Kilkenny defeat ‘was good for the league’

SCORING difference in the second phase only will determine the finalists in the Allianz National Hurling League, in the event of three or more teams finishing with the same number of points.

And, regardless of whether that situation arises, members of the Hurling Development Committee are delighted that earlier fears about the outcome being inevitable after the preliminary rounds proved unfounded. Cork’s win in Thurles a fortnight ago and Tipperary’s victory over Kilkenny at the weekend achieved that.

Wearing his Committee Chairman hat, former Kilkenny manager Nicky Brennan was delighted with the result in Nowlan Park. “With no disrespect to Kilkenny, it was good for hurling, it was good for the League and it was probably good for them as well,’’ he commented.