Kilkenny just hang on to scrape past brave Carlow challenge

THEY never actually trailed, but Kilkenny still departed Netwatch Cullen Park wiping beads of sweat from their brows.

A strong start ultimately proved more than half the battle as early goals from Ciaran Ryan and Liam Hickey afforded the Cats a vital cushion they relied upon.

For the second game running they were left hanging on at the death with a 62nd-minute Jack Kavanagh Carlow goal leaving just two points in it.

Brian Ryan’s young team just about held on to advance to the July 8 final to face defending champions Wexford.

Kilkenny were similarly fortunate to overcome Dublin in the quarter-finals three weeks earlier — Mark Mansfield sniping a lastgasp winning goal that evening at Parnell Park.

To their credit, they never trailed in this game and started brightly even if they weren’t able to sustain it. Ryan had a goal attempt blocked after just 20 seconds and made no mistake in the fifth minute when he raised the game’s first green flag.

The game took on an ominous feel in the 13th minute when Hickey netted himself after the move of the game. That strike put the Cats 2-4 to 0-3 up and the chances of an upset looked slim.

Carlow, however, hinted at the fight they would bring to the hot favourites with a spirited revival. In Chris Nolan and Ted Joyce they had a promising forward duo who helped themselves to a brace of points each. But the scores simply came easier for Kilkenny On the money: Kilkenny goal hero Ciaran Ryan celebrates who were good value for their 2-9 to 0-8 interval lead.

They were surprisingly l eft hanging on at the end though as Peter Shaw led the Carlow fight back with an impressive 1-1 in the space of just 90 seconds.

Carlow reduced their arrears to just three points with 10 minutes remaining, but two Liam Blanchfield points closed it out.

KILKENNY: D Brennan; C Delaney, C Wallace, E Cody; J Cleere, E Morrissey, B Troy; P Deegan (K Blanchfield 38), M Mansfield (L Scanlon 49, T Phelan 56); J Maher, W Brennan, C Martin; L Hickey, C Ryan, L Blanchfield. Wides: 15 (7). Frees: 10 (4).

Scorers: C Ryan 1-2, C Martin 0-5 (4f), L Hickey 1-1, L Blanchfield 0-2, J Cleere, P Deegan, M Mansfield, J Maher 0-1.

CARLOW: J Barron; M Malone, G Coady, S Whelan; J Murphy, D Wall, M Grady; D Byrne, C Fenlon (J Kavanagh h/t); M Kavanagh, K McDonald, T Joyce; J Doyle (E O’Hara 40), P Shaw, C Nolan. Wides: 9 (5). Frees: 13 (8).

Scorers: P Shaw 1-1, K McDonald 0-4 (3f), J Kavanagh 1-0, Chris Nolan 0-3, Ted Joyce, Marty Kavanagh 0-2 (f).

Referee: J Heffernan (Wexford).