Fennelly goals keep cool Cats in driving seat

Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 0-20

Defending champions, it marks Kilkenny’s seventh title since 2002, albeit on this occasion without the considerable presence on the sideline of long-serving manager Brian Cody, recovering from recent heart surgery.

The difference on the pitch was another considerable presence, that of Michael Fennelly. So often in recent years in his usual midfield position the towering Ballyhale man has been the pivotal player for Kilkenny; yesterday he lined out at centre-forward and in a tour-de-force first-half display, it was his 2-2 from play that saw Kilkenny lead 2-7 to 0-11 at the break, despite playing into a stiff breeze.