Leinster U20 hurling championship wrap: Kilkenny storm into semi-finals with wind-assisted victory over Laois

Kilkenny have qualified for the semi-finals of the Leinster Under-20 hurling championship as they defeated Laois in the eye of Storm Kathleen in O'Moore Park.

It all started so well for the hosts as a Cormac Byrne goal as well as a string of frees from Ben Deegan and points via Eoghan Cuddy, Jer Quinlan and Conor Fitzpatrick had them nine points up after 18 minutes.

Laois were playing with the aid of a gale force wind in the first half and despite a Niall Shortall score being Kilkenny's only point in that period, they would only go in for half time one point in the arrears.

Gearóid Dunne struck their second point before Marty Murphy was quickest to react when the ball dropped in front of the Laois goal and he swiped it into the bottom corner.

Harry Shine and Michael Brennan added points as the visitors were gaining a lot of momentum.

They pointed again through Eoghan Lyng and, at the death of the first half, they were awarded a penalty which Dunne rocketed low into the net to make it 1-9 to 2-5 in favour of Laois.

Kilkenny now had the wind at their backs for the second half and wasted little time in taking the lead for the first time when Dunne struck for his second goal.

He added two more before the end with Kilkenny keeper Niall Holland making it six when his effort from his own 21 metre line went all the way to the net.

Laois and Wexford meet next week to determine who reaches the quarter-finals and who heads for a preliminary quarter-final.

Scorers –

Laois: B Deegan 0-8 (frees), C Byrne 1-0, C Byrne, E Cuddy, C Fitzpatrick, C Comerford, J Quinlan 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: G Dunne 4-2 (2-0 penalties), M Murphy 1-1, N Holland 1-0, H Shine 0-3 (frees), N Shortall, E Lyng 0-2 each, M Brennan, A McEvoy (free), R Corcoran, C Hackett 0-1 each.

LAOIS: B O’Reilly; J Pearson, C Cuddy, C Flynn; C Hogan, E Cuddy, T Cuddy; A Phelan, C Comerford; B Deegan, C Byrne, C Fitzpatrick; J Breen, J Quinlan, C Byrne. Subs: T Brennan for Phelan (ht), J Cuddy for C Byrne (41), B Murphy for Breen (42), K Byrne for Hogan (50), B Duggan for Fitzpatrick (53).

KILKENNY: N Holland; J Neary, K Corcoran, I Bolger; E Lyng, B Hughes, P Langton; C Hackett, K Doyle; N Shortall, J Walsh, G Dunne; H Shine, M Murphy, M Brennan. Subs: A McEvoy for Walsh (44), T Dunne for Brennan (45), T McPhilips for Shine (48), R Corcoran for Shortall (53), P O'Grady for Lyng (56).

Referee: B Kearney (Kildare)

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Galway 1-12 Offaly 0-15

A strange sort of Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship game in Tullamore where reigning champions Offaly were the better side and should have won but ended up relieved with the draw after a terrific late Galway comeback.

Five points up after 51 minutes, Offaly were 0-15 to 1-8 ahead in the 55th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Leigh Kavanagh. Galway wing back Joshua Ryan was sent off for a second yellow card and an Offaly goal would have ended it as a contest but instead Dan Ravenhill's less than convincing strike went wide on the right and Galway breathed again.

As Offaly made mistakes and missed chances, they didn't score again and Galway mounted a stirring revival. With the 60 minutes up, they were back level thanks to four unanswered points, the equaliser from Rory Burke and Offaly were living on their wits.

Aaron Niland and Burke missed late chances to win it for Galway and Offaly held on for a draw that assures them of least a quarter-final.

With the three teams (Saturday's opponents and Dublin) qualifying irrespective of results, the stakes weren't enormous but this group has served up two compelling games to date.

Offaly had first use of the swirling wind, leading by 0-5 to 0-2 after fourteen minutes but trailing by 1-5 to 0-7 at half time, thanks to Darren Shaughnessy's excellent 21st minute goal. Offaly played super hurling in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors by 0-8 to 0-1 for a 0-15 to 1-7 lead.

Scorers –

Offaly: A Screeney 0-8 (7f), B Egan 0-4, T Guinan, S Rigney and D Bourke 0-1 each.

Galway: A Niland 0-7 (4f and 1 '65'), D Shaughnessy 1-1, O Lohan 0-2, R Burke and T Leen 0-1 each.

OFFALY: L Hoare; R Kelly, J Mahon, B Kavanagh; D Shirley, B Miller, T Guinan; C Spain, C King; S Rigney, D Bourke, L Kavanagh; D Hand, B Egan, A Screeney. Subs: D Ravenill for Hand (10m), C Doyle (Clara) for L Kavanagh (58m),

GALWAY: D Walsh; C Lawless, D Dunne, S Murphy; J Ryan, R Burke, C Whelan; T Leen, M Tarpey; O Lohan, D Shaughnessy, M Power; D Davoren, M Burke, A Niland. Subs: J Rabbitte for Power (43m), P McCartaigh for Burke (40m), C Killeen for Davoren (49m),

Referee: O Beehan.