Kieran Kingston: ‘We owed it to our supporters to put on a performance here’

Cork 1-27 Kilkenny 2-20

Cork’s pursuit of a first national league title since 1998, their 14th in all, gained further momentum with a four-point win over old rivals Kilkenny in an exciting semi-final in perfect conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

An official crowd of 16,910 saw Cork finish strongly to qualify for their first decider since 2015 with a stunning Darragh Fitzgibbon goal, five minutes from the end of regulation time, the catalyst.

The dynamic midfielder sped on to a well-judged pass by substitute Conor Cahalane to brush off a number of tackles before crashing a shot in off the body of goalkeeper Eoin Murphy.

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That edged Cork in front for only the second time in a high-scoring encounter at 1-23 to 2-18 and Conor Lehane, who took over the free-taking duties from the replaced Patrick Horgan, along with a Fitzgibbon point, shoved Cork five clear entering the four minutes of injury-time.

Manager Kieran Kingston was delighted with the result in front of the home supporters. “It was a big occasion, a big game and we owed it to our supporters to put on a performance here because we have only one game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the Munster championship,” he said.

A couple of newcomers caught the eye for the winners, notably Ciarán Joyce at wing back and Alan Connolly, scorer of 0-4, in the corner, while the switch of Robert Downey to full back for the second half was also significant.

Despite falling six points in arrears early on, Kingston praised his players for sticking to the game plan.

“I think it showed the character in the group to come back and win a knock-out game by four points in the end.

“Obviously, the goal was crucial and I also thought the depth in our squad was hugely important, as well.”

For Kilkenny, defenders Mikey Butler and Mikey Carey, enhanced their reputations, but the attack faded in the last quarter, when the need was at its greatest.

Manager Brian Cody was upbeat afterwards, despite the result. “I thought we played very well for long periods, but didn’t finish the game as well as we would have liked,” he commented.

Kilkenny set out their stall from the throw-in and hit Cork with 1-4 inside six minutes, Eoin Cody and Billy Ryan sharing the points.

The goal came in the third minute, Pádraig Walsh’s pace setting up Martin Keoghan, who finished smartly before Cork settled.

They were still five adrift after a quarter-of-an-hour, when Cork hit five points without response, highlighted by Joyce and Connolly scores, though their vulnerability in defence almost led to the concession of a second goal, only for Walter Walsh’s effort to hit the inside of an upright and away from the target.

A Horgan free tied matters at 1-6 to 0-9 after 22 minutes and Kilkenny needed the brilliance of Eoin Murphy to deny Conor Lehane with Horgan unable to capitalise with the rebound.

But, a second goal duly arrived, Kilkenny again pouncing after 30 minutes, when Carey’s long delivery presented Keoghan with the opportunity to take on the Cork defence before rattling in his second goal.

Kilkenny led by 2-12 to 0-14 at the interval with Cork reliant on Horgan’s placed ball accuracy to keep them in touch.

The pattern continued on the resumption with the scores coming thick and fast, Murphy setting the tone within seconds of the resumption.

Cork restored parity by the 45th minute with substitute Tim O’Mahony firing over from distance, his side’s fourth without response, 0-20 to 2-14.

Kilkenny rallied to edge two in front only for Horgan to cancel them out before being replaced and a Lehane free nudged Cork ahead for the first time, 0-23 to 2-16, on the hour.

It didn’t last long, however, and the Cats reclaimed their two-point lead, courtesy of substitute John Donnelly and a Murphy free before Fitzgibbon’s powerful surge altered the complexion of the tie.

At the end of added-on time, Kilkenny tried for a goal from a Murphy free, but Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins blocked it and with it came the final whistle, to the obvious delight of the home supporters.

CORK: P Collins; N O'Leary, D O'Leary, D Cahalane; R Downey, M Coleman (capt), C Joyce (0-1); D Fitzgibbon (1-3), G Millerick; R O'Flynn (0-1), S Barrett (0-1), C Lehane (0-6, three frees); A Connolly (0-4), P Horgan (0-9, eight frees), S Kingston (0-1).

Subs: T O'Mahony (0-1) for D O'Leary (h-t), S Harnedy for Barrett (46 mins), C Cahalane for Kingston (52), J O'Connor for Horgan (59).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; M Butler, H Lawlor, C Delaney; M Carey, P Deegan, D Blanchfield (0-1); C Kenny (0-1), C Buckley (0-1); W Walsh, P Walsh (0-2), E Cody (0-4); B Ryan (0-4), M Keoghan (2-0), A Murphy (0-6, five frees).

Subs: J Maher for Kenny (46 mins), J Donnelly (0-1) for Keoghan (60), R Reid for Buckley (63).

Referee: S Stack (Clare).