NHL round-up:Kilkenny added insult to Tipperary injury at Nowlan Park this afternoon, the All-Ireland champions repeating the trick against their great rivals with a 2-17 to 0-15 win in Division 1A of the National Hurling League. Brian Cody's side were never forced out of their comfort zone, the eight point margin no less than they deserved.
It may not have wiped the slate clean after last September’s heartbreak, but Tipperary came into the contest looking to salvage some of the pride that was left at Croke Park. Instead they found themselves second best in almost all aspects, with the exception of perhaps Noel McGrath who gave his marker Brian Hogan a difficult afternoon.
An early Richie Power free gave the Cats a lead they would never relinquish, and although McGrath served early notice that he was in the mood with a wonderful early score from wide on the right Tipperary were always playing catch-up.
Brendan Cummins did extremely well to keep out a TJ Reid effort shortly afterwards, the veteran blocking the shot with his body but Power knocked over the resulting 65m as Tipp built a 0-5 to 0-1 lead. That was extended even further with the first goal of the game on 15 minutes. Power, having been hauled down, took the penalty himself and made no mistake as he smashed it low and hard past Cummins.
A rout looked on the cards, but Tipperary finally clicked into gear midway through the half with McGrath helping the visitors finish 1-10 to 0-8 behind. The momentum stayed with them early in the second half but after fighting their way back to within three points, Kilkenny put clear daylight between the sides again on 40 minutes as Eoin Larkin grabbed the second goal of the game.
The half forward drove at the heart of the Tipp defence and although his first effort was batted down, Larkin was able to scramble the rebound home. From there, the Cats were never going to be caught as they ran out comfortable winners in front of almost 10,000 fans.
Tipp manager Declan Ryan had been quizzed about the availability, or lack thereof, of Lar Corbett before the game after the star marksman’s decision to leave the panel sent shockwaves throughout the county earlier this month. Ryan insisted the door remains open for the 2010 hurler of the year but doesn’t expect him to feature in this league campaign.
“We’re all hoping Lar will be back,” Ryan explained. “At the moment he has decided to stay out of the panel so we’ve to get on with our business . . . if he comes back at any stage we’ll be glad to see him.”
Elsewhere in Division 1A this afternoon, Galway were far too strong for champions Dublin in Salthill, the Tribesmen winning 0-20 to 0-13 while there were Division 1B wins for Offaly and Antrim.
Cork’s campaign, with Jimmy Barry-Murphy back at the helm, began with an impressive 3-17 to 0-18 win over Waterford at packed Pairc Ui Rinn last night. Barry-Murph’s second coming attracted an official attendance of 7,356 was one of the biggest since the ground was redeveloped almost 20 years ago.
The introduction of a couple of teenagers helped increase the feel-good factor and both Conor Lehane and Darren Sweetnam made significant contributions to Cork’s opening league success. Midleton’s Lehane, a first year UCC student, was sensational, scoring seven points from play in a man-of-the-match performance, highlighted by an array of outstanding scores.
Three goals in nine first-half minutes decided the contest as Cork swept 12 points in front at one stage approaching half-time. Paudie O’Sullivan scored the first before Cathal Naughton found the back of the net in the 24th minute and the visitors’ defence was caught again, when a long free from goalkeeper and captain Donal Og Cusack dropped for O’Sullivan to score from close range.
Allianz NHL Division 1A
Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 0-15
Galway 0-20 Dublin 0-13
Division 1B
Offaly 1-27 Laois 0-18
Antrim 3-18 Wexford 2-15
Division 2A
Carlow 3-17 Down 1-6
Westmeath 0-19 Kerry 3-8
Wicklow 0-14 Derry 1-11
Division 2B
Meath 0-13 Kildare 1-12
Roscommon 1-6 Mayo 0-16
London 2-21 Armagh 0-10
Division 3A
Tyrone 3-18 Sligo 2-9
Monaghan 1-18 Donegal 1-11
Louth 0-12 Fingal 1-13