NHL DIVISION ONE: KILKENNY 5-17 TIPPERARY 1-12:THE CLASH of champions was turned into a procession by in-the- mood Kilkenny.
The All-Ireland champions dished out a beating to defending league champions Tipperary in a one-sided clash at Nowlan Park yesterday.
The winners were on fire, and at half-time they were given a standing ovation by fans as they went in 20 points clear.
It was game over.
“We want to get to the league final,” said Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody afterwards. “I presume everyone is interested in winning every game. We are, and if we can get to the league final that would be great.”
His Tipperary counterpart, Liam Sheedy said: “You don’t expect anything soft against Kilkenny these days. You have to give them credit, they were in powerful form, especially during the first half when they ran up a huge score.”
This was a frightening display from Kilkenny, who were without Henry Shefflin, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Derek Lyng, JJ Delaney and hurler of the year Eoin Larkin from their All-Ireland team.
Within 47 seconds, TJ Reid set up Richie Hogan for a point. Two minutes later Martin Comerford finished to the Tipp net after a sweeping move involving Hogan, James Ryall and Eddie Brennan.
The visitors were backed by the wind, but just couldn’t cope with the power of Kilkenny’s game. Noel McGrath opened the Tipp account in the fourth minute, but Aidan Fogarty scored Kilkenny’s second goal two minutes later.
Two quickfire points from Richie Power (free) were followed by a third from Eddie Brennan to make it 2-4 to 0-1 after 17 minutes and TJ Reid posted 1-2 within two minutes to stretch the gap to 3-8 to 0-4. Comerford added the home side’s fourth and fifth goals to increase his personal tally to 3-1 by the interval as the rampant Cats led 5-9 to 0-4 at the break.
Tipp reduced the deficit to 5-11 to 0-10, but points from Aidan Fogarty, Hogan and Damien Fogarty extended Kilkenny’s lead before Micheál Webster grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors.
KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, B Hogan, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, J Tennyson, J Ryall; M Fennelly, M Rice (0-1); M Comerford (3-2), E Brennan (0-2), TJ Reid (1-2); R Hogan (0-5, one free), R Power (0-2, frees), A Fogarty (1-1). Subs: M Grace (0-1) for R Power (inj) (half-time); D Herity for Ryan 44th min; D Fogarty (0-1) for M Fennelly (yellow card, 50 mins), E Larkin for Brennan (57 mins); S Cummins for T Walsh (61 mins).
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; C O’Brien, D Fanning, P Curran; B Dunne, C O’Mahony (0-2, one free, one 65), D Fitzgerald; B. Maher, S McGrath; N McGrath (0-1), S. Callanan (0-3, two frees), J Woodlock (0-1), T Scroope, J O’Brien (0-2), P Kelly. Subs: S Maher for B Dunne (half-time), M Webster (1-0) for S McGrath (half-time), S Hennessy (0-3) for Kelly (41 mins), P Maher for Callanan (61 mins).
Referee: C McCallister (Cork).
