MHC semi-final: Champs hang on
August 09, 2009
Kilkenny 1-21
Tipperary 2-16
Kilkenny remain on course to retain their ESB All-Ireland MHC title following a hard-fought victory over Tipperary in the semi-final at Croke Park.
The Cats raced into an eight-point lead inside the first quarter and led by six at half-time before Tipp came storming back to level the scoring at 2-12 to 0-18 midway through the second half. But full forward Walter Walsh's 46th minute goal put Kilkenny back in front again and they hung on for a two-point victory.
Kilkenny, who won the Leinster championship in a canter, looked as though they would blitz the beaten Munster finalists when they powered into a 0-10 to 0-2 lead inside the first 15 minutes. But Tipp were handed a lifeline in the 19th minute when David Collins scored a smashing goal to leave them trailing by 1-6 to 0-15 at the interval.
A second major from John O'Dwyer four minutes after the restart closed the gap to three points - 2-7 to 0-16 - and Tipp were level 10 minutes later when Brian Stapleton scored a cracking point from distance.
Sensing the danger, Kilkenny broke down the field and Walsh was hand to fire home and give them some breathing space. Substitute Martin Gaffney made it a four-point game before the never-say-die Premier boys reduced the deficit to the minimum once again thanks to scores from Eanna Murray and O'Dwyer.
Kilkenny, who were clinging onto a one-point lead going into injury-time, made victory safe with a late Gaffney effort to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with either Waterford or Galway on September 6.
Kilkenny - J Power; I Duggan, W Phelan, J Lyng; L Harney, R Doyle (0-2, 2 '65), J Gannon; C Kenny (0-1), O Walsh (0-1); G Brennan (0-5), S Kehoe (0-5, 4f), C Buckley (0-1); G Aylward (0-1), W Walsh (1-2), C Maher (0-1). Subs - S Phelan for Gannon (43), M Gaffney (0-2, 1f) for Aylward (45), J Cassin for Kehoe (58).
Tipperary - D McCormack; S Maher, L Butler, A Ryan; D Maher, W Ryan, J Meagher; A Hogan, B Stapleton (0-1); S Curran (0-3), T Butler (0-1), E Murray (0-2); D Collins (1-1), J O'Dwyer (1-8, 7f), A Cleere. Subs - D Butler for Cleere (42), P Heffernan for L Butler (51), M O'Brien for Collins (54), J Forde for Hogan (55).
Ref - D O'Driscoll (Limerick)
Most Read Stories