Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Kilkenny 2-23 Cork 2-22

Kilkenny defeated Cork by 2-23 to 2-22 in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A on Saturday March 12th at Pairc Ui Rinn.

A late score was needed to separate Cork and Kilkenny in the hurling https://t.co/eI8ZNRG6h9 pic.twitter.com/Empab0uhr9

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) March 12, 2016

A late score was needed to separate Cork and Kilkenny in the hurling

By Michael Moynihan, Pairc Ui Rinn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork 2-22 Kilkenny 2-23

Cork lined out in their 1916 jerseys in Pairc Ui Rinn but Kilkenny came away with the win courtesy of a late, late point from substitute John Power after an entertaining NHL 1A clash.

Cork defended the city end goal in the first half and were far brighter starting than in previous games, dominating the early proceedings and leading 0-5 to 0-2 after 10 minutes, with Seamus Harnedy spurning a good goal chance to boot. The 8,105 in attendance saw the St. Ita’s man make amends on 13 minutes, however, fielding the ball and goaling well – late replacement Cormac Murphy added a point immediately after, 1-6 to 0-3 on 14 minutes.

FT at Pairc Ui Rinn.@OfficialCorkGAA 2-22 to 2-23 @KilkennyCLG.
Reaction next on Setanta Ireland. #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/UqoqQ4Pnwz

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 12, 2016

The home side duly dominated the following 10 minutes, their movement up front causing the visitors’ full-back line no end of problems. Cork pushed their lead to 1-10 to 0-6 by 25 minutes, but Kilkenny then came back into contention. TJ Reid (two frees) and Walter Walsh helped the Cats close the gap as they came to grips with the game, but a late Horgan free restored Cork’s lead to four at the break, 1-12 to 0-11.

Kilkenny stormed into the game on the resumption with five points on the spin, a superb Richie Hogan effort from the wing the pick of the bunch – 0-16 to 1-12 on 43 minutes. Murphy and Horgan (65) swapped points with Reid before Harnedy created another goal chance on 50 minutes, this one finished by Bill Cooper.

Luke O’Farrell and Harnedy points then stretched Cork’s lead to 2-16 to 0-17. Reid, inevitably, cut their lead to three with frees but Lehane made it a four-point game again. Two Horgan frees had Cork five ahead going into the final 10 minutes, but Kilkenny stayed in touch with Reid and when Fennelly goaled with four minutes left the game was anybody’s – a Lester Ryan point cut Cork’s lead to one, and Reid supplied another goal to nudge Kilkenny ahead.

Lehane levelled for Cork and the home side had chances to win it before Power intercepted a late delivery by Cork keeper Patrick Collins for the winner.

Man of the Match @SeamusHarnedy reacts to @OfficialCorkGAA's one-point defeat to @KilkennyCLG. #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/Gs8raeGPuy

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 12, 2016

Scorers for Cork: S. Harnedy (1-3); C. Lehane (0-1 free)(0-4 frees, 0-1 65)(0-6 each); B. Cooper (1-0) C. Murphy (0-2); L. McLoughlin, P. Haughney, B. Lawton, L. O’Farrell and D. Kearney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid (0-10 frees)(1-12); C. Fennelly (1-2); L. Ryan, W. Walsh (0-3 each); D. Cody, R. Hogan, J. Power (0-1 each).

CORK: P. Collins, K. Burke, D. Cahalane, S. McDonnell ( c), C. Murphy, C. Joyce, L. McLoughlin, P. Haughney, J. Cronin, B. Lawton, B. Cooper, C. Lehane, L. O’Farrell, S. Harnedy, P. Horgan
Subs: D. Kearney for Cronin (48); S. Moylan for Haughney (58); P. O’Sullivan for Horgan (65); W. Egan for Murphy (69).

KILKENNY: R. Reid, P. Murphy, J. Holden, S. Prendergast ( c), P. Walsh, K. Joyce, C. Buckley, C. Fogarty, D. Cody, C. Fennelly, TJ Reid, C. Martin, W. Walsh, R. Hogan, K. Kelly
Subs: L. Ryan for Fogarty (1); J. Maher for Martin (HT); J. Power for Kelly (50).

Referee: F. Horgan (Tipperary)

Relegation play-off for Cork as Kilkenny supersub Power strikes late to break Rebel hearts https://t.co/EANBsMII1H pic.twitter.com/TTdevc0Zt3

— The42.ie GAA (@The42GAA) March 12, 2016

Smash and grab as Kilkenny deny Cork first league win in thriller https://t.co/Kj9wYJ0iDd pic.twitter.com/5wUiLGuCIL

— Independent Sport (@IndoSport) March 12, 2016

In Pictures: Kilkenny land dramatic winner in injury time over Cork. https://t.co/9P6MOFHGCA pic.twitter.com/GMq79hWUew

— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) March 12, 2016

"The Cork public and the Cork team will be very happy with that performance." – Eoin Kelly. #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/GydDEPG8CH

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 12, 2016

.@OfficialCorkGAA manager Kieran Kingston reacts to tonight's one-point defeat vs @KilkennyCLG. #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/KYX1v2VgIO

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 12, 2016

.@KilkennyCLG manager Brian Cody reacts to his side's thrilling one point win over @OfficialCorkGAA. #AllianzLeagues https://t.co/Zx1kDfixWZ

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) March 12, 2016

Team News

CORK (HL v Kilkenny): P Collins (Ballinhassig); K Burke (Midleton), D Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), S McDonnell (Glen Rovers); S O’Neill (Bishopstown), C Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), L McLoughlin (Kanturk); P Haughney (Midleton), J Cronin (Lisgoold); B Lawton (Castlemartyr), B Cooper ( Youghal), C Lehane (Midleton); L O’Farrell (Midleton), S Harnedy (St Ita’s), P Horgan (Glen Rovers)
Subs: A Nash (Kanturk), S Murphy (Blackrock), C O’Sullivan (Sarsfields), W Egan (Kilbrin), C Murphy (Mallow), N Cashman (Blackrock), D Kearney (Sarsfields), C Cormack (Blackrock), P O’Sullivan (Cloyne), S Moylan (Douglas), W Leahy (Aghada).

KILKENNY (HL v Cork): R Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks); Paul Murphy (Danesfort), J Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks), S Prendergast (Clara); P Walsh (Tullaroan), K Joyce (Rower-Inistioge), C Buckley (Dicksboro); C Fogarty (Erin’s Own), D Cody (James Stephens); C Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks, TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks), C Martin (Emeralds); W Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), R Hogan (Danesfort), K Kelly (St Patrick’s)