Kilkenny prove too strong for Offaly as they secure Leinster semi-final spot

Kilkenny 3-21 Offaly 1-16

Kilkenny eased their way into the semi-finals of the Leinster under-20 Hurling Championship after proving too strong for Offaly at UPMC Nowlan Park on Wednesday evening.

Harry Shine, Billy Drennan and Jack Doyle all netted goals for the Cats as they impressively saw off their opponents.

It was a tight opening to the game until Shine pounced on a rebound from a previously saved Timmy Clifford shot to grab the game's first goal.

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From that point on Kilkenny really showed their superiority and with Clifford, Shine, Billy Reid and Gearóid Dunne adding on further points they soon led 1-8 to 0-5.

Lochlan Quinn kept Offaly in touch until Billy Drennan drove in Kilkenny's second goal in the 29th minute as Derek Lyng's team went into half-time with a 2-9 to 0-9 lead.

The two goals seemed to knock the energy out of the Offaly challenge as by the 40th minute they had still to register a second-half score, whereas Kilkenny were finding the target from all angles.

The game rather petered out to its predictable outcome from there with Kilkenny sub Jack Doyle getting a third goal for the victors late on.

Offaly did reply with a Luke Nolan goal themselves but it was Kilkenny's night as they ran out 11-point winners.

KILKENNY: Aidan Tallis; Niall Rowe, Seán Purcell, Pádraic Moylan; Paddy Langton (0-1), Joe Fitzpatrick, Billy Reid (0-3); Killian Doyle, Peter McDonald (0-1); Andy Hickey (0-1), Timmy Clifford (0-2), Ian Byrne (0-1); Billy Drennan (1-7, seven frees), Gearóid Dunne (0-2), Harry Shine (1-3).

Subs: Denis Walsh for Doyle (40 mins), Pádraig Lennon for Purcell (42), Jack Doyle (1-0) for Byrne (47), Ted Dunne for Hickey (48), Martin Gannon for Clifford (54).

OFFALY; Mark Troy; Cathal King, Conor Hardiman, Joseph Hoctor; Shane Ryan (0-1), Sam Bourke, Luke Watkins; Jack Screeney, Dan Bourke (0-1); Ronan Cleary, Luke Nolan (1-2), DJ McLoughlin (0-2); Lochlann Quinn (0-6, six frees), Charlie Mitchell (0-1), Cian Burke.

Subs: Luke Carey (0-2, two frees) for Mitchell, Joe Ryan for Cleary (both h-t), Niall Lyons for Quinn (46 mins), Ruarí Dunne for Dan Bourke (47), Daire Tierney (0-1) for Watkins (55).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).