Kilkenny edge League title after thriller with Tipp

Kilkenny 2-25 Tipperary 1-27 (aet)

A haul of 2-11 from TJ Reid, including the winning score at the end of extra-time, secured a Allianz Hurling League title number 17 for Kilkenny in Thurles this afternoon.

Reid struck the winning score at the death, after brilliantly making the most of a sideline award, to earn a sensational victory for the Cats. Tipperary goalkeeper Darren Gleeson blundered by pucking the ball into touch instead of launching it deep into enemy territory.

From the resultant sideline, Reid played a superb one-two with the excellent Richie Hogan (scorer of six points) before flashing over the winning score from the New Stand side of Semple Stadium.

Reid’s score settled a tie that was level on no fewer than eleven occasions and for the second successive year, Kilkenny managed to defeat Tipp in a League decider, with a third successive crown now secured.

It was Kieran Bergin’s point for Tipperary in the fourth minute of stoppage time that ensured extra-time as 21,601 spellbound spectators looked on.

Bergin took a pass from Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher to shoot over the bar from 18 metres, seconds after John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer’s long-range point had struck the upright. On the balance of play, the draw at the end of 70 minutes was deserved as Tipp rallied from two points down late on.

Michael Fennelly, Hurler of the Year in 2011, knocked over a quickfire brace of scores but after Shane Bourke replied for Tipp in the first minute of injury time, there was still time for late drama.

Bergin’s point tied the game for the sixth time – and marked the fifth occasion in the second half that that the sides were level. Tipp were three points clear, 1-14 to 1-11, before TJ Reid buried his second penalty of the afternoon, after the Ballyhale Shamrocks forward was fouled by Cathal Barrett.

Tipp had led by 1-11 to 1-09 at the end of a first half that saw Kilkenny manager Brian Cody exchange heated words with an official seated in the opposition dugout.

Cody’s obvious anger was a clear indication of how badly he wanted to capture the eighth league crown of his remarkable tenure. The Cats, who registered seven wides in the first half, came from six points down to remain very much in touch at the break.

A superb goal by John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer on the half-hour put Tipp 1-11 to 0-8 clear, as the Killenaule man connected brilliantly with Noel McGrath’s sideline cut to touch the ball to the net from the edge of the square.

But Kilkenny rallied with a TJ Reid free, his fifth of the half, and Reid scored a penalty just before the interval after Pádraic Maher was adjudged to have fouled Mark Kelly.

It was very much a case of ‘six of one, half a dozen of the other’ as Kelly attempted to barrel his way through but referee James Owens awarded the penalty.

Reid stepped up with an Anthony Nash-esque lift and his effort, while not particularly well struck, still managed to find the net through goalkeeper Darren Gleeson. The Kilkenny goal was a body-blow to Tipp as the hosts recovered from a sluggish start that saw them trail by 0-0 to 0-4 within six minutes.

Tipp bagged three points to settle themselves before Kilkenny were awarded a disputed eleventh minute point, despite TV pictures showing that Colin Fennelly’s effort drifted wide. Tipp were on terms by the 18th minute – 0-6 apiece – and moved ahead when Niall O’Meara popped over a 20th minute score.

Further points followed from goalscorer O’Dwyer and O’Meara before Reid floated over a 25th minute free.

Denis Maher and Richie Hogan traded points before Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher’s 28th minute point ensured that all six of Tipp’s starting forwards, and both midfielders, were now on the scoresheet.

Remarkably, the only one of that front eight not to score from play in that spell was Seamus Callanan, who had registered 5-52 in his previous six League outings.

Callanan was later substituted but returned in extra-time and saw a late chance brilliantly saved by Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, B Kennedy; J Holden, J Tyrrell, C Buckley; M Fennelly (0-2), P Walsh (0-2); C Fennelly (0-1), R Hogan (0-6), TJ Reid (2-11, 2-0 pen, 8f, 1 65); R Power (0-3, 1f), M Kelly, H Shefflin.

Subs: L Ryan for Holden (29), W Walsh for Kelly (43), E Larkin for C Fennelly (60), C Fennelly for Shefflin (74), K Joyce for Kennedy (86).

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; C Barrett, Pádraic Maher, M Cahill; J Barry, B Maher, C O’Mahony; K Bergin (0-1), J Woodlock (0-1); D Maher (0-2), Patrick Maher (0-1), J O’Dwyer (1-3); N McGrath (0-5,1 sl), S Callanan (0-9, 8f, 1 65), N O’Meara (0-2).

Subs: T Stapleton for B Maher (temp, 45-46), G Ryan for D Maher (54), S McGrath for Woodlock (76), S Bourke (0-1) for O’Meara (62), J O’Brien for Callanan (69), S Callanan for J O’Brien (76), J O’Brien for O’Dwyer (80), J O’Dwyer for Bourke (88).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).