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 13 September 2004 www.rte.ie | |||
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Cork ended Kilkenny's three All-Ireland's in-a-row dream by winning a tense final at Croke Park this afternoon with Brian Corcoran, Niall McCarthy and Joe Deane among a host of heroes on the Rebel County side.
Kilkenny went in ahead at the break after a low scoring and slightly disappointing first half with Henry Shefflin's free-taking providing the difference between the teams in the early stages. But Cork's determination, allied to a changed game plan of firing the ball in early to a rampant full-forward line, gave Cork the means to destroy Kilkenny's vaunted defence.
Failures up front on the Cats side also played their part as DJ Carey, Eddie Brennan and John Hoyne each ended the match scoreless with the Cork backs collectively putting in a magnificent second half display to provide a platform for victory.
The game got off to a flying start as Kilkenny missed three early opportunities. Eddie Brennan had the best of those but he put a great goal chance wide within seconds of the throw in. Cha Fitzpatrick and Brennan missed decent point chances before Cork went ahead through a Joe Deane free from 20 metres. Cork had a couple of refereeing decisions in their favour to go with that and give them the slight advantage through the first ten minutes but then Kilkenny re-discovered their form.
Henry Shefflin got the mini-renaissance underway with a calmly stroked point from out on the left and Cha Fitzpatrick followed up soon after with another well taken score as Cork's short puck out strategy mis-fired. Ben O'Connor had a chance to bring the sides level again soon after but he put a fairly simple free wide but Deane again proved reliable from the placed ball at short range, pointing after a James Ryall transgression.
Deane was also dangerous in open play with the crossbar denying him a goal after he skinned Michael Kavanagh near the end line, while Ben O'Connor's disappointing opening continued as he smashed the follow up into the side netting. To add insult to injury, Kilkenny got the next score with Martin Comerford putting the Cats back into the lead and they kicked on further ahead after Shefflin pointed a free given when Wayne Sherlock took to many steps coming out of defence.
Play was held up then as Brian Murphy received attention with double vision brought on by migraine, which forced him out of the game minutes later. Kilkenny got back on top after that stoppage with DJ Carey's strong running giving Comerford another chance which he duly converted. The tide was stemmed by another short-range Deane free which ended a nine minute scoreless sequence for Cork but midfielder Derek Lyng scored a terrific individual point for Kilkenny soon after, embarking on a scintillating solo run before slapping over an excellent score to become Kilkenny's fourth scorer.
An exchange of wides followed, including one from a free by Ben O'Connor and Kilkenny continued to foul at around fifty metres from their goal. Connor got his first point as a result of that policy, converting a difficult chance from out on the left hand touchline.
Brian Corcoran got Cork's first score from play to put Cork within a point. He burst through the Kilkenny half back line before popping a low puck over from twenty metres while John Hoyne of Kilkenny and his marker Ronan Curran both received yellow cards for jostling off the ball.
Henry Shefflin took the next long free, replacing DJ Carey who had been wayward, and having sought the responsibility he duly pointed from the right hand side. Jerry O'Connor replied for Cork, capitalising on excellent work around the house from Deane to score a pleasing point from play before the half time whistle.
Cork came out all guns blazing for the second half and Niall McCarthy refused what looked a good goal chance within seconds of the re-start, taking a simple point instead. Kieran Murphy got the next point after a strong run by John Gardiner. Hoyne won a free-in for Kilkenny after Gardiner pulled him down and Shefflin pointed the easy chance.
McCarthy's purple patch continued as he scored the point of the game from the resulting puck out, fielding well before turning, running and striking to score in great style. Ben O'Connor could have put the Leesiders ahead but he missed his third free. Kieran Murphy made up for it quickly, taking advantage of Noel Hickey's slip seconds later and pointing a simple chance from the right hand side. Timmy McCarthy had a chance to put Cork two ahead but he missed a simple chance to remain the sole Cork forward without a score.
Niall McCarthy then put Cork two in front, hoovering up a loose ball around the forty and pointing calmly before Kieran Murphy won another free 45 metres out with Ben O'Connor taking the chance this time.
Kilkenny did not give up their crown easily. Shefflin showed terrific skill to get a shot on target on the volley from Carey's hand pass but his effort was saved by Donal Óg Cusack in the Cork goal and from his clearance James Ryall poleaxed Deane on the forty, yielding another free chance. He was lucky to stay on the field with just a yellow card as punishment but Deane pointed the free to put Cork in a commanding position.
John Gardiner was the next player to escape serious censure after a scuffle with Martin Comerford during which he appeared to strike the Kilkenny captain, which resulted in a warning for the Corkman, already on a yellow card at that point. Frees from O'Connor and Deane as well as a Tom Kenny point, made possible by Deane's accurarte pass, put Cork well clear with Kilkenny subs Séan Dowling and Tom Cooper incapable of altering the course of the game.
Cork remained nervous, conceding a '65 to Kilkenny which they defended successfully before Brian Corcoran putting the final nail in Kilkenny's coffin, grabbing a fine point from a tight angle before the final whistle heralded scenes of jubilation for the Leesiders and ended Kilkenny's three-in-a-row dream.
Full Time: Cork 0-17 0-09 Kilkenny
1 min: Kilkenny launch the first attack with Eddie Brennan hitting wide from a tight angle.
3 mins: Niall McCarthy earns a free for Cork, which was sent over by Joe Deane from 30 metres for the first score of the game.
6 mins: Brennan is penalised for taking too many steps when bearing down on goal after a frenetic couple of minutes play around the midfield area.
8 mins: Henry Shefflin puts Kilkenny's first score over after collecting with space on the sideline, while James Fitzpatrick follows up immediately with a point to see the Cats lead.
11 mins: Joe Deane levells matters with another free.
12 mins: Deane breaks through the Cats' defence with a determined run before striking the bar with his shot.
13 mins: Martin Comeford hits over after being fed by John Hoyne.
15 mins: Cork's Wayne Sherlock is penalised for too many steps to see Shefflin easily convert the resulting free.
18 mins: DJ Carey wins a drop ball to feed John Hoyne who in turn fed Comeford to send over a beautiful point.
20 mins: Ben O'Connor is dragged back when attacking the Kilkenny goal to earn a free, which Deane sent over to put two between the sides.
22 mins: Derek Lyng fights off the challenge of three Cork men to run 20 yards and send over another Kilkenny point.
24 mins: JJ Delaney wins another Cork puck out as the Rebels struggle in midfield - Delaney wins a free, which DJ Carey sends wide from inside his own 65.
29 mins: Tommy Walsh is fouled when clearing Kilkenny lines but Carey sends the free wide - Kilkenny's 7th so far.
30 mins: O'Connor gets another difficult free which he sends over from the sideline for Cork.
31 mins: Brian Corcoran wins a tussle with his marker for the ball before sending over for Cork's first point from play.
34 mins: Kilkenny win a free from a Cork puck-out and Shefflin converts.
35 mins: Deane and Gerry O'Connor combine well for O'Connor to score and reduce the deficit once more.
35 +1 mins: James McGarry loses concentration as the ball approaches and is lucky to see it trickle wide of the goal after it slips under his hurl.
SECOND HALF
36 mins: John Gardiner launches Cork's first attack of the half and the Rebels earn a line ball, a scrappy ball ends up with Niall McCarthy who sends it over when there was a possibility of a goal.
39 mins: Shefflin puts over a 65 for Kilkenny to edge ahead once again.
40 mins: Cork's O'Connor brothers break up field and combine well before Ben hits wide.
43 mins: John Gardiner breaks upfield for Cork with a strong run before losing way, the ball falls to Kiaran Murphy though and he makes no mistake from 30 metres.
45 mins: Hoyne is fouled 30 metres after receiving a pass from Ken Coogan and Shefflin sends the ball over again.
46 mins: Niall McCarthy plucks a ball from the air before running down the line and sending a massive point over to level for Cork again.
49 mins: Noel Hickey slips and Murphy collects to steal in and point for Cork to lead the match.
52 mins: Shefflin and Brennan link up but Brennan hits wide from a tight angle.
54 mins: Niall McCarthy wins another 50/50 ball and sends his shot over for Cork to lead by two.
55 mins: Cork really have their tails up now and Murphy earns a free after being dragged back and O'Connor sends over from a central position.
56 mins: Carey supplies Shefflin in attack after losing his hurl and Shefflin pulls on it first time but Donal Og Cusack saves well for Cork.
58 mins: Cork win another free and Deane once more converts as Cork open up a gap.
60 mins: Kilkenny launch another long ball down field but Diarmuid O'Sullivan catches from Shefflin to clear for Cork.
62 mins: Cork win another free upfield and Deane sends over another easy point.
63 mins: A Cork wide is quickly followed by one from Kilkenny as the game begins to slip away from the Champions.
65 mins: Hoyne fouls Tom Kenny after a scrappy period of play and Ben O'Connor sends over the free to leave six between the sides.
68 mins: Tom Kenny connects from Deane and gallops forward to point for Cork.
69 mins: Kilkenny pile on the pressure in search of a goal but Cork stand firm and clear once more through Sean Og Oh Ailpin.
70 mins: Shefflin launches another attack but the ball is knocked out for a 65, that's sent into the square but O'Sullivan hacks it down and Cork clear.
70 mins: Corcoran receives the ball in the corner and makes space to send over his second point from a tight angle for the final score of the game as the ref blows the whistle and Cork are Champions.
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