Twin terrors torment Cork

Kilkenny 4-17 Cork 3-12

It wasn't just the three goals and seven points the pair scored between them, nor the fact that DJ also set up the fourth and final death-blow. It was the timing of it all.

Shefflin got their first goal, and it checked any impetus Cork might have threatened after Joe Deane latched onto the rebound of an Alan Browne shot that had come back off the post and goaled in just the second minute.

With Cork cheers in the predominantly local crowd of over 13,000 still ringing around Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Shefflin came charging through the middle and despite a fine initial hook by Wayne Sherlock, would not be denied.

The same Sherlock, probably the finest man-marker in the game at the moment, had been given the task of subduing DJ, and for most of the first half was doing just that. But, when that man is on his game, holding him for the entire duration is almost impossible. Yesterday, he was most certainly on his game. With wing-back John Gardiner helping with his superb long-range free-taking, Cork were staying close enough to Kilkenny to make the prospect of facing into the wind for the second period an uncomfortable one for DJ and company.

Just 1-7 to 1-5 with over half an hour gone, when the man from Gowran came back to his own half and bombed over a pointed free. Not content with that, Carey won the ball two minutes later in a ruck, streaked in towards goal, set up Henry for the shot with that trade-mark expert handballer's pass, Cusack makes the save, but following up for the rebound was none other. DJ, finishing what he'd started, 2-9 to 1-6 at the break.

"We were probably fortunate to have a six-point half-time lead," DJ said afterwards. Cork had indeed hurled well in patches, had hurled with spirit at all times. The difference, however, was those two, and as the game progressed, that influence was about to become greater, that gap even wider. Less than a minute into the second half, and as they had in the first, and through the same man, Joe Deane, Cork had another goal, set up by their own inspirational No 13.

After a couple of outstanding substitute roles, Setanta Ó hAilpín might have been making his first start for Cork, but he was certainly the star of the show for the boys in red-and-white yesterday. He had caused palpitations in no less a marker than Philly Larkin all through the first half, continued that now with a superb catch and lay-off to Deane, setting Cork up perfectly for the second period. Showing the mark of champions however it was Kilkenny striking next. A brace of points set up by Martin Comerford, scored by Tommy Walsh (another burgeoning hurling talent) and Shefflin. That was only the warning. Within four minutes, Carey set off on another searing run before releasing Shefflin. Still some work to do, but what a finish, calmly lobbing Donal Óg Cusack.

That made it 3-11 to 2-6, and very shortly afterwards that would become double scores, with yet another Shefflin point, a dead-centre 20m free where a goal was an option if needed.

That duly came, courtesy of another DJ tee-up for the lurking Eddie Brennan. Same result, one difference Donal Óg Cusack came out swinging and was very lucky he only saw yellow.

Though now 4-12 to 2-6 behind after 44 minutes, Cork battled on with their full-forward line the most potent sector. Ó hAilpín always on top, Joe Deane somehow managed 2-1 from play off a regal Noel Hickey, while Alan Browne and Michael Kavanagh had a great battle, Browne ending the day with the goal his play deserved.

For Kilkenny, on song again after the recent loss to Tipperary, all systems are go, Charlie Carter back in the bosom. One worry, keeper James McGarry stretchered off near the end with a suspected broken ankle, but their half-back was in total control, midfield on top, and 4-17 from those forwards says it all.

Cork? Encouraging signs, but back to the drawing-board. Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, late replacement for the injured Diarmuid O'Sullivan, made a fine return, but midfield, half-forwards who to try next?

Scorers Kilkenny: H. Shefflin 2-5 (0-3 frees); DJ Carey 1-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 65); E. Brennan 1-2; T. Walsh 0-4; C. Phelan 0-2; D. Lyng, P. Tennyson, 0-1 each.

Cork: J. Deane 2-3 (0-2 frees); J. Gardiner 0-5 (0-3 65's, 0-2 frees); A. Browne 1-0; S. McGrath, N. McCarthy, Setanta O hAilpin, T. McCarthy, 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: J. McGarry; M. Kavanagh, N. Hickey, P. Larkin; R. Mullally, P. Barry, JJ Delaney; P. Tennyson, D. Lyng; M. Comerford, H. Shefflin, T. Walsh; DJ Carey, C. Phelan, E. Brennan.

Subs: W. Burke (Mullally 35); J. Ryall (Larkin 58); B. Dowling (Comerford 63); PJ Ryan (McGarry inj. 69).

CORK: Donal Og Cusack; M. Fitzgerald, P. Mulcahy, W. Sherlock; J. Gardiner, R. Curran, Sean Og O hAilpin; M. O'Connell, T. Kenny; S. McGrath, N. McCarthy, B. O'Connor; Setanta O hAilpin, J. Deane, A. Browne.

Subs: T. McCarthy (O'Connell inj. 11); B. Murphy (Fitzgerald 35); P. Tierney (T. McCarthy 46); K. Murphy (Sars, McGrath 57); E. Fitzgerald (O'Connor 62).

Referee: A. MacSuibhne (Dublin) good job.