Allianz HL D1A: Cork maintain winning run

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Cork 3-12 Kilkenny 1-15

Cork remain on track to qualify for next month’s Allianz Hurling League Final after they claimed a narrow victory over Kilkenny in tough conditions at UPMC Nowlan Park.

It’s a rare success for Cork in the Marble City and even though they were without a number of frontliners including Rob Downey, Mark Coleman, and Seamus Harnedy, it was a game they were largely dominant in.

The Rebels notched three goals over the course of the 70 plus minutes via Brian Hayes, Barry Walsh and Alan Walsh, but on another day it could have been much more with Alan Connolly missing a penalty and Aidan Tallis producing a number of big saves.

That Cork inefficiency almost came back to bite when an Eoin Cody goal narrowed the deficit to just a point late on, but the visitors were able to see the game out in a clash that they led from pillar to post.

Cork had a big wind at their back and they immediately took control when Brian Hayes batted a shot past Kilkenny stopper Aidan Tallis in the third minute.

Cormac O’Brien followed up with a well taken sideline cut before Kilkenny grew into the contest with points from Cian Kenny, Ed McDermott and Mossy Keoghan.

With Alan Connolly knocking over a few placed balls, the league leaders created a bit of momentum and as they hit four points without reply between the 26^th and 30^th minutes, they eased into a six point lead at the break.

Darragh Fitzgibbon and Eoin Downey had efforts that were saved so Kilkenny would have been relatively content with the elements at their back in the second period.

Cork’s inefficiency close to goal continued when Alan Connolly fired a penalty wide after Barry Walsh was brought down in the square by Ivan Bolger, who then received a black card on his league debut.

Sensing an opportunity, Kilkenny gradually got closer on the scoreboard and on the back of a pair of Cian Kenny frees, the Leinster side narrowed the gap to four.

A second Cork goal via Barry Walsh then looked to have put the game beyond the Cats, but with Kenny, John Donnelly and Mossy Keoghan scoring in succession before Eoin Cody blasted a shot to the net five minutes from time, it was all to play for once again.

Cork rode the storm, however, and a third goal from sub Alan Walsh who was only seconds on the field eventually put the game beyond Kilkenny.

Kenny and Darragh Corcoran did point late on for the hosts, but it was Cork who went home the happier as they maintained their unbeaten league record.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (6fs, 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.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Cian Kenny 0-8 (7fs, 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), Robbie O’Flynn for O’Connor (60), Ger Millerick for D O’Leary (66), Alan Walsh for B Walsh (68), Michael Mullins for O’Mahony (71).

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), Tom Phelan for Doyle (55), Luke Connellan for Reid (61), Liam Hogan for Keoghan (65), David Barcoe for Bolger (69).

Referee: T Walsh (Waterford).