Strong 2nd half keeps Kilkenny in Leinster running
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship 2026
Kilkenny 4-25
Kildare 0-14
Kilkenny recovered from a poor opening half to claim maximum points against Kildare in UPMC Nowlan Park last Saturday evening. Going into the game, the home side knew that anything other than a win would see their hopes of retaining the Bob O’Keefe Cup for a seventh consecutive season come to an end.
With the aid of the breeze, Derek Lyng’s side led the Lilywhites by the bare minimum at the short whistle, having beaten their 1st half ‘wide’ total from the draw with Offaly a week earlier, the Noresiders registered thirteen on home soil, and reached double figures in the second period also. Coupled with losing the services of the influential Cian Kenny to a second yellow just before the break, the hosts were not making it easy for themselves. TJ Reid’s goal in the 37th minute was the cue for the Cats to take control and show their ability and last season’s Joe McDonagh Cup winners simply couldn’t live with the defending provincial champions.
Following a couple of early misses, O’Loughlin’s Paddy Deegan got the scoreboard moving for the men in stripes and a second score then arrived from Mossy Keoghan. Kildare struck a couple of their own, Jack Sheridan and Muiris Curtin the men to raise white flags. The Village’s Cian Kenny was shown a yellow card by referee Eamonn Furlong just ahead of a trio of scores from the Marble City side, courtesy of Cian, Mossy, and David Blanchfield as the Kilkenny lead was pushed to three points after 11 minutes of action in UPMC Nowlan Park. Dowling’s charges notched two to stay in touch, but a brace from the returning Harry Shine and one from his Dicksboro clubmate Liam Moore saw the Cats go four clear.
The Lilywhites then took control, registering four points on the bounce, Naas’s Cathal Dowling to the fore during this spell as matters were deadlocked as the 30-minute marker approached. TJ’s first score of the day came from a placed ball effort, and this was added to be a nice score from Conahy’s Tom Phelan. Kildare were then given a boost and a numerical advantage when Cian Kenny picked up his second yellow of the day and headed for an early bath for a trip on Jack Sheridan. There was time for one more score in the half, and it came from the visitors as Darragh Melville fired over to leave his side just one in arrears at the interval.
When play resumed, Kilkenny tagged on points from TJ Reid and Tom Phelan, while Melville replied for Kildare. Then came the first of four majors for Lyng’s side and the moment that the Lilywhites challenge halted. Great determination from Harry Shine saw him win possession, and despite being fouled, the ‘Boro youngster off loaded to Eoin Cody who burst through before popping his pass to TJ who rifled past Paddy McKenna in the Kildare goal, Kilkenny had lift off. Eoin Cody then took possession before giving a nice, lofted pass to the on running Shine who shortened his grip before striking the ball to the net. The home were now seven clear with 40 minutes on the clock and built on the brace of quickfire majors with efforts from the impressive Tom Phelan and Mossy Keoghan.
A third nail was then hammered into Kildare’s coffin. Darragh Corcoran sent a lovely long ball into the heart of the opposition defence which TJ plucked from the sky before being hauled down by Rian Boran, penalty to Kilkenny, black card to Boran and a 3rd goal for Derek Lyng’s team. TJ fired over another point, the lead now twelve points. Then came a great sight for the team and supporters, the return of Adrian Mullen, the Shamrocks man replacing Liam Moore. Three more scores on the trot followed for the hosts, Mossy, Eoin Cody and one for the returning Mullen. Sub Timmy Clifford, Killian Doyle and the lively Eoin Cody struck points just ahead of the games 4th major. There didn’t appear to be much trouble as Eoin Cody battled for possession out on the left, but despite being pressed by two Kildare players, the Shamrocks Ballyhale man wriggled clear and headed for goal. Just when it appeared that he might have missed the opportunity to strike, he flicked the sliotar to the net. The final three scores of the game came from its top scorer, TJ Reid. Job done, now for an intriguing clash in the capital. Full time score: Kilkenny 4-25 Kildare 0-14.
