Kilkenny pushed all the way

Kilkenny 2-15 Underdogs 0-13: Two Kilkenny goals during the closing nine minutes proved the difference as National League and Leinster champions Kilkenny beat the Underdogs at Nowlan Park yesterday.

When James "Cha" Fitzpatrick finished a pass from Eoin Reid to the net in the 61st minute to extend Kilkenny's lead to 1-12 to 0-10 the Underdogs were in trouble. That goal was cruel as it came after the losers had dominated for a while, but they just couldn't reflect strong outfield effort on the scoreboard.

There was an exchange of points after Fitzpatrick's goal. Then Kilkenny showed little Christmas charity. In the 57th minute Richard Mullally, on his knees on the edge of the square, shot goal number two to stretch their lead to 2-13 to 0-11.

"We had to be lively to win," insisted Kilkenny manager Brian Cody afterwards. "The concept of the game is good. It gives players who cannot make it on to a county team a chance to prove themselves, and it also promotes hurling."

Underdogs manager Pat Fleury said the selectors were happy with the overall performance of the Underdogs. "We were in the game up to the closing 10 minutes, and even after that the players didn't drop their heads," said the former Offaly boss. "The players gave their all, and we could not ask for any more."

The Underdogs pushed easy-going Kilkenny hard as they showed the greater appetite for the contest, and three times during a close first half they led.

The scores were level five times during that opening half. The Underdogs, with Cork's Mark O'Connor lively in attack, led by 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes.

When half-time arrived, a 35th-minute point from Aidan Fogarty gave Kilkenny a lead of 0-8 to 0-7. Kilkenny opened with an early point from Richard Power, and that two-point advantage was the difference until the late goals.

The Underdogs were always within striking distance before that with O'Connor, Damien Cosgrave, Brendan Lohan and Michael Grace all showing up well.

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, J Tennyson, S Maher; J Dalton, JJ Delaney, J Ryall; B Barry, R Mullally (1-1); R Power (0-3, one free), W O'Dwyer, T Walsh (0-2); J Fitzpatrick (1-6, five points frees), E Reid (0-1), A Fogarty (0-2). Subs: S Cummins for Maher 44 mins; A Murphy for O'Dwyer 49 mins; S O'Neill for Fogarty 49 mins; P Cleere for Barry 64 mins.

UNDERDOGS: R O'Neill; N Corcoran, B Lohan, D Canning; B Duff, D Cosgrave (0-1), D Kelly; P Madden, M Kirwan; R Hennessy, N Jacob, M Grace (0-2, one free); M O'Connor (0-6, four frees), A McGovern (0-1), J Ryan. Subs: S McGrath (0-2) for McGovern 39 mins; G McPhillips for Jacob 45 mins; D O'Reilly (0-1) for Kirwan 52 mins; G Slattery for Hennessy 57 mins; P Davern for Madden 67 mins.

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).