Intermediate Hurling/All-Ireland final/Cork 2-11 Kilkenny 2-11: Kilkenny staged a thrilling last-quarter comeback to snatch a late levelling goal in an epic All-Ireland IHC final against the holders at Semple Stadium yesterday.

Cork got their first goal on 14 minutes, when a rebound fell kindly for Rory Doherty, who swept the ball to the net, and would have had two more but for brilliant saves by the Kilkenny goalkeeper Richard O'Neill.

A minute after the restart John Russell doubled overhead spectacularly for Cork's second goal. They were now 12 points ahead.

Kilkenny needed a goal, but the Cork 'keeper, Anthony Nash, charged down a David Buggy effort and then denied sub Eddie Walsh as Kilkenny kept pressing.

In the 26th minute Kilkenny got their reward when Eddie Walsh's goal cut the lead to four points. And in injury time Brian Phelan pounced for a spectacular levelling goal to keep alive Kilkenny's hopes of their first title in the grade since 1973.

CORK: A Nash; J Crowley, L Hayes, R McCartney; B Walsh, T Loudan, D Fitzgerald (0-3); T Healy, J Olden; J Russell (1-1), D Dineen (0-3), B O'Dwyer; E Conway (0-1), R Doherty (1-2), S Hayes (0-1). Subs: P Dineen for Olden, B O'Driscoll for Crowley.

KILKENNY: R O'Neill; C O'Neill, S Lanigan, P Costello; J Tennyson, J Costello, J O'Neill; R Power, C Herity (0-3); D Buggy (0-5), P Cleere, B Phelan (1-1); M Grace (0-1), J Power, D Mackey. Subs: E Walsh (1-0) for Cleere, JP Corcoran (0-1) for Mackey, S Kealy for C O'Neill.

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).