ABOUT 30 SECONDS after his arrival from the bench, Alan Walsh grabbed possession and smashed home Cork’s third goal in the 69th minute, sparking the ‘Rebels, Rebels’ chants and preserving their Division 1A Hurling League winning streak.
The result against Kilkenny all but guarantees Cork a league final placing.
Alan Walsh wasn’t the only new face to shine through at a damp and dreary UPMC Nowlan Park, though. Debutant Barry Walsh is developing a habit of grabbing goals on first senior starts.
He raised green flags on his first league and championship starts for Killeagh last year, and he did so again here for his first senior bout in red.
His goal arrived in the 53rd minute – just Cork’s third score of the second period – to put the Rebels up by seven. But, as Kilkenny do, they came clawing back. Three white flags in-a-row followed, before Liam Moore slipped through in the 64th minute to tee up Eoin Cody for a rasping finish to the bottom corner.
An Alan Connolly free would give Cork a two-point lead, before Alan Walsh announced himself with a strike to the net, leaving five between the teams heading into added time.
The Rebels wouldn’t score again, but Kilkenny’s final two scores merely reduced the deficit.
A crowd of 14,206 turned up to see Cork lead from start to finish, though it wasn’t always a comfortable journey.
The 42nd minute penalty Alan Connolly fired wide – after Barry Walsh had been brought down by Ivan Bolger, who was black carded for the offence – could have been costly for Ben O’Connor’s side. But Kilkenny weren’t able to punish them enough when they had the breeze in the second half, and the numerical disadvantage didn’t help.
Brian Hayes had netted early on to get Cork in front, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Connolly combining to set up Hayes for the batted finish.
A stunning wind-assisted sideline cut from Cormac O’Brien had Cork 1-1 to no score ahead with six minutes played, but Cian Kenny frees and points from Ed McDermott and Mossy Keoghan had the margin down to one after 15 minutes.
But Cork briefly established control and hit six of the next seven scores, to lead 1-8 to 0-5 after 30 minutes. Kenny’s 34th-minute free was the Cats’ first score in over 11 minutes. They had struggled to create against the breeze, hitting three wides and three short.
Eoin Cody had dropped into the half-forward line and Niall O’Leary followed him, leaving Ciarán Joyce free to sweep inside for Cork in the first half. Darragh Corcoran and Jordan Molloy shared the spare man duties at the other end, but they were unable to stop the Rebels from slicing through for goal chances.
Hayes and Darragh Fitzgibbon both had goal attempts denied by Aidan Tallis, while debutant goalkeeper Paudie O’Sullivan made a couple of impressive stops, too.
Goals were still the target again in the second half, and Cork converted enough to see out victory.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Cian Kenny 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 65), Eoin Cody 1-0, David Blanchfield, Mossy Keoghan 0-2 each, Darragh Corcoran, Ed McDermott and John Donnelly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Brian Hayes 1-1, Barry Walsh, Alan Walsh 1-0 each, Cormac O’Brien (sideline), Tommy O’Connell, Darragh Fitzgibbon and William Buckley 0-1 each.
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Cork overcome Kilkenny at Nowlan Park to stay perfect in Division 1A
Kilkenny 1-15
Cork 3-12
Jack McKay reports from UPMC Nowlan Park
ABOUT 30 SECONDS after his arrival from the bench, Alan Walsh grabbed possession and smashed home Cork’s third goal in the 69th minute, sparking the ‘Rebels, Rebels’ chants and preserving their Division 1A Hurling League winning streak.
The result against Kilkenny all but guarantees Cork a league final placing.
Alan Walsh wasn’t the only new face to shine through at a damp and dreary UPMC Nowlan Park, though. Debutant Barry Walsh is developing a habit of grabbing goals on first senior starts.
He raised green flags on his first league and championship starts for Killeagh last year, and he did so again here for his first senior bout in red.
His goal arrived in the 53rd minute – just Cork’s third score of the second period – to put the Rebels up by seven. But, as Kilkenny do, they came clawing back. Three white flags in-a-row followed, before Liam Moore slipped through in the 64th minute to tee up Eoin Cody for a rasping finish to the bottom corner.
An Alan Connolly free would give Cork a two-point lead, before Alan Walsh announced himself with a strike to the net, leaving five between the teams heading into added time.
The Rebels wouldn’t score again, but Kilkenny’s final two scores merely reduced the deficit.
A crowd of 14,206 turned up to see Cork lead from start to finish, though it wasn’t always a comfortable journey.
The 42nd minute penalty Alan Connolly fired wide – after Barry Walsh had been brought down by Ivan Bolger, who was black carded for the offence – could have been costly for Ben O’Connor’s side. But Kilkenny weren’t able to punish them enough when they had the breeze in the second half, and the numerical disadvantage didn’t help.
Brian Hayes had netted early on to get Cork in front, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Connolly combining to set up Hayes for the batted finish.
A stunning wind-assisted sideline cut from Cormac O’Brien had Cork 1-1 to no score ahead with six minutes played, but Cian Kenny frees and points from Ed McDermott and Mossy Keoghan had the margin down to one after 15 minutes.
But Cork briefly established control and hit six of the next seven scores, to lead 1-8 to 0-5 after 30 minutes. Kenny’s 34th-minute free was the Cats’ first score in over 11 minutes. They had struggled to create against the breeze, hitting three wides and three short.
Eoin Cody had dropped into the half-forward line and Niall O’Leary followed him, leaving Ciarán Joyce free to sweep inside for Cork in the first half. Darragh Corcoran and Jordan Molloy shared the spare man duties at the other end, but they were unable to stop the Rebels from slicing through for goal chances.
Hayes and Darragh Fitzgibbon both had goal attempts denied by Aidan Tallis, while debutant goalkeeper Paudie O’Sullivan made a couple of impressive stops, too.
Goals were still the target again in the second half, and Cork converted enough to see out victory.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Cian Kenny 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 65), Eoin Cody 1-0, David Blanchfield, Mossy Keoghan 0-2 each, Darragh Corcoran, Ed McDermott and John Donnelly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Brian Hayes 1-1, Barry Walsh, Alan Walsh 1-0 each, Cormac O’Brien (sideline), Tommy O’Connell, Darragh Fitzgibbon and William Buckley 0-1 each.
Kilkenny
1. Aidan Tallis (Glenmore)
2. Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels), 3. Mikey Carey (Young Irelands), 17. Ivan Bolger (Graignamanagh)
6. Darragh Corcoran (Shamrocks Ballyhale – captain)
5. Killian Doyle (Emeralds), 7. Richie Reid (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 8. Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels)
11. Cian Kenny (James Stephens), 9. David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)
10. Liam Moore (Dicksboro), 14. Eoin Cody (Shamrocks Ballyhale), 12. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
13. Ed McDermott (James Stephens), 15. Mossy Keoghan (Tullaroan)
Subs:
Cork
1. Paudie O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s)
3. Daire O’Leary (Watergrasshill), 4. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
6. Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr)
5. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 2. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), 7. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum)
8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 9. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
10. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville – captain), 11. William Buckley (St Finbarr’s), 12. Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket)
13. Barry Walsh (Killeagh), 15. Alan Connolly (Blackrock), 14. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s)
Subs:
Referee: Tomás Walsh (Waterford).
******
Results – GAA Hurling League
Division 1A
Division 1B
******
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