GAA – Kilkenny 1-17 Tipperary 1-10:Kilkenny got their Allianz National Hurling League campaign off to a winning start over Tipperary at Semple Stadium and gained a small measure of revenge for last year's All-Ireland defeat against the same opposition.
The Cats were intent on taking the challenge to Tipp and with a fully functioning attack they were good value for the win.
Eight players on each side, who started last year’s All-Ireland final, were on show but Kilkenny had much of the upper hand across the pitch.
Richie Hogan was in fine form and finished the night top points scorer with a 0-10 personal tally while his frontmen also got in on the act. John Mulhall and Tommy Walsh found their range too.
In the early stages Tipp raced into a five-point lead (1-06 to 0-04), with Gearoid Ryan finding the Cats’ net after he was set up by Pa Bourke.
It only served to kick-start the visitors, however, as they responded with five scores on the spin and eventually went into the break 0-13 to 1-07 ahead.
Kilkenny’s goal came shortly after the restart through Colin Fennelly to open the gap to six.
Tipp reduced the winners to just four points for the remainder of the game but they always looked in control on an evening when wet and windy conditions made proved testing for both sides.
Tipperary: Darren Gleeson, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Conor O'Brien, David Young, Conor O'Mahony, Hugh Maloney, Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath, Gearóid Ryan, Pa Bourke, Noel McGrath, John O'Neill, Patrick Maher, Timmy Hammersley.
Scorers for Tipperary: T Hammersley 0-1, P Bourke 0-4 (0-3f), G Ryan 1-0, S McGrath 0-1, J O'Neill 0-1, N McGrath 0-2 (0-1 sl), Patrick Maher 0-1.
Kilkenny: David Herity, John Dalton, JJ Delaney, Paul Murphy, Tommy Walsh, Jackie Tyrrell, PJ Delaney, Michael Rice, John Mulhall, Richie Hogan, Michael Fennelly, Aidan Fogarty, Colin Fennelly, Eddie Brennan, TJ Reid.
Scorers for Kilkenny: A Fogarty 0-2, R Hogan 0-10 (0-8f), J Mulhall 0-2, M Fennelly 0-1, C Fennelly 1-0, E Brennan 0-1, T Walsh 0-1.
Results
Allianz Hurling League Division 1
Tipperary 1-10 Kilkenny 1-17
Allianz Football League Division 3
Louth 2-13 Westmeath 0-11
Allianz Football League Division 3
Clare 5-17 Kilkenny 1-01
London 0-07 Roscommon 1-14