NHL round-up:Kilkenny continued their impressive early form in the Allianz National Hurling League with a clinical 2-21 to 1-15 win over Waterford at Walsh Park this afternoon. Leading by just a single point at the break, Brian Cody's side went through the gears in the second half to keep their place at the top of the Division 1A table.
Matthew Ruth scored both goals for the Cats, one either side of the interval, as a depleted Waterford ran out of steam in the closing stages. The win keeps Kilkenny ahead of Cork on points difference in the standings after the Rebels came from behind to defeat Dublin at Croke Park
Dublin lost out by the narrowest of margins, 2-18 to 2-17 after a thrilling second half in the capital. Cork just about edged a lacklustre first half in which both sides were guilty of too many wides but the contest sparked into life after the interval.
Dublin drew first blood within minutes of the restart, Simon Lambert giving Cork goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack no chance with a low effort for the first goal of the game but the Leesiders responded in kind 60 seconds later through Cathal Naughton.
Ryan O’Dwyer added another Dublin goal with 15 minutes remaining to fire them into the lead with Paul Ryan’s free taking helping the home side stretch that advantage to three points. But Pa Cronin levelled matters with a simple finish five minutes from time before a Patrick Horgan nudged Cork back in front heading into injury time.
There was still time for Paul Ryan to grab a share of the spoils but his free deep into injury time drifted left and wide. Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy was pleased with the way his side responded to Dublin’s goals but feels the Rebels remain a work in progress at this stage of the season.
“Naturally there’s a long way to go,” he said afterwards. “We know we’ve a lot of work to do. As I’ve said already, we’re trying to build a panel that will make us competitive in the championship, that’s always been the goal.”
Today’s other Division 1A fixture saw Tipperary bounce back from their mauling at the hands of Kilkenny on the opening weekend with a 2-20 to 2-18 win over Galway at Semple Stadium.
Division 1A results
Dublin 2-17 Cork 2-18
Tipperary 2-20 Galway 2-18
Waterford 1-15 Kilkenny 2-21
Division 1B
Clare 0-20 Antrim 0-12
Laois 2-12 Limerick 1-24
Wexford 3-18 Offaly 2-20
Division 2A
Derry 2-12 Westmeath 2-18
Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-17
Kerry 1-13 Carlow 0-20
Division 2B
Kildare 0-25 London 0-14
Mayo 3-12 Meath 1-18
Armagh 1-20 Roscommon 1-14
Division 3A
Sligo 2-13 Louth 1-16
Fingal 0-11 Monaghan 0-16
Donegal 1-10 Tyrone 0-24
Division 3B
Fermanagh 0-14 Warwickshire 1-10