Kilkenny completed the first leg of a possible All-Ireland treble when they avenged last year's defeat to Cork in last night's All-Ireland IHC final at Semple Stadium.

Kilkenny 2-17
Cork 1-13

Corner forward Peter Cleere was the Cats' match-winner, scoring goals in the first minute and in injury-time as they regained the intermediate title after a one-year lapse. Cork's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of centre back Kevin Hartnett on a second yellow card with five minutes remaining.

Cleere's early goal, coupled with points from his namesake Nicky Cleere and Richie Dollard, had the Cats 1-2 to 0-0 in front before a wind-assisted Cork scored five of the next six points to draw level on 0-6 to 1-3 after 16 minutes. Cork captain Mark Harrington was denied a goal by a brilliant Liam Tierney save in the 18th minute as the Cats took a slender 1-6 to 0-8 advantage into the break.

After the sides were level five times, Kilkenny went on to dominate the second half before Colm Casey's 58th minute goal gave the Rebels hope. But Pat Hoban's side responded with a second goal from Cleere to seal the win.

Scorers - Cork: E Conway 0-7f, C Casey 1-1, B Cooper 0-3, D O'Callaghan 0-2f. Kilkenny: P Cleere 2-0, B Beckett 0-4 (1f), A Healy 0-4 (3f), R Dollard & M Grace 0-2 each, N Cleere (f), K Mooney (f), B Lennon, N Doherty & N Walsh 0-1 each

Cork: D McCarthy; M Walsh, C Fogarty, B Coleman; T Healy, K Hartnett, M Ellis; D O'Callaghan, B Fitzgerald; B Corry, B Cooper, C Casey; M Harrington, E Conway, M O'Sullivan. Subs: S Corry for Fitzgerald (48), B Lawton for Conway (53), J Halbert for O'Sullivan (55)

Kilkenny: L Tierney; M Phelan, P Murphy, K Mooney; J Cotterell, R Cody, N Doherty; P Hartley, N Walsh; B Beckett, R Dollard, N Cleere; M Grace, P Cleere, A Healy. Subs: B Lennon for Cody (37), N Doherty for N Cleere (47)

Referee: A Kelly (Galway). Tweet

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