Kilkenny very easily secured their place in the All-Ireland SHC final after a landslide win over Cork on Sunday in front of an attendance of 41,060 in Croke Park.
This semi-final victory was set up by a superb first half as Kilkenny hit Cork with early goals from Eddie Brennan and Aidan Fogarty leaving them with a 13 points lead at the interval.
Cork in fairness to them attempted a revival in the second half with some well taken pointed scores from Pat Horgan and Ben O'Connor. However, the Cats grabbed a third goal from Richie Power, who finished with a 1-8 tally in a man of the match performance. Power took over free-taking duties from Henry Shefflin, who left the field during the first half with a knee injury. Brian Hogan was also forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury. Kilkenny laid down a marker that they meant business right from the throw in. Early points from Aidan Fogarty and Henry Shefflin set the tone, and while Cork drew level with two O'Connor frees by the 15th minute, their challenge was dismantled by an unstoppable Kilkenny force thereafter.
Kilkenny struck the first major blow in the 17th minute when Henry Shefflin raced through the middle before passing to ‘Fast’ Eddie Brennan who gave Donál Óg Cusack no chance with a superb finish to the Cork net.
Kilkenny’s second goal came five minutes later. This time it was Aidan ‘ Taggy’ Fogarty who hit home after the Cork defence failed to clear James Ryall's long delivery. Even the loss of Brian Hogan and Henry Shefflin did not affect the Leinster champions. With the defence dominant especially JJ Delaney and Noel Hickey and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick and Michael Fennelly in control in the midfield, Kilkenny powered ahead.
Aidan Fogarty, Martin Comerford and Eoin Larkin all fired over points, while Richie Power excelled in the role of free-taker.
By the break, Kilkenny were ahead by 2-12 to 0-5, and continued this form in the second half, stretching their lead with a succession of points from Power, Eddie Brennan and ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick.
Cork were 17 points behind by the time O'Connor gave them their first score (free ) of the second half. Further points came from Pat Horgan who had a penalty deflected over the bar for a point, and two more points came from John Gardiner as they tried to reduce the deficit.
Scores came easily for the Cats and they struck for the goal again in the 62nd minute when Richie Power caught a high ball and finished brilliantly past Cusack for goal number three. While Pat Horgan landed another two points at the other end, and Ben O'Connor continued to point from frees — there was never any doubt of the outcome. Kilkenny now march on to the final to face either Tipperary or Waterford and a chance to be the first team in the 125 year history of the GAA to win five consecutive All-Ireland titles.
Teams and scorers:
Kilkenny: PJ Ryan, J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrrell, T Walsh (0-1 ), B Hogan, JJ Delaney, J Fitzpatrick (0-2 ), M Fennelly (0-2 ), TJ Reid (0-1 ), H Shefflin (0-2, 1f ), E Larkin (0-1 ), E Brennan (1-1 ), R Power (1-8, 0-6f ), A Fogarty (1-2 ).
Subs: J Ryall for Hogan, M Comerford (0-2 ) for Shefflin, M Rice for Brennan, J Mulhall for Reid, D Lyng for Fitzpatrick.
Cork: D Og Cusack, S Murphy, E Cadogan, B Murphy, J Gardiner (0-2 ), R Curran, S Og O hAilpín (0-1 ), T Kenny, C Naughton (0-1 ), C McCarthy, K Murphy, N McCarthy (0-1 ), P Horgan (0-6, 0-1f, 0-1penalty ), A O hAilpín, B O'Connor (0-7, 6f ).
Subs: W Egan for C McCarthy, P O'Sullivan for A O'hAilpin, J O'Connor (0-1 ) for Murphy, M Cussen for Naughton, G Callanan for Kenny.
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly ).
