NHL Division 1A: Kilkenny 0-22 Cork 0-15

Kilkenny got their first win of this season’s Allianz National Hurling League with a 0-22 to 0-15 win against Cork in Nowlan Park.

The run of 0-6 without reply for Kilkenny in a six minute spell in the opening 12 minutes of the second half proved crucial, with Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan hitting over two points apiece, TJ Reid (free) and Conor Martin from play to push them into an 0-18 to 0-12 lead.

Before that scoring run by the Cats, Cormac Murphy found himself in a good position on the right but his goal effort was saved by Eoin Murphy. Conor Lehane slotted over the resulting 65’ to level the sides at 0-12 each in the opening minutes of the second half, but it was to be Cork’s last score until Dean Brosnan’s 50th minute point, as the Kilkenny rearguard eventually limited the Rebels to just five second half points.

Two Richie Leahy points gave Kilkenny a 0-20 to 0-13 lead with under 20 minutes remaining before Anthony Nash made a fine save to deny Colin Fennelly a goal to keep Cork in the game heading into the final 15 minutes, as Kieran Kingston made a double change bringing on Patrick Horgan and Stephen McDonnell to replace Shane Kingston and Killian Burke.

Cork were down to 14-men with 10 minutes remaining when Cormac Murphy saw a straight red as the Rebels trailed 0-21 to 0-14 and any chance of a comeback looked unlikely.

The result never looked in doubt heading into the closing stages and the excellent Man of the Match Richie Hogan stretched Kilkenny’s lead to eight points with four minutes remaining, before Alan Cadogan registered the final score of the game as it finished Kilkenny 0-22 Cork 0-15.

Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy slotted over his second free from distance to give Kilkenny a three point lead 0-10 to 0-7 with five minutes remaining in the first half, but Cork finished the half strongly with Conor Lehane pointing a free and a 65’ which came after his goal chance was batted away by Eoin Murphy with Murphy also stopping Luke Meade’s follow-up effort. Those goal chances coming after Jason Cleere’s attempted clearance fell to Shane Kingston who’s effort was blocked by the Kilkenny defence.

Richie Hogan pointed for the Cats, but Conor Lehane put over another excellent 65’ on the stroke of half-time to leave it Kilkenny 0-11 Cork 0-10 at the break.

Frees from TJ Reid and Eoin Murphy gave the Cats a 0-2 to 0-0 score lead inside the opening two minutes, before a Conor Lehane free opened Cork’s account.

Walter Walsh and Alan Cadogan traded points before Richie Leahy restored Kilkenny’s two point advantage. Two Cork points in-a-row from Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane left the two sides level for the first time in the game at 0-4 apiece after 10 minutes.

A majestic TJ Reid point from distance gave Kilkenny a 0-7 to 0-6 lead after 20 minutes. Cork were then dealt a blow when they lost midfielder Daniel Kearney through a hand injury. After the Sarsfields clubman collided with Kieran Joyce, he was replaced by Cormac Murphy.

Murphy found himself in lots of space and delivered in a dangerous ball from distance to set up Alan Cadogan for a good goal chance but Paul Murphy defended well to see off the danger for the Cats. It was an entertaining first half which ebbed and flowed and Cork looked threatening in creating goal chances.

The second half was not as close as Kilkenny outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-5 and that key spell of 0-6 without reply early in the second half was to prove to be key to victory for Brian Cody’s side.

It’s a first win of this season’s Allianz National Hurling League for Kilkenny after they opened with defeats to Waterford and Clare, they travel to Semple Stadium to face Tipperary next Saturday.

For Cork, it’s back-to-back defeats, after opening with victory against Clare, they went down by eight points to Dublin at home two weeks ago. They now look to get their league campaign back on track when they travel to Walsh Park to face Waterford next Sunday.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid (0-7, 0-6 frees), Richie Hogan 0-5, Richie Leahy 0-3, Walter Walsh 0-3, Eoin Murphy 0-2 (0-2 frees), Cillian Buckley 0-1, Conor Martin 0-1

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy, Paul Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Conor O’Shea, Conor Fogarty, Jason Cleere, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley, Paddy Deegan, TJ Reid, Colin Fennelly, Richie Leahy, Richie Hogan, Conor Martin, Walter Walsh

Subs: Shane Prendergast for Kieran Joyce (HT), James Maher for Richie Leahy (64)

Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 0-10 (0-3 frees, 0-3 65′), Alan Cadogan 0-2, Dean Brosnan 0-1, Bill Cooper 0-1, Seamus Harnedy 0-1

Cork: Anthony Nash, Killian Burke, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane, Christopher Joyce, Mark Ellis, Mark Coleman, Bill Cooper, Daniel Kearney, Dean Brosnan, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Alan Cadogan, Seamus Harnedy, Luke Meade

Subs: Cormac Murphy for Daniel Kearney (22), Patrick Horgan for Shane Kingston (56), Stephen McDonnell for Killian Burke (56), Luke O’Farrell for Luke Meade (62)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)