Kilkenny v Cork is one of the oldest and most famous rivalries in hurling and the public can look forward to another thrilling instalment when the counties clash in the first of the GAA’s Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals in Croke Park this Sunday.
Kilkenny, who are chasing their fifth All-Ireland title in a row, have recorded 20 successive championship wins since losing the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final to Galway. In the intervening period they have beaten the following counties: Galway (4 ), Wexford (4 ), Cork (2 ), Offaly (2 ); Dublin (2 ); Waterford (2 ); Clare (1 ), Westmeath (1 ), Tipperary (1 ), Limerick 1.
Kilkenny are bidding to reach their 11th final in 13 seasons, having missed out in 2001 and 2005 when they lost both semi-finals to Galway. Cork are bidding to reach the final for the first time since 2006. They last played Kilkenny in the championship in 2008 when they lost the All-Ireland semi-final by nine points.
Paths to the semi-final Angela Doyle 3/8/10 could we box this part please.
Kilkenny:
Kilkenny 4-19, Dublin 0-12 Leinster semi-final.
Kilkenny 1-19, Galway 1-12 Leinster final.
Average for: 2-21, average against: 0-14.
Cork
Cork 3-15 Tipperary 0-14 (Munster quarter-final.
Cork 2-19 Limerick 0-12 Munster semi-final.
Cork 2-15 Waterford 2-15 Munster final.
Waterford 1-16 Cork 1-13 Munster final replay – after extra-time.
Cork 1-25 Antrim 0-19 All-Ireland quarter-final.
Average for: 1-20; average against: 0-17.