broken as Kilkenny ultimately went 1-12 without reply as Mikey Butler and Tommy Walsh added their names to the board.

McNaughton finally ended a barren 25 minutes for Antrim in added time, but Kilkenny finished with a flourish as Billy Drennan pointed, And with the last act of the game, Eoin Cody went for and got the goal from a free to put the cap on a fine second-half display and victory for the Cats.

Antrim scorers: J McNaughton 1-9 (0-9f), K Molloy 1-1, C Bohill 0-1, N Elliott 0-1 

Kilkenny scorers: E Cody 1-13 (1-9f), M Keoghan 1-2, S Donnelly 0-3, C Kenny 0-2, J Molloy 0-2, P Deegan 0-1, J Donnelly 0-1, F Mackessy 0-1 (1f), H Shine 0-1, B Ryan 0-1, T Walsh 0-1, M Butler 0-1, B Drennan 0-1 

ANTRIM: R Elliott; S Rooney, N O'Connor, P Burke; C Boyd, J Maskey, C Bohill; E Campbell, G Walsh; K Molloy, N Elliott, S Walsh; R McCambridge, J McNaughton, C Johnston.

Subs: C McKeown for C Johnston (HT), S McKay for R McCambridge (52), J McLaughlin for S Walsh (55), E O'Neill for E Campbell (69), A McGarry for G Walsh (69).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, T Walsh; M Carey, R Reid, P Deegan; C Kenny, J Molloy; F Mackessy, J Donnelly, B Ryan; S Donnelly, M Keoghan, E Cody.

Subs: H Shine for F Mackessy (40), L Hogan for S Donnelly (64), B Drennan for J Donnelly (67), K Doyle for M Carey (67), E Lyng for C Kenny (70).

REFEREE: S Hynes (Galway)