Allianz National Hurling League Div. 1: Kilkenny 1-17, Offaly 0-12
All-Ireland champions Kilkenny defeated Offaly in Round 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League at Nowlan Park on Sunday, 28th February.
Just like the previous week away to Cork, Offaly gave a good account of themselves in the first half, but faded in the second period.
The home side started better with three unanswered points, but a hat-trick of white flags from Shane Dooley brought Offaly level.
It was tit-for-tat for the next 20 minutes and coming up to half time, Kilkenny just led by 0-8 to 0-7. In this period, Dooley was again on target three times, while Rory Hanniffy also contributed.
But Kilkenny hit two points before the break and then there was a delay when their top scorer Richie Power sustained an injury and had to be removed from the pitch by ambulance.
Shane Dooley cut Offaly’s deficit to two points after the resumption, but in the 38th minute Kilkenny’s Michael Rice fired home a goal, leaving the score 1-10 to 0-8.
Again like last Sunday, Offaly found it hard to make progress in the second half and with ten minutes remaining, Kilkenny had established a 1-14 to 0-10 advantage.
Offaly could make no inroads before the end and had to settle for defeat. Joe Dooley’s men will hope for a better outcome in their next match, at home to Dublin on 14th March.
Offaly: Brian Mullins; Paul Cleary, David Kenny, Michael Verney; Diarmuid Horan, Eanna Murphy, Derek Morkan; James Rigney, Rory Hanniffy; Brian Carroll, Ger Healion, Conor Mahon; Shane Dooley, Derek Molloy, Cathal Parlon.
Subs Used: Joe Bergin, Odhran Kealey, Joe Brady, David Franks, Dylan Hayden.
