Cork v Kilkenny at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh: Rebels seek to reverse last year's defeat 

Statistics without context can often be dressed up to almost mislead.

For instance, Cork’s defeat to Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium last Saturday night was the county’s first loss in the competition in 54 weeks. It sounds impressive but unfortunately it didn’t necessarily equate to silverware or success – there were only five games in between and the format of the competition changed.

The three-game winning run to finish last year’s campaign was not unimpressive, but the 12-team top division, split into two sixes, meant that the two defeats to start off with could not be afforded in terms of advancing to the semi-finals.

As it happens, the last team before Tipp to beat Cork in the league – Kilkenny – are the one travelling to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Saturday evening (5pm).

The Cats won two of their opening three matches and had been due to face Limerick last Sunday but the game was postponed. It means that Saturday will serve as an eliminator of sorts – the winners won’t necessarily be set for the league final but the losers’ hopes will be dashed.

The Rebels will hope for a different outcome to the 0-21 to 1-17 loss of February 10, 2024. A crowd of 16,274 were present for the first competitive GAA fixture in the renamed stadium – Cork’s minors defeated their Kilkenny counterparts in a challenge match beforehand – but the home faithful were quietened by the dominance of Kilkenny.

STRUGGLE

Cork struggled on their own puck-outs and, while they had some joy on Kilkenny’s long efforts, they were overturned too easily. A six-point burst moved the Cats 0-10 to 0-3 in front, though Cork’s Luke Meade might have had a goal chance only for a good David Blanchfield challenge.

But for Kilkenny wastefulness, the visitors would have been further in front than the 0-13 to 0-4 lead they possessed before Cork belatedly rallied. Patrick Horgan’s free had six points in it before a good Tommy O’Connell hook on Mikey Carey stopped Kilkenny fashioning a goal chance. Moments later, O’Connell’s midfield partner Conor O’Callaghan had the ball in the Kilkenny net following excellent build-up work by Seán Twomey.

The deficit was down to just three points at half-time. 

On the resumption, Kilkenny pushed ahead again but Cork were much better than they had been. 

Patrick Horgan was unlucky not to score another goal but the points continued to come.

Two more Horgan frees made it a one-point game before Conor Lehane intercepted a clearance and levelled. It took time for them to actually lead, Lehane again the man to do that – 1-15 to 0-17 on the 59th minute – but it was but a fleeting state of affairs and would only happen once.

After the game was levelled again, Billy Drennan was on hand to restore the advantage to Kilkenny once more. Horgan levelled with his ninth point as the regulation time ended but John Donnelly had the final say and Cork couldn’t find a leveller.

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan 0-9 f, C Lehane 0-4, C O’Callaghan 1-0, T O’Connell, S Barrett, R O’Flynn, T O’Mahony 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: E Cody 0-7 (0-5 f), A Mullen 0-5, B Drennan 0-3 (0-2 f), J Donnelly, C Kenny 0-2 each, S Murphy, M Carey 0-1 each.

CORK:  P Collins; S O’Donoghue, E Roche, E Downey; T O’Mahony, N O’Leary, R Downey; T O’Connell, C O’Callaghan; L Meade, C Lehane, S Twomey; R O’Flynn, P Horgan, S Kingston.

Subs: G Millerick for R Downey (21, injured), B Roche for Meade (half-time), E Twomey for O’Callaghan (42), S Barrett for O’Flynn (44, injured), M Coleman for E Downey (49).

KILKENNY: E Murphy; T Walsh, H Lawlor, M Butler; D Blanchfield, D Corcoran, S Murphy; C Kenny, M Carey; A Mullen, J Donnelly, C Heary; E Cody, L Hogan, B Ryan.

Subs: M Keoghan for Ryan (half-time), B Drennan for Hogan (45), K Blanchfield for Carey (51), W Walsh for Heary (55), P McDonald for Kenny 64).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).