Hurling & Camogie

Antrim outclassed by Kilkenny

Kilkenny’s Robert Lennon gets away from Conor Johnston of Antrim during yesterday’s Walsh Cup match in Abbottstown
Kilkenny’s Robert Lennon gets away from Conor Johnston of Antrim during yesterday’s Walsh Cup match in Abbottstown Kilkenny’s Robert Lennon gets away from Conor Johnston of Antrim during yesterday’s Walsh Cup match in Abbottstown

Walsh Cup Group Two: Kilkenny 6-27 Antrim 0-19

KILKENNY fielded eight of their All-Ireland final side and showed no mercy as they crusied to an easy victory over Antrim in the Walsh Cup in the Abbottstown Centre of Excellence, Dublin yesterday.

This second win for the Cats has all but put them through to the semi-finals, although they have a third fixture against Westmeath in Mulllingar next Sunday.

Unless they suffer a big defeat there, they are through to the last four.

“We are happy to be moving forward towards the closing stages of the competition,” said Kilkenny manager Brian Cody afterwards.

“We didn’t know what to expect from the players.

“We are not long back from holidays, but a win and the running up a big score like we did is pleasing.”

The big and the small of the story for Antrim was that they were up against class of a different level, a point admitted by selector Terence McNaughton.

“Days like this are for learning,” said McNaughton.

“Kilkenny’s running game and slick use of the ball was too much for us. We were asking our lads to mix it with some of the best players in the country, so we cannot be hard on them.

“If you could get six months experience of facing opposition like that every week you would soon learn,” he added.

“There were positives for us, but the gap between the top and teams below is still huge.”

The Cats didn’t cut loose, but still they had too much class for Antrim.

Were it not for the brilliance of Antrim goalkeeper Chris O’Connell who brought off at least six great saves, the northerners would have been buried.

Antrim didn’t have to wait long for a taste of the cold realities the afternoon was to thrown on them.

They were hit for goals by Jonjo Farrell and Ollie Walsh within eight minutes of the start.

Both were beautifully created scores, with the ball moved quickly through three players on each occasion before ending up in the net.

Already Antrim were 2-2 to 0-1 behind.

With Conor McCann, Conor McKinley, Niall McKenna and O’Connell all playing well, Antrim enjoyed a good spell midway through half when they had the arrears back to 2-4 to 0-7.

Ciarán Clarke popped over a few frees, while Conor McKinley landed a brace as he and McCann linked up nicely on both occasions.

However, the run was soon halted.

Kilkenny bounced back to shoot seven points on the trot as they galloped into a lead of 2-12 to 0-8 with TJ Reid converting every freeand Richie Hogan, Conor Martin and Pat Lyng also sharing in the scoring.

At the break Antrim were in trouble when 0-10 to 2-12 behind. They did score a goal througth John Dillon in the 18th minute, but that was disallowed for an infringement of the square.

The books were balanced early in the new half when Kilkenny had one disallowed, the scorer here being Walter Walsh.

The second scratched score came after Walter Walsh and TJ Reid registered minors against one replay from Deaglán Murphy for Antrim.

But Kilkenny’s third goal wasn’t far off.

Richie Hogan slammed it home after Jonjo Farrell and Richie Leahy sliced open the opposing defence to leave Hogan against the helpless goal.

The outcome was predictable. Kilkenny’s next score was another goal, this time from Richie Leahy.

With the gap now at 4-17 to 0-14 it was all over.

“You pick yourself up and move on,” McNaughton said in summary.

“Something like this could crush you, if you let it. “We have to be realistic. We were against a top class team, who won’t be too far off all the honours again this season.”