Cork keep winning, Galway await Cats tomorrow
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Kilkenny 1-15
Cork 3-12
Round 5, UPMC Nowlan Park
The visitors left UPMC Nowlan Park with maximum points last weekend, as Cork maintained their perfect start to this season’s National League Campaign. Ben O’Connor’s team were full value for the win and had three points to spare at the long whistle. Any hopes of a grandstand finish for Kilkenny were quashed when substitute Alan Walsh took a lovely catch before outmuscling Clara’s David Barcoe and blasting to the net to give the Rebels a 5-point lead with less than two minutes or normal time remaining. The Cats did manage to cut the deficit to three, but time was not to be their friend.
It may well have been the first day of meteorological Spring, but conditions on Noreside were not great for both sides, gusting winds and driving rain the order of the day at Kilkenny headquarters. Derek Lyng made one change to his starting line-up with Ivan Bolger coming in for Fenian’s Rory Garrett at corner back. The young Graiguenamanagh player would go on to have an eventful afternoon in the black and amber. Both sides registered early wide’s as they tried to master the elements, but the first score was a major one for the travelling men in red. Alan Connolly took a nice catch and gave a lovely hand pass to the advancing Brian Hayes who blasted to the back of the net, not the start the hosts had planned for.
The towering Hayes caused problems for the Cats all afternoon, and the St Finbarr’s clubman almost goaled again moments later, but for a fine intervention from Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis. The Leesiders built on the major when wing back Cormac O’Brien showed beautiful skill in converting a sideline cut from close to halfway to leave it 1-1 to no score after five minutes of the Round 5 encounter. The home side got the scoreboard moving in the 8th minute, the Village’s Cian Kenny successfully dispatching his first place ball effort of the game. The James Stephens man quickly tagged on a second free to reduce the Cork lead to two points and the deficit was cut further when Mossy Keoghan split the posts, having been set up nicely by Paddy Deegan.
Alan Connolly got his first of the day when Liam Moore was harshly adjudged to have fouled his man. The Dicksboro player who has shown some great promise in this year’s league campaign, then did well before passing to Ed McDermott who popped over a nice point. The battle between Mikey Carey and Brian Hayes was always going to be fascinating, and Waterford whistler, Thomas Owens blew for a foul by the Young Irelands man which allowed Blackrock’s Connolly to pop over the placed ball. Another fast attacking move by the Rebels almost led to a second goal, but thankfully, Mikey Butler got something on the shot, which went out for a ‘65. Step forward Alan Connolly, who tagged on his third point in the 21 minute. The industrious Jordan Molloy then did well to set up Davind Blanchfield and the Bennettsbridge man split the Cork posts from distance.
The hard running from the Cork players was causing problems for the home side, and the rampaging Darragh Fitzgibbon got a shot off that Aidan Tallis did brilliantly to deflect behind for another ‘65, which was pulled wide by Alan Connolly. The Blackrock clubman was successful with his next opportunity, given to him by referee Owens, slightly soft in my opinion. From the restart, the Leesiders won possession and work the ball to Tommy O’Connell and the Midleton man rifled over from out on the left side, as the travelling faithful found their voices. Another delivery into the Kilkenny defence saw Brian Hayes take the catch and swivel before striking over to make it a double score game. The talented William Buckley then struck over a sweet effort, but the home side responded with a free from Cian Kenny, following a foul on Paddy Deegan. There was time for one more score, and it was another from the hurl of Alan Connolly, again the visitors benefiting from a questionable decision to take a 6-point lead into the interval.
There appeared to be a little more spring in the step of those in black and amber when play resumed. This was evident in the opening exchanges of the second half and Kilkenny benefited from this when great pressure by Cian Kenny saw Cork blown up for over carrying and the James Stephens man converted the free. The creative schemer was then denied by Cork netminder Paudie O’Sullivan, the Fr O’Neill’s man making a smart save to deny the Cats number 11. Then came a huge moment in the game. Alan Connolly sent a searching pass towards Barry Walsh, who won it ahead of Ivan Bolger. The Killeagh man turned and headed for goal but was hauled down by the young Graiguenamanagh player. Double jeopardy, penalty, and a black card. Kilkenny down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes. They say things happen in 3’s, but luckily for the Noresiders, Alan Connolly pulled his penalty wide of Aidan Tallis’s right hand post.
The wrecking ball that is Darragh Fitzgibbon then embarked on one of his trademark runs which ended with the Charleville player splitting the posts for his sides first score of the second period. Some nice passing from the home side saw the ball worked to David Blanchfield, who notched his second of the afternoon from his midfield berth. Kilkenny were then forced into a change; Ed McDermott received some treatment but couldn’t continue and was replaced by Thomastown’s John Donnelly. Lyng’s charges were having to work harder, a man down and behind on the scoreboard; it was all hands on deck and Cork won a free when Mossy Keoghan tried in vain to stop his opponent. Alan Connolly struck the effort over, the gap out to six once more.
John Donnelly then tried to burst through the Rebels defence, but was fouled by centre back Ciaran Joyce, much to his surprise. Cian Kenny split the posts, and the Village star did so again minutes later, this time after Liam Moore was fouled to bring the deficit back to four points, but the next green flag for the visitors was on the horizon. Darragh Fitzgibbon batted the ball along the ground from a ruck, and Alan Connolly flicked the ball towards Barry Walsh, who tuned inside Richie Reid before rifling to the net. Rebels by seven with just under 20 minutes to play at UPMC Nowlan Park. After a little bit of handbags, the home side were awarded a free which Cian Kenny converted and the Cats built on this with a lovely score from John Donnelly. Tom Phelan was then sent on, replacing Killian Doyle and the next score again came from the men in stripes, Mossy Keoghan firing over.
With the gap now at four points, there appeared to be some momentum with the Cats, and they harnessed this with their next score. A ruck was developing, and several players battled for possession. Somehow, Tom Phelan managed to pop a hand pass to Liam Moore who burst clear before giving a pass to Eoin Cody. The Shamrocks Ballyhale man struck his shot hard and into the ground, past the despairing dive of Paudie O’Sullivan to leave just the bare minimum between the sides with about 8 minutes of normal time remaining. Paddy Deegan then tested Brian Hayes jersey quality, test passed, free to Cork, another point for Alan Connolly.
Another couple of changes for the home side, Luke Hogan and David Barcoe replacing Mossy Keoghan and Ivan Bolger respectively. Cork also made a change; Alan Walsh replacing their second goal scorer, Barry Walsh. This decision would prove dividends almost immediately. Paudie O’Sullivan’s free was plucked out of the air by sub Alan Walsh who rifled his shot beyond the helpless Aidan Tallis. Rebels by five with time running out. You got the feeling that Kilkenny would need another goal to have any chance of getting something from the game, but they would only tag on two further points, a lovely effort from play by captain, Darragh Corcoran and another placed ball from the hurl of Cian Kenny. One last ball into the Cork defence, but it was claimed by a red jersey, then the long whistle sounded, Leesiders by three. Next up; Galway in Pearse Stadium. Final score, Kilkenny 1-15, Cork 3.12.
Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Mikey Butler, Michael Carey, Ivan Bolger; Killian Doyle, Darragh Corcoran (0-01), Richie Reid; Jordan Molloy, David Blanchfield (0-02); Liam Moore, Cian Kenny (0-08, seven frees, one 65), Paddy Deegan; Ed McDermott (0-01), Eoin Cody (1-00), Martin Keoghan (0-2).
Subs: John Donnelly (0-01) for McDermott 45th min; Tom Phelan for C. Doyle 55th min; Luke Connellan for R. Reid 60th min; Luke Hogan for Keoghan 65th min; David Barcoe for I. Bolger 68th min.
Cork: Paudie O’Sullivan; Niall O’Leary, Dáire O’Leary, Sean O’Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Ciarán Joyce, Cormac O’Brien (0-01); Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell (0-01); Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-01), William Buckley (0-01), Hugh O’Connor; Barry Walsh (1-00), Brian Hayes (1-01), Alan Connolly (0-0-7, frees).
Subs – Ethan Twomey for C. O’Brien 49th min; Robbie O’Flynn for H. O’Connor 59th min; Ger Mellerick for D. O’Leary 65th min; Alan Walsh (1-00) for B. Walsh 67th min; Michael Mullins for T. O’Mahony 70th min.
Referee: Tomás Walsh (Waterford)
