Kilkenny 2-22 Cork 0-22
Cork’s miserable record at UPMC Nowlan Park was renewed and it looks as though they may have lost more than just a League semi-final too.
Although Kilkenny held a six-point lead when Cork full-back Eoin Downey was red-carded in the 50th minute, the game was still a going concern with the visitors backed by a hefty breeze.
But it was never closer than four points after that as Kilkenny, without being hugely impressive, saw it out comfortably to reach a first League final since they last won the competition in 2018, notwithstanding the fact that they shared the title with Galway in the Covid-disrupted 2021 season.
READ MORE: Ugly scenes as melee breaks out between Cork and Kilkenny in league semi-final
Downey’s red card came after a protracted brawl broke out along the sideline, with four yellow cards flashed in addition.
There didn’t appear to be a particular standout incident amid all the chaos and the suggestions afterwards were that he was dismissed for interfering with an opponent’s helmet.
As it stands, he will now miss Cork’s Championship opener against Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on April 30.
“We just have to have a look at it,” said Cork boss Pat Ryan, signalling their intent to seek a hearing on Downey’s behalf.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t see Eoin doing too much. There were 25 fellas involved. A fella getting sent off for something like that, and he’s going to miss a Championship match, in a League game.
“Even David Fitzgerald last week for Clare getting sent off and missing a championship match, I think it’s totally unfair. They are separate competitions and I think they should be treated that way.
“Obviously, we’ll be looking at the video and seeing if we can appeal that because, look, I don’t think he did too much.”
The defeat was an eighth in nine games for Cork against Kilkenny at this venue, the exception being a meaningless play-off match on their previous visit four years ago.
Ryan lamented their slow start, saying that it was “maybe fellas not attacking the ball enough”, though they recovered reasonably well to be within striking distance at half-time.
Richie Hogan, making his first start since the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final, put Kilkenny in front after 30 seconds but it would be a further 21 minutes before they registered another score from play as Billy Drennan stroked over seven placed balls in the interim.
Playing into a reasonably stiff breeze, Cork were slower to settle but managed to stay in touch for the most part and even when Martin Keoghan’s 22nd minute goal, laid on by Paddy Deegan, opened up a five-point deficit, they still finished the half stronger with Conor Cahalane and Jack O’Connor picking off nice scores and Padraig Power seeing a goal effort fizz over Eoin Murphy’s crossbar.
After two fine John Donnelly points for the home side, Shane Kingston closed out the half with a pair of frees for Cork to leave it at 1-12 to 0-12 at the break.
It was point for point early in the second half until Drennan broke through on goal and earned a penalty after Damien Cahalane’s stray stick caught him on the side of the head. He stroked home the penalty to double Kilkenny’s lead in the 46th minute and when Downey got his marching orders four minutes later, there was only going to be one winner.
Padraig Walsh was deployed as the extra man at the back and mopped up plenty of ball and though Cork got some impetus from the introduction of Patrick Horgan, who won two converted free when making his first appearance since round one, but reducing the margin to four points on two occasions was as close as they got.
The League final may come too soon for Kilkenny talisman TJ Reid though his free-taking certainly hasn’t been missed with Drennan flawless from placed balls once again.
It remains to be seen how the Galmoy youngster will be deployed come Championship given the restrictions around eligibility for under-20 and senior level. The under-2os play Dublin on the same day that the seniors open their Championship campaign against Westmeath on April 22.
“We'll see how the fixtures go and we'll discuss that,” said Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng, who was under-20 manager himself last year.
“He's obviously a part of the senior set-up, as are Timmy (Clifford) and Gearóid (Dunne) as well, and they've been playing important roles. Obviously we'll have to balance it out and see what way the fixtures go in terms of the under-20 championship as well so we'll have to look at that.
“Today was another big test for him and a lot of those players, like Gearóid had a really positive impact when he came on, Timmy as well. They're all working hard.”
The victory for his side sets up a League final against Limerick the weekend after next, their first such meeting since 2006, when Lyng was part of a Kilkenny team that was about to string four All-Irelands together, just what Limerick are aiming to achieve this year.
“They are a phenomenal team, there's no question about it,” he acknowledged. “I think it's a great opportunity for our squad, a lot of them are young players testing themselves against a super team like that and they can only learn from that and it's something to look forward to now.
“That’s what we want. There’s no point in being here otherwise. We’re playing against a phenomenal team and we’ll have a crack at them and either way we’re getting ready for Championship. We’re going to learn a huge amount from it.
“Lads are going to get exposed to teams like Limerick, how they play, how they set up and that can only be good in terms of our development as a team so I’m looking forward to that.”
KILKENNY: Eoin MURPHY 7; Mikey BUTLER 7, Tommy WALSH 7, Padraig WALSH 7; Darragh CORCORCAN 7, Huw LAWLOR 7, David BLANCHFIELD 7; Conor FOGARTY (0-1) 7, Alan MURPHY (0-2) 6; Richie HOGAN (0-1) 6, John DONNELLY (0-2) 7, Paddy DEEGAN 7; Billy DRENNAN (1-13, 1-0 pen, 0-8f, 0-4 ‘65’) 8, Martin KEOGHAN (1-0) 7, Tommy CLIFFORD (0-1) 6.
Subs: Cian Kenny (0-1) for Hogan (50), Gearoid Dunne (0-1) for Clifford (59), Niall Brennan for Murphy (68), Conor Delaney for Corcoran (70), Evan Cody for Butler (70+2).
CORK: Patrick COLLINS 7; Niall O’LEARY 6, Eoin DOWNEY 5, Damien CAHALANE 6; Tommy O’CONNELL 6, Ciaran JOYCE 6, Robert DOWNEY (0-1) 8; Brian ROCHE 6, Ethan TWOMEY 5; Conor CAHALANE (0-2) 6, Conor LEHANE 5, Shane BARRETT (0-3) 7; Shane KINGSTON (0-9, 0-8f) 6, Padraig POWER (0-1) 6, Jack O’CONNOR (0-1) 6.
Subs: Tim O’Mahony (0-1) for Twomey (51), Patrick Horgan (0-3f) for O’Connor (51), Ger Millerick for Conor Cahalane (53), Brian Hayes for Power (67).
REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow).
QUOTE ME ON THAT
“They are a phenomenal team, there's no question about it. I think it's a great opportunity for our squad, a lot of them are young players testing themselves against a super team.”
Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng on Limerick test.
STAR MAN - Billy Drennan (Kilkenny)
A flawless display of shooting with 1-13 from 14 shots, albeit just 0-1 from play though he assisted several scores too. How Kilkenny manage his under-20 overlap will be interesting.
AN OTHER - Eoin Downey (Cork)
Cork have high hopes for the emerging Glen Rovers defender but, after his red card, he stands to miss their critical Championship opener against Waterford in five weeks’ time.
UP NEXT
KILKENNY: Limerick, League final (n), April 9
CORK: Waterford, Munster SHC (h), April 30
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