Walsh Cup round-up

All-Ireland champions and four-in-a-row Walsh Cup chasers Kilkenny were sensationally knocked out of the 2008 Walsh Cup as they went down to a 2-15 to 1-17 defeat to Antrim.

A sustained effort by an eager Antrim side saw them pull off a surprise quarter-final win at Freshford.

Kilkenny lined out with seven of their All-Ireland winning team from last September in tow, but the visitors were full value for their success.

Although holding out by a point at the full-time whistle, Terence McNaughton and Dominic McKinley's charges could have won by a lot more, but let the Cats sneak back into contention in the second half.

PJ Ryan, Jackie Tyrrell, PJ Delaney, James Ryall, Richie Power, Aidan Fogarty and Eddie Brennan formed the solid back-bone of this Kilkenny side who were expected to triumph and build up some momentum for their season ahead.

However, once Liam Watson blasted to the net in the ninth-minute, there was no doubting just how hungry Antrim were for the win.

Watson's strike gave the visitors a two-point cushion and they held onto that lead right to the finish, as Kilkenny played second fiddle for most of the encounter.

Antrim made full use of their wind advantage during the opening half and were more clinical in their play.

Although the Cats had cut the deficit to a point after 13 minutes thanks to good work from Eddie Brennan and Richie Power, Antrim were quick to take scores from all angles.

Even Ballycastle goalkeeper Ryan McGarry got in on the scoring action as his long range puck glided between the posts for Antrim's third point in the 14th-minute.

By the end of the opening quarter, quick scores from Kevin Elliott and Watson had Antrim leading by 1-5 to 0-4 and Kilkenny were being made to pay for some loose marking.

The free-taking of Power and another Brennan point did keep Kilkenny in touch before the interval but the wides tally was mounting for the Cats.

Antrim finished the half as they had started it - with another well-taken goal.

This time it was Karl McKeegan who had no hesitation in planting the ball past PJ Ryan and he also stroked over the next point as Antrim took a 2-8 to 0-7 buffer into the break.

Kilkenny burst out of the blocks on the restart with full-forward Eddie Brennan eager for a goal inside the opening minute, but good defensive work by the visitors ensured the All Star was kept at bay.

Kilkenny had a dominant spell, hitting the next three points through Power and defender James Ryall.

Eoin McCormack followed up with a 43rd minute goal to cut the gap to just two points.

Nonetheless, Antrim failed to panic and with the likes of Watson and McGarry continuing to be settling influences, they held on to set up a semi-final against UCD.

Kilkenny persevered right until the end with injury-time points coming from Power and PJ Delaney, but time simply ran out on Brian Cody's defending champions.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; S Cummins, B Hogan, J Tyrrell; J Dalton, PJ Delaney (0-1, 1 '65'), J Ryall (0-1); R Mullally (0-1), W Dwyer; P Cleere, R Power (0-9, 0-8f), A Fogarty (0-2); E McCormack (1-0), E Brennan (0-2), R Hogan (0-1).

Subs used: E McGrath for Cleere (48 mins), D Fogarty for Dwyer (63).

Antrim: R McGarry (0-1); A Graffin, N McGarry, S Delargy; C Herron, M McCambridge, K Elliott (0-1); K McKeegan (1-1), D Hamill; N McManus (0-1), L Watson (1-8, 0-4f, 2 '65'), P McGill; S McCrory (0-1), C Donnelly, S McNaughton (0-1).

Subs used: M Kettle for N McGarry, K Stewart (0-1) for Donnelly (both half-time), C Duffin for McNaughton (64 mins).

Referee: Tony Carroll (Offaly)

Meanwhile, at the Thomas Davis grounds in Tallaght, goals proved crucial for UCD in their 2-15 to 0-13 Walsh Cup quarter-final victory over Dublin.

Both sides were certainly keen to make it through to the penultimate round but goals in either half from Kilkenny man Maurice Nolan (1-5) and Tommy Fitzgerald (1-1) of Tipperary saw the 2004 winners triumph.

Dublin built up an early 0-6 to 0-3 lead with former football panellist David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan grabbing a brace of points.

Ten minutes before the break, Nolan managed to find the net and it was the springboard for UCD, who led 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time, to go on and notch the win.

Dublin panellist Joey Boland ironically had a hand in UCD's first goal as he put Nolan in the clear before he pulled the trigger and shot past Dublin stopper Gary Maguire.

Wexford's Stephen Nolan opened the scoring for UCD in the second half but four successive scores from the Dubs made it 1-9 to 0-11 in the students' favour with 20 minutes still left on the clock.

But UCD regained control thanks to points from PJ Nolan, Boland, Fitzgerald and Naomh Mearnog clubman Eoin Power.

Then full-forward Fitzgerald rocketed home UCD's second goal, 14 minutes from the finish, to put his side 2-13 to 0-12 and there was no comeback from Dublin.

Dublin: G Maguire; P Brennan, S Hiney, P Bergin; D Qualter, K Ryan, M Carton; J McCaffrey (0-1), P O'Boyle (0-3); K Dunne, K Flynn (0-1), D Curtin (0-2, 0-2f); D O'Callaghan (0-5), P O'Driscoll (0-1), A McCrabbe.

Subs used: P Ryan for O'Driscoll, S Mullen for Dunne, S Lambert for McCrabbe, O Gough for Qualter.

UCD: P Carroll; E O'Shea, T Brady, B Travers; N Prendergast, S Nolan (0-2, 0-1f), D Fitzgerald; PJ Nolan (0-1), J Walsh; J Boland (0-2), N Curran, B Murphy (0-1); M Nolan (1-5, 0-4f), T Fitzgerald (1-1), R O'Carroll.

Subs used: E Power (0-2) for M Nolan, L Ryan for Boland, C McBride (0-1) for Walsh.

Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois)

Elsewhere, Rory Jacob was the top scorer for Wexford as they claimed a 1-15 to 0-15 win over Laois at the Buffers Alley club in Monageer.

It was a first half goal from debutant David Redmond, after a good pass from Michael Doyle, which ensured the home side's progress in ideal conditions.

Wexford led by 1-9 to 0-7 at half-time but Laois certainly gave their Leinster rivals a stern test in the second half.

Despite a late Laois rally with scores from James Young and Zane Keenan, Damien Fox's charges were unable to steal the win.

Keenan's last point could so easily have been the goal the O'Moore men craved but the debutant's shot skimmed over the crossbar.