Kilkenny 3-22 Cork 0-19

Audio

• Anthony Daly and Tom Dempsey reflects on Kilkenny's emphatic over Cork to book their place in September's All-Ireland hurling final.
• Brian Cody reflects on getting the job done against the Rebels.
• Denis Walsh reckons that Cork did not give a display that their supporters would be proud of in the wake of their loss to Kilkenny.

Kilkenny cruised into the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final with a 12-point win over Cork to keep alive their five-in-a-row dream.

This semi-final was over long before half-time. The Cats controlled the game with a masterful performance, killing off the Cork challenge with goals from Eddie Brennan and Aidan Fogarty on their way to a 13-point interval lead.

Cork did stage a revival in the second half with a string of well-taken scores from Pat Horgan and Ben O'Connor, but the Cats grabbed a third goal from Richie Power.

Power finished with a personal tally of 1-08, having taken over free-taking duties from Henry Shefflin who is now a doubt for next month's decider after suffering a first-half knee injury.

Cork made two pre-match changes, with Shane Murphy replacing injured corner-back Shane O'Neill, and Cian McCarthy coming in at wing-forward for Michael Cussen.

But it was Kilkenny who imposed themselves on the contest right from the outset in front of an attendance of 41,060.

Early scores from Aidan Fogarty and Shefflin set the tone, and while Cork drew level with two Ben O'Connor frees by the 15th minute, their challenge was simply taken apart by a ruthless Kilkenny side thereafter.

The Cats struck the first major blow in the 17th minute when Shefflin found space through the middle before offloading to Eddie Brennan for a clinical finish.

Five minutes later the Rebels were reeling after conceding a second goal, Aidan Fogarty hitting the net after the Cork defence had failed to clear James Ryall's long delivery.

Even the loss of injured pair Brian Hogan (shoulder, 17 mins) and Shefflin (knee, 22 mins) failed to halt the Kilkenny charge.

With JJ Delaney and Noel Hickey majestic at the back, and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick and Michael Fennelly lording the midfield battle, they swept forward relentlessly.

Fogarty, Michael Comerford and Larkin all fired over points, while Richie Power revelled in the role of free-taker in Shefflin's absence.

By the half-way stage, they led by 2-12 to 0-05, and refused to allow the tempo to wane after the restart.

The Cats dug their claws deeper into their wounded opponents, stretching the advantage with a string of points from Power, Brennan and 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, who became the ninth Kilkenny man to score.

Cork had fallen 17 points adrift by the time O'Connor gave them their first score of the second half, from a free.

Pat Horgan had a penalty deflected over the bar for a point, and added two more scores to raise Rebel spirits.

John Gardiner, and Horgan again, found the target as the Rebels sought to salvage some pride.

It appeared at that stage as if Kilkenny were content to defend a comfortable lead, but in the 62nd minute they exploded into spectacular action once again, for Power to blast home a goal.

Horgan landed another volley of delightful points at the other end, and O'Connor continued to strike accurately from frees, but the Rebels never threatened to win this one.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan, J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrrell, T Walsh (0-01), B Hogan, JJ Delaney, J Fitzpatrick (0-02), M Fennelly (0-02), TJ Reid (0-01), H Shefflin (0-02, 1f), E Larkin (0-01), E Brennan (1-01), R Power (1-08, 0-06f), A Fogarty (1-02).

Subs: J Ryall for Hogan, M Comerford (0-02) for Shefflin, M Rice for Brennan, J Mulhall for Reid, D Lyng for Fitzpatrick

Cork: D Óg Cusack, S Murphy, E Cadogan, B Murphy, J Gardiner (0-02), R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín (0-01), T Kenny, C Naughton (0-01), C McCarthy, K Murphy, N McCarthy (0-01), P Horgan (0-06, 0-01f, 0-01pen), A Ó hAilpín, B O'Connor (0-07, 6f).

Subs: W Egan for C McCarthy, P O'Sullivan for A Ó hAilpín, J O'Connor (0-01) for Murphy, M Cussen for Naughton, G Callanan for Kenny

Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).