Cork ended Kilkenny's three All-Ireland's in-a-row dream by winning a tense final at Croke Park this afternoon with Brian Corcoran, Niall McCarthy and Joe Deane among a host of heroes on the Rebel County side.
Kilkenny went in ahead at the break after a low scoring and slightly disappointing first half with Henry Shefflin's free-taking providing the difference between the teams in the early stages. But Cork's determination, allied to a changed game plan of firing the ball in early to a rampant full-forward line, gave Cork the means to destroy Kilkenny's vaunted defence.
Failures up front on the Cats side also played their part as DJ Carey, Eddie Brennan and John Hoyne each ended the match scoreless with the Cork backs collectively putting in a magnificent second half display to provide a platform for victory.
The game got off to a flying start as Kilkenny missed three early opportunities. Eddie Brennan had the best of those but he put a great goal chance wide within seconds of the throw in. Cha Fitzpatrick and Brennan missed decent point chances before Cork went ahead through a Joe Deane free from 20 metres. Cork had a couple of refereeing decisions in their favour to go with that and give them the slight advantage through the first ten minutes but then Kilkenny re-discovered their form.
Henry Shefflin got the mini-renaissance underway with a calmly stroked point from out on the left and Cha Fitzpatrick followed up soon after with another well taken score as Cork's short puck out strategy misfired. Ben O'Connor had a chance to bring the sides level again soon after but he put a fairly simple free wide but Deane again proved reliable from the placed ball at short range, pointing after a James Ryall transgression.
Deane was also dangerous in open play with the crossbar denying him a goal after he skinned Michael Kavanagh near the end line, while Ben O'Connor's disappointing opening continued as he smashed the follow up into the side netting. To add insult to injury, Kilkenny got the next score with Martin Comerford putting the Cats back into the lead and they kicked on further ahead after Shefflin pointed a free given when Wayne Sherlock took to many steps coming out of defence.
Play was held up then as Brian Murphy received attention with double vision brought on by migraine, which forced him out of the game minutes later. Kilkenny got back on top after that stoppage with DJ Carey's strong running giving Comerford another chance which he duly converted. The tide was stemmed by another short-range Deane free which ended a nine minute scoreless sequence for Cork but midfielder Derek Lyng scored a terrific individual point for Kilkenny soon after, embarking on a scintillating solo run before slapping over an excellent score to become Kilkenny's fourth scorer.
An exchange of wides followed, including one from a free by Ben O'Connor and Kilkenny continued to foul at around fifty metres from their goal. Connor got his first point as a result of that policy, converting a difficult chance from out on the left hand touchline.
Brian Corcoran got Cork's first score from play to put Cork within a point. He burst through the Kilkenny half back line before popping a low puck over from twenty metres while John Hoyne of Kilkenny and his marker Ronan Curran both received yellow cards for jostling off the ball.
Henry Shefflin took the next long free, replacing DJ Carey who had been wayward, and having sought the responsibility he duly pointed from the right hand side. Jerry O'Connor replied for Cork, capitalising on excellent work around the house from Deane to score a pleasing point from play before the half time whistle.
Cork came out all guns blazing for the second half and Niall McCarthy refused what looked a good goal chance within seconds of the re-start, taking a simple point instead. Kieran Murphy got the next point after a strong run by John Gardiner. Hoyne won a free-in for Kilkenny after Gardiner pulled him down and Shefflin pointed the easy chance.
McCarthy's purple patch continued as he scored the point of the game from the resulting puck out, fielding well before turning, running and striking to score in great style. Ben O'Connor could have put the Leesiders ahead but he missed his third free. Kieran Murphy made up for it quickly, taking advantage of Noel Hickey's slip seconds later and pointing a simple chance from the right hand side. Timmy McCarthy had a chance to put Cork two ahead but he missed a simple chance to remain the sole Cork forward without a score.
Niall McCarthy then put Cork two in front, hoovering up a loose ball around the forty and pointing calmly before Kieran Murphy won another free 45 metres out with Ben O'Connor taking the chance this time.
Kilkenny did not give up their crown easily. Shefflin showed terrific skill to get a shot on target on the volley from Carey's hand pass but his effort was saved by Donal Óg Cusack in the Cork goal and from his clearance James Ryall poleaxed Deane on the forty, yielding another free chance. He was lucky to stay on the field with just a yellow card as punishment but Deane pointed the free to put Cork in a commanding position.
John Gardiner was the next player to escape serious censure after a scuffle with Martin Comerford during which he appeared to strike the Kilkenny captain, which resulted in a warning for the Corkman, already on a yellow card at that point. Frees from O'Connor and Deane as well as a Tom Kenny point, made possible by Deane's accurate pass, put Cork well clear with Kilkenny subs Séan Dowling and Tom Cooper incapable of altering the course of the game.
Cork remained nervous, conceding a '65 to Kilkenny which they defended successfully before Brian Corcoran putting the final nail in Kilkenny's coffin, grabbing a fine point from a tight angle before the final whistle heralded scenes of jubilation for the Leesiders and ended Kilkenny's three-in-a-row dream.
Full Time: Cork 0-17 0-09 Kilkenny
