Cats’ compressed defence stood up to every test
Kilkenny outscored Tipperary by 11 points to seven while the losers failed to score in the last five minutes. Converted frees proved critical on the night. Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin, playing well at midfield, hit six (10 overall) from frees while Tipperary scored just one as Kilkenny’s discipline coughed up only two scoreable chances. Their forwards forced Tipp defenders into some frees but over the course of the game some of Tipperary’s indiscretions were needless.
The game turned five minutes into the second half. Eoin Kelly received a pass from James Woodlock but the pass forced Kelly more right than he would have liked and his fierce drive was straight at the perfectly positioned Kilkenny ‘keeper Eoin Murphy. If Kelly had taken a step towards the goal an open rightside gap would have been available. Following on closely from a missed free, this save was the most significant factor in Tipp’s defeat.
