THOSE of us who frequently complain that hurling should be confined to the dry sod of summer were given a tart reminder of our fallibility at Nowlan Park yesterday when Kilkenny and Tipperary produced a splendid match on a good pitch before a crowd little short of 15,000.
With the setting enhanced by the impressive new stand and the hurling appetite whetted by a closely contested schools final between St Kieran's and Good Counsel, the scene was set for a stirring clash. Nobody was disappointed, except perhaps the Tipperary contingent who must have felt that they were entitled to at least a share of the spoils.
There must have been some apprehension among those same supporter at half time when Kilkenny were leading by eight points to three, but within three minutes of the second half Tipperary had cut that deficit to a mere point and the game was well and truly alight.
The second half hour produced some superb hurling and there was little if anything between the two teams until Kilkenny produced the move of the match to snatch victory by the narrowest of margins.
Predictably, it was Adrian Ronan who provided the coup de grace with the winning score with only three minutes to go, but it must be pointed out that the slick passing of Bill Hennessy, Pat Farrell and Canice Brennan played a major part in opening up the Tipperary defence.
Ronan's contribution of 10 points, seven of them from frees, was a wonderful haul and proves that Kilkenny do not need to depend solely on DJ Carey when it comes to getting scores. On this occasion, Carey was missing for all but six minutes of the match.
He had been replaced before the start by PJ Delaney, after reporting that he felt unwell with a virus, but with Kilkenny struggling to retain their control of the game as it reached its climax, team manager Nicky Brennan decided that Carey's appearance might inspire.
Brennan admitted afterwards that he was anxious about the absence of Carey. He wasn't feeling well and I decided to leave him out. As well as that, Michael Phelan was suffering from a similar problem, but I simply couldn't afford to leave the two of them out and I had to take Michael off near the end because he was totally drained.
"I knew that DJ's appearance on the pitch would lift the other lads. He immediately caused panic in the Tipperary defence although he didn't score," said a relieved Brennan, who now looks forward to a quarter final joust with Laois.
Tipperary started sluggishly and quickly found themselves three points adrift. Their malaise continued for the entire half but the only consolation they could look to at half time was the fact that Kevin Tucker had kept theme afloat with three points. Ronan had reaped a rich reward with five points, four of them from frees. Derek Gaffney, Charlie Carter and PJ Delaney provided the balance of their half time total.
Tipperary restarted in quick fashion and a point by substitute Philip O'Dwyer and a goal by Declan Ryan, after good work by Brian O'Meara, cut the lead to a point.
A free from long range by Michael Cleary levelled the scores, but Carter forced Kilkenny back into the lead and three points by Ronan, two from frees, opened up a four point lead (0-12 to 1-5). Tipperary surged back, however, and Raymie Ryan and Kevin Tucker kept Tipperary in the hunt before another Ronan free left the score at 0-13 to 1-7.
Two points by Conor Gleeson, who made a big impression after coming on as a substitute, cut the lead to the minimum again and Declan Ryan then sent Liam Cahill scampering through for the equaliser with just five minutes left. However, Ronan's clinching point was worthy of the occasion.
