Sport

Hogan shows his worth

Kilkenny 1-20 Antrim 2-12: ANTRIM AND Kilkenny were short-handed in yesterday’s Walsh Cup semi-final at Casement Park but both…

Mon Jan 26 2009 - 00:00

Kilkenny 1-20 Antrim 2-12:ANTRIM AND Kilkenny were short-handed in yesterday's Walsh Cup semi-final at Casement Park but both served up 70 minutes of entertaining hurling before the visitors booked their spot in the final.

Antrim were without their Cushendall players and Kilkenny fielded just five of their starters from last September. However, their back-up is almost as impressive and yesterday Ritchie Hogan, a substitute in the All-Ireland final, produced a man-of-the-match performance.

Hogan, at full forward, grabbed 1-10 and it could have been more as he brought a superb save from goalkeeper Chris O’Connell in the second half. He also kicked another goal chance wide.

Playing with the wind, Antrim raced in to a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after eight minutes and when PJ O’Connell flicked home a goal on 17 minutes Antrim led 1-5 to 0-3. That was a warning signal for the visitors and they hit five unanswered points to level before Paul Shields, from a free, gave Antrim a 1-6 to 0-8 interval lead.

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A Hogan goal two minutes after the restart was a blow to Antrim as the opposition then opened out to lead by 1-11 to 1-7 on 45 minutes and had a Paddy Hogan penalty blast saved by O’Connell. Antrim battled superbly and a second home goal by Michael Herron levelled matters again (2-8 to 1-11) on 53 minutes. However, over the closing 17 minutes Kilkenny outscored the losers by 0-9 to 0-4.

KILKENNY: D Herity; C Hickey, B Hogan, J Tyrell; J Ryall, J Tennyson, JJ Delaney; J Dalton (0-1), D Fogarty; M Rice (0-2), P Hogan (0-1), J Mulhall (0-2); M Grace (0-1), R Hogan (1-10, 0-2 frees), A Fogarty. Subs: K Joyce for Hickey (14 mins), P Murphy (0-3) for P Hogan (53 mins), M Ruth for A Fogarty (53 mins), M Boden for D Fogarty (62 mins).

ANTRIM: C O’Connell; Kieran McGourty, N McGarry, C McKinley; J Campbell, N McAuley, C Herron; B Herron (0-1), P Shields (0-5, all frees); M Herron (1-0), M Scullion, K Stewart (0-1); PJ O’Connell (1-1), K Kelly, P Doherty (0-1). Subs: M Kettle for N McGarry, yellow card (41 mins), S McCrory for O’Connell (41); D McKillop (0-2) for Scullion (46 mins); C Duffin (0-1) for Kelly (61 mins), S Shannon for Stewart (67 mins).

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).