Cats reign supreme once again

Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16

Kilkenny were thoroughly deserving winners of their fifth All-Ireland hurling title in six seasons after a four-point victory over reigning champions Tipperary at Croke Park.

Although the game could hardly be termed as a classic like the two finals that preceded it, it was still riveting stuff at times, but the Cats were the better side from start to finish and were fully deserving winners.

Goals from Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan – one of the best efforts you are ever likely to see at Croke Park – put Brian Cody’s side in the driving seat midway through the second half and although Tipp threatened a comeback after a Pa Bourke goal towards the finish, the Premier County could never get within three points of the men in black and amber, who never looked in danger of relinquishing their lead.

The Cats managed to put the shackles on the likes of Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly and Noel McGrath in the Tipperary attack and with big names like Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney, Michael Fennelly and Henry Shefflin all standing out, the signs were always ominous for the reigning champions.

Kilkenny were five in front (1-8 to 0-6) after a first half of ferociously intense exchanges, with the Cats putting pressure on Tipp at every contest.

It was 16 minutes before the defending champions raised the white flag for the first time, and in truth that was one of their first scoring chances as the Kilkenny backs were exceptional to a man - from Murphy and Jackie Tyrrell, who shadowed last year's Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett, to the trademark brilliance of Tommy Walsh. And it would be remiss not to mention the other three, Noel Hickey, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney, too.

Tipp's big-game players struggled to influence things as they would have liked: Lar, Noel McGrath and Eoin Kelly found space impossible to come by, while Seamus Callanan and Shane McGrath were replaced at half-time.

But it was Kilkenny who started the second half the better side, with Hogan's wondrous control and first-time shot to the top corner of Brendan Cummins's net helping them into a lead of eight (2-13 to 0-11).

Bourke, one of the half-time replacements, made an impression with a goal which saw the gap cut to four but Kilkenny saw it out in resolute fashion, with Walsh, Murphy and Tyrrell all to the fore at the back and Richie Power, Shefflin and Eoin Larkin all influential in attack.

So Tipp's half-a-decade-long wait for a two-in-a-row goes on, and it's another All-Ireland for the Cats, five in six years and an eighth under Brian Cody. Did you ever doubt them?