Offaly in focus, as league begins on Noreside
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Dioralyte Leinster Walsh Shield Final
Kilkenny 1-20 Kildare 2-13
John Locke Park, Callan
Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)
There was a sizeable crowd in Callan last Sunday as Kildare travelled to Noreside for the 2026 Dioralyte Leinster Walsh Shield Final.
The home side made one late change for the Shield final, with Erins Own’s Michael Brennan coming into the starting lineup for Glenmore’s Shane Murphy. Kilkenny struck first following some good team play which saw the ball worked to Cian Kenny, and The Village man split the posts. Brian Dowling’s side drew level immediately thanks to a fine effort from Naas’s Jack Sheridan. The Lilywhites also struck the games next two scores, Celbridge’s impressive attacker, Gerry Keegan rifled over just ahead of Sheridan’s second of the afternoon.
The lively start by the visitors was undone a little, when wing back Paul Dolan misjudged the rise of the sliotar, and this gave Mossy Keoghan the chance to pounce, and strike a fierce shot across keeper Paddy McKenna to the back of the net. The Cats lead didn’t last long, as the impressive Gerry Keegan notched his second point while Moorefields Muiris Cutin got the better of his first battle with Mikey Carey to nudge the visitors back in front. A long delivery into Marty Murphy proved fruitful and the Tullogher Rosbercon man broke the ball to Liam Moore and the ‘Boro player popped over the score. Dangerman Keegan added to his tally while Castlecomer’s Michael Brennan took a nice point having taken a pass from Cian Kenny. The James Stephens man was heavily involved in all that was good about his side’s performance in the opening period, then set up a second score of the final for Dicksboro’s Liam Moore, as the lead changed hands again.
The travelling side didn’t appear to have any inferiority complex, and this was evidenced in the 16th minute when Dowling’s charges struck what would be the first of two majors for The Lilywhites. Powerful centre back, Cian Boran came out of defence unchallenged and sent a testing ball towards the corner. Killian Corcoran misjudged it slightly, but James Dolan kept his eye on it collected and raced towards goal before striking a strong shot beyond Glenmore’s Eoin Murphy. Derek Lyng’s men reacted well and struck the next two scores, courtesy of a Michael Brennan free and a lovely effort from Emerald’s Killian Doyle to leave the game deadlocked. The sides swapped placed ball efforts, Jack Sheridan and Michael Brennan converting the frees but it would be Brian Dowling’s men that finished the half strongest, tagging on two more scores via a Jack Sheridan (f) and a quality finish from Celbridge’s James Dolan to lead their hosts 1-9 to 1-7 at the sort whistle.
The Kilkenny management used the interval to ring the changes, and this saw a trio of fresh bodies taking to the pitch for the second half. Timmy Clifford, Marty Murphy and Michael Brennan were all withdrawn and replaced by Paddy Deegan, Eoin Cody and Niall Shortall as the hosts sought to inject some much-needed quality to proceedings in Callan. One of the changes in black and amber got the scoreboard moving when play resumed, Shamrocks Ballyhale star Eoin Cody rifling over. The Noresiders were then dealt a big blow, when Cian Kenny was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by Village teammate, Ed McDermott. Mikey Carey was then blown up for a foul on the dangerous Muiris Curtin, and Jack Sheridan duly converted the free. Another change for the Cats saw the experienced Mikey Butler replace Killian Corcoran at corner back as the management sought to tighten things up in defence.
Dicksboro’s Liam Moore was then fouled, and Eoin Cody popped over the resulting free, but once again, Gerry Keegan got on the ball and fired over another quality score. Mossy Keoghan then showed his skill and class before splitting the posts to leave the home sides deficit at just one point. Referee Adam Kinahan then penalised Kildare for a ‘throw ball, much to the dismay of their manager who was spoken to by the Offaly whistler. Eoin Cody rubbed salt in the wounds by striking over the free awarded to level matters once more. Two more changes arrived for the Cats, Richie Reid and John Donnelly replacing Peter McDonald and Stephen Donnelly as the home side flexed their muscles. Then came the games third major and the second for The Lilywhites. Jack Sheridan stood over a free from way out the John Lockes pitch and struck his effort towards the Kilkenny posts. Players rose inside the danger zone and Clane’s Caolan Smith got the decisive touch as the sliotar nestled in Eoin Murphy’s net.
Kilkenny’s management will have been pleased with their sides reaction to conceding a second goal, tagging on the games next three scores with efforts from subs, Richie Reid, a long range one from Ed McDermott and a free from Shamrocks Ballyhale’s Eoin Cody which saw things deadlocked once more. Another change from the home side, Cillian Hackett entering the fray for clubmate Liam Moore. Kildare’s main threat from play, Gerry Keegan then struck over a fine point to edge Brian Dowling’s men ahead with eleven minutes of normal time remaining in Callan. Graigue Ballycallan’s Jeff Neary was then sent on in place of Killian Doyle, the final change for the home side. Kilkenny were then awarded another free, much to the frustration of The Lilywhites manager. Eoin Cody added to his growing tally with the placed ball conversion. Young Ballyhale forward, Niall Shortall then set up Ed McDermott, and the towering Village player sent over a sweet score as the Cats retook the lead.
As the games entered its final minutes, Kilkenny’s fitness and experience began to tell. Paddy McKena’s poor restart was pounced on by Eoin Cody who punished the netminders error. A move crafted in Pairc na Seamrog saw Shortall pass to Eoin Cody and the former Cats Captain split the posts to push the hosts lead to three points. The scorer then turned creator and give Ed McDermott the opportunity to add to his tally, and the James Stephens man did just that. Kildare searched for a big score, but the last score was a white flag raiser, from defender Paul Dolan. There was still time for one more score, and it came from the men in stripes and Niall Shortall as Derek Lyng’s men clinched the win. Final score in Callan, Kilkenny 1-20, Kildare 2-13.
SHERRY SAYS…
Kilkenny are the 2026 Dioralyte Leinster Walsh Shield champions. Derek Lyng’s panel had to dig deep to overcome the serious challenge that Brian Dowling’s Kildare side brought to Callan. It took the introduction of Deegan, Cody, Richie Reid and Mikey Butler to steady things and help the Cats drive on in the second half. The most disappointing aspect was seeing Cian Kenny limp off with a possible hamstring injury, hopefully The Village man is ok.
The preseason is over; attention now turns to the National League and the games that await in this competition. First up for Kilkenny is the visit of Offaly to UPMC Nowlan Park this weekend. Johnny Kelly’s team will bring a stern challenge with them, and the Galway native will have his team well prepared for the opening league fixture. Following on from the Leinster club championship, which saw a feisty finish in the game between sides from both counties, this will be a physical encounter that you will earn the right to play your hurling.
Derek Lyng and his management team will have decided on the panel that they will take into the league, so several players are going to be disappointed at this stage of the week. With Fitzgibbon fixtures aplenty and some niggles, it will be interesting to see which XV gets the nod for the Offaly game. There are some great games to come for the Cats, but for now, getting off to a winning start at home to the Faithful County is the main aim.
