Gaelic Games

Kilkenny make mincemeat of Offaly but not without injuries

The All-Ireland champions ran riot at Nowlan Park to set up semi-final with Clare

Walter Walsh of Kilkenny with Dermot Mooney and Pat Camon of Offaly during their Allianz League clash. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Walter Walsh of Kilkenny with Dermot Mooney and Pat Camon of Offaly during their Allianz League clash. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sun Apr 03 2016 - 19:33

Kilkenny 6-20 Offaly 0-14

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny streaked to a 24-point win at Nowlan Park but Allianz league quarter-final success came at a high cost with a concerning number of casualties accrued.

Colin Fennelly fired two goals for the rampant Cats before pulling up with a hamstring injury and limping off.

Older brother Michael Fennelly also suffered a hamstring twinge as did full-back Robert Lennon.

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Cody’s own son, Diarmuid, lasted less than 20 minutes after coming on as a sub, taking a heavy hit, while Paul Murphy came off too.

The spate of injuries didn’t prevent Kilkenny from tearing Offaly asunder to secure an April 17th semi-final tie with Clare.

The game was virtually up after 25 minutes following early goals from Fennelly and top scorer Kevin Kelly which put experimental Kilkenny 15 points clear.

But they could be without some big names for the Clare tie, a repeat of last year’s relegation play-off.

“Colin pulled up, he felt his hamstring and the hamstring is always a dodgy one,” said Cody. “Two weeks is a short time for a hamstring to recover. Rob Lennon had a hamstring issue as well so it’s going to be touch and go. If they’re not right, if there’s even the slightest doubt, they won’t play, simple as that.

“Mick Fennelly’s hamstring felt tight as well. Again, it’s something you don’t play through so it’s a question now of how they’ll recover.”

Cody took the opportunity to rest Hurler of the Year TJ Reid and Richie Hogan. Kelly took his chance in attack with 1-7 having previously fired 2-1 against Tipperary.

Ex-underage star Liam Blanchfield helped himself to 1-3 while Lester Ryan and John Power were also among the goals.

Offaly were lucky to avoid a relegation battle at the foot of 1B and the gulf in glass was obvious from the word go.

Jonjo Farrell got a start in attack and was involved in Kilkenny’s first two goals as they surged 2-10 to 0-1 ahead.

Offaly upped the ante briefly to trail 2-11 to 0-5 at half-time and added four more points early in the second-half.

But that was as good as it got for them as Fennelly blasted Kilkenny’s third goal. Power hit their fourth after good work by Walter Walsh and Ryan sneaked a long range shot to the net for their fifth. Blanchfield wrapped up the goal blitz late on with a kicked finish from close range.

Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, R Lennon, S Prendergast; C O'Shea (0-1), K Joyce, C Buckley (0-1); M Fennelly (0-2), L Ryan (1-2); W Walsh (0-1), C Fennelly (2-1), K Kelly (1-7, 0-7f); L Blanchfield (1-3), J Farrell, J Power (1-2). Subs: J Holden for Lennon (7), D Cody for M Fennelly (25), J Tyrrell for Murphy (28), M Malone for Cody (44), C Martin for Walsh (62).

Offaly: J Dempsey; N Wynne, D Shortt, C McDonald; D Mooney, C Doughan, P Camon; S Ryan, K Connolly (0-3); C Egan (0-1), S Kinsella, P Guinan; S Dooley (0-6, 6f), J Bergin (0-1), J Mulrooney (0-2). Subs: P Murphy (0-1) for Guinan (29), C Kiely for Ryan (53), D Kelleher for Shortt (53), J Gorman for Kinsella (64), J Sampson for Doughan (68).

Referee: A Kelly (Galway).