Kilkenny 2-15 Antrim 3-9
A tally of 2-2 from Martin Keoghan proved the catalyst for Kilkenny to see off a stubborn Antrim outfit in Division 1B of the Allianz National Hurling league.
The Kilkenny full forward was one of the few bright sparks on show for the hosts in a game that went all the way to the final play with Antrim really testing the Cats.
Antrim scored three goals in the same fixture during 2021 and they repeated the feat with Sean Elliott, Neil McManus and Conor Johnston all finding the target and if Kilkenny goalkeeper Darren Brennan hadn’t saved from Donal Nugent in stoppage time, the result may have been very different.
Antrim had a big wind behind them in the opening half and they quickly went into a 1-1 to 0-0 lead with a Keelan Molloy point followed up with Sean Elliott grabbing the game’s opening goal.
Kilkenny soon found their groove with a couple of James Bergin points but wastefulness in front of goal was the order of the day as they hit six successive wides in a half where they had 10 in total.
Further scores from Neil McManus, Ciaran Clarke and Eoghan Campbell ensured Antrim kept their noses in front but Kilkenny did rally before the end of the half with Bergin, Martin Keoghan, Paddy Deegan and newcomer Tom Phelan all finding the target.
Antrim still led by two points entering first half stoppage time but an opportunistic goal from Keoghan had Kilkenny right back in the game as he forced the sliotar home after Tom Phelan had a shot partially blocked.
Clarke then knocked over an Antrim free as the sides went into the dressing rooms level at 1-6 each.
The winning of the game for Kilkenny can be put down to the opening 10 minutes of the second period as they scored 1-5 on the trot.
Keoghan’s second goal where Phelan and Billy Ryan combined brilliantly arrived between points for John Donnelly, Padraig Walsh, and Huw Lawlor.
The game looked to be out of Antrim’s reach as they trailed 2-11 to 1-6 but they kept battling with back to back points from Daniel McKernan and Keelan Molloy arriving before Conor Johnston flashed in a goal past Darren Brennan.
That reduced the margin to three points heading into the final quarter and while Keoghan and Walter Walsh briefly extended the Kilkenny lead, Antrim still had a response.
Raging from a harsh looking red card to corner back Niall O’Connor, the underdogs rallied with Neil McManus forcing in a goal in the 67th minute.
Antrim then almost snatched the win when Donal Nugent had a shot saved before John Donnelly settled the Cats with a late insurance score that saw Kilkenny emerge three point winners.
Kilkenny: D Brennan; M Butler, C Delaney, T Walsh; J Maher, H Lawlor (0-1), D Blanchfield; M Carey, P Deegan (0-1); J Donnelly (0-4, 0-3 frees), P Walsh (0-2), T Phelan (0-1); B Ryan, M Keoghan (2-2), J Bergin (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: C Wallace for Delaney (23 mins), C Heary for Maher (half-time), W Walsh (0-1) for Bergin (half-time), C Bolger for Ryan (53 mins).
Antrim: R Elliott; N O'Connor, G Walsh, S Rooney; P Burke, E Campbell (0-1), J Maskey; J McNaughton, K Molloy (0-1); N McKenna, C Clarke (0-3, 0-3 frees), C Cunning; S Elliott (1-2), N McManus (1-1, 0-1 free), C Johnston (1-0). Subs: D McKernan (0-1) for McNaughton (50 mins), E O'Neill for Clarke (50 mins), S Walsh for Burke (56 mins), R McCambridge for Molloy (66 mins), D Nugent for McKenna (66 mins).
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
