Kilkenny 2-13; Offaly 0-11: Offaly hit double trouble at Nowlan park yesterday when they lost this clash in the lower section of Division One, and also picked up a glut of injuries.
No less than five Offaly players left the field nursing injuries, the most serious being a suspected broken jaw suffered by centre back Brian Whelahan. The long-serving Offaly defender was taken to Tullamore General Hospital for X-rays on the injury, and team officials feared the worst.
"It was most unusual day in terms of injuries, but there were positives as well," insisted Offaly manager, Michael McNamara adding that he would not have firm details of Whelehan's condition until the team got together later in the week, and the same was the case with Colm Cassidy, Neville Coughlan, Rory Hanniffy and Ger Oakley, all of whom hobbled out of the action.
Indeed, Offaly used six subs, Kevin Brady coming in as blood substitute for Whelahan during the opening quarter and staying for the rest of the match.
The losers took the game to the opposition and twice during the opening quarter the scores were level. Kilkenny grabbed the initiative after that and a 28th-minute point from a free by DJ Carey left them looking comfortable at 0-6 to 0-2 in front.
Offaly stormed back, however, and unanswered scores from Damien Murray, Brian Carroll, Michael Cordial and Murray earned them parity just before half time. But, in injury-time, DJ Carey engineered a terrific opening in front of goal and Aidan Fogarty shot the home side into a lead of 1-6 to 0-6.
Offaly again came back after the break and a hat-trick of points from frees by Damian Murray levelled the scores again (1-6 to 0-9), on this occasion for the last time.
Kilkenny hit the front in the 42nd minute with a point from Aidan Fogarty.
A brace of points followed from the in-form Carey before Jackie Tyrrell stretched the difference to 1-10 to 0-9.
In the 55th minute, Offaly were rocked when a piece of DJ Carey magic split their defence wide open. Carey beat two players before setting up Jimmy Coogan for a goal.
Overall, McNamara was happy and he suggested: "Our intention is to change Leinster from being a one horse race, and I think we are on course to do ourselves justice."
KILKENNY: P J Ryan, M Phelan, N Hickey, J Ryall, K Coogan, P Barry, B Hogan (0-1), P Tennyson (0-1), J Tyrrell (0-1), DJ Carey (0-6, five frees, one 65), C Phelan, T Walsh, J Fitzpatrick, M Comerford, A Fogarty (1-2). Subs: D Lyng for Tennyson ht. J Maher for C Phelan 43rd min, J Coogan (1-1, one free) for Walsh (45 mins), E Brennan (0-1) for Fitzpatrick (45 mins), J Hoyne for Carey (55 mins).
OFFALY: B Mullins, B Teehan, M O'Hara, D Franks, N Claffey, B Whelehan, C Cassidy, M Cordial (0-1), N Coughlan, G Hanniffy, R Hanniffy (0-1, free), B Carroll (0-2, one free), D Hayden (0-1) J Brady, R McRedmond. Subs: D Murray for R Haniffy (14 mins), K Brady for B Whelehan (16 mins,) G Oakley for C Cassidy (32 mins), S Whelehan for R McRedmond (ht), A McRedmond for Oakley (56 mins), N Mannion for N Coughlan (65 mins).
Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).
