Cork 0-18 Kilkenny 1-1:CORK MIGHTN'T be Kilkenny's main challengers any more, but there was more than enough edge to yesterday's Allianz NHL Division One match before a 10,102 crowd at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Niggling confrontations and a cantankerous undercurrent ran through the afternoon at the end of which the home side had maintained their perfect start to the season with a third win out of three.
The biggest fracas came at the end of the first half, which referee Dickie Murphy probably wishes he hadn’t let run as long as it did, but after the pushing and jostling had subsided Kilkenny corner forward Michael Grace was shown a straight red card for what television pictures suggest was giving a dig with the hurl.
The team battled well with 14 men for the second half, but eventually Cork pulled clear in an exciting conclusion.
It will have been hard for either manager to have divined a huge amount from what passed, but Cork’s Denis Walsh was happy to have erased the memory of last year’s mauling by the All-Ireland champions although he didn’t see a major connection.
“There were only seven of today’s 15 started the match last year, but I’m sure from a Cork hurling point of view this was a matter of pride. These guys have been together a long time and the new guys have blended in very well. I think we got the message today they wanted to win in the last quarter of an hour when it was there to be won and we could easily have left it behind us.”
Asked had he seen what happened in the pre half-time disturbances, he cheerfully stuck to the established protocol. “I didn’t really. I did an Arsene Wenger to it; the old eyesight is letting me down.”
Kilkenny counterpart Brian Cody was no better informed: “I just didn’t see it. It was completely the far side of the pitch from where I was.” And to be fair that went for the rest of us on that side of the ground.
The outstanding performer was Cork wing back John Gardiner whose form has returned to close to his best. Having played recently at centrefield he lined out yesterday at wing back and had a huge influence on the match, both in winning ball at the back and also providing his team’s main source of scores with a series of long-range strikes from both play and dead ball opportunities.
He didn’t miss any and provided a quick-thinking crossfield pass in the 61st minute teeing up Cathal Naughton. The latter and his Newtown clubmate Ben O’Connor looked rusty, but Jerry O’Connor injected some late urgency when introduced as a replacement.
The match started in a hurry with Richie Power pulled down for a penalty just after throw-in, but Donal Óg Cusack made a fine block and the ball was cleared.
Almost immediately Kieran Murphy was sent in by Naughton at the far end and drew another good save, this time from PJ Ryan.
Cork had the upper hand in the first quarter and led by three, 0-5 to 0-2, but the proceedings were tight with defences notably more successful than attacks. The home side’s forwards struggled to make anything of what came their way, the starting six managing just four 0-4 from play. They weren’t getting a great service either with a preponderance of clearances culminating in being hoovered up by Kilkenny’s half backs and behind them John Dalton at corner back.
Aisake Ó hAilpín again showed ability to win high ball, but was ineffective in distributing it quickly enough to cause damage.
Another couple of goal chances in quick succession in the 21st minute saw Aidan Fogarty take a dextrous pick while on the ground, but his scramble shot was cleared whereas at the other end Mark O’Sullivan was hooshed off the ball when soling in on goal.
Kilkenny’s John Mulhall again caught the eye – and not just for his bewildering array of helmet changes – scoring 1-3 from play and earning a mention from Cody for the second week running.
Power’s frees helped Kilkenny draw level by the interval at 0-8 each and all to play for even if Cork had the man advantage and allowing that Grace had scored two points while on the field.
Despite their depletion, the holders held on well and going into the final quarter sprang into the lead after some overelaboration by Cork at the back gifted possession to Power who played in Mulhall for the match’s only goal in the 49th minute.
It was Walsh’s main disappointment with the afternoon: “Gifting them the goal with a pass too many, but the lads know that. It could have cost us the game.”
Instead, the match settled into a scrappy contest with neither side scoring for 10 minutes. Gardiner, revelling in the extra space created by the sending off, got the scoreboard moving with another 65 and then Naughton equalised.
Cork won the last 10 minutes 0-5 to 0-3 with three of the scores coming from replacements O’Connor and Paudie O’Sullivan, back from injury, who bagged two.
Walsh paid tribute to the restored form of his match winner, Gardiner. “His hurling was very sharp both on the deck and in the hand, but if you were to see him training over the past two or three months you’d know he’s right.”
For Cody, it’s just one win in three, but he wasn’t unhappy. “It was a genuine performance. We were disappointed to lose it – as ever – but reasonably happy with the performance.”
CORK: D Cusack; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner (0-7, three 65s, two frees), R Curran, B Murphy; T Kenny (0-1), C Naughton (0-1); B O'Connor, M O'Sullivan, N McCarthy (0-2); K Murphy, A Ó hAilpín, P Horgan (0-4, two frees). Subs: J O'Connor (0-1)for O'Sullivan (49 mins); P O'Sullivan (0-2)for Horgan (57 mins); M Cussen for B O'Connor (61 mins).
KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; C Hickey, B Hogan, J Dalton; T Walsh, J Tyrrell, JJ Delaney; J Tennyson, PJ Delaney; J Mulhall (1-3), W O'Dwyer, E Larkin (0-1); M Grace (0-2), R Power (0-7, five frees), A Fogarty. Subs: E Brennan for O'Dwyer (44 mins); J Ryall for PJ Delaney (56 mins); S Cummins for JJ Delaney (68 mins).
Referee:Dickie Murphy (Wexford).
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