Positives shared but points give Cork an early bonus

Cork 1-24 Kilkenny 0-24: New season, new stadium, new manager: Cork collected their first NHL points on Saturday night, in their first competitive game in the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Three points separated them from Kilkenny after a free-flowing game in front of 16,189 spectators, the home side outscoring the Cats five points to two in the closing stages.

It was a game both sides could take positives from: Cork surfed the boost of an early Shane Kingston goal and closed out a game calmly, while Kilkenny blooded several new players and hit 24 scores over the hour.