Kilkenny scoring blitz sinks Cork
Cork 1-11 Kilkenny 1-14
Kilkenny kicked off the second phase of the Allianz NHL Division 1 campaign in style as they did just enough to defeat All-Ireland champions Cork.
The Cats avenged last September's All-Ireland final defeat as a stunning haul of 1-07 inside the opening 13 minutes did the brunt of the damage at a packed Páirc Ui Chaoimh.
And all this while playing against the wind and keeping John Allen's home side's scoreless.
Two early points from play from DJ Carey and a brilliant sideline two-point cut from Brian Barry signalled the visitors' evident intent.
Carey was in blistering form in the opening skirmishes and the Young Irelands star set up Martin Comerford for Kilkenny's goal on 13 minutes.
Ben O'Connor opened Cork's account 13 minutes later with a well-taken free and another from the Newtownshandrum attacker helped the home side limp in at 0-02 to 1-07 down.
On came Brian Corcoran and Joe Deane for the Rebels after the break, and slowly but surely, Cork turned the screw. Three O'Connor frees on the bounce saw Allen's charges back to a 0-08 to 1-10 deficit with 17 minutes to go.
While Deane was denied a certain goal by Jackie Tyrell goalline block on the hour-mark, the nippy Cork forward did net five minutes later.
But with substitute Henry Shefflin and five-point hero Eoin Larkin keeping Kilkenny in front, Cork paid the price for their slow start and slumped to their first defeat in six league outings.
The Rebels are at home to Galway in two weeks' time, while Nowlan Park wins for Kilkenny over Tipperary and Wexford in the coming month should see them through to the Croke Park decider.
Scorers:
Cork: B O'Connor 0-09 (9f), J Deane 1-00, N McCarthy, N Ronan 0-01 each
Kilkenny: E Larkin 0-05 (3f), B Barry 0-03 (1sl), M Comerford 1-00, DJ Carey 0-02, H Shefflin, D Lyng, T Walsh, R Power (1f) 0-01 each.
| Related Stories: |
|
