Kilkenny goalkeeper Daniel Brennan was the only designated goalkeeper in the Cats squad that beat Offaly on Monday.
Offaly have not beaten Kilkenny at home since 1985 and that record stretches further still after Brian Cody’s men emerged victors by the slenderest of margins, 0-24 to 1-19.
With four wins from six in the league now, Kilkenny booked their place in the semi-final with either Wexford or Galway, who will have their match rescheduled by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) on Tuesday.
There were four changes to the Cats side that defeated Wexford last weekend with Conor Browne in for Enda Morrissey on the half-back line and Ollie Walsh back into the midfield.
Daniel Brennan was also selected in goals but the visitors played a risky game because, had he gotten injured, Brennan, there was no goalkeeper on the bench.
The Kilkenny team to face Offaly today. pic.twitter.com/5LbMoxzhOd
— Kilkenny GAA (@KilkennyCLG) March 19, 2018
They did, however, have Richie Reid starting at corner forward who was used as a sub ‘keeper by Kilkenny last year and he was also the net-minder for the Ballyhale Shamrock’s 2014/2015 All-Ireland club winning team.
With Eoin Murphy injured, it meant that Kilkenny left the bench vacant of any goalkeepers but they still had old reliable Richie Reid there just in case. Richie played 65 minutes of the quarter-final win in which TJ Reid’s 12 points inspired victory for the Cats.
