Kevin Kelly
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IA: KILKENNY 2-17 TIPPERARY 0-18
By Jackie Cahill
Two late Kevin Kelly goals handed Kilkenny victory over arch-rivals Tipperary at Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Cats bounced back from last weekend’s defeat against holders Waterford to kickstart their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A campaign in front of 10,892 spectators.
For Kilkenny, this is a hugely significant victory achieved without a host of recognised stars, and against a Tipp side that saw off Dublin by 14 points in their opening fixture.
Kilkenny’s win also ensures that Tipp’s dismal record against the Noresiders since 2010 continues.
In 13 competitive League and championship fixtures since Tipp denied the Cats five-in-a-row All-Ireland titles, they have won just two and on paper at least, this was one they would have felt confident of winning.
Brian Cody will have left the venue today feeling deeply satisfied with the depth in his panel as forwards Kelly and Man-of-the-Match James Maher put their hands up for long-term inclusion in his starting line-up.
Kelly’s two clinical goals put this one to bed for Kilkenny as Maher chipped in with four points. Hurler of the Year TJ Reid was also mightily impressive for the hosts, collecting ten points.
For Tipp, John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer was their standout performer with a haul of nine points and while other Premier County players produced some nice cameo moments, Kilkenny had the greater stomach for the fight.
The Kilkenny psychological hex is one that Tipp have struggled to shake off for a long time now and this defeat won’t help their cause.
Kilkenny could also afford the luxury of 13 wides and in a hard-hitting encounter, they went in just a point down at half-time, 0-8 to 0-9, having played against the breeze.
Goal chances came and went at either end of the pitch before Kelly struck for that late, decisive brace. Walter Walsh’s delivery saw sub Jonjo Farrell get in behind Cathal Barrett, who slipped, and Kelly finished Farrell’s pass from close range.
Kelly found the net with a low strike past Darren Gleeson in the third minute of stoppage time as Kilkenny laid down an early-season marker.
**Scorers for Kilkenny: **TJ Reid 0-10 (6f, 1 65), K Kelly 2-1, J Maher 0-4, P Walsh 01, W Walsh 0-1
Scorers for Tipperary: J O’Dwyer 0-9 (3f, 2 65s), J McGrath 0-4 (1f), C Kenny 0-2, N McGrath 0-2, M Breen 0-1.
**KILKENNY: **E Murphy; P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh, R Lennon, D Cody; L Ryan, C Fogarty; C Fennelly, TJ Reid, J Maher; W Walsh, K Kelly, J Power. **Subs: **JJ Farrell for Power (62), K Joyce for Holden (62).
TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; C Barrett, T Hamill, M Cahill; B Maher, J Barry, Pádraic Maher; M Breen, D Quinn; D McCormack, Patrick Maher, J O’Dwyer; N McGrath, C Kenny, J McGrath. **Subs: **N O’Meara for Kenny (50), R Maher for Quinn (52), J Meagher for Pádraic Maher (68), A Coffey for McCormack (68).
Referee: C McAllister (Cork).
