Cork hurlers secure fourth successive league win as newcomers hit the net against Kilkenny
FOCUSED: Cork's Brian Hayes in possession during Sunday's Allianz HL Division 1A game at UPMC Nowlan Park, shadowed by Mikey Carey of Kilkenny. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Cork’s squad depth was illustrated in fine fashion as a fourth straight Allianz Hurling League Division 1A win was earned away to Kilkenny on Sunday.
With nine changes, including three players making their first starts in the league, Cork’s winning start to the campaign might have been seen as vulnerable but they never trailed at any stage. An early goal from Brian Hayes put them in front then in the second half Barry Walsh marked his debut with a green flag.
While Kilkenny responded well to that and with within two points in the dying minutes, Alan Walsh – on for his namesake – added a third goal with his first involvement.
Victory moves Ben O’Connor’s side to eight points and, with Limerick the only opposition within four, a place in a second successive league final is within touching distance.
With the breeze in the first half, Cork had amassed a 1-9 to 0-6 lead. They could have been even further ahead – and the opening stages of the second half offered further opportunities to forge clear.
Hugh O’Connor, one of those starting for the first time, saw a shot trickle just wide under pressure from goalkeeper Aidan Tallis, though at the other end another of the newcomers, goalkeeper Paudie O’Sullivan, did brilliantly to deny Cian Kenny after a slick move.
Kilkenny full-back Mikey Carey blocked Brian Hayes shot after an O’Connor half-chance and then Walsh did superbly to claim Alan Connolly’s pass before being hauled down by Ivan Bolger – penalty and a black card.
Unfortunately for Cork, Connolly’s penalty was low but off-target and, despite the numerical shortfall, Kilkenny began to eat into the deficit as two Cian Kenny frees had them within four, 1-11 to 0-10, by the 52nd minute.
However, four became seven just after that as Walsh did well to win a loose ball and used his strength to create space before blasting past Tallis. It was a platform to push on, but instead Cork would go 12 minutes without a score as 1-3 from Kilkenny brough them back into the game.
The goal, from Eoin Cody after Liam Moore found him in space on 63, left it 2-11 to 1-13 – a Cork free, Alan Connolly’s seventh point, was a timely response and then Alan Walsh had an immediate impact as he rose to catch a Paudie O’Sullivan free and drill a shot home.
Points from Darragh Corcoran and Kenny left Kilkenny within a goal in injury time, but Cork, with Niall O’Leary impeccable in defence, held out.
The Rebels’ first goal was the opening score, arriving in the third minute: Darragh Fitzgibbon’s delivery allowed Alan Connolly to place Brian Hayes for a superb first-time finish.
That ensured that Cork stayed in front for the rest of the opening period, but chances for further green flags were not taken.
It could have been 2-2 to 0-0 as Ciarán Joyce’s pass to Connolly led to him drawing a save from Aidan Tallis – debutant Barry Walsh was following up to the rebound but, with a question of a foul, couldn’t get there and the ball was cleared.
Kilkenny belatedly got going with a pair of Cian Kenny frees but the home side found it difficult to make headway and looked vulnerable when Cork went direct. Wing-back Eoin Downey had a sight goal on 22 minutes but his low shot was deflected wide – Alan Connolly put over the resultant 65 for a 1-4 to 0-4 lead and, while David Blanchfield replied for Kilkenny after a quick Jordan Molloy free, Cork almost raised another green flag.
Tommy O’Connell, prominent throughout at midfield, won a good ball that set Darragh Fitzgibbon away; he placed his low shot well, but Tallis saved brilliantly.
After Connolly’s fourth point, a free, O’Connell got their first from play and that was followed by two more in quick succession, from Hayes and William Buckley, to move them six ahead.
However, the over-playing of which Cork were at times guilty almost punished them as goalkeeper O’Sullivan was almost caught by Paddy Deegan, having to divert the ball out for a 65.
They retired with that 1-9 to 0-6 advantage – their supremacy was tested by an improving Kilkenny in the second half but it was not overhauled.
C Kenny 0-8 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), E Cody 1-0, M Keoghan, D Blanchfield 0-2 each, E McDermott, D Corcoran, J Donnelly 0-1 each.
A Connolly 0-7 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), B Hayes 1-1, B Walsh, A Walsh 1-0 each, C O’Brien (sl), T O’Connell, W Buckley, D Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.
A Tallis; I Bolger, M Carey, M Butler; K Doyle, D Corcoran, J Molloy; R Reid, D Blanchfield; L Moore, C Kenny, P Deegan; E Cody, E McDermott, M Keoghan.
J Donnelly for McDermott (46, injured), T Phelan for Doyle (55), L Connellan for Reid (61), L Hogan for Keoghan (65), D Barcoe for Bolger (69).
P O'ullivan; N O’Leary, D O’Leary, S O’Donoghue; E Downey, C Joyce, C O’Brien; T O’Mahony, T O’Connell; D Fitzgibbon, W Buckley, H O’Connor; A Connolly, B Hayes, B Walsh.
E Twomey for O’Brien (50), R O’Flynn for O’Connor (60), G Millerick for D O’Leary (66), A Walsh for B Walsh (68), M Mullins for O’Mahony (70+1).
T Walsh (Waterford).
App?
