Cats see off Carlow, but Cody’s injury crisis mounts

KILKENNY are within touching distance of qualifying from the group stages of the Leinster Championship after they proved too much for a brave Carlow side at Netwatch Cullen Park today.

However, Brian Cody’s injury crisis mounted in an afternoon that saw Colin Fennelly, Walter Walsh and Alan Murphy all forced from the field of play.

The Cats now have a three-week break to re-gather their strength before their next outing against Galway.

Colin Fennelly’s goal after just 17 seconds set the tone for a very one-sided first half. Ger Aylward scored another three-pointer on eight minutes, and with talisman TJ Reid pulling the strings, Kilkenny appeared to be on top in every position on the pitch.

The Cats’ third goal came from the penalty spot on 29 minutes after Bill Sheehan was fouled, and TJ duly dispatched.

But Carlow came out of the traps looking like a different side in the second half, and even enjoyed a purple patch than saw them outscore Kilkenny by 1-5 to a point in the first 10 minutes after the restart.

Kilkenny, however, never really looked troubled and they secured their second win in two games, with Reid finishing with 1-12 in another man of the match display.

Kilkenny: D Brennan; P Murphy; H Lawlor, T Walsh; C Fogarty, P Walsh, P Deegan; A Murphy, R Leahy; A Mullen, W Walsh, TJ Reid; B Sheehan, C Fennelly, G Aylward
SUBS: L Blanchfield for Fennelly (27), J Donnelly for Walsh (HT), B Ryan for Aylward (49), J Cleere for Deegan (53), M Keoghan for Leahy (61)

Carlow: B Tracey; K McDonald, P Doyle, M Doyle; E Nolan, D English, R Coady; J Kavanagh, S Whelan; JM Nolan, M Kavanagh, E Byrne; J Doyle, S Murphy, C Nolan SUBS: A Corcoran for P Doyle (HT), T Joyce for E Byrne (49), J Murphy for Whelan (64), D Byrne for J Kavanagh (66), R Smithers for J Doyle (68)

Referee: A Kelly (Galway)

PHOTO: Ken Sutton/INPHO