Offaly U21s gave Cats a major fright but champions hang on

CHALLENGERS Offaly gave All-Ireland U-21 champions, Kilkenny, the fright of their hurling lives at Nowlan Park on Wednesday evening in a riveting Leinster semi-final, the outcome of which remained in doubt up TO the final whistle of Meath referee Fergus Smith. Offaly came within a cat"s whisker of levelling the game in injury time when, three points adrift, a loose clearance by a Kilkenny defender fell to Seir Kieran"s Dermot Mooney. The Offaly midfielder had to go for a goal and, from 30 metres out, he struck for the rigging but was denied by an outstanding save from Cats goalie Colin McGrath, who blocked the effort at full stretch. Seconds later the final whistle sounded. This was a well turned out Offaly side, which matched the provincial and All-Ireland champions all the way. The tragedy for the Faithful County is that, without any backdoor in the U21 grade, this side is now gone after their first outing. Stephen Byrne"s side made a hesitant start to the game and fell into early arrears. But they came thundering into the game before half-time, maintained that momentum for the opening 10 minutes of the second half and, without doubt, had the home side worried to death by the quality of their play. Wayward shooting was probably the reason why Offaly failed to create a major shock - a victory for the midland county would have replicated their achievement of 2007 at the same venue and provided compensation for last year when Kilkenny cruised to victory with a blinding second-half showing in the Leinster final at O"Connor Park, Tullamore. While Kilkenny displayed the usual array of flicks and tricks that one associates with the Black and Amber, one area in which Offaly held a distinct advantage was in the matter of fielding the dropping ball. All over the field, the visitors were more adept at this skill than their opponents, while for a lot of the game Offaly also won a greater share of breaking ball. Kilkenny"s early domination was based on a superb first-half display from midfielder Mark Kelly. Kelly was the game"s most prominent player in that 30 minutes, shooting four excellent long-range points and gaining an abundance of possession around the midfield area. The O"Loughlin Gaels clubman"s influence on the game declined greatly in the second half which coincided with the introduction late in the first half of Colin Egan, who came on for free-taker Mark Egan. The Offaly No 12 crashed into one of his own players but carried on only to sustain a further injury which necessitated his leaving the action. After the opening 15 minutes, Kilkenny led 0-7 to 0-2 and the home support anticipated a fairly routine passage to the Leinster final. The reality was something different. Offaly hit a purple patch for the final 10 minutes of the half as Brian Leonard, Conor Mahon, James Gorman, senior county man Daniel Currams (twice), raised white flags to leave the visitors only two points adrift at the interval (0-10 to 0-8). When the impressive Odhran Kealey from Kinnitty struck a lovely point from play, under pressure, from just on the sideline which Conor Mahon supplemented with another superb strike, the sides were level within three minutes of the restart. One felt that had Offaly taken the lead at this stage or when they subsequently drew level again, they could well have gone on to win the game. But chances to hit the front were spurned and, inevitably, Kilkenny regained their grip on matters. The different between the teams turned out to be Kilkenny"s budding senior star Richie Hogan. After a quiet first half, the Danesfort man turned on the style and skill in the second half, roaming outfield to gain possession. Also a Kilkenny defence which up to the then had been shaky, was now more assured and gained from the introduction of the tall, strapping Paddy Nolan at left corner-back. The Cats had been vulnerable up to then along their left flank of defence, but that route to goal was cut off for Offaly in the final 20 minutes. Still with Eanna Murphy at centre-back, Conor Mahon in midfield and forwards Daniel Currams, the tall James Gorman and the slight figure of Odhran Kealey continuing to cause problems for Michael Walsh"s side, Offaly remained in touch. Kilkenny had edged into a 0-16 to 0-13 lead with five minutes of normal time remaining when Offaly substitute Ger Scales, playing at right full-forward, availed by a slip from his opposite number. The St. Rynagh"s man cut in from the right and sought to find a colleague with a handpass which, had if found its mark, would surely have led to an Offaly goal. But Kilkenny full-back Andy Kearns made a vital interception and clearance, and Kilkenny went further ahead when J.J. Farrell shot a point, his goal-bound effort being brilliantly blocked over the bar by Offaly "keeper James Dempsey. Offaly did not give up the ghost, though, and cut the arrears to three points before Dermot Mooney"s late effort for a goal was foiled to bring an end to a pulsating game on which Offaly can reflect with pride but without any tangible reward. Over the hour Offaly shot 12 wides (6, 6) to Kilkenny"s 19 (4, 6). Kilkenny now advance to a Leinster final meeting with Dublin, who thrashed Wexford 1-24 to 0-8 in the other semi-final on Wednesday evening at Parnell Park. No doubt, the Cats will be more than happy to still have their Leinster and All-Ireland titles intact. They had to dig deep here to see off the persistent challenge of a fine Offaly side. SCORERS: Kilkenny: R. Hogan 0-6 (3f, 0-1 "65); M. Kelly 0-4; J. Mulhall 0-3; C. Fennelly, J.J. Farrell 0-2 each; J. Nolan 0-1. Offaly: D. Currams 0-4 (2f); J. Gorman, O. Kealey 0-3 each; C. Mahon, M. Egan (2f), 0-2 each, B. Leonard 0-1. KILKENNY: C. McGrath, P. Murphy, A. Kearns, C. Fogarty, L. Ryan, D. Langton, J. Dowling, M. Kelly, M. Walsh, C. Fennelly, J.J. Farrell, J. Mulhall, M. Bergin, R. Hogan, L. Ryan. Subs: J. Nolan for Ryan (40); P. Nolan for Fogarty (43). OFFALY: J. Dempsey (Kinnitty), B. Harding ((Birr), S. Wynne (St. Rynagh"s), B. Coughlan (Kinnitty), D. Morkan (Shinrone), E. Murphy (Seir Kieran), K. Mollen (Shamrocks), C. Mahon (Kilcormac/Killoughey), D. Mooney (Seir Kieran), J. Mulrooney (Seir Kieran), D. Currams (Kilcormac/Killoughey), M. Egan (Belmont), J. Gorman (Kilcormac/Killoughey), B. Leonard (Kilcormac/Killoughey), Odhran Kealey (Kinnitty). Subs: C. Egan (Belmont) for M. Egan (injured) (24); G. Scales for Mulrooney (42). REFEREE: F. Smith (Meath).