Cork v Kilkenny: A renaissance would be welcomed by all

Richie Hogan of Kilkenny shoots to score his side's second goal of the game despite the attention of Sean O'Donoghue of Cork. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Three and a half years ago, Cork beat Kilkenny by seven points in Páirc Uí Rinn, a wintry midweek evening lit up by a solitary goal scored by the home side.

It wasn’t a National League game, but a fundraiser for the late, lamented Kieran O’Connor of Aghada. Cork and Kilkenny had met in the NHL not long beforehand, and at the final whistle that day the managers met up on the sideline.