Cats Claim 16th Division I Hurling Title

Allianz Hurling League Division I Final: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 0-20

Kilkenny retained their Allianz Hurling League Division I crown with a three-point victory over Tipperary in a tough and very tight game on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Fennelly scored two goals in the first 21 minutes for the Cats, who led by 2-7 to 0-11 at the break, and they just about edged the second half to claim league honors and score a crucial win over their great rivals in front of their own fans at an electric Nowlan Park.

Both sides finished with 14 men after Lar Corbett and JJ Delaney were shown straight red cards following a 45th minute incident.

In a game played at championship pace, Kilkenny defended superbly, with Delaney performing well before he was sent off and Jackie Tyrrell and Paul Murphy keeping the Tipperary attack at bay. Tipperary scored 14 goals in their six league games this spring, but they barely got a sniff here.

Just like they did in the Allianz League final against Cork last year, Kilkenny made a remarkable start. Lester Ryan had the hosts ahead with a sweet point from play within seconds of the start, with Eoin Larkin adding another from a free soon after.

Then, on three minutes, the Cats put a big dent in Tipp's confidence. Michael Fennelly, operating from centre-forward, scored a trademark goal with a run through the heart of the Premier County defence, before finishing smartly past Darren Gleeson, the Tipperary goalkeeper. The Cats were 1-2 to 0-0 up before anyone in the 21,447 crowd had a chance to draw breath.

Unlike Cork last year, Tipperary showed great character to pick themselves off the floor after that early barrage. Eoin Kelly opened their account with a free on five minutes and they gradually started to get on top in midfield. Brendan Maher had a great first half - a great game overall in fact - and slotted over a couple of scores from play as Eamon O'Shea's side reeled the champions in and had the gap down to a point, 1-3 to 0-5, when Séamus Callanan hit the target on 20 minutes.

And then Michael Fennelly struck again. Picking up a loose ball, he powered his way to the endline before unleashing a shot high to the roof of Gleeson's goal.

Tipp responded well once again, with Brendan Maher grabbing his third of the half from play and with Kelly adding another. Patrick Maher, though, missed a gilt-edged chance to punish the Cats when he beat Delaney to a high ball into the danger area.

However, with the goal at his mercy, his shot was half blocked and dribbled tamely at Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy.

Two Kelly frees reduced the gap and then Noel McGrath had Tipperary level with a very smart score, his second of the half from play, with two minutes to go to half-time.

However, Kilkenny hit two points in added time to lead by two at the break. Lester Ryan knocked over a second from play before Michael Fennelly adorned a brilliant first half display with another score and brought his total to 2-3 with the final point of an absorbing 35 minutes of action.

Tipperary kept Kilkenny waiting on the pitch at the start of the second half, and when the game finally did resume, it was tough, uncompromising stuff.

The sides shared equally the first six points of the second half before Delaney and Corbett came to blows on the edge of the square, with referee Barry Kelly deciding to send both off.

Tipp were level by the 50th minute thanks to scores from Callanan and a fourth from play from Brendan Maher.

He, Kieran Bergin at Noel McGrath were Tipp's best performers on the day. However, Kilkenny reacted by scoring three of their own without reply, with Richie Hogan and Killian Buckley both opening their accounts in that spell.

And that was it in truth. Tipp tried desperately to force their way back on top in the closing stages, but the Kilkenny defence held firm.

Richie Hogan had a chance to kill the game with two minutes to go, but he shot straight at Gleeson, before Michael Rice struck the Cats' insurance score in added time.

Kilkenny have now won the league title for a 16th time and will certainly enjoy keeping the trophy on Noreside for another year, but the true value of this victory was knowing that they were more than able to take everything a resurgent Tipperary side had to throw at them and still come out well on top.