GAA Review:In a reverse result from last year's All-Ireland final, Tipperary got the better of rivals Kilkenny in their National Hurling League Division One fixture at Semple Stadium this afternoon. On a busy day of football Dublin fought hard to deny Mayo while Kerry recorded their first league win this year.
The eagerly anticipated hurling fixture eventually took place at the sun-drenched Thurles venue after being postponed twice due to poor weather. As the game was free of charge some 20,000 spectators spilled in to witness a competitive match between arguably the country’s to leading sides.
Tipp always had something to prove in this the first meeting between the two sides since their All-Ireland final defeat last September, and especially after they lost to Dublin last week.
Liam Sheedy’s side ran out 1-14 to 0-13 winners against Brian Cody’s outfit.
Tipp captain Eoin Kelly and Padraic Maher hit top form with the latter engrossed in an entertaining battle with Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin for much of the afternoon. John Tennyson was highly productive in the Cats midfield too.
It looked as though the sides would go into the break level but Kelly received a pass from Noel McGrath before finding the Kilkenny goal to put Tipp 1-06 to 0-06 ahead.
Kilkenny quickly found their rhythm after the restart but were not as accurate as they normally are and ran up a number of wides.
In the closing stages PJ Delaney brought it to a two-point game (1-12 to 0-13) before Jody Brennan and McGrath put the icing on the cake with late points to secure the memorable four-point win.
Both managers shook hands on the final whistle after an earlier altercation on the sideline.
In the football, Dublin continue to ride on the crest of a wave after securing their third win on the trot by narrowly denying Mayo 1-09 to 1-08 in their Division One game in Castlebar.
In a low scoring first half the visitors ended it 0-05 to 0-04 ahead, while Ronan McGarrity and Paedar Gardiner both left the field injured.
Enda Varley scored the game's first goal as he put Mayo ahead in the 46th minute. However the Dubs bounced back when Bernard Brogan found the net.
The win leaves Dublin top of the division with a better points difference than Cork.
Kerry landed their first Division One win against Derry in Tralee, 0-15 to 1-09.
It was hardly a straight forward victory for the Kingdon, who had to come from behind.
Colm Cooper, David Moran and Kieran Donaghy were the main instigators in the second half comeback.
Earlier Eoin Bradley's gave Derry hope with his 15th minute goal as the visitors went into the break 1-06 to 0-06 ahead.
Saturday's GAA Results
Allianz Football League Division 1
Cork 1-19 Galway 1-17
Football League Division 2
Down 0-14 Tipperary 1-11
Meath 1-12 Westmeath 2-08
Laois 0-12 Armagh 0-13
Football League Division 3
Antrim 0-16 Fermanagh 0-08
Hurling League Division 3A
Armagh 0-17 Mayo 0-19
Hurling League Division 3B
Fingal 1-07 Wicklow 0-15
Hurling League Division 4
Longford 2-14 South Down 1-14
Sunday's Results
Allianz Hurling League Division 1
Tipperary 1-14 Kilkenny 0-13
Allianz Football League Division 1
Mayo 1-08 Dublin 1-09
Monaghan 1-14 Tyrone 0-16
Kerry 0-15 Derry 1-09
NFL Division 2
Kildare 1-17 Donegal 1-09
NFL Division 3
Louth 0-13 Cavan 1-06
Wexford 3-07 Sligo 1-06
Offaly 2-14 Roscommon 2-13
NFL Division 4
Wicklow 0-14 Carlow 0-07
Kilkenny 0-02 London 1-07
Waterford 0-10 Longford 1-07
Clare 2-12 Leitrim 0-17