Irish Times
26th February 2001

New Cork coach Tom Cashman received a timely boost with this narrow victory over All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday

A well-contested game was heading for a draw until dual star Sean Og O' hAilpin gained possession 50 yards out and pointed to make it back-to-back wins for the Munster champions.

Under-strength Kilkenny had trailed 1-9 to 0-9 but a couple of Henry Sheflin points and another from Alan Geoghegan, who had earlier spurned a clear-cut goal opportunity, restored equality.

The game's only goal came just after the break, when the teams turned over at 0-6 apiece. Mike Morrissey, the impressive centre-forward from county champions Newtownshandrum, delivered a high ball which dropped in front of the Kilkenny goal-mouth.

Joe Deane, who was quiet by his standards and was substituted on the hour, broke the ball down for the flying Seanie McGrath to control it expertly before flicking it past James McGarry.

Pat Mulcahy (Newtownshandrum) attempts to dispossess
Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday (24/02/2001)

Kilkenny were struggling and even DJ Carey seemed out of sorts at midfield, eventually ending up at full-forward in a revamped attack for the second-half and failing to register a score.

Centre-forward Stephan Grehan was their unlikely hero as his three points from play, against Brian Corcoran, brought the Cats back into contention before the break. The quality and tempo picked up on the resumption and Jerry O'Connor set the tone for the exciting finish with a super point from a difficult angle.

Cork: Donal Óg Cusack, Pat Mulcahy (Newtownshandrum), Diarmuid O'Sullivan, John Browne, Wayne Sherlock, Brian Corcoran 0-1, Sean Óg Ó hAilpín 0-1, Ben O'Connor 0-1 (Newtownshandrum), Derek Barrett 0-1, Timmy McCarthy 0-1, Mike Morrissey 0-1 (Newtownshandrum), Alan Browne, Seanie McGrath 1-0, Kevin Murray 0-1, Joe Deane 0-2.
Subs: Jerry O'Connor 0-1 (Newtownshandrum) for Alan Browne; Niall Ronan for Deane (58); Mickey O'Connell & E Fitzgerald for Ben O'Connor & Timmy McCarthy (61).

Kilkenny: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, D Grogan; P Mullally, S Dowling, P Barry; DJ Carey, A Cummins; J Coogan, S Grehan 0-3, A Geoghegan 0-1; JP Corcoran 0-1, T Drennan, H Shefflin 0-5 (0-3 fs).
Subs: D Lyng for Mullally (15); C Carter 0-1 for Drennan (ht); J Barron 0-1 for Coogan (44).

Referee: M Wadding (Waterford).

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