Kilkenny surge late to beat brilliant Kildare by four points in Walsh Shield final

Kilkenny 1-20

Kildare 2-13

A late Kilkenny surge was enough to edge past Kildare and lift the 2026 Walsh Shield. Brian Dowling’s men held a two-point advantage at half-time and were more than competitive in this fixture with The Lilies boss disappointed in the end that his side hadn’t come away with a victory against one of the best teams in the country.

Kilkenny started with a burst with Cian Kenny opening the scoring after less than 30 seconds. It was not a sign of things to come in the first half with Kildare responding brilliantly and hitting the game’s next three scores.

Two from Jack Sheridan were split by a score from Gerry Keegan who capitalised on a handling error in midfield from The Cats.

Trailing by two, Kilkenny fired themselves in front when they punished uncertainty in the Kildare back-line. A ball that should have been dealt with sooner bounced free to Martin Keoghan who ruthlessly smashed it into the bottom corner.

The Lilies were unshaken by the game’s first green flag and Gerry Keegan levelled things after solid work from Caolan Smith to set him up.

It was a score a minute at this stage and Kildare took the lead thanks to a gorgeous point from out wide from James Dolan.

Kilkenny centre-forward Liam Moore restored parity to make this game 1-2 to 0-5 after a breathless opening seven minutes.

Keegan and Brennan added one at each end before Kildare then hit the net themselves. A long ball was sent into James Dolan who quickstepped past his opposite number to create space and cut inside. The Celbridge forward locked eyes with stopper Eoin Murphy before smashing the ball into the back of the net at the near post.

The Cats responded to the concession quickly and raised two white flags to level things from first Michael Brennan and soon after Killian Doyle.

Kildare were competing superbly and putting in huge work around and off the ball to earn possession. After a free at either end made this game 1-7 apiece, it was The Lilies who finished the half strongest with a superb point from goalscorer James Dolan and a free from Jack Sheridan.

Their late double meant the men in white carried a two-point lead in at half-time at 1-9 to 1-7. Kilkenny were in a game and Derek Lyng knew it with their boss making four half-time changes and nine overall, with the introduction of players Richie Reid and Eoin Cody to help them over the line.

Kilkenny’s Peter McDonald got the first score after the break to close the gap to a single point where the game remained until the 40th minute as these teams knocked over points in pairs at each end.

Proceedings were finally levelled with an Eoin Cody free in the 40th minute, but that even keel was short-lived with The Lilies hitting the net for the second time less than a minute later. Jack Sheridan stood over a free from inside his own half and, with his effort dropping short, Caolan Smith appeared to get a touch before the ball bounced, perhaps more than it had done all day on the mushy surface, into the net.

Richie Reid and John Donnelly entered the field moments later and Kilkenny from one to 15 fired themselves back at the Lilies who were now leading by three at 2-11 to 1-11.

Points from Richie Reid, Ed McDermott and Eoin Cody had Kilkenny back level within six minutes of the goal but Kildare were not going away just yet.

James Dolan turned provider for one of the standout players in white, Gerry Keegan, who got his fifth point in a superb performance.

Kilkenny surged again and finally took the lead in the 53rd minute for the first time since the fifth minute of play. Eoin Cody and Ed McDermott took over in a spell of Kilkenny dominance as the home side hit the game’s next five points with Cody grabbing three and McDermott two.

Paul Dolan got Kildare’s last score in the 58th minute with The Lilies tiring late on and The Cats powering forward with fresh legs almost all over the field.

The game’s final score from the hurl of Niall Shortall as Kilkenny finished as 1-20 to 2-13 winners to lift the 2026 Walsh Shield.

Alongside the immense positives of a battling and incredibly encouraging performance for Kildare was the return of Conan Boran after well over a year out.

Kilkenny, Eoin Cody 0-6 (0-5 frees), Martin Keoghan 1-1, Michael Brennan 0-3 (0-2 frees), Liam Moore 0-2, Ed McDermott 0-2, Peter McDonald 0-2, Cian Kenny 0-1, Killian Doyle 0-1, Richie Reid 0-1, Niall Shortall 0-1.

Kildare, Gerry Keegan 0-5, Jack Sheridan 0-5 (0-4 frees), James Dolan 1-1, Caolan Smith 1-0, Muiris Curtin 0-1, Paul Dolan 0-1.

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Rory Garrett, Mikey Carey, Killian Corcoran; Peter McDonald, Darragh Corcoran, Michael Brennan; Killian Doyle, Jordan Molloy; Timmy Clifford, Liam Moore, Cian Kenny; Stephen Donnelly, Marty Murphy, Martin Keoghan. Subs: Paddy Deegan for for Timmy Clifford (Half-time), Eoin Cody for Michael Brennan (Half-time), Niall Shortall for Marty Murphy (Half-time), Mikey Butler for Killian Corcoran (Half-time), Ed McDermott for Cian Kenny (31 minutes), Richie Reid for Peter McDonald (41 minutes), John Donnelly for Stephen Donnelly (41 minutes), Cillian Hackett for Liam Moore (47 minutes), Jeff Neary for Killian Doyle (48 minutes).

KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Alan Goss; Daire Guerin, Cathal McCabe; Jack Travers, Gerry Keegan, Caolan Smith; Jack Sheridan, Muiris Curtin, James Dolan. Subs: Tim Ryan for Caolan Smith (44 minutes), Conan Boran for Jack Travers (49 minutes), Michael Owens for James Dolan (53 minutes), Tom Power for Muiris Curtin (60 minutes).

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly)

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