Gallery: Cork and Kilkenny served up cracking intermediate hurling clashes

The provincial and All-Ireland intermediate hurling championships are no longer on the GAA’s agenda and more’s the pity. Cork have nine titles in all, the most, and landed the last title, two years ago.

In the more recent past the likes of Bill Cooper (below), Anthony Nash, Brian Murphy from Bride Rovers, Lorcán McLoughlin, Luke O’Farrell, Brian Lawton, Stephen Moylan, Shane O’Neill and others all had success on the intermediate stage before their graduation to senior ranks.

Cork was one of the counties that continued to participate right to the end and in Leinster, Kilkenny kept things going too.

In the years 2004, 2006 and 2009 the All-Ireland trophy was lifted under the managerial guidance of Johnny Keane, a great hurling man from Liscarroll.

“We participated in some very good games in those years, a lot of them against Kilkenny and an All-Ireland medal in any grade is something every player should be proud of," Keane told the Echo.

“I had very good men with me on the line and I must mention Pat O’Connell from Delanys who was there the whole time, a great hurling man.

“We beat them in the replay and we beat them after extra-time in Dungarvan in 2006. In 2009 we had a super team and won it easy against them."

“But that’s the way it is."
