Kingston’s goal helps hurlers edge past Kilkenny
Cork 1-24 Kilkenny 0-24
A WINNING start for Cork in Division 1A of the Allianz League, as Shane Kingston’s fourth-minute goal ultimately proved to be the difference in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.
Whereas 2017 was about eradicating the bad taste of the previous year, the high standards set in what proved to be Kieran Kingston’s final year in charge mean that Cork must build on the progress for the coming campaign.
A win over the Cats is the first step towards that, but it spoke volumes that new coach John Meyler pointed out that the Rebels’ display in the opening half hadn’t been up to the expected levels.
“We weren’t that sharp in the first half, I thought we were sloppy,” he said. “We had eight turnovers compared to Kilkenny’s two at half-time, but once we cut out the unforced errors and played the ball to the lads in the forwards in the second half, we were much more competitive.
“That will come, Kilkenny were sharper than us tonight, I’d expect that as they’ve played Offaly and Wexford in the last couple of weeks. It’s only a start, it’s only a win, it’s only two points, that’s all it is.
“Wexford will be a different challenge. We need to get these fellas recovered and back training Tuesday.”
The sides were level on 13 occasions, including at the beginning of injury time. In the eight added minutes – due to an injury to Kilkenny captain Cillian Buckley, though thankfully not too serious – Cork finally pulled clear of their opponents’ clutches, scoring five points to the Cats’ two.
Conor Lehane, excellent all night, got his tenth point of the game to put them back in front, then debutant sub Jack O’Connor got his name on the scoresheet and Kingston added another.
When Kilkenny won a 20m free, sub TJ Reid opted to take his point, but Lehane matched his tally with the number on his back to get his 11th. Conor Fogarty made things slightly nervy as he reduced the gap to two again, but captain Séamus Harnedy rounded things off for Cork.
Cork finished the game as they started it, as the biggest lead came right at the beginning, Robbie O’Flynn’s point followed by a goal from Kingston, well set up by Darragh Fitzgibbon.
It gave voice to the home faithful among the attendance of 16,189 but also jolted Kilkenny into life. They were soon level and twolong points from goalkeeper Eoin Murphy had them in front before Mark Ellis, Lehane and Harnedy replied for Cork.
In an open game, chances were always available and Kilkenny would have had a goal on 18 minutes but for a brilliant reaction save by Patrick Collins from Conor Martin after Walter Walsh set him up.
Collins was drafted in to keep goal after Anthony Nash decided not to make a dash down the motorway after Kanturk’s All-Ireland Club IHC semi-final game with Armagh’s Middleton.
“There were conflicting issues,” Meyler said. “The match was on in Newbridge at two o’clock, so getting a car down, if there were hold-ups and things like that, we probably would have been inside in the dressing room waiting for Nash.
“Then we heard the match was being switch to Abbotstown, so you know, we’ve faith in Pa and that’s the call you make. Nash was very supportive of him but that’s what we want within the team and that’s what we want within the panel, if somebody is missing that we’re able to play somebody else.”
At the other end, Alan Cadogan levelled at 1-6 to 0-9, Murphy’s save preventing it from being a goal, and the sides stayed close until the interval, with Richie Reid and Alan Murphy having Kilkenny a point ahead, 0-15 to 0-11, at the break.
Again, Cork had a trio of points in response, this time from sub Luke Meade, Harnedy and Lehane’s sixth.
Lehane was imperious from dead balls but Kilkenny were able to spring a free-taker of their own from the bench, TJ Reid levelling at 1-14 to 0-17 with his first touch.
Lehane’s seventh put Cork back in front, Alan Murphy’s fifth tying the game for the tenth time, but Cork had four the next five scores as they threatened to finally put some real daylight between the teams.
Lehane had two of that four while Daniel Kearney – like Collins and Ellis, a late addition before throw-in – and Fitzgibbon, with a wonderful effort, also registered and Kilkenny only had Buckley’s third in response.
They would lose Buckley to a nasty injury soon after that, but not before they managed to level things up once more. Full-back Pádraig Walsh charged out from defence on 58 to send the ball over, Reid added another free and Walter Walsh made it 1-19 to 0-22 on 64.
Having led for much for the second half, it was a test of the young Cork side, but they came through it.
CORK: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Eoin Cadogan (Douglas), Colm Spillane 0-1 (Castlelyons); Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Mark Ellis 0-1 (Millstreet); Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-1 (Charleville), Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr); Robbie O’Flynn 0-2 (Erin’s Own), Conor Lehane 0-11 (9f) (Midleton), Daniel Kearney 0-1 (Sarsfields); Alan Cadogan 0-1 (Douglas), Séamus Harnedy 0-3 (St Ita’s), Shane Kingston 1-1 (Douglas). Subs: Luke Meade 0-1 (Newcestown) for Lawton (27), Michael Cahalane (Bandon) for O’Flynn (57), Rob O’Shea (Carrigaline) for Kearney (58-61, blood), Jack O’Connor 0-1 (Sarsfields) for Cadogan (62).
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy 0-2f; Joey Holden, Pádraig Walsh 0-1, Paddy Deegan; Conor O’Shea, Joe Lyng, Cillian Buckley 0-3; Conor Fogarty 0-1, James Maher 0-1; Martin Keoghan 0-1, Richie Reid 0-3, Pat Lyng 0-1; Alan Murphy 0-5 (3f), Walter Walsh 0-2, Conor Martin 0-1. Subs: John Donnelly for Martin, TJ Reid 0-3f for Keoghan (both 44), Liam Blanchfield for Alan Murphy (49), Richie Leahy for Maher (57), Enda Morrissey for Buckley (65).
REFEREE: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)