Kilkenny continued their 100% start to the Walsh Cup on Sunday afternoon as they got the better of Laois in Rathdowney.
It was a high-scoring game with The Cats bagging an impressive 3-31, while Willie Maher lead Laois managed to grab 2-21. Three of those points came from The O’Moore Counties’ own point-scoring goalkeeper, Mr. Enda Rowland. Who in the first round grabbed two for himself while also denying Josh Sheil the opportunity of a dream debut start for Wexford by making a crucial save in the dying embers of the game.
See also: Kilkenny prove too strong for Laois to continue winning start to Walsh Cup campaign
Indeed the momentum of the Wexford game seemed to carry into the first half for Laois, who were ahead of Kilkenny for the first 25 minutes. Speaking to KCLR after the game, Rowland highlighted the positives of his team’s performance despite a weak second-half display from the Joe McDonagh side;
“We started very positively, stayed strong for 35 to 40 minutes, then fell away a bit. It is a very positive first-half performance, we were leading after 25 minutes so we will take the positives but there is plenty of learning in it.”
“You get nothing easy against Kilkenny. They were in an All-Ireland final last year, and they are probably one of the most established counties there ever was in hurling. You get nothing easy (with them), they were fairly strong out there today. “
“In the league, you have Tip, Waterford, Kilkenny, Antrim, and Dublin and then a couple of weeks off before we have Offaly in the Joe Mac. There is no easy games, there is plenty of hurling ahead of us. It will come very thick and fast, but sure that is what you want. “
See also: Derek Lyng on Kilkenny’s win over Laois: “Hopefully we can keep improving week on week”
With defeats of Offaly and Laois secured in the opening two rounds, the Cats know that they will advance to the decider if they avoid defeat to Wexford on Saturday evening, who themselves defeated Offaly.
Listen back to full interview with Enda below, along with Derek Lyng, Burren Rangers & Carrickshock below:
KCLR is the only place where you can hear full live commentaries of all of Kilkenny’s Walsh Cup, Allianz National Hurling League, Leinster championship and All-Ireland series games in 2023.
