Offaly come close to huge shock as Cats are held to draw
On a day full of talking points and drama, Offaly hurling had a coming of age moment of sorts as they snatched a controversial but fully merited 0-24 to 1-21 draw with Kilkenny in the Leinster championship in front of 6,000 people in Tullamore.
Firstly to the controversy and that was right at the end, a minute over the announced three minutes of injury time. Kilkenny were clinging to a one-point lead and it looked like they had fallen over the line when the ball was waved wide after Oisin Kelly got his hurl to a Dan Bourke sideline.
Offaly players immediately protested, referee Johnny Murphy awarded the '65 and with Kilkenny fans making their displeasure known, Eoghan Cahill floated over the equaliser from in front of the posts.
It was a dramatic end to a thrilling game of hurling and a defeat would have been very hard on Offaly who gave a terrific display on the day. When we say a coming of age moment, it comes with a caution as this game provided further evidence that Kilkenny are no longer the all-conquering force they were a few years ago and Offaly still have a long road ahead of them to become All-Ireland champions.
This, however, was a significant step in the right direction, a second point for them in the championship after an opening round draw with Dublin.
They fought tenaciously for everything and their hurling is improving each year as the 2023 All-Ireland U20 winners begin to find their feet at this level.
It was fitting that it was Cahill who rescued that point. A stand-in for the injured Adam Screeney, the Birr marksman got 15 points, two of them from play and his accuracy in the second half in particular was pivotal to Offaly snatching a result – it was their first time to avoid defeat against Kilkenny since the 1998 All-Ireland final win.
Eoghan Cahill of Offaly celebrates after scoring the equalising point in the 75th minute
Offaly have had some fairly horrible days against Kilkenny since 1998 but it was clear from the start here that they would give them a run here. With Dan Bourke on fire early on, they settled quickly but found themselves 0-05 to 0-02 behind after six minutes.
They were 0-06 to 0-05 ahead after 13 minutes but were fortunate that Kilkenny's radar was off in the first half when they shot 12 of their 16 wides, many of them very poor. Kilkenny could also have got a few goals in the first half and as it was, the game's only one in the 25th minute was in the blessed category as Mikey Carey didn't strike his chance that cleanly but it deflected off Ciaran Burke's hurl under Liam Hoare to give them a 1-07 to 0-07 lead.
Hoare made a terrific save to deny TJ Reid in the 33rd minute and the veteran Kilkenny star had a strange afternoon. He only managed two points, one from a free and missed three placed balls in the first half, two frees and one '65. He was taken off free taking duties after another miss early in the second half and then replaced in the 48th minute.
Playing against a swirling wind in the first half, Offaly fought the whole way to the break and late points from Dan Bourke and Cahill (free) left them 1-09 to 0-11 behind.
Offaly went on a four point streak from the 37th to 42nd minutes to take 0-15 to 1-10 lead. They got three more points in a row from the 48th to 50th minute, all Cahill frees and suddenly Kilkenny were on the ropes as they trailed by 0-18 to 1-12.
They rallied powerfully and levelled it up with scores from Stephen Donnelly, Liam Moore and Cian Kenny (free), 1-15 to 0-18.
Offaly led by two, 0-21 to 1-16, inside the last ten minutes but Kilkenny were level by the 63rd minute.
Offaly led twice more and were in front in injury time but points from Killian Doyle and Kenny (free) edged Kilkenny ahead with the three minutes of injury time ticking down. They were allowed one last attack and Cahill rescued a point that Kilkenny won't begrudge Offaly, despite their annoyance at that '65.
Offaly: Liam Hoare; Ciaran Burke, Ben Conneely, Patrick Taaffe; Ross Ravenhill, Killian Sampson, Ter Guinan (0-01); Colin Spain, Luke Watkins; Dan Bourke (0-03), Conor Doyle (0-01), Shane Rigney (0-01); Eoghan Cahill (0-15, 12f and 1 '65'), Charlie Mitchell (0-01), Brian Duignan (0-02). Subs: Cathal King for Watkins (52m), Dan Ravenhill for Spain (52m), Oisin Kelly for Doyle (65m),
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Mikey Carey, Ivan Bolger; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran (0-01), Paddy Deegan; Killian Doyle (0-02), Jordan Molloy; Liam Moore (0-01), Cian Kenny (0-07, 2f), Tom Phelan (0-02); Martin Keoghan (0-03), TJ Reid (0-02, 1f), Eoin Cody (0-01). Subs - Stephen Donnelly (0-01) for Reid (48m), Fionan Mackessy (0-01) for Moore (52m), Timmy Clifford for Phelan (58m), Richie Reid for Molloy (67m),
Referee: Johnny Murphy, Limerick.
