Three goal Cork have the edge over Kilkenny in hurling league clash

Kilkenny fell to a second Allianz League defeat when going down by three points to Cork in a wet and windy UPMC Nowlan Park this afternoon.

A late Eoin Cody goal gave optimism that the Cats could snatch a late victory but the reality was they were much second best on the afternoon.

Brian Hayes, Barry Walsh and Alan Walsh all added majors for the Rebels while Alan Connolly also missed a penalty with Aidan Tallis's stock going up as he produced a couple of big saves for Kilkenny.

The way Kilkenny stayed in the game will give Derek Lyng and the management team plenty of reasons to feel they are on the right track and it was a slow start that proved to be their undoing.

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Brian Hayes netted a goal within three minutes for the league leaders and with Cormac O'Brien increasing the early buffer with a sideline cut from distance, it was always an uphill task from there for the hosts.

Cork also had a big wind behind them but with Mossy Keoghan, Cian Kenny and David Blanchfield tapping away at the scoreboard, Kilkenny were still very much in the game.

It was four points without reply deep inside the final quarter that really got the Cork momentum going and as a result they took 1-9 to 0-6 lead into the break.

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Cian Kenny narrowed the deficit at the start of the second half and the James Stephens man also had a goalbound effort saved by Paudie O'Sullivan shortly afterwards before Cork won a penalty.

Alan Connolly could only drive the shot wide but Cork still benifitted from a man extra after league debutant Ivan Bolger was black carded for bringing down Barry Walsh in the square.

Walsh was a constant threat up top for the winners and he got his side's second goal a couple of minutes later when blasting a shot into the bottom corner.

Kilkenny refused to throw in the towel though and 1-3 without reply including an expertly taken Eoin Cody goal left just a point between the sides going down the straight.

An Alan Connolly free then steadied the Cork nerves before substitute Alan Walsh sealed the win for the Munster side when goaling within seconds of coming off the bench.

Cian Kenny and Darragh Corcoran knocked over late points in response for Derek Lyng's men but it wasn't enough as Cork won out on a 3-12 to 1-15 scoreline.

Teams and Scorers

Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), Brian Hayes 1-1, Barry Walsh, Alan Walsh 1-0 each, Cormac O’Brien, Tommy O’Connell, William Buckley, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Cian Kenny 0-8 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), Eoin Cody 1-0, Mossy Keoghan, David Blanchfield 0-2 each, Ed McDermott, Darragh Corcoran, John Donnelly 0-1 each. 

Cork: Paudie O'Sullivan; Niall O’Leary, Daire O’Leary, Sean O’Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Ciaran Joyce, Cormac O’Brien; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Darragh Fitzgibbon, William Buckley, Hugh O’Connor; Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes, Barry Walsh. 

Subs: Ethan Twomey for O’Brien (50 mins), Robbie O’Flynn for O’Connor (60 mins), Ger Millerick for D O’Leary (66 mins), Alan Walsh for B Walsh (68 mins), Michael Mullins for O’Mahony (71 mins). 

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Ivan Bolger, Mikey Carey, Mikey Butler; Killian Doyle, Darragh Corcoran, Jordan Molloy; Richie Reid, David Blanchfield; Liam Moore, Cian Kenny, Paddy Deegan; Eoin Cody, Ed McDermott, Mossy Keoghan. 

Subs: John Donnelly for McDermott (46 mins), Tom Phelan for Doyle (55 mins), Luke Connellan for Reid (61 mins), Liam Hogan for Keoghan (65 mins), David Barcoe for Bolger (69 mins). 

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

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