Kilkenny 2-23
Cork 2-18

Robbie Donnelly struck for 1-11 as Kilkenny came from behind to defeat Cork in this afternoon's All-Ireland intermediate hurling championship final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The Cats outscored the home side by 2-7 to 0-1 in the closing quarter to take home their fifth title in the grade, with Donnelly (penalty) and substitute Tom Phelan firing in the goals.

Cork looked to have the better of the first-half proceedings thanks to the scores of Sean Hayes and Willie Leahy as they led by 0-9 to 0-7, but a dominant finish to the half saw Kilkenny leading by the minimum (0-11 to 0-10) at the interval.

Leahy and Rob O'Shea combined to send Jerry O'Neill through for this decider's first goal early in the restart and they looked in control until 'keeper Patrick Collins brought Darragh Brennan down in the 50th minute and Donnelly converted the penalty.

Four minutes later Phelan had the sliotar in the Leesiders' net again after scrambling home JP Treacy's delivery from the distance, and although hosts' substitute O'Shea pulled one back Kilkenny were able to hold out and retain their title.

Kilkenny - D Aylward; N Doherty, G Teehan, D Prendergast; B Whelan, C Fleming, J Cahill (0-1); JP Treacy, M Keoghan (0-3); P Holden (0-4), D Brennan, E Delaney (0-4); S Carey, M Power, R Donnelly (1-11, 1pen, 9f). Subs - T Phelan (1-0) for Fleming, L Hickey for Carey, J Cooper for O'Flynn, C Prendiville for Keoghan, J Power for Delaney, D Walsh for Cahill.

Cork - P Collins; B O'Sullivan, S O'Donovan, S Hegarty; K Morrison, D O'Donovan, K Kavanagh; D O'Flynn (0-1), M Collins (0-2); D Casey, N Kelly, J O'Neill (1-1); S Hayes (0-6, 5f, 1 sc), W Leahy (0-4), D Drake (0-2). Subs: T Lawrence for Morrison, R O'Shea (1-2, 1f) for Casey, M Kennefick for Hayes, N McNamara for O'Neill.

Ref - C Cunning (Antrim)

Tweet

Most Read Stories