Kilkenny and Offaly earn victories as Kildare relegated from Leinster SHC
May 16, 2026
Offaly's Shane Rigney and Niall Murphy of Wexford ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon
Kilkenny came up with the second-half goods to defeat Kildare by 4-25 to 0-14 at Nowlan Park and earn their second win in this year’s Leinster senior hurling championship.
After having fallen three points behind early on, Kildare got level by the 27th minute with unanswered points from Jack Sheridan, Cathal Dowling and Daniel O’Meara.
The holders went up by two again but saw midfielder Cian Kenny dismissed on a second yellow card and Darragh Melville’s point made sure the Lilywhites only trailed by 0-11 to 0-10 at the break.
The first 10 minutes of the restart would see Derek Lyng’s men outscoring their opponents by 2-4 to 0-3, with TJ Reid and Harry Shine suppling the goals, as they took firm control of the contest.
A Reid penalty put the margin between the teams at double digits and Eoin Cody would find the net late on to help complete the rout which seals Kildare’s relegation from the Leinster SHC.
In Tullamore, Offaly elevated their promising provincial championship campaign by defeating Wexford on a 2-21 to 2-15 scoreline.
Johnny Kelly’s side earned a draw with Kilkenny last weekend and backed up that result by coming from behind against the Slaneysiders here to earn their first win in the Bob O’Keeffe Cup race.
After getting out to an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead, Wexford found the net through Simon Roche on the quarter hour mark and would go on hold a 1-12 to 0-10 advantage at the half.
An Eoghan Cahill penalty would bring the Faithful men back within one with 20 minutes remaining and young ace Adam Screeney fired them in front with a goal in the 58th minute.
Cahill and Screeney added points ahead of a second Wexford goal from Kevin Foley reducing the margin to the minimum, but the scores of Cahill, Daniel Bourke and Brian Duignan late in would see Offaly over the line.
TweetOffaly safe for another year in the Leinster SHC after tonight’s win against Wexford.
— Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) May 16, 2026
A win at relegated Kildare next week would keep them in the mix for qualification.
