LAST YEAR’S ALL-IRELAND finalists went head-to-head as Tipperary and Kilkenny met in Semple Stadium, while Galway and Cork both looked to make it three wins from four in Division 1A.
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Good afternoon and welcome to The42‘s live coverage of Round 4 of the Allianz Hurling League.
We’ll mainly be focusing on the top two tiers with Tipperary hosting Kilkenny and Galway taking on Clare in 1A, while it’s Waterford v Antrim and Laois v Wexford in 1B.
It was a 12.45pm throw in at Walsh Park, and Waterford have raced into an nine-point lead as they look to capitalise on Limerick’s slip last night.
They lead Antrim 1-9 to 0-3 after 25 minutes. Stephen Bennett has 1-3 for the Déise while Pauric Mahony has 0-4.
It’s half-time in Walsh Park and a long way back for Antrim — Waterford 1-13 Antrim 0-5
Twenty minutes to throw-in at Semple Stadium. Barring any late changes, here’s how the two teams will line out:
Tipperary
1.Darren Gleeson
2. Cathal Barrett
3. Conor O’Mahony
4. Conor O’Brien
5. Michael Breen
6. Padraic Maher
7. Ronan Maher
8. Kieran Bergin
9. James Woodlock
10. John O’Dwyer
11. Brendan Maher
12. Jason Forde
13. Noel McGrath
14. Seamus Callanan
15. John McGrath
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy
2. Shane Prendergast
3. Paul Murphy
4. Jackie Tyrrell
5. Brian Kennedy
6. Kieran Joyce
7. Cillian Buckley
8. Mark Kelly
9. Lester Ryan
10. Walter Walsh
11. Richie Hogan
12. Mathew Ruth
13. Jonjo Farrell
14. John Power
15. Ger Aylward
Latest from Walsh Park: Waterford lead Antrim by 14 points, 1-18 to 0-7, as we near the 50-minute mark.
We’re just about ready to go in Thurles. A quick reminder that Galway v Cork doesn’t throw in until 2.30pm in Salthill.
Two changes for Tipp — Pual Curran and Niall O’Meara both start in place of Conor O’Brien and John McGrath.
There’ll be a moment’s silence for legendary Tipp goalkeeper Tony Reddin, among others, before throw-in.
GOAL FOR KILKENNY! Kilkenny 1-0 Tipperary 0-0: What a start for the Cats! Walter Walsh’s shot comes back off the post and Jonjo Farrell is following in to score. There couldn’t be more than 20 seconds played!
GOAL FOR TIPPERARY! Kilkenny 1-1 Tipperary 1-1: This is frantic stuff! Seamus Callanan has the sides level inside three minutes, firing past Eoin Murphy. All square and we haven’t even played four minutes!
Tipperary 1-4 Kilkenny 1-1: Bubbles, Noel McGrath and a Seamus Callanan free all register in quick succession. Serious effort from Tipp to respond to that early goal.
Tipperary 1-5 Kilkenny 1-1: And now Jason Forde adds another. Eight scores in the first seven minutes, and having gone behind to that first-minute goal, Tipp now lead by four.
Throw-in has been pushed back in Salthill
Here’s the latest from Portlaoise — Liam Óg McGovern with the Wexford goal.
Tipperary 1-8 Kilkenny 1-3: Tipp are kicking on in Thurles. Points from Woodlock, Breen and Callanan have them five ahead.
Tipperary 1-8 Kilkenny 1-6: Sensational hurling by Richie Hogan who has scored all of Kilkenny’s points so far this afternoon, including three from play. He’s single-handedly keeping them in touch with some fine scores.
FT: Waterford 4-30 Antrim 0-10
It turned into an absolute rout in Walsh Park where Waterford have beaten Antrim by a whopping 32 points! Two goals from Maurice Shanahan and another by Tom Devine in the final 15 minutes poured on the pain. Some win.
Tipperary 1-10 Kilkenny 1-8: Richie Hogan is hurling like a man possessed in Thurles. He slots a superb point, his fourth from play, and his eighth already today.
Tipperary 1-12 Kilkenny 1-9: Referee James McGrath is giving Tipp a few breaks here as he lets the game flow. Bubbles extends Tipp’s lead to three — this a smashing game of hurling!
Tipp sub: There’s been a break in play as Paul Curran needs treatment and it doesn’t look good. He’s stretchered off and Conor O’Brien will come on in his place.
Just about ready to go in Salthill. Here are the teams as named:
Galway
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
5. David Collins (Liam Mellows)
6. Greg Lally (Gort)
7. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
8. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
9. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
10. Andrew Smith (Portumna)
11. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
12. Joe Canning (Portumna)
13. James Regan (St Thomas’)
14. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkin’s)
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
4. William Kearney (Sarsfields)
5. Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
8. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields)
9. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)
10. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St.Ita’s)
12. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
13. Stephen Moylan (Douglas)
14. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
Cillian Buckley shipped a big hit but he’s been assessed by the medics and he’s fit to resume. There’ll be four additional minutes at the end of this first half.
Half-time in Portlaoise:
Tipperary 1-15 Kilkenny 1-9: Tipp have got a bit of a run on Kilkenny in the last few minutes and Callanan’s latest free puts six points between them as we near the break.
Tipperary 1-16 Kilkenny 1-9: Kilkenny aggrieved again as they feel that they should have a free for a foul on Ger Aylward but James McGrath allows play to continue and Niall O’Meara flicks over a point.
Tipperary 1-16 Kilkenny 1-9
Cork 0-3 Galway 0-1: Fast start for Cork as Aidan Walsh, Brian Lawton and a Patrick Horgan free get them up and running. Joe Canning responds with a beautifully-pointed sideline cut.
Cork 0-4 Galway 0-1: Cork are finding plenty of space and Seamus Harnedy sends over his first of the afternoon.
Decent crowd in Semple Stadium this afternoon.
Cork 0-4 Galway 0-3: Cathal Mannion points for the home side and then Anthony Nash’s short puckout goes astray and Joe Cooney pops it straight back over.
The oldest trick in the book
Cork 0-5 Galway 0-5: Joe Canning just knows where the posts are and he points without even looking at the target. On the next possession, he sets up Joe Cooney and we’re all square in Salthill.
Change for Kilkenny at the break – Kevin Kelly on to replace Ger Aylward.
Tipperary 1-16 Kilkenny 1-10: Jonjo Farrell opens the Cats’ second-half account.
Tipperary 1-17 Kilkenny 1-10: Frantic start to this second half as well. Darren Gleeson nearly loses possession with a moment of madness in the Tipp goal but the passage of play ends with a Noel McGrath point at the other end.
GOAL FOR CORK! Cork 1-7 Galway 0-5 Paudie O’Sullivan gets the game’s opening goal and Cork open up a five-point gap.
PENALTY FOR KILKENNY! Great chance for Kilkenny to close the gap. Richie Hogan to take…
SAVED! Darren Gleeson stops Richie Hogan’s penalty. Still Tipperary 1-18 Kilkenny 1-10.
Cork 1-9 Galway 0-7: Still five between them in Salthill as goalscorer Paudie O’Sullivan points Cork’s latest.
Four points between them in Portlaoise with about 20 minutes to play — Laois still in it despite conceding three goals.
Tipp sub: Shane McGrath on to replace Jason Forde.
Kilkenny sub: Joe Lyng on for Lester Ryan
If you’re wondering why I haven’t been keeping you up to date on scores in Thurles, that’s because there haven’t been any! Just three points so far in this second half!
GOAL FOR TIPPERARY! Tipperary 2-18 Kilkenny 1-10 Tipp fans, you can thank me later – I’ve just invoked whatever the opposite of the commentator’s curse is! Seamus Callanan drives inside the 22 and plays in Niall O’Meara to score. That’s that, I reckon.
Tipperary 2-19 Kilkenny 1-10: Seamus Callanan stretches Tipp’s kead to 12. Just under 15 minutes to play.
Galway 0-10 Cork 1-10: Paudie O’Sullivan’s goal the only thing that separates the teams at the break in Salthill.
It’s raining goals in Portlaoise and that should be enough to see Wexford over the line. They’re 10 up with 10 minutes or so to play
Tipperary 2-20 Kilkenny 1-11: Shane McGrath points. Kilkenny haven’t really been at the races in this second half at all.
SAVE! Smashing save by Eoin Murphy to deny Noel McGrath what looked to be a certain goal.
Tipperary 2-22 Kilkenny 1-12: Bubbles gets another for Tipp, who aren’t even being made to work particularly hard for most of their scores.
Kilkenny have been so disappointing this afternoon. Take Richie Hogan’s contribution out and this could have been a right walloping for the Cats.
DOUBLE SAVE! Darragh Egan is on in goal for Tipp to replace the injured Darren Gleeson and he makes a great impression with a fine double save to deny Kilkenny.
Tipperary 2-22 Kilkenny 1-13 John Power points a 65 to finish but it’s a 12-point defeat for Kilkenny. It’s their third straight defeat in the league and St Patrick’s Day surely can’t come quickly enough for Brian Cody who will be delighted to get his Ballyhale Shamrocks men back.
Galway 0-11 Cork 1-11: Just one point apiece so far in the second half in Salthill.
Galway 0-12 Cork 1-12: Cathal Mannion points his fourth of the day but Cork march straight back down the other and Patrick Horgan points to keep a goal between them.
Galway sub: Aidan Harte comes on to replace Iarla Tannian. Looks like he’ll go straight on to Daniel Kearney.
Earlier, it finished Wexford 5-22 Laois 0-25 in Portlaoise. Massive result for Wexford!
Galway 0-14 Cork 1-13: Aidan Harte makes an instant impact with two quick points, bringing Galway back to within a single score, but Conor Lehane picks Greg Lally’s pocket and responds for Cork.
A lot of wides from both sides though early in this second half.
Cork subs: Luke Farrell and Alan Cadogan on for Cork; Stephen Moylan and Brian Lawton make way.
Galway 0-15 Cork 1-13: Big let-off for Cork here. Jason Flynn is about to play in Joe Canning for what would be a clear goalscoring opportunity but he’s brought down by Cormac Murphy, who’s happy to take one for the team in that position. Flynn points the free, but it might well have been a goal.
Patrick Horgan’s shot is wide — that’s nine in this second half alone and they’re leaving the door open and inviting Galway in.
Galway 0-16 Cork 1-13: Aidan Harte has been superb since he came on and he draws Galway level with his third point. Can they push on now?
Galway 0-17 Cork 1-13: They can! Wing-back David Collins intercepts and drives the ball down to Joe Cooney and he fires over his third of the day.
Galway 0-18 Cork 1-13: Jason Flynn has half a sight on goal but even though Cork snuff that chance out, they can’t clear their lines and Dean Higgins points. Galway lead by two with just over 10 minutes to play.
Galway 0-18 Cork 1-17: Great determination by Conor Lehane who wrestles possession away from Gearóid McInerney and points. Cork aren’t going to give this one up without a fight.
GOAL FOR CORK! Galway 0-18 Cork 2-14 That’s an absolute gift from the Galway defence. They try to play the ball across the back but the handpass goes over full-back John Hanbury’s head and falls to Paudie O’Sullivan who smashes home his second of the afternoon. They don’t come much easier than that.
Galway 0-19 Cork 2-14: Instant response by Joe Canning. Galway back within a point. All set for a grandstand finish in Salthill.
Galway go hunting for a goal but they’re denied. Two minutes of additional time to be played, Cork lead by two.
Johnny Glynn fouled! Galway will have a 20m free with no time left. IT’S CANNING…
DRAMA! DRAMA! DRAMA! In the scramble, Joe Cooney pulls on it but Jason Flynn (I think) flicks the ball to the net. It beats Nash… but it’s a square ball and it’s a Cork free-out.
Cork 2-17 Galway 0-20 What a finish in Salthill! The final whistle is greeted by boos from the home crowd — they thought they’d nicked a draw at the death but really, they’ll look back on Cork’s second goal as the moment when they threw this one away. Still, their bid for a quarter-final place is on track.
It’s three straight wins for Cork who stay on the top of the pile in 1A where they’re joined by Tipp.
Even on drugs Mayo can’t win
@Brian O’Loughlin: Or the dubs
@scutterpumps: drugs that would explain the cheating carryon off the mayo number 5 alright
@dead right: Awri bud
@Cathal: grand thanks.
@deadright if you don’t know that the Mayo no 5 is Lee Keegan then you obviously haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of his behaviour in All Ireland final and replay.
@Cormac O Neill: oh i know who he is alright
@Brian O’Loughlin: they should try whatever Kilkenny is on.
Small financial penalties are inadequate. Why not a championship ban the following year for failing to adhere to testing protocols. What are they hiding anyway. What gives them special treatment.
If Carlow teams are on drugs I think they need to have a sit down with their suppliers, or at the very least up their intake considerably
It’s an amateur game and the drug testing seems to be run fairly amateurishly aswell. At least we know Dr May hasn’t got a ‘ major’ concern with drug use. Cork could do with some of what kilkenny are taking
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: They must have got some of it today.
“At the last minute”…..:) gway ye chancers
Signs are good for a carlow win today then
From listening to sports talk shows on drug use in sport it seems highly likely that there is a huge amount of drug taking in GAA circles!
Unless an organisation actively spot checks players directly after matches on a regular and consistent basis they are really only promoting drug use!!
:-/
What’s with the headline?? Kilkenny and Mayo named from 5 counties. Wonder where the author is from….
@Adrian Costigan: He is from Offaly I believe, but I know, I know you were thinking Dublin.
Mayo lads tested positive for Valium…..hard to blame them
Mayo don’t have any medals to hand back.
Dub football haters aka the rest of the country fcuk off
@Ollie Watson: Are you ok there snowflake?
@Ollie Watson: f@ckin dubs
@Ollie Watson: Bleeedin Jazus! Will yas calm doun, is Sunday bleeedin mornin
@Ollie Watson: any chance of a euro for bus Pal…
@George Sweeney: is that a new word for heroin?
@David: Would love to fcuk off for a few days but the Dubs would have the house ransacked while i was gone
@phil: ah heour learve ih ouh
The elephant in the room……the winter training ban