Kilkenny 1-14 Cork 1-11
Kilkenny ground out a three point victory over Cork at a sun-kissed Croke Park today to claim back-to-back All-Ireland hurling titles and their 28th senior title in total.
Far from a classic, the game only sprang to life midway through the second half when Cork, well below par in the opening period, battled back to lead having been six points adrift at the break.
Kilkenny will look to the inspirational performances of defenders Noel Hickey and JJ Delaney and that of full forward Martin Comerford as the shining lights in an otherwise disappointing showing.
Cork, to their credit, fought courageously in the second half following an anonymous opening 35 minutes and had the game for the taking when Niall McCarthy pointed the Munster side into a one point lead 15 minutes from time.
But, ultimately, Kilkenny's canny knack of spurting ahead with a succession of late scores stood them in good stead as the Cork pressure petered out in the closing stages once Martin Comerford goaled to put Kilkenny four up with five minutes to play.
Tommy Walsh's opening score after 10 seconds set a false precedent for the first half as the explosive nature of his point did not carry forward into either side's pattern of play.
While Kilkenny picked off their points and opened up a healthy advantage over their rivals, the reigning champions lacked the killer conviction to take advantage of Cork's hesitancy and establish a healthier lead at the break.
Despite an abundance of early possession, Cork's wayward shooting let them down on 11 occasions in the opening period. Midfielder John Gardiner was found guilty on more than one occasion, spoiling a number of promising attacks with six wides to his name in the half.
Henry Shefflin, Walsh and Martin Comerford rattled over the Kilkenny scores as Cork's defensive unit hummed and hawed all too frequently. The trio carried the champions in attack by providing all nine of Kilkenny's first half scores. Kilkenny led 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time.
Cork, however, emerged a rejuvenated side after the break with manager Donal O'Grady's rousing half-time team-talk still ringing in his players' ears. Joe Deane and Niall McCarthy hit three unanswered points to haul Cork within four of Kilkenny's lead by the 46th minute.
O'Grady's decision to switch Gardiner from midfield to wing back paid dividends as Walsh, the catalyst of so many Kilkenny attacks, was well marshaled by the 20-year-old, so much so that Cats boss Brian Cody eventually moved his player into the corner.
With Kilkenny struggling to reignite their attacking prowess of the first half - captain DJ Carey and star attacker Eddie Brennan both playing poorly - Cork ploughed on and drew level when Setanta O'hAilpin netted with 15 minutes to play.
The rangy corner forward capitalised on a Joe Deane flick through after defender James Ryall misfielded a dropping ball. Deane played in O'hAilpin who zipped past Hickey before blasting the ball past James McGarry in the Kilkenny goal.
But despite O'Connor putting them ahead a minute later, Cork could never quite stretch away from their opponents.
Cody played a trump card inside the closing 10 minutes by stabilising his Kilkenny ship with the introduction of seasoned campaigner Andy Comerford and wily duo Richie Mullally and Jimmy Coogan. The trio's experience lent a lot to the eventual outcome as they settled Kilkenny's rhythm and set a more balanced platform from which to spring their final assault.
With the clock ticking down and the game up for grabs, Kilkenny pressed up field. Henry Shefflin - scorer of six points - scrapped hard for a lose ball after Cork corner back Wayne Sherlock committed himself in attempting to dispossess two Kilkenny attackers. Shefflin played in the unmarked Comerford who cleverly beat Cork 'keeper Donal Cusack for what eventually proved a championship winning score.