Tipperary 2-22
Kilkenny 1-13

The relegation play-off beckons for Kilkenny who suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of arch rivals Tipperary this afternoon.

Sporting their new-look jersey, Eamon O'Shea's charges gained a small measure of revenge for last year's All-Ireland final replay defeat when consigning the Cats to a third league defeat on the trot and, in the process, book their place in the knock-out stages.

Unusually, the game was effectively over as a contest as early as the 53rd minute once Niall O'Meara finished off Seamus Callanan's pass to the back of the Kilkenny net to give his side a commanding 2-18 to 1-10 lead.

No finger of blame can be pointed in the direction of Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan, who was left to plough a lone furrow up front for the Cats, but he won't care to be reminded of his missed 41st minute penalty attempt.

That was a turning point that pretty much summed up Kilkenny's day as they badly need a goal to reignite their challenge at that stage after going in at the break trailing by 1-9 to 1-16.

Sparks generally fly when these two sides meet and the early exchanges were no different at Semple Stadium today but, as the game wore on, there was only one team in it as Tipp recorded their third success of the campaign.

Kilkenny couldn't have asked for a better start than when Jonjo Farrell netted almost straight from the throw-in.

A point attempt by Walter Walsh rebounded off the the woodwork and dropped kindly for the number 13 who finished past Gleeson from close range but that proved to be a false dawn for the Liam McCarthy champions.

The sides were level on three minutes after Seamus Callanan raised a green flag at the other end of the field and those in attendance were rubbing their hands in anticipation of the latest chapter in this fabled hurling rivalry.

As things turned out, though, Kilkenny supporters were left disappointed as their team's failed miserably to reach the high standards they have set in recent times and they were forced to play second fiddle to their well drilled hosts.

The only negative from the Premier County's point of view was an injury sustained by corner-back Paul Curran who was stretchered off the field on the half hour mark.

Tipperary - D Gleeson; P Curran, C O'Mahony, C Barrett; M Breen (0-2), P Maher (0-1), R Maher; K Bergin, J Woodlock (0-1); J O'Dwyer (0-4), B Maher, J Forde (0-1); N McGrath (0-3), S Callanan (1-7, 0-3f, 1'65), N O'Meara (1-2). Subs: C O'Brien for P Curran, S McGrath for J Forde, J McGrath for N O'Meara, S Bourke (0-1) for N McGrath, D Egan for D Gleeson.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; S Prendergast, P Murphy, J Tyrrell; B Kennedy, K Joyce, C Buckley; M Kelly (0-1), L Ryan; W Walsh, R Hogan (0-10, 6f), M Ruth; J Farrell (1-1), J Power (0-1'65), G Aylward. Subs: K Kelly for G Aylward, J Lyng for L Ryan.

Referee - J McGrath.

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