The Cats are through to the semi-finals of the NHL but only after they were pushed to the pin of their collar by a game Antrim side at Nowlan Park. Kilkenny 0-12 Antrim 1-7 Predictions of a landslide home win were wide of the mark as Antrim battled to the last while Kilkenny's attack was far from its best, as ten wides were notched in the first half alone. Little separated the sides in the first period and the Leinster champions led by just 0-6 to 0-4 at the start of the second period before a run of five successive points from Eoin Larkin (3), Willie O'Dwyer and Michael Rice put them in a commanding position. However, things could have been a lot closer had a Paddy Richmond shot not hit the crossbar midway through the half. As it was, Joey Scullion's last minute goal left just two points between the sides and there were a lot of happy Kilkenny men when the referee's final whistle blew. Tweet

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