Hurling matters - Review Sport

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

Allianz League Division 1B (Round Two)

UPMC Nowlan Park

Kilkenny 1-21

Tipperary 2-24

Tipperary made it two wins from two as they punished their hosts sloppy rst half performance to record a rare UPMC Nowlan Park league victory in round two of the Allianz hurling league last weekend.

Let’s be blunt – Kilkenny were not good in the opening 35 minutes.

Derek Lyng’s men came out second best in almost every facet of the game as the visitors built up an incredible 12-point lead at the interval. is ‘horrible’ half of hurling cost the Cats dearly, as they went on to out-score their neighbours after the short whistle, but in truth they had always left themselves too much to do.

Liam Cahill’s men were hungrier from the rst whistle and were never behind in a contest that had much more of a championship feel to it. Man of the Match Jason Forde opened the scoring inside the rst 20 seconds and a further 1-14 would follow from the Silvermines clubman as the Tipp forwards lead the Kilkenny defence a merry dance in the opening period.

Kilkenny almost replied with a major, when good play from Billy Drennan gave Walter Walsh a sni of goal, but the big Tullogher man was denied and had to make do with raising a white ag. e deadly Forde popped over a free before a long stoppage in play saw Tipperary No.8 Paddy Cadell leave the eld injured and be replaced by John Campion. e visitors then su ered another injury blow when corner-back Cathal Barrett exited the fray, following a heavy collision with a teammate and this resulted in Eoghan Connolly entering proceedings.

Galmoy’s Billy Drennan then