Substitute John Power's injury-time point saw Kilkenny defeat Cork by 2-23 to 2-22 in an absolute belter at Pairc Ui Rinn.
The Rebels were wearing their 1916 commemorative blue shirts tonight and for most of the game it looked as if they were going to record their first win of the campaign. But they won't want to remember the sensational finish mustered by the Black & Amber…
Trailing by two goals with six minutes left, 2-20 to 0-20, Brian Cody's men roared ahead with three-pointers from Colin Fennelly and TJ Reid in the 67th and 69th minutes respectively as well as points from top scorer Reid (1-12) and Lester Ryan - 2-22 to 2-20.
The hosts rallied to recover from that sucker punch with a brace of Conor Lehane points but Power popped over the winner in the third added minutes after Bill Cooper missed a chance to win it for Cork.
Cooper looked to have won it for the Leesiders when he supplied their second major in the 50th minute to restore their lead, 2-14 to 0-17, after the visitors had made an impressive start to the second half.
Kieran Kingston's men lead by 1-12 to 0-11 at the break, with Seamus Harnedy bagging the goal in the 14th minute. A Cormac Murphy point had the underdogs ahead by 1-6 to 0-3 at the 15-minute mark.
The Cats stole ahead by firing over the first five points after the restart courtesy of Reid (3), Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan; they would finish the second half eve stronger to claim a quarter-final berth.
Kilkenny - R Reid; P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh, K Joyce, C Buckley; C Fogarty, D Cody (0-1); C Martin, C Fennelly (1-2), TJ Reid (1-12, 0-10f); R Hogan (0-1), K Kelly, W Walsh (0-3). Subs: L Ryan (0-3) for C Fogarty, J Maher for C Martin, J Power (0-1) for K Kelly.
Cork - P Collins; D Cahalane, S McDonnell, K Burke; C Murphy (0-2), C Joyce, L McLoughlin (0-1); P Haughney (0-1), J Cronin; B Cooper (1-0), C Lehane (0-6, 1f), B Lawton (0-1); L O'Farrell (0-1), S Harnedy (1-3), P Horgan (0-6, 4f, 1'65). Subs: D Kearney (0-1) for J Cronin, S Moylan for P Haughney, P O'Sullivan for P Horgan, W Egan for C Murphy.
Referee - F Horgan.
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