IHC Final Replay/ Cork 1-16; Kilkenny 1-10: A seven-minute scoring spree, that yielded 1-3 midway through the second half, sent Cork on their way to victory over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland intermediate hurling final replay in Thurles on Saturday.

It was a richly deserved win by Cork, who also beat Kilkenny after a replay in last year's competition.

Cork did most of the attacking but at half-time the sides were level at 0-6 each. Kilkenny goalkeeper Richard O'Neill made two top-class saves to deny Séamus Hayes and Eoin Conway but Kilkenny were also guilty of missing chances.

There was still little between the two sides in the third quarter but then Cork had points from Barry O'Dwyer, James Masters and Rory Doherty before Hayes netted a goal in the 46th minute of the game to put Cork five points clear.

Kilkenny did not give up. They had a Jamie Power goal in the 25th minute of the second half to reduce the Cork lead to just four points.

As the game moved closer to full-time Michael Grace had a chance to set up an exciting finale but he missed his goal chance and Cork survived to retain their intermediate crown.

CORK: A Nash; J Crowley, L Hayes, R McCarthy; B Walsh, T Lordan, D Fitzgerald (0-3); T Healy, J Olden (0-1), J Russell; D Dineen (0-2), B O'Dwyer (0-2), S Hayes (1-1), R Doherty (0-2), E Conway (0-2). Subs: J Masters (0-2) for T Healy, D McSweeney for B Walsh, N Murphy (0-1) for Dineen.

KILKENNY: R O'Neill, J Tennyson, S Lanigan, P Costelloe, S Kealy, J Costelloe, J O'Neill, B Phelan, C Herity (0-1), D Mackey, R Power (0-5), J Power (1-0), M Grace (0-1), D Buggy (0-2), E Walsh. Subs: JP Corcoran (0-1) for Mackey, J Phelan for B Phelan.

Referee: P Ahern (Carlow).