Allianz NHL- Cats battle to vital win in Cork
Kilkenny 0-21 Cork 1-17
A stoppage time John Donnelly point was enough to give Kilkenny their first win of the Allianz League as they overcame a slow-starting Cork in Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Relief will be the main emotion for the Cats though as they let Cork back into the game after leading by nine points at one stage of the opening half.
The away side were on fire in the early minutes of the game with Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody and Cian Kenny in particular standing out for the side in black and amber as they moved into a huge lead.
The Rebels hit back with 1-3 before half-time as Conor O'Callaghan's goal kept the home side in touch at the change of ends (0-13 to 1-7).
It was nip and tuck throughout the second period and a Conor Lehane score put the Rebels in front for the only time in the 58th minute.
Derek Lyng's team showed great character inside the final quarter and for the second week in a row Billy Drennan was influential of the bench in getting three points.
Tim O'Mahony and Patrick Horgan had chances late on to at least give Cork a share of the spoils but they were narrowly missed while Walter Walsh was denied a goal by Patrick Collins in what was his first inter-county action of the year.
John Donnelly was in a similar boat to Walsh and he nailed the late winner with great aplomb and Kilkenny will now go into the break with a spring in their step as they maintained their unbeaten record after two games.
The Cats will next play Offaly at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday February 25 and the Faithful County showed in their draw with Wexford that they will be no pushovers.
Teams and Scorers
Kilkenny- Eoin Cody (0-7, five frees), Adrian Mullen (0-5), Billy Drennan (0-3, two frees), John Donnelly, Cian Kenny (0-2 each), Shane Murphy, Mikey Carey (0-1 each)
Cork- Patrick Horgan (0-9, nine frees), Conor Lehane (0-4), Conor O'Callaghan (1-0), Tim O'Mahony, Tommy O'Connell, Robbie O'Flynn, Shane Barrett (0-1 each)
Kilkenny- Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Darragh Corcoran, Shane Murphy; Cian Kenny, Mikey Carey; Conor Heary, John Donnelly, Adrian Mullen; Billy Ryan, Luke Hogan, Eoin Cody.
Subs: Mossy Keoghan for Ryan h-t, Billy Drennan for Hogan 45 mins, Kevin Blanchfield for Carey 50 mins, Walter Walsh for Heary 54 mins, Peter McDonald for Kenny 63 mins.
Cork- Patrick Collins; Eoin Downey, Eoin Roche, Sean O'Donoghue; Tim O'Mahony, Niall O'Leary, Rob Downey; Tommy O'Connell, Conor O'Callaghan; Luke Meade, Conor Lehane, Sean Twomey; Robbie O'Flynn, Patrick Horgan, Shane Kingston.
Subs: Ger Mellerick for R.Downey 20 mins, Niall Roche for Meade h-t, Ethan Twomey for O'Callaghan 42 mins, Shane Barrett for O'Flynn 43 mins, Mark Coleman for E.Downey 48 mins.
Referee- Johnny Murphy (Limerick)