Kilkenny do the double

All-Ireland Under-21 HC Final replay/ Kilkenny 1-11 Tipperary 0-11: A brilliant opportunist goal by Paddy Hogan in the 21st minute steered Kilkenny to victory over Tipperary in a thrilling All-Ireland under-21 hurling final replay at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday.

Hogan's goal stemmed from a slip by Tipperary defender Jim Bob McCarthy who lost possession. The Kilkenny man collected and raced through the Tipperary defence before shooting to the net, putting Kilkenny ahead 1-4 to 0-5.

It was a lead Kilkenny never subsequently relinquished as they hung on doggedly in a hectic finish to complete an impressive senior and under-21 double.

Kilkenny fully deserved this win which brought them their third title in the grade in four years. They should have been further ahead at the interval than 1-6 to 0-7 but wasted some good possession through poor finishing and were also denied a certain goal in the 15th minute when Tipp goalkeeper Gerry Kennedy saved from Richie Hogan.

Though fiercely committed in an intense encounter, Tipperary were struggling to assert themselves in key areas, particularly at midfield and attack. They continued to press Kilkenny hard in a low-scoring second period but looked beaten when Kilkenny went four points clear through Richie Power's pointed free in the 24th minute.

James Woodlock pointed for Tipperary and, in the second minute of injury-time, he was fouled just outside the 20-metre mark. Daragh Egan's blast for goal was stopped and as the melee developed for possession, referee Brian Gavin blew for full-time.

Quality hurling was at a premium in an absorbing contest with Kilkenny marginally the classier outfit. Austin Murphy had a fine game for them in attack but James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, Michael Fennelly, John Dalton, Richie Power and Paddy Hogan were other key figures.

KILKENNY: L Tierney; K Joyce, J Tennyson, S Cummins; P Hartley, J Dalton, D Fogarty; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Fennelly; T J Reid, A Murphy (0-3), P Hogan (1-0); R Hogan (0-1), R Power (0-6), D McCormack. Sub: A Healy for McCormack.

TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; P Stapleton, A Byrne, C O'Brien; D Young, J B McCarthy, S Horan; J Woodlock (0-1), S Lillis; R O'Dwyer, N Teehan, D Sheppard; R Ruth (0-1), D O'Hanlon (0-2), D Egan (0-5). Subs: P Austin (0-2) for Sheppard, K Lanigan for Horan, D Hickey for Teehan, K Quinlan for Lillis.

Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).