On-form Tipperary beat Kilkenny in Thurles

Tipperary 1-14 Kilkenny 0-13, Thurles

Padraic Maher and team captain Eoin Kelly were in fine form for Tipperary as they defeated reigning champions Kilkenny in this afternoon's refixed Allianz NHL Division 1 clash in sunny Thurles.

The hurling heavyweights met at third time of asking, after snowy conditions had forced the previous two scheduled games to be postponed, and they treated the 20,254-strong crowd, who were admitted free of charge, to a memorable encounter.

Speaking after the game, Kelly, who scored 1-7 of Tipp's tally, said: "After losing badly to Dublin last week, we needed to get two points on the board. It’s a competitive league and you have to win every game.

"We worked very hard for this result and that work rate wasn’t there the last day. We're delighted to get the victory and are looking forward to facing Galway next week, they're flying it at the moment. There's tough games every week."

This was the sides' first meeting since Kilkenny retained the All-Ireland title last September, and they lined out with eleven players who saw action in that game. Tipp had 13 in their starting line-up.

The intensity was at Championship level in a very competitive opening half, full of strong running, hard pulling and well-taken scores.

Padraic Maher and Eoin Larkin faced off in a fascinating individual tussle, as free-takers Richie Hogan and Eoin Kelly knocked over the opening points.

Kilkenny's John Tennyson was the standout player in centre-field but Tipp were proving more clinical in attack, as Kelly nudged the home side ahead along with John O'Brien.

The 22-year-old John Mulhall looked the part in the Cats' attack, as he did as a second half substitute in last week's win over Offaly.

He tied up the game in first half injury-time, but there was still time for Kelly to take a pass from Noel McGrath and fire home a splendid goal - moving Tipp 1-6 to 0-6 head.

Kilkenny had the wind at their backs in the second period but despite Mulhall notching his third point, following a run along the right wing and a crisp strike between the posts, Brian Cody's men were struggling to convert their scoring chances.

They ran their wides total in double figures before Kelly landed a 57th minute free to keep Tipp ahead, with goalkeeper Brendan Cummins also hardly putting a foot wrong at the other end.

The Premier County outfit maintained their goal lead up to the 70-minute mark.

PJ Delaney added to the tension for the home supporters when he closed the gap to 1-12 to 0-13, but injury-time points from Jody Brennan and Noel McGrath closed out a good day at the office for Liam Sheedy's side.