February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
DUBLIN — Kilkenny’s chances of making the National Hurling League semifinals received a serious setback last Sunday when they lost a keenly contested Division 1B game to Wexford by 3-14 to 2-11. Kilkenny now need Waterford to beat Tipperary in the final series of games and then hope that scoring average goes their way.
If Chris McGrath, with 1-7, and Adrian Fenlon and Rod Guiney were impressive for Wexford, it was Rory McCarthy who gave the Kilkenny defense a torrid time. McCarthy bemused a succession of markers and he was among the goal-scorers with McGrath and Gary Laffan.
Tipp, meanwhile, remain on course for the semifinals after an emphatic 5-25 to 0-18 victory over Laois. Always in control, manager Nicky English could afford to substitute several starting players near the finish. Liam Cahill, no his return after a knee operation, was in excellent form with 2-2.
Derry slumped to a fifth successive defeat when they were hammered 4-18 to 0-12 by Cork at Celtic Park. Kevin Murray bagged a hat trick of goals and Joe Deane hit seven points.
In Division 1A, both Limerick and Galway are looking good for the semifinals. Limerick were comfortable 1-26 to 0-9 winners over Kerry and Galway crushed Antrim by 4-28 to 1-14.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
Meath defeated Westmeath by 1-13 to 2-6 to set the pace in Division 2, while Carlow are also in the hunt after a 1-21 to 2-11 victory over Tyrone. Down stay third thanks to a 2-21 to 1-7 success against London and Kilare’s promotion hopes are still alive following their 3-14 to 1-10 win over Wicklow.
In Division 3, Longford moved up to second place behind Louth with a 3-15 to 2-6 triumph against Donegal and Mayo got the better of Leitrim by 2-9 to 1-9.