Well-drilled Rebels too classy for Cats

THE dream of a second consecutive hurling Grand Slam for Kilkenny died an early death in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday.

The Cats fell at the first hurdle as a well-drilled, fiercely-focused and extremely talented Cork side racked up a comprehensive and well-deserved win in this All-Ireland intermediate final.

Those who are looking for signs of fallibility in Cat country, however, should take note; like Cork, Kilkenny are one of those counties restricted to picking their intermediate team from their intermediate clubs. Having won the title last year, they had to field an entirely new team for this year’s championship.