Cork 1-16
Kilkenny 0-13
Conor McKenna reports from O’Moore Park
KILKENNY EXITED THE All-Ireland U20 Championship following a six-point loss to Cork in the semi-final in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
The Rebel County were excellent at times in this game and they will face Tipperary or Wexford in the first ever All-Ireland U20 Hurling Final.
Tommy O’Connell was outstanding for Denis Ring’s side scoring 1-10 over the course of the game, in what was a very good individual performance from the Midleton hurler.
Cork had a great start to the game, scoring the first four points to give themselves an early lead, with O’Connell (2), Brian Turnbull and Shane O’Regan accounting for the scores.
Kilkenny settled however and responded with three points of their own courtesy of Eoin Cody and Niall Brassil (2) to reduce the deficit to one.
O’Connell then registered the games opening goal, although his initial effort appeared to be saved by the Kilkenny goalkeeper, but the ball hit the post and went over the line, as the umpire raised his green flag.
It was tit for tat after the goal, with both sides cancelling each other out, but three successive Kilkenny points just before the interval left one point between the teams at half-time, with the scoreboard reading 1-6 to 0-8 in favour of Cork.
Cork were the better team in the second half, though Kilkenny took the lead just after half time after scores from Conor Heary and Cody.
O’Connell scored the next two points to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point lead, but a free from Cody levelled proceedings.
O’Connell again added two further points, before a free from Cody reduced the gap to one, but Cork registered the next five points to increase their lead to six.
The Rebel’s held on for a six-point victory and will face the winners of tomorrow’s semi-final between Tipperary and Wexford in the final, while Kilkenny’s season ends after this defeat.
Scorers for Cork: T O’Connell 1-10 (6f, 2 “65s”), B Turnbull 0-2 (2f), R Walsh 0-2, S O’Regan 0-1, S Kennefick 0-1.
Scorers for Kilkenny: E Cody 0-6 (5f), N Brassil 0-4 (2f), A Brennan 0-1, E Shefflin 0-1, C Heary 0-1.
Cork:
1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarrife)
3. James Keating (Kildorrery)
4. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)
6. Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton)
5. Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s)
7. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
9. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Ryan Walsh (Kanturk)
12. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)
19. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
10. Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)
13. Brian Turnbull (Douglas)
14. Shane O’Regan (Watergrasshill)
24. Padraig Power (Blarney)
Substitutes:
22. Simon Kennefick (Glen Rovers) for Connery (42)
23. Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh) for Power (45)
21. Barry Murphy (Castlelyons) for O’Regan (60 + 1)
11. Craig Hanifin (Na Piarsaigh) for Twomey (60 + 3)
18. Jamie Copps (Ballyhea) for O’Callaghan (60 + 6).
Kilkenny:
1. Dean Mason (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
2. James Brennan (Naomh Éanna)
3. Conor Flynn (Graigue Ballycallan)
4. Mikey Butler (O’Loughlin Gaels)
7. David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge)
6. Michael Carey (Young Irelands)
5. Conor Heary (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Conor Murphy (Bennettsbridge)
9. Evan Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
14. Aaron Brennan (Graigue Ballycallan)
10. Eoin O’Shea (O’Loughlin Gaels)
13. Seán Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan)
11. Niall Brassil (James Stephens)
15. Eoin Cody (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
Substitutes:
21. Stephen Donnelly (Thomastown) for A Brennan (h-t)
22. Ciaran Brennan (Bennettsbridge) for Ryan (41)
20. Jordan Molloy (O’Loughlin Gaels) for Murphy (45)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Totally negative football by Ireland even now that Armenia are down to 10 men.
Can’t understand why Seamus Coleman doesn’t get a chance to play for Ireland
Need to change Headline^^ Its meant to be Armenia.
Cox justified his selection and Walters was impressive when he came on. This is just as well given that Doyle & (prob) Keane will miss the play off. Otherwise, wouldn’t be hugely optimistic – McGeady and Kelly were terrible while Andrews & Whelan were their usual dull uninspiring selves.
Agree with everything except Andrews. He’s a ball-winner and has a big role in the side. I never noticed him while watching him on the telly but I was at the match today and he’s a pretty decent footballer. Definitely happy to see his name on the team sheet.
Short straw again Adrian ?
I’m predicting it’ll still be nil-nil right up to the 89th minute and suddenly Richard Dunne will charge down the pitch with the ball, while at the same time carrying the rest of the team in a fireman’s life and eventually bundle the ball over the line to scrap that vital draw.
Yes I have a vivid imagination.
Can’t see us winning with that line up. Hope I’m wrong thou. Cmon lads
What is it that makes me feel that even if this Irish team were in a European final I would still fell so uninspired! I wish it were different. Hopefully some new guys can add some spark to our play, but I have to hand it to trap there is a control element to this team that is paying off in terms of results, all we have to do is think back to the staunto years!…headless chickens!
The Staunton years??? – Oh yeah, sorry, I had erased that from my memory.
We have the guys to add a spark to our play but trap has no confidence in our ability to play football
damn..why is the match on this early!!?
Sigh.