The Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final will be a repeat of the 2022 All-Ireland showdown between McCarthyCup holders, Limerick, and Kilkenny.
The Cats followed the Shannonsiders into the decider when they scored an impressive victory over heretofore unbeaten Cork in the second semi-final in UPMC Nowlan Park today.
Kilkenny will be chasing their first title since sharing the honours with Galway in 2021, while Limerick will be chasing a 14th title, and first since 2020.
The teams meet in a fortnight.
Goals win games, they say, and in the end a fine first half strike by Martin Keoghan and a 44th minute goal from a penalty by deadly striker Billy Drennan got Kilkenny through in what was a lively encounter.
Indeed Drennan was the star of the show. He helped himself to 1-13 - 0-01 from play - and for the second week running he didn't miss from a placed ball.
His goal, after he had been fouled, opened out a gap of 2-14 to 0-14. A few minutes later there was a serious flare-up involving at least a dozen players.
Referee John Keenan spoke with the nearest linesman and his umpires before showing yellow cards to Paddy Deegan and Timmy Clifford (Kilkenny) and Cork’s Robert Downey and Tommy O’Connell and he also red carded Cork full-back Eoin Downey.
The action settled down quickly after that nasty affair that lasted around five minutes. The teams shared equally in 16 points afterwards as the Cats kept things tight and earned the ticket into the decider.
The wind-assisted Cats enjoyed a brisk start when the returning Richie Hogan prompted a huge cheer when he clipped over a point after only 47 seconds in what was his first start in over 36 months.
With sharp-shooter Drennan taking every chance that came his way and helping himself to eight points in this half, the home side reached the break leading by 1-12 to 0-12.
The Rebels conceded three times before Shane Barrett landed a lovely point from 55 metres on the left. They were chasing all the way, and the biggest gap opened up with the arrival of the first Kilkenny goal.
Martin Keoghan lashed the ball to the net from 14 metres after a great run and dummy hand-pass by Paddy Deegan ripped a big hole in the Cork defence (1-08 to 0-06).
With Jack O’Connor, Padraig Power and Shane Kingston landing scores to keep the visitors in touch, the gap was down to 1-10 to 0-10 hitting the half hour mark.
A brace of points from John Donnelly gave Kilkenny a bit more breathing space before Shane Kingston struck at the double to leave one big score between the teams at the rest.
The divide was the same until the arrival of Drennan’s goal from a penalty in the 44th minute. Kilkenny kept their shape well after that, and after the flare-up, to send home fans in the 7,000 crowd away happy before what will be a first national final for new manager, Derek Lyng.
Kilkenny: E. Murphy; M. Butler, T. Walsh, P. Walsh; D. Corcoran, H. Lawlor, D. Blanchfield; C. Fogarty (0-01), A. Murphy (0-02); T. Clifford (0-01), J. Donnelly (0-02), P. Deegan; B. Drennan (1-13, goal penalty, 0-08 frees, four 65s), M. Keoghan (1-00), R. Hogan (0-01).
Subs: C. Kenny (0-01) for Hogan 56th min; G. Dunne (0-01) for Clifford 58th min; N. Brennan for A. Murphy 67th min; C. Delaney for D. Corcoran 69th min; E. Cody for Butler 71st min.
Cork: P. Collins; N. O’Leary, E. Downey, D. Cahalane; T. O’Connell, C. Joyce, R. Downey (0-01); B. Roche, E. Twomey; C. Cahalane (0-02), C. Lehane, S. Barrett (0-03); S. Kingston (0-09, 0-08 frees), P. Power (0-02), J. O’Connor (0-01).
Subs: T. O’Mahony (0-01) for Twomey 50th min; P. Horgan (0-03, frees) for J. O’Connor 50th min; G. Millerick for C. Cahalane 52nd min; B. Hayes for P. Power 66th min.
Referee: J. Keenan (Wicklow).
