Jordan Molloy’s late strike earns Cats a draw
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A
Tipperary 2-24
Kilkenny 3-27
FBD Semple Stadum
A thoroughly absorbing contest in Thurles last weekend saw Kilkenny strike late to secure a share of the spoils to bring this season’s National League to a close. O’Loughlin Gaels Jordan Molloy split the Tipp posts in the 74th minute to deadlock matters just ahead of Thomas Walsh sounding the long whistle. This was the Cats’ best performance in their league campaign and begs the question, why did it take until now to put in this kind of showing. With TJ Reid making his first appearance of 2026, the legendary veteran finished his evening’s work with a personal tally of 1-8 and provided those in black and amber with a definite focal point for what has been a slightly dysfunctional attacking unit this season. The stats show this, before the trip to Tipp, Derek Lyng’s outfit had averaged 1-17 over their five previous rounds; this total is unlikely to win you many fans, let alone matches.
The Noresiders got off to a blistering start in FBD Semple stadium, straight from the throw-in, with Cian Kenny, Eoin Cody and Tom Phelan all involved before Liam Moore flicked the sliotar to the net after just 20 seconds. Liam Cahill’s team got things moving in the third minute when Jason Forde notched the first of his eight-point return from a placed ball after Ivan Bolger was penalised. The busy Alan Tynan then did well to set up Oisín O’Donoghue and the Cashel King Cormacs man struck over a fine effort. The evergreen TJ Reid was given his first opportunity to get on scoresheet in the 4th minute, after a Tipp hand touched the ball on the ground, point number one for the Shamrocks Ballyhale icon. Jake Morris then registered the first of his 1-5 haul, a fine way to mark the passing of his grandfather, Nenagh Éire Óg stalwart Jimmy Morris, who was remembered prior to throw-in.
Thomastown’s John Donnelly, making a rare start, struck over a fine score from over his right shoulder and this was added to by a lovely effort from Emeralds Killian Doyle and a second placed ball of the night for TJ, after the lively Liam Moore was fouled. Jake Morris, whose movement was causing problems for Kilkenny, slotted his second score, but again Derek Lyng’s charges responded with a classy point from Cian Kenny and one from play by TJ, having been picked out nicely by Killian Doyle to give the travelling side a 5-point lead. Dicksboro’s Liam Moore then got a point to add to his early major, between a pair of scores from The Premier County, courtesy of Eoghan Connolly and Sam O’Farrell. Kilkenny added a brace of scores themselves, the first from Mossy Keoghan after a nice pass from Eoin Cody, the second a booming free from The Village’s Cian Kenny, dispatching the effort from his own half; the visitors lead now six points.
Conahy Shamrocks Tom Phelan was then forced off and replaced by Luke Hogan, who did well following his introduction. The home side then got back into the game, striking a major of their own on 20 minutes. The dangerous Jake Morris then fired home after being set up by the free scoring Jason Forde. Kilkenny hit back straight away, TJ setting up Liam Moore for a quality point. Tipp then hit a little purple patch, registering the games next four scores. Jake Morris got things going, pointing after showing lovely wrist work, a quality brace from Jordan Forde, including a beautiful sideline cut. The fourth of the scores came from Roscrea’s Alan Tynan who rifled over having got the better of Killian Doyle. The Reid brothers then combined, TJ popping the ball to younger sibling Richie who split Rhys Shelley’s posts from distance to edge the Cats back in front. Another free from TJ and a fine score from Cappawhite’s Conor Martin followed, but then the Noresiders were forced into a second change of the evening when injury to Ivan Bolger saw Bennettsbridges’s David Blanchfield enter the fray with about five minutes of the opening period remaining. Sam O’Farrell rifled over from way out the Semple Stadium pitch, but Luke Hogan then fired over having been set up by the roaming Mossy Keoghan to nudge the Cats ahead again. There was still time for two further scores in the half, both scored by the home side, an effort from distance by corner back Michael Breen and another placed ball from Jason Forde to leave Tipp leading by the bare minimum at the interval.
Kilkenny made one change to their line-up during the break, Ed McDermott replacing temporary sub Luke Hogan. When play resumed, the home side caught the visitors cold. Alan Tynan burst forward from the throw-in feeding Darragh Stakelum’s whose shot was saved by Aidan Tallis. Unfortunately for the Lisdowney man, it fell straight to Darragh McCarthy who batted home with the clock showing just15 seconds of second half action. Derek Lyng will have been pleased with his side’s reaction, the black and amber reeling off the games next three points. TJ started things, rifling over a ‘65 just ahead of a nice score from James Stephen’s Ed McDermott. Eoin Cody was then fouled, and Cian Kenny struck over from halfway to leave his sides arrears at just the one point.
Kilkenny’s netminder was then called into action one more, making a tremendous double save from Eoghan Connolly and Jordan Morris, in between a fantastic block from Darragh Corcoran on Seán Kenneally’s rebound.
Liam Cahill’s men then stepped on the gas and tagged on the next quartet of scores. Cashel King Comacs Eoghan Connolly struck over a ‘65 ahead of a tidy point from Darragh McCarthy who was giving Rory Garrett a tough time. Jordan Molloy was then blown up and Silvermines Jason Forde added another to his tally from the placed ball. Nenagh Eire Ogs Jordan Morris rounded off the run firing over to extend Tipp’s lead to five points with just under twenty minutes remaining. TJ Reid then broke the ball to Mossy, and the Tullaroan star fired over but again the Tipp reply was from the talented Jake Morris. Kilkenny then hit a patch of their own, registering 1-4 without reply. Paddy Deegan, who looked good anchoring an inexperienced full back line, gave a long pass into TJ who fired over from out on the right. Then came the second of the Cats 3 majors. A long ball broke and TJ ran onto it and headed for goal. The legendary attacker showed wonderful improvisation as he flicked the sliotar over the advancing Rhys Shelley’s head to the net. The Kilkenny captain popped over another point, before John Donnelly intercepted a Tipperary pass before firing over. Eoin Cody then beat his man and struck a quality effort off his right side, Lyng’s men 2 points to the good.
The impressive Aidan Tallis was then proving his worth once again, this time denying Darragh McCarthy, but a pair of points from Eoghan Connolly saw the sides level with about 12 minutes left to play in Thurles. Cathal Beirne was then sent on in place of Emeralds Killian Doyle, just before Kilkenny raised their third green flag of the evening. Aidan Tallis pucked out to Paddy Deegan, who launched a ball deep into the Tipp defence towards TJ. The ball broke to Eoin Cody who gave the perfect pass to Mossy who controlled the ball before firing past the helpless Shelley in the Tipp goal to push the Cats 3 ahead. The All-Ireland champions hit back with a brace from Jason Forde, the first another tasty sideline cut, the second a free after David Blanchfield was penalised. A Kilkenny shot struck the post, and TJ reacted fastest, almost repeating his earlier major, but this time his flicked effort raised a white flag. A pair of frees from the hosts, one each for Messrs. Connolly and Forde gave The Premier County a slender lead, but Ed McDermott pointed to deadlock matters once again. It appeared that Moneygall’s Sean Kenneally had snatched the win for the home side, but a cracking late point from wing back Jordan Molloy ensured that it would finish all square in Thurles. Final score, Tipperary 2-27, Kilkenny 3.24.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jake Morris 1-5; Jason Forde 0-8 (5f, 2s/l); Eoghan Connolly 0-5 (2 65s, 1f); Darragh McCarthy 1-1; Sam O’Farrell, Seán Kenneally 0-2 each; Michael Breen, Oisín O’Donoghue, Conor Martin, Alan Tynan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-8 (3fs, 1 65); Mossy Keoghan, Liam Moore 1-2 each; Cian Kenny 0-3 (2fs); John Donnelly, Ed McDermott 0-2 each; Richie Reid, Killian Doyle, Eoin Cody, Luke Hogan, Jordan Molloy 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Brian McGrath, Ronan Maher, Michael Breen; Oisín O’Donoghue, Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly; Conor Martin, Darragh Stakelum; Jake Morris, Alan Tynan, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, Gearóid O’Connor, Jason Forde.
Subs: Seán Kenneally for O’Connor (h-t), Johnny Ryan for McGrath (h-t), Noel McGrath for Stakelum (54), Andrew Ormond for Martin (57), Peter McGarry for Forde (69), Joe Caesar for McCarthy (70, temp).
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Paddy Deegan, Rory Garrett, Ivan Bolger; Darragh Corcoran, Jordan Molloy, Richie Reid; Cian Kenny, Killian Doyle; Tom Phelan, Eoin Cody, John Donnelly; Mossy Keoghan, TJ Reid, Liam Moore.
Subs: Luke Hogan for Phelan (19-h-t, temp), David Blanchfield for Bolger (30, inj), Ed McDermott for Phelan (h-t), Cathal Beirne for Doyle (59), Rory Glynn for Cody (70+4), Shane Murphy for Corcoran (70+4, temp).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
