Gaelic Games

Kilkenny make light work of DIT while Galway are pushed by offaly

Walsh Cup quarter-finals round-up: Dublin v UCD match to be played on Tuesday 7.30pm

Offaly’s James Rigney and Richie Cummins of Galway in action during their Walsh Cup quarter-final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photograph: Inpho
Offaly’s James Rigney and Richie Cummins of Galway in action during their Walsh Cup quarter-final at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photograph: Inpho
Mon Jan 20 2014 - 01:00

Kilkenny 5-23 DIT 1-9

A young Kilkenny made light work of DIT as they eased their way into the semi-finals of the Walsh Cup. Once Kilkenny, who will lock horns with Galway at the same venue next week, took control of the game there was no way they were going to be stopped. "That was a decent start to the season for us," said boss Brian Cody. "We played well." The Cats made a fast start, rattling the net after just four minutes after Joe Brennan finished a swift move built up by Colin Fennelly and Liam Ryan.

DIT’s first half return was meagre; by the 24th minute they had just one Niall McMorrow point to their name – Kilkenny had notched up 1-6. By the break the gap had been pushed into double figures (2-7 to 0-4), Farrell finding the net after some good work from Mark Kelly.

DIT had the opening point of the second half through McMorrow, but were washed away as Kilkenny upped the pace. Liam Ryan showed a keen eye for the posts, rattling off six points, while Kelly and Farrell got among the goals.

DIT had raise a green flag of their own – through Kilkenny native Anthony Ryan – but Farrell netted a fifth as the Cats marched on.

KILKENNY: D Herity; C Fogarty (0-1), M Walsh, S Prendergast; P Murphy, J Holden, T Walsh; G Brennan (0-1), P Phelan (0-1); C Fennelly (0-1), TJ Reid (0-7, three frees, one 65), L Ryan (0-6); J Farrell (2-3), M Kelly (2-1), J Brennan (1-1). Subs: R Doyle for T Walsh; K Kellyo for C Fennelly.
DIT: F McGarry; W Devereux, G McManus, F Power; L Prendergast, K Bergin, S Morris; J Henderson, D Horan; T Connolly, M Moloney (0-2), L Og McGovern; J Hobbs, L Rushe (0-1), N McMorrow (0-4, two frees). Subs: P McDonagh (0-2) for J Hobbs; M ODonoghue for Devereux; K Whelan for S Morris; A Ryan (1-0)for T Connolly; J McManus for N McMorrow; D Memory for L Prendergast.
Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).

Galway 1-14 Offaly 1-13

Galway had to work very hard before edging out Offaly in an enthralling tie in Tullamore yesterday. Offaly were marginally the better side for much of the match and looked like they would secure a morale-boosting win as the game entered its closing minutes but Galway staged a late rally.

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Galway owed a debt of gratitude to Niall Healy who put in a storming closing quarter to get them across the finish line.

Offaly were that bit more economical and they fully deserved their 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead. Offaly played their best hurling early in the second half with impressive corner forward, Kevin Connolly scoring a quick goal and a point to put them 1-8 to 0-5 ahead and in a very good position.

But Galway hung on grimly and in the closing quarter, they started their victory charge. With 14 minutes remaining Healy netted a penalty goal after Jonathan Glynn was fouled. Suddenly it was game on as Offaly appeared to run out of steam.

Galway took the lead for the first time with three minutes left and Niall Burke put them two up as the game entered injury time. Brian Carroll halved the deficit but Galway had just enough done to set up an interesting clash against Kilkenny next Sunday.

GALWAY: C Callanan; F Moore, R Burke, J Coen; G McInerney, D Burke, S Og Linanne; P Brehony, A Harte; C Cooney (J Flynn 57m), J Glynn (0-1), C Mannion (0-1); R Cummins, N Healy (1-7, 1-0 pen, 4f), D Glennon (0-1). Subs: K Hynes (0-1) for Brehony (12m), N Burke (0-1) for Hynes (41m), P Landers (0-1) for Cummins (43m), J Flynn (0-1) for Cooney (57m), D Dolan for Glennon (70m).
OFFALY: J Dempsey; N Wynne, D Kelleher, J Rigney; D Morkan, B Watkins, D Mooney; G Conneely, K Brady (0-1); S Cleary (0-3), J Bergin (0-7, 4f and one '65'), P Geraghty; T Geraghty, S Gardiner, K Connolly (1-1). Subs: D Kilmartin for Conneely (60m), M Cleary for Rigney (61m), B Carroll (0-1) for Brady (61m), B Harding for Cleary (61m).
Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).


Wexford 4-21 NUIG 0-8

A young Wexford side outclassed NUIG at Páirc Uí Siochain, Gorey, on Saturday.

Wexford were inspired from the back by Liam Ryan, Lee Chin and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, and with Ian Byrne, Paul Morris and Shane Tomkins shining in the attack they dominated the opening 35 minutes, as NUIG struggled despite the best efforts of John Hennebery and Cormac Devanney in defence.

Such was the dominance of the home side their winning margin could have been far greater had they put away goal chances late on in the game.

Having started brightly picking off long-range points through Ian Byrne, Shane Tomkins and Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Wexford led 0-7 to 0-4 after 16 minutes. Goals from Mark Fanning (a free) on 17 minutes and Ian Byrne two minutes before the break helped the home side to a 2-15 to 0-4 interval lead.

Wexford used their bench as they struck for further goals from Kevin Foley, after 65 minutes, and Paudge Doran to ease into a semi-final game next weekend.

WEXFORD: M Fanning (1-0, free); L Ryan, K Rossiter, E Conroy; D O'Keeffe (0-2), L Chin, J Tonks; C Devitt, B Jordan (0-2); S Tomkins (0-3), P Morris (0-2), I Byrne (1-5, 0-3 frees); G Moore (0-3), P Doran (1-1), K Foley (1-1). Subs: P J Nolan for Byrne (41 mins); R Clarke (0-1) for Moore (48 mins); J O'Connor for Chin (50 mins); E Martin (0-1) for Rossiter (57 mins).
NUIG: K Flynn; E Teagle, E Fahy, D Magnier; G Joyce, J Hennebery (0-1), C Devanney; J P O'Connell, E O'Farrell; N Deasy (0-2, one free), N O'Brien (0-4, two frees), C Hardiman; M Mullins, B Lane (0-1), G O'Donohoe. Subs: K McMahon for Joyce (32 mins); S Claffey for Deasy (48 mins); G Hutchinson for Flynn (58 mins).
Referee: G Quilty (Kilkenny).