{"id":478674,"date":"2026-05-11T05:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T05:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/478674\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T05:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T05:35:16","slug":"offaly-secure-landmark-draw-with-kilkenny-in-leinster-senior-hurling-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/478674\/","title":{"rendered":"Offaly secure landmark draw with Kilkenny in Leinster senior hurling championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Offaly 0-24
\nKilkenny 1-21<\/p>\n

Paul Keane reports from Glenisk O\u2019Connor Park<\/p>\n

EOGHAN CAHILL\u2019S 15TH point of a dramatic Leinster SHC encounter rescued a landmark draw for Offaly, their first time avoiding defeat against Kilkenny in the championship since the 1998 All-Ireland final.<\/p>\n

A famous win for the Faithful looked to be on the cards at various stages throughout a Round 3 encounter that Kilkenny simply never got going in.<\/p>\n

But when Cian Kenny \u2013 who replaced TJ Reid on the frees after the Cats legend was taken off \u2013 put Kilkenny a point ahead in the 73rd minute, it looked like the holders might sneak an away win.<\/p>\n

So Offaly were delighted that referee Johnny Murphy gave them the opportunity to level the game, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, from a 65 that was initially waved as a wide.<\/p>\n

Murphy chatted with his umpires about the decision before signalling for the 65 which the nerveless Cahill stuck between the posts.<\/p>\n

\"eoghan-cahill\"
\n Eoghan Cahill was the Offaly star. Tom O\u2019Hanlon \/ INPHO<\/p>\n

Tom O\u2019Hanlon \/ INPHO \/ INPHO\n<\/p>\n

Having already been well beaten by Galway, it\u2019s another terrible result from Kilkenny\u2019s perspective though Offaly supporters in the 6,066 rejoiced and savoured their second draw of the campaign.<\/p>\n

Dan Bourke and Brian Duignan split five points between them also for Offaly while their defence was excellent.<\/p>\n

But Kilkenny will, of course, be the story of the afternoon with 16 wides undermining their chances of scoring an important win to keep their seven-in-a-row title charge alive.<\/p>\n

Kilkenny were unchanged from the side that put 5-21 on the board against Wexford but if boss Derek Lyng was banking on picking up where they left off in Round 2, he was let down.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t quite the first half underperformance that Galway exhibited in their clash with Kildare in Newbridge yesterday afternoon, but it was still below par.<\/p>\n

The Cats drilled a dozen first-half wides with TJ Reid accounting for three of those, including a 65 and a relatively easy free that seemed to sum up their sluggishness.<\/p>\n

Reid wore number 14 and played most of the first half in the full-forward position, with Ben Conneely for company. But he came out deeper towards the end of the half as Kilkenny tried to make something happen.<\/p>\n

They pushed for goals whenever a chink of light emerged in a well drilled Offaly backline.<\/p>\n

Kenny drilled a shot wide in the 13th minute, Martin Keoghan had an effort blocked by a defender and Reid controlled a loose ball and then pulled on it close to half time, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Liam Hoare.<\/p>\n

After all of Offaly\u2019s hard work, they winced at the soft goal they did cough up, a 27th minute Carey shot taking enough of a deflection off Ciar\u00e1n Burke to deceive Hoare and trickle in beneath him.<\/p>\n

\"charlie-mitchell-with-mikey-butler-and-mikey-carey\"
\n Offaly’s Charlie Mitchell with Mikey Butler and Mikey Carey of Kilkenny. Tom O\u2019Hanlon \/ INPHO<\/p>\n

Tom O\u2019Hanlon \/ INPHO \/ INPHO\n<\/p>\n

With Kenny sniping three points from play, Kilkenny just about led at half time, by 1-9 to 0-11, but it was unconvincing and travelling fans were still waiting for their team to catch fire.<\/p>\n

Offaly were more efficient, drawing five fouls that Eoghan Cahill comfortably converted. Brian Duignan swung a beauty over from out on the left wing and Dan Bourke caused the Cats plenty of trouble, registering two first-half points.<\/p>\n

Crucially, Offaly would have the wind behind them in the second half so opportunity knocked.<\/p>\n

And when they reeled off four points in-a-row between the 38th and 43rd minutes \u2013 one of those coming off a morale boosting Ross Ravenhill interception ahead of Reid \u2013 they led 0-15 to 1-10.<\/p>\n

Reid was taken off the frees and eventually replaced for one of the few times in his storied career.<\/p>\n

It highlighted just how badly things were going for the Cats though they can take credit for refusing to lie down in a game that was level 14 times in all.<\/p>\n

Offaly scorers:<\/strong>\u00a0Eoghan Cahill 0-15 (12f, 1 65), Dan Bourke 0-3, Brian Duignan 0-2, Charlie Mitchell 0-1, Conor Doyle 0-1, Shane Rigney 0-1, Ter Guinan 0-1.<\/p>\n

Kilkenny scorers:<\/strong> Cian Kenny 0-7 (0-2f), Mikey Carey 1-0, Martin Keoghan 0-3, TJ Reid 0-2 (0-1f), Tom Phelan 0-2, Killian Doyle 0-2, Eoin Cody 0-1, Darragh Corcoran 0-1, Stephen Donnelly 0-1, Liam Moore 0-1, Fion\u00e1n Mackessy 0-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Offaly<\/p>\n

1. Liam Hoare (Carrig & Riverstown)<\/p>\n

4. Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), 3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh\u2019s), 7. Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey)<\/p>\n

5. Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), 6. Killian Sampson (Shinrone), 2. Ciar\u00e1n Burke (Durrow)<\/p>\n

8. Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey), 9. Luke Watkins (Shinrone)<\/p>\n

12. Shane Rigney (St Rynagh\u2019s), 10. Daniel Bourke (Durrow), 11. Conor Doyle (Clara)<\/p>\n

14. Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey \u2013 Captain), 15. Brian Duignan (Durrow), 13. Eoghan Cahill (Birr)<\/p>\n

Subs<\/strong><\/p>\n