It looked for a long time that the Offaly Under 21s were going to beat Kilkenny at Tullamore. Then Michael Brennan struck.
While we kept one eye on reigning champion Roger Federer exit Wimbledon at a shockingly early stage, the other was trained on O’Connor Park as Offaly were really putting it up to Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 hurling championship.
The Faithful got off to the faster start and they led at half-time, 0-9 to 0-8. The expected second-half fightback never materialised and an Offaly goal had the home side up by two points with just 10 minutes to go.
Then Kilkenny managed to work their way towards the Offaly net and Michael Brennan, from a very tight angle, drilled the ball over Conor Clancy in the Offaly goal.
That goal put Kilkenny in front and after Offaly saw a penalty saved twice just minutes later, the tide had turned for good. In the end the Cats won by six, 1-19 to 1-19 but they have that Brennan goal to thanks for swinging the momentum.
In the other semi-final Wexford saw off Dublin’s conquerors Carlow 1-12 to 0-9 to set up a final between the Model County and the Cats.
And in Munster Limerick beat Tipperary in the Minor championship, 1-17 to 0-17.
