Allianz Hurling League Division 1 – Kilkenny 1-17 Tipperary 1-10

Allianz Hurling League Div 1

By Martin Breheny for the Irish Independent newspaper

Monday February 14 2011

BRIAN Cody leaned back against the wall in the corridor outside the Semple Stadium dressing-rooms and got down to what he has done so often over the past 13 years — discussing another Kilkenny victory. A win in a first-round league game on a miserably wet February night is relatively low down the food chain when it comes to comparing the many tasty dishes Kilkenny have served up during his stewardship, but Saturday night’s success was nonetheless significant. Kilkenny like to do things right and that includes making the most of the league, a policy which has served them extremely well over the years. They took the first confident stride in that direction while also seizing the early advantage in what is certain to be a fierce psychological battle with Tipperary throughout the year.

A good night for Kilkenny then, who out-scored Tipperary by 1-13 to 0-4 from the 23rd minute on. That included a 0-9 to 0-1 superiority blitz before half-time, followed by a goal from the impressive Colin Fennelly 20 seconds into the second half. That goal ensured a Kilkenny victory and, from there on, the second half wound its way to an inevitable conclusion. As the rain intensified, it made catching, passing, foot-holding and striking increasingly difficult but, cushioned by a substantial lead, Kilkenny negotiated it comfortably against a Tipperary team whose fortunes fluctuated wildly over the 70 minutes.

The All-Ireland champions were ahead by 1-6 to 0-4 after 22 minutes and seemed poised to hand new manager Declan Ryan a winning start, only to lose their way to such a degree that at no stage in the second half did they look like challenging Kilkenny’s dominance. Their early enterprise stemmed from many quarters, with Shane McGrath, Pa Bourke, Padraic Maher, Hugh Maloney and Noel McGrath busy and effective. Ger Ryan whipped in their goal after nine minutes and when Shane McGrath put them five points clear after 22 minutes, their supporters in the 9,465 crowd must have felt that Tipperary were on their way to a third successive win over Kilkenny in a year. “From there on, our legs seemed to go a bit. Kilkenny were a lot stronger and made full use of their chances,” said Tipp’s new manager. “Tipperary were going very well early on. They had great movement in attack and were making things hard for our defence. But there was still an awful long way to go and, once we settled in, things changed,” said Cody.

They most certainly did and nowhere was it more pronounced than in the duel between Jackie Tyrrell and Pa Bourke, or in the influence exerted by Michael Fennelly. Bourke’s sniping runs, combined with his accuracy from frees, were central to Tipperary’s early advantage but once Tyrrell locked onto his game he quickly secured the No 6 and surrounding areas. Fennelly started at centre-forward but made by far a bigger impact when switched to midfield, while John Mulhall prospered from his move in the opposite direction. Aidan Fogarty launched the Kilkenny surge in the 23rd minute and they added eight more points before the interval, interrupted only by a John O’Neill point for Tipperary.

Kilkenny led 0-13 to 1-7 at half-time, leaving Tipperary in need of a good start to the second period. However, it had barely begun when a swift Kilkenny attack sent Colin Fennelly powering through for a goal. Tipperary had made three substitutions at half-time (“injuries and a few guys with a bit of tummy bug that’s going around,” explained Ryan) and had used the full quota of five by the 54th minute. Kilkenny, in contrast, played the same 15 all through, a most unusual development in the modern game. “Not too many of them (subs) were putting their hands up to go out on such a horrible night,” joked Cody before explaining that the lack of bench action was down to the success of the starting 15 on the night. “As the game went on, we got stronger and stronger and thankfully we avoided injuries too. It’s like this: nobody earned the right to be taken off,” he said.

With both sides well below full-strength, no great atmosphere in a stadium which was four-fifths empty and with heavy rain making life very awkward for the players, the game didn’t quite live up to its billing but in terms of putting the early-season jigsaw pieces together, Kilkenny were far more successful. After the early promise, Tipperary were out-hurled and out-muscled, especially in attack. A four-point return (three from open play) in the final 48 minutes was disappointingly low, all the more so when contrasted with the 1-6 haul in the opening 22 minutes. “Kilkenny are probably a couple of weeks ahead of us in preparation. Our guys seemed to tire as the game went on,” said Ryan.

As for positives, Ryan said that it gave him a chance to assess the extended squad, although he can’t have been too pleased with what he saw. For Kilkenny, it was business as usual, once they warmed to the challenge. “You always like to make a good start to the league so it’s satisfactory from that point of view,” said Cody. More than that, it’s ominous for the rest of the contenders.

Scorers — Kilkenny: R Hogan 0-10 (8f), C Fennelly 1-0, A Fogarty, J Mulhall 0-2 each, M Fennelly, E Brennan, T Walsh 0-1 each. Tipperary: P Bourke 0-4 (4f), G Ryan 1-0, N McGrath 0-2 (1s-l), S McGrath, J O’Neill, Patrick Maher, T Hammersley 0-1 each.

Kilkenny — D Herity; J Dalton, JJ Delaney, P Murphy; T Walsh, J Tyrrell, PJ Delaney; M Rice, J Mulhall; R Hogan, M Fennelly, A Fogarty; C Fennelly, E Brennan, TJ Reid.

Tipperary — D Gleeson; P Stapleton, Padraic Maher, C O’Brien; D Young, C O’Mahony, H Maloney; B Maher, S McGrath; G Ryan, P Bourke, N McGrath; T Hammersley, Patrick Maher, J O’Neill.

Subs: B O’Meara for Hammersley (h-t), S Hennessy for S McGrath (h-t), M Cahill for O’Mahony (h-t), J Woodlock for O’Brien (49), B Dunne for B Maher (54).

Ref — B Gavin (Offaly)

Cats sharpen their claws

Kilkenny 1-17 Tipperary 1-10

By Diarmuid O’Flynn from the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, February 14, 2011

IT would happen, wouldn’t it? This being the opening game of the 2011 Allianz Hurling League and thus the first official appearance of Tipperary since their All-Ireland triumph last September, the draw drum was kind enough to pair the Premier men with Kilkenny – their victims in that match. And so it was that the Cats would form the traditional guard-of-honour and applaud the champions as they burst onto the Semple Stadium pitch on Saturday night. And for the first 22 minutes of what was becoming a fine contest it was Tipperary bursting into the game with real swagger. They had a 1-6 to 0-4 lead built up while Kilkenny – it seemed – were still in courtesy mode, strangely lethargic and standing back. Why, even Jackie Tyrell, normally the most combative of hurlers, was playing ‘excuse-me’ hurling, allowing Pa Bourke to rule the roost on the 40 for that opening period (a run through the middle by Pa set up Gearoid Ryan for his goal).Admittedly Tyrell was at centre-back instead of his All-Star position of corner-back, but he’s no stranger to the pivot, has starred there for years with his club, James Stephens.

In that 22nd minute, however, and following a couple of astute switches from the sideline (Michael Fennelly from centre-forward to midfield, John Mulhall to centre-forward; corner-forward TJ Reid swapping positions with wing-forward Richie Hogan), all changed, all courtesies ended. The Cats were back, Jackie and his teammates found their claws. A run of nine points (two from the rejuvenated Mulhall), against just one for Tipperary (John O’Neill, one of seven who didn’t start for Tipp last September, Kilkenny too with just eight of the September 15 on view) left them 0-13 to 1-7 ahead at the break and with a firm grip on the game. It was a grip they would never relinquish. A goal inside half a minute of the restart from impressive league rookie Colin Fennelly extended the Kilkenny lead, and what had been a contest just petered out, the quality of the hurling deteriorating with the conditions. Tipperary huffed and Kilkenny puffed, but three points (Tipp) and four points (the Cats) was all they managed for the rest of the game, a disappointing crowd of well under 10,000 themselves left disappointed.

Last year’s climax to the 2010 season was a rip-roaring classic, and expecting the same — given the conditions and the fact that so many were missing from both sides – would have been asking far too much. Yet this nevertheless was anti-climax, and new Tipp manager Declan Ryan wasn’t in the mood for excuses. “They were a good bit sharper than us and they seemed to be hungrier as well. We could have done with a win and having a couple of points on the board, and it does put that extra bit of pressure on us for the rest of the League. I thought we did okay in the first 15, 20 minutes, after that the legs seemed to go, Kilkenny looked a lot stronger than us in most areas. There is plenty of work to be done, obviously.”

Plenty of work, yes, a few positives taken from the game, but overall, disappointment. “It was a good opportunity to see some of the guys on the extended squad, a good opportunity for those guys to show their wares and see what the top level of competition is like. I suppose it’s disappointing. We didn’t seem to be competitive enough in the second half, that’s probably more disappointing than the result. “It was a big day for us all as All-Ireland champions but Kilkenny are probably a couple of weeks ahead of us in preparation and I think it told. We’ve plenty to work on there in training over the next couple of weeks anyhow.”

From Brian Cody, understandably, a different perspective, especially given the manner in which Tipp had started out. “I was shattered!” he laughed, “They were strong and going very well, their movement in the forwards was serious and they were definitely troubling us at that stage. Our lads settled and we came back into it strongly, we got strong at midfield, latched on to good ball and got good scores. At that stage of the game, after 20 minutes, there’s so much of the game left that you can get into it again. There’s a long way to go and a four- or five-point lead is nothing really.” A long way to go is right, and already the Cats are leading the way. Will they be caught?

Scorers for Kilkenny: R Hogan 0-10 (0-8 frees); C Fennelly 1-0; J Mulhall 0-2; A Fogarty 0-2; M Fennelly, E Brennan, T Walsh, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: P Bourke 0-4 (all frees); G Ryan 1-0; N McGrath 0-2 (0-1 s/l); S McGrath, T Hammersley, Patrick Maher, J O’Neill, 0-1 each.

Subs for Tipperary: S Hennessey for S McGrath, B O’Meara for Hammersley, M Cahill for O’Mahony (all at half-time); J Woodlock for O’Brien (49); B Dunne for B Maher (inj. 54).

Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)

Tipperary 1-10 Kilkenny 1-17

From the RTE.ie web site

Saturday, 12 February 2011 23:01

Kilkenny opened the 2011 Allianz National Hurling League with a deserved win over Tipperary in Division 1 in Thurles. In wet and windy conditions, the Cats hit five successive scores before half-time to move into a 0-13 to 1-07 lead. Colin Fennelly’s early second half goal put Kilkenny six points clear and in the worsening weather, Tipp could not close the gap. Free-taker Richie Hogan finished with 0-10 for the victors, while Pa Bourke (0-04) and Gearoid Ryan (1-00) led the home side’s scoring. There was much anticipated ahead of this repeat of last year’s All-Ireland SHC final. There were personnel changes for Tipperary and Kilkenny, but both sides had strong spines.

JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell and Tommy Walsh bolstered the visitors’ defence, behind a Michael Rice-John Mulhall midfield pairing. Eddie Brennan and TJ Reid were joined by Colin Fennelly in the full-forward line. All-Ireland champions Tipp made seven changes to their Liam MacCarthy Cup winning side. Goalkeeper Darren Gleeson, wing back David Young and the forward trio of Pa Bourke, John O’Neill and Timmy Hammersley were among the new inclusions for the Premier County. In Declan Ryan’s first league match at Tipperary’s helm, Thurles Sarsfields clubman Bourke spurred the hosts into a 1-06 to 0-04 lead in the first half.

With the sides tied at 0-02 apiece, Bourke teed up Colin Fennelly for a low shot past Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity in the ninth minute. Bourke and Hogan exchanged frees as the players tried admirably to cope with the difficult conditions, and Shane McGrath drove forward from midfield to land Tipp’s sixth point. It was a business-like start from Ryan’s charges, but Kilkenny got on top as the first half wore on. They edged the centre-field battle and Michael Fennelly showed some nice touches. Three pointed frees from Hogan and scores from play from Aidan Fogarty and Mulhall got Brian Cody’s men back level at 0-09 to 1-06. John O’Neill replied at the other end.

But Kilkenny were finding their rhythm in attack and Hogan chipped in with two more and Mulhall and Michael Fennelly also landed late points to give their side a three-point advantage at the break. Tipperary’s hopes took a nosedive when the loss of Shane McGrath through injury was quickly followed by Colin Fennelly’s 37th-minute goal. He broke into space and gave Gleeson little chance with a stinging drive to the net. Noel McGrath and Patrick Maher roused the home fans with points from play, but scores were at a premium in a weather-affected second period. Maher had to be replaced after sustaining a leg injury and Fennelly should have grabbed his second goal five minutes from the end. Brennan gave him the opportunity, but this time Gleeson was equal to his shot and deflected it wide. Noel McGrath provided some late inspiration for Tipp with a terrific point from a sideline cut, but with time almost up, Tommy Walsh closed out the scoring for the victorious Cats.

Scorers:

Kilkenny: R Hogan 0-10 (0-08f), C Fennelly 1-00, J Mulhall, A Fogarty 0-02 each, M Fennelly, E Brennan, T Walsh 0-01 each

Tipperary: P Bourke 0-04 (0-03f), G Ryan 1-00, N McGrath 0-02 (0-01sl), T Hammersley, S McGrath, J O’Neill, P Maher 0-01 each

KILKENNY: David Herity; John Dalton, JJ Delaney, Paul Murphy; Tommy Walsh, Jackie Tyrrell, PJ Delaney; Michael Rice, John Mulhall; Richie Hogan, Michael Fennelly, Aidan Fogarty; Colin Fennelly, Eddie Brennan, TJ Reid.

TIPPERARY: Darren Gleeson; Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Conor O’Brien; David Young, Conor O’Mahony, Hugh Maloney; Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath; Gearoid Ryan, Pa Bourke, Noel McGrath; John O’Neill, Patrick Maher, Timmy Hammersley.

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)

Kilkenny draw first blood in the Allianz League

From the GAA.ie web site

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Kilkenny gained a measure of revenge for their 2010 All-Ireland final defeat with a 1-17 to 1-10 win over Tipperary in the opening game of the Allianz Hurling League under the lights at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday night. While the game failed to reach the heights of the sides’ epic September joust, the deplorable conditions mitigated against any fluid hurling, with the driving rain and wind making even the most basic skills almost impossible to execute, especially in the second half.

With Pa Bourke in excellent form in the opening 15 minutes, it was Declan Ryan’s side who made the better start and managed to lead by 1-6 to 0-4 at one point in the first half, with Gearóid Ryan firing home their goal in the ninth minute. However, Kilkenny, led magnificently by Michael Fennelly, began to gain a toehold in midfield and managed to turn the game on its head in the final 13 minutes of the second half. The Cats hit five successive scores to lead by 0-13 to 1-7 at the break and were almost out of sight within a minute of the restart when Colin Fennelly stole in for a fine goal.

With nine minutes gone, the sides were level at 0-2 apiece, but Bourke was causing problems for Tipperary at centre forward and the Thurles Sarsfields played a key part in his side’s opening goal, setting up Gearóid Ryan, who drove a low shot beyond David Herity. Bourke and Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan traded frees in the appalling conditions; Shane McGrath, the Tipperary midfielder, managed to find a chink in the Cats’ defence, but he drove a shot over the bar to give his side a 1-6 to 0-4 lead.

After a poor start, Kilkenny began to dominate, in midfield especially, and hit five successive scores to level the game. Three Richie Hogan frees and a pair from play, from Aidan Fogarty and John Mulhall, levelled the game at 1-6 to 0-9. John O’Neill stopped the rot with a point from play for Tipperary, but Kilkenny finished with four more points in succession, Hogan with a brace and Mulhall and Michael Fennelly hitting the target from a tight angle, as the Cats brought a three-point, 1-7 to 0-13, into the break.

Tipperary lost Shane McGrath to injury at half-time, but it was to get much worse for the Premier County, who shipped a goal two minutes after the resumption of play, when Cats corner forward Colin Fennelly broke clear and drilled a low shot to the back of the net to leave his side 1-13 to 1-7 ahead. Noel McGrath and Patrick Maher managed to engineer scores from play for Tipp in the deteriorating conditions, which were by now playing a real part in the game, and ensured ten minutes passed without another score.

Tipperary introduced James Woodlock, who missed all of last year through injury, but Brendan Maher was forced off in that period with what looked like a serious leg injury. Kikenny had a wonderful chance to put the game beyond any doubt in the 65th minute, but Tipperary goalkeeper Darren Gleeson deflected Colin Fennelly’s shot wide after the youngster had been played in by Brennan. As the conditions worsened, points were proving difficult to come by, but Noel McGrath did light up the gloom with a wonderful effort from a sideline. The last say, however, was to be Kilkenny’s, with Tommy Walsh landing the final blow with a point from play to give the Leinster champions a seven-point win.

Tipperary: Darren Gleeson, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Conor O’Brien, David Young, Conor O’Mahony, Hugh Maloney, Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath, Gearóid Ryan, Pa Bourke, Noel McGrath, John O’Neill, Patrick Maher, Timmy Hammersley.

Scorers for Tipperary: T Hammersley 0-1, P Bourke 0-4 (0-3f), G Ryan 1-0, S McGrath 0-1, J O’Neill 0-1, N McGrath 0-2 (0-1 sl), Patrick Maher 0-1.

Kilkenny: David Herity, John Dalton, JJ Delaney, Paul Murphy, Tommy Walsh, Jackie Tyrrell, PJ Delaney, Michael Rice, John Mulhall, Richie Hogan, Michael Fennelly, Aidan Fogarty, Colin Fennelly, Eddie Brennan, TJ Reid.

Scorers for Kilkenny: A Fogarty 0-2, R Hogan 0-10 (0-8f), J Mulhall 0-2, M Fennelly 0-1, C Fennelly 1-0, E Brennan 0-1, T Walsh 0-1.