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.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to niall@the42.ie, tweet them @The42GAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
To disable push notifications on this liveblog, please click the toggle button above.
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.
They have some neck.
@Patrick Breen: Could still go to the DRA after this and maybe even a court case, who knows?
@Patrick Breen: they’re dead right. Why not just replay the last free again, the idea they have to replay the whole game is a fair solution is madness.
@Paul Mallon: the fact that they blatantly cheated and think they should get away with it is madness.
@Paul Mallon: replay the last free, seriously. So we’ll just make up a new sport..
@Patrick Breen: the more I think about this I’ve changed my mind from it’s 100% a replay to it only warrants a fine! Realistically the chances of a goal with the last kick of the game is unlikely, especially when it’s a 45 with the packed defence fully set up. And it’s telling that the referee allowed the 45 to be taken before the substitutions had been complete properly – Kilmacud will argue that as the subs were not being managed correctly! Players off players on before 45 can take place – clearly ref was going to allow it be taken quickly which added to the panic & confusion. In my view KMc won this game and an extra man on for 24secs over 70+ mins had NO bearing on the outcome. If this was reversed I don’t general public wud be questioning if Glen won it
@BMJF: It’s not really about the likelihood of a goal. Nobody knows what effect the 16th player had, direct or indirect, even as a distraction to the player in possession. The real issue is what happens if there’s no real sanction. Teams will be making substitutions and making sure the player being replaced is at least very slow leaving the pitch. Now we see Glen have pulled out of the appeals process because a replay is unworkable.
@BMJF: especially when it’s an overpacked defence.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: don’t be silly. The GAA will simply learn to make substitutions like every other sporting organisation!! That’s what will happen. Play will pause before a free is taken etc and Players will have to come off before the replacements go on and ref won’t restart the game until they’re in position. It’s not rocket science. GAA should have accepted some responsibility, read their rules and issued a hefty fine the next morning and that would have been the end of it
I’d watch a live stream of that hearing
Hope they throw the book at them and just award the final to the other team.
@Reggie: haha, don’t know about that now Reg. Certainly interested to hear what their grounds for appeal will be though…..seems cut and dried to me that the rule was broken and one of the consequences have been invoked.
The tone of the anti Kilmacud comments is telling. An anti Dub vibe off them. I’m guessing that If this was reversed and Glen had 16 men for 24secs over a 70+ min game, defending a 2point lead with last play of the game, the general public wud be saying that on balance Glen should remain the winners, and that the extra man for 24 secs didn’t really impact the outcome! But because it’s a big Dub club everyone has knickers in a knot!!
If GAA had issued a fine quickly I think Glen would have accepted the result , as their manager did straight after the game
@BMJF: I would say the opposite, the Ulster team (as always) are being portrayed as the bad guys here… maybe I’m wrong
Kilmacud won fair and square on the field of play. Glen will be looked upon as sore losers. There’s no way Kilmacud will replay the match. They are prepared to hand the cup over to Glen. If the Glen club wants to avoid the lasting legacy of poor losers they really should withdraw the objection and gear themselves up to trying to win the title next year on the field of play. That would give the club a lot of respect.
@Brendan Daniel Naughton: ‘fair and square’, hahahaha, are you well.
Great stuff