IT’S KILKENNY AGAINST Offaly. It’s the Leinster senior hurling championship. And it’s live.
Join us for a big night in Nowlan Park for the hurlers of Kilkenny, the hurlers of Offaly and for Sky Sports.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
*********
It’s the Leinster senior hurling championship but not as you know it. Kilkenny take on Offaly in tonight’s quarter-final tie in Nowlan Park but there’s as much interest in the media angle with Sky Sports broadcasting live coverage of a GAA game for a first time. We’ll be following all the action on and off the pitch.
We didn’t think we’d see this some day. Rugby Union, Cricket t20 and PGA Tour Golf all shown live today on Sky Sports.
Along with ‘Live GAA: Hurling’ at 6.30pm on Sky Sports 3.
Rachel Wyse and Brian Carney will be the presenter team tonight with Clare’s Jamesie O’Connor and Galway’s Ollie Canning providing the insight and analysis.
What about the action on the pitch? Well we’ve Kilkenny and Offaly making their 2014 championship bow. Kilkenny are huge favorites to take care of Offaly here on home soil.
The league couldn’t have gone differently for the two sides. Brian Cody led Kilkenny to an 8th National hurling league title under his watch – the latest success arriving with a dramatic extra-time win over Tipperary in Thurles.
Offaly were also in action in a final in Thurles but it was in a relegation decider to avoid the drop from Division 1A to Division 2B. Brian Whelehan in his first year in charge saw Offaly survive with a win over Kerry.
Whelehan famously moved from defence to attack for Offaly and scored 1-6 against Kilkenny in the 1998 All-Ireland hurling final. Offaly haven’t beaten Kilkenny in the senior hurling championship since then.
Whelehan in happier times with Offaly against Kilkenny back in 1998.
Read what Brian Carney makes of Sky Sports entry into the world of GAA here.
Rachel Wyse and Brian Carney on the Nowlan Park pitch as the Sky Sports coverage begins. Carney hopes people will realize that GAA is ‘a way of life’.
Rachel Wyse lobs a question in Ollie Canning’s direction about the doubts over Kilkenny’s future. Easy one to start with.
Jamesie O’Connor hopeful for Offaly, citing the performances last weekend of Division 1B teams Laois and Limerick.
Sunday Independent journalist Damian Lawlor interviewing Offaly boss Brian Whelehan in a pre-recorded segment.
Here’s what the panel and studio look like.
Brian Carney and Jamesie O’Connor now doing the tactics talk.
Jamesie doing his Gary Neville bit now in an analyst role.
Here’s how the analysis has looked.
Early verdicts?
Paulie Sullivan - ‘This actually isn’t so bad so far…’
Kilkenny’s Michael Rice has just been interviewed by sideline reporter Damian Lawlor. Rice has seen his season draw to a halt after tearing his cruciate ligament in a training game last weekend.
So turning back to the hurling action then. We’re just over 10 minutes away from throw-in.
Here’s how Kilkenny will start:
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. JJ Delaney (Fenians)
4. Brian Kennedy (St. Lachtain’s)
5. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6. Jackie Tyrell (James Stephens)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
8. Lester Ryan (Clara) (Captain)
9. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
10. Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon)
11. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
14. Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels)
15. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens)
No Henry Shefflin there and similarly Richie Power has been ruled out through injury, with Walter Walsh and Eoin Larkin coming into the team at right half-forward and left full-forward respectively.
Kilkenny show a third and final change to the side that started the league final against Tipperary, as Lester Ryan comes in at midfield.
That addition means Padraig Walsh shifts to the half-back line in place of Joey Holden, who is listed among the subs.
And here’s how Offaly will start.
Offaly
1. James Dempsey (Kinnitty)
2. Niall Wynne (St Rynagh’s)
3. Rory Hanniffy (Birr)
4. James Rigney (Kinnitty)
5. Barry Harding (Birr)
6. Derek Morkan (Shinrone)
7. Cathal Parlon (Coolderry)
8. Conor Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
9. Sean Ryan (Birr)
10. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)
11. Dan Currams (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
12. Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
13. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)
14. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
15. Brian Carroll (Coolderry)
Offaly have handed out four debuts in their team for the match in corner-back Niall Wynne, wing-back Barry Harding, wing-forward Peter Geraghty and corner-forward Kevin Connolly.
Here’s the commentary team, Mike Finnerty and Tipperary legend Nicky English.
Our commenters are happy so far.
Darrach Hammergrim - ‘I’m proud to be irish and this job sky are doing is fantastic for gaelic games.’
We’ve yet to hear ‘And It’s Live’ being proclaimed by anyone in the Sky crew yet.
James Owens the referee for this game with Galway set to meet the winners at the semi-final stage. The game is under way.
And so it begins. Sky Sports has started broadcasting on GAA folks.
Offaly 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1: 3 mins - Right let’s start focusing on the hurling action. Brian Carroll nudged Offaly ahead, Eoin Larkin has replied for Kilkenny.
Offaly 0-2 Kilkenny 0-2: 4 mins – It continues to be tit for tat in the early stages. Colin Fennelly and Sean Ryan trade points. Kevin Connolly employed as a sweeper in the Offaly defence early on.
Kilkenny’s Paul Murphy is free at the other end.
Kilkenny 0-3 Offaly 0-2: 7 mins – Shane Dooley misses a free for Offaly but no mistake by Walter Walsh for Kilkenny as he’s on target.
Kilkenny 0-4 Offaly 0-3: 10 mins – Offaly will be pleased so far, only a point adrift after 10 minutes. TJ Reid knocked over a free for Kilkenny but Shane Dooley then cancelled that out.
Kilkenny 0-6 Offaly 0-3: 11 mins – Kilkenny hitting their stride. Reid and Eoin Larkin with quality scores from play.
Kilkenny 0-9 Offaly 0-3: 13 mins – Already Kilkenny putting their stamp on this game and showing their strength. Walter Walsh, Colin Fennelly and Richie Hogan all notch points.
GOAL! Kilkenny 1-9 Offaly 0-3: 15 mins – It’s looking ominous for Offaly already. Eoin Larkin bundles a shot to the net after a scramble ensued following Walter Walsh’s run and shot.
Kilkenny 1-11 Offaly 0-3: 17 mins – Doesn’t look like we’ll have a competitive game for Sky Sports GAA debut. Paul Murphy and Colin Fennelly with further points for Kilkenny.
A slice of history for Eoin Larkin.
Some hope for Offaly as James Dempsey makes a fantastic save to deny Colin Fennelly a goal.
Kilkenny 1-12 Offaly 0-4: 20 mins – It’s still one-way traffic mind. Dooley points a free but Reid has landed another for Kilkenny. They’re 11 points clear now.
Reckon he could be on to something.
GOAL! Kilkenny 2-12 Offaly 0-4: 21 mins – This time Colin Fennelly makes no mistake, firing the ball to the net from the rebound after Michael Fennelly’s initial shot was saved.
Nicky English questioning the wisdom of Offaly’s decision to play against the wind. It certainly doesn’t look the right move at the moment.
Kilkenny 2-13 Offaly 0-6: 24 mins – A bit of a respite for Offaly. Fennelly points but Offaly hit back with scores from Carroll and Dan Currams.
Enda Walsh puts it well in our comments section:
Shame that Sky chose this game as the first GAA match, it’s a complete no contest, pity they can’t cover the Waterford vs Cork replay tomorrow, at least that should be a more competitive game of hurling, hats off to Kilkenny though
Substitute: Chris McDonald is on for James Rigney in the Offaly rearguard.
Kilkenny 2-15 Offaly 0-6: 27 mins – Hogan and Walsh with further Kilkenny points.
Substitute: Brian Kennedy is taken off in the Kilkenny defence with Kieran Joyce introduced.
Kilkenny 2-17 Offaly 0-6: 31 mins – Further points for Kilkenny by TJ Reid and Eoin Larkin.
Kilkenny 2-20 Offaly 0-6: 33 mins – This is so easy for Kilkenny. Larkin, Reid and Michael Fennelly with further points.
Kilkenny 2-22 Offaly 0-6: 36 mins – Fennelly and Lester Ryan put Kilkenny 22 points clear.
Half-Time: Kilkenny 2-22 Offaly 0-6
The stats say it all during the first-half, Kilkenny have been completely on top.
Substitutes: Thomas Geraghty and Stephen Quirke both on for Offaly for Peter Geraghty and Kevin Connolly.
Kilkenny 2-23 Offaly 0-8: 36 mins – Michael Fennelly and Joe Bergin swap points.
Kilkenny 2-23 Offaly 0-8: 39 mins – Fine point for Offaly by Cathal Parlon.
Another cracking save by Offaly’s James Dempsey as he denies TJ Reid a goal on this occasion.
GOAL! Kilkenny 3-23 Offaly 0-8: 41 mins – Debutant Mark Kelly hits the net for the Cats.
Kilkenny 3-24 Offaly 0-9: 43 mins – Brian Carroll pops over a free for Offaly and TJ Reid does likewise for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny 3-24 Offaly 0-10: 45 mins – Carroll slots another free for Offaly.
GOAL! Kilkenny 4-25 Offaly 0-10: 48 mins – Kelly fires to the net again for Kilkenny for the second time since the break and then a point is added by Colin Fennelly.
Substitute: Tommy Walsh on for Kilkenny for Colin Fennelly. Brian Hogan is also on.
Another super save by James Dempsey to deny Eoin Larkin.
Sub: Ger Healion in for Offaly for Barry Harding.
GOAL! Kilkenny 4-26 Offaly 1-11: 53 mins – Brian Carroll smashes home a goal for Offaly.
Kilkenny 4-27 Offaly 1-11: 55 mins – Richie Hogan with another point for Kilkenny.
Bad news for Kilkenny, TJ Reid gone off injured. He’s had problems with his knee before.
Sub: Aidan Fogarty on for Reid.
Kilkenny 4-27 Offaly 1-12: 59 mins – Carroll with another pointed free for Offaly.
Kilkenny 4-27 Offaly 1-13: 60 mins – Carroll points again, this time from play, and brings his tally to 1-7 for the night.
Subs: JJ Farrell on for Michael Fennelly for Kilkenny and Ciaran Slevin on for Joe Bergin for Offaly.
Kilkenny 4-28 Offaly 1-14: 62 mins – Rory Hanniffy and Walter Walsh trade points.
Kilkenny 4-28 Offaly 1-15: 63 mins – Carroll knocks over another free for Offaly.
Kilkenny 4-29 Offaly 1-16: 66 mins – Carroll and Quirke point for Offaly, Fogarty does likewise for Kilkenny.
Kilkenny 4-30 Offaly 1-16: 66 mins – Second point of the day for Fogarty.
GOAL! Kilkenny 5-30 Offaly 1-17: 67 mins – Eoin Larkin with Kilkenny’s fifth goal of the game after Conor Mahon pointed for Offaly.
Kilkenny 5-30 Offaly 1-18: 68 mins – Another brilliant point for Offaly by the outstanding Brian Carroll.
Kilkenny 5-32 Offaly 1-18: 71 mins – More Kilkenny points from Lester Ryan and Aidan Fogarty.
Full-Time: Kilkenny 5-32 Offaly 1-18
Dark night for Offaly hurling but a great night for Kilkenny. That’s all from us, thanks for joining in.
