Cork claim All-Ireland Intermediate title

Cork 2-19 Kilkenny 0-18

CORK emerged deserving winners over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling championship final at Nowlan Park Kilkenny on Saturday. The game attracted an attendance of about 2,500 patrons. Cork had the aid of the stiff breeze in the opening half. Jack Walsh opened the scoring with a point for the Rebels in the first minute. Kilkenny forced level when James Bergin pointed a free. Cork’s Chris O’Leary landed a long range free before Kilkenny levelled when James Bergin pointed a fifth minute free 0-2 each. Cork had their first goal a minute later when Chris O’Leary and Stephen Condon worked a move that led to the ball coming back off Kilkenny keeper Darren Brennan into the path of Daniel Mangan who goaled from close range. Cork did well in the half-back line and broke even in midfield. Kilkenny had a point by Paul Hennebry and two pointed frees by James Bergin had them level 1-2 to 0-5. Stephen Condon edged Cork ahead with a free and they led for the rest of the game. Cormac Murphy soloed through and pointed with Chris O’Leary with another long range free opening up a goal lead 1-5 to 0-5. Cormac Murphy added another point.

A foul on Shane Murphy led to James Bergin pointing the free with Shane Hegarty following with a very good point. In the 22nd minute a free by James Bergin found Patrick Walsh who pointed. Michael Collins landed a point from a sideline cut. Cork keeper Shane Hurley saved well from Pat O’Carroll. Stephen Condon with another free made it 1-9 to 0-7. Good play by Stephen Condon to Cormac Murphy led to a Jack Walsh point as Cork moved 6 clear in the 28th minute. James Bergin with another free left just 5 points between the sides at the break 1-10 to 0- 8.

On the restart good play by Conor Hennessy to John Henderson led to a good save by Shane Hurley with the rebound going out for a ‘65’ that Bergin converted. Stephen Condon had two pointed frees with Shane Murphy landing a long range point for the home side 1-12 to 0-11.

Kilkenny lacked scoring power up front depending on James Bergin mainly from pointed frees. Paul Hennebry and Stephen Condon swapped a point with Cork ahead 1-13 to 0-12 after 41 minutes. Daniel Mangan struck a good point and David O’Neill followed 1-16 to 0-13. Both sides made a number of changes. Kilkenny’s Patrick Walsh landed a very good point with Conor Hennessy following 1-16 to 0-15. The Cats got within a goal in the 53rd minute when Patrick Walsh pointed 1-16 to 0- 16.

Cork finished out the game very strong, Stephen Condon pointed a free and a long delivery by Shane O’Donovan led to a second goal by Daniel Mangan. Rory Hickey had a late point for Kilkenny. In injury time Cormac Murphy and Stephen Condon (free) added points for the Rebels while Shane Murphy completed the scoring for Kilkenny.

Munster Council vice-chairman Liam Linehan presented the cup to winning captain Michael Russell. It is Cork’s ninth win in this Championship, their last being 2014. CORK: S Hurley (St. Finbarr’s), N Motherway (Dungourney), M Russell (Aghada), G Millerick

(Fr. O’Neill’s), C O’Leary 0-3 (2f) (Valley Rovers), S O’Donovan (Mayfield), J Cronin (Lisgoold), N Kelly (Mayfield), S Hegarty 0-1 (Dungourney), J Walsh 0-2 (Valley Rovers), C Murphy 0-3 (Mallow), M Collins 0-1 s/l (Ballinhassig), C Fleming (Aghada), D Mangan 2-2 (St. Catherine’s), S Condon 0-7 (6f) (Harbour Rovers). Subs: C O’Brien (St. Ita’s) for N Motherway, D O’Neill (Mayfield) for M Collins, L O’Shea (Lisgoold) for C Fleming, M O’Sullivan (Tracton) for J Walsh.

KILKENNY: D Brennan, M Carey, C Flynn, P Delahunty, P Hennebry 0-2, C Tobin, E Egan, S Murphy 0-2, P Walsh 0-3, C Hennessey 0-2, P O’Carroll, O McGrath, J Bergin 0-8f, C O’Carroll, J Henderson. Subs: S Ryan for O McGrath, R Hickey 0-1 for C O’Carroll.

REFEREE: John Keane (Galway)