Billy Drennan returned from senior duty to inspire All-Ireland champions Kilkenny to a 5-20 to 3-20 victory over Galway in the Leinster U20HC at Glenisk O’Connor Park yesterday.

Drennan fired 2-12 after missing the Cats’ opening round loss to Wexford last weekend along with fellow seniors Timmy Clifford and Gearoid Dunne due to their involvement in the Allianz League final against Limerick. Clifford and Dunne also made significant contributions to yesterday’s win by combining for 2-2.

Boosted by Darren Shaughnessy’s 17th minute goal, Galway stormed into a 1-8 to 1-1 lead, but Drennan’s second major in the 22nd minute revived Kilkenny who trailed by 2-6 to 1-12 at half-time before overtaking the Tribesmen in the second half.

Elsewhere in Tier 1, Diarmuid Ó Dulaing scored 0-9 as Dublin defeated Wexford by 1-20 to 0-15 at Parnell Park to make it two wins from two ahead of a trip to Nowlan Park next weekend.

A highly-rated Offaly team topped Tier 2 Group 1 with their third straight victory in Darver. Leo O’Connor’s side produced a strong second half performance to overwhelm Antrim 2-17 to 0-8. They progress to the preliminary round quarter-finals along with neighbours Westmeath who cruised to a 5-17 to 0-10 victory over Meath at TEG Cusack Park.

Laois and Kildare are also through from Tier 2 Group 2 and will face Westmeath and Offaly respectively in the preliminary quarter-finals. Laois beat Kerry by 2-16 to 1-15, while Kildare accounted for Carlow by 1-13 to 1-7.

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