HURLING: Cork and Kilkenny will contest this year's Allianz Hurling League final, but they had to endure contrasting afternoons to get there. For one it was a game of shadow-boxing, for the other a game of plain old boxing.
Under misty skies at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork breezed past Tipperary, 0-21 to 1-10. At one stage the winners were up 13 points and though it was later closed it to five, the end result was never in doubt. Cork know better than anyone that Tipperary will land bigger punches come the summer.
Across the ways in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick were the team on a roll but they were stopped in their tracks by a determined Kilkenny, who won out the tight battle 2-14 to 0-15. By the end Limerick were down a man, and Kilkenny were down two.
The final is fixed for Thurles in a fortnight's time, Sunday, May 5th. Cork manager Bertie Óg Murphy admitted Tipperary probably have their hearts beating to next month's championship rather than a league final, but he was making the most of it nonetheless.
"Well I suppose it was more important for Cork to win today than Tipperary," he said. "They have a very settled team from last year. We certainly weren't shadowboxing out there, whatever about Tipperary. And it's nice to meet Kilkenny because we haven't played them yet this year."
Cork's victory was built from the defence up, where Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín were rock solid.
For Kilkenny, the victory was much harder earned. Eddie Brennan and Philip Larkin were both sent off (for second bookings) as was Limerick's Donie Ryan but with Henry Shefflin and Martin Comerford at their scoring best, they still prevailed.
That game was delayed because of another epic battle between St Jarlath's, Tuam and Colaiste na Sceilge in the All-Ireland Colleges football semi-final. Once again the sides refused to be separated in normal time but the Galway students eventually prevailed by the closest of margins, 2-13 to 2-12, after extra time.
Also decided yesterday was the Division Two hurling final pairing - with Laois set to meet Antrim at Navan. Laois got the better of Down 2-12 to 2-9 while Antrim cuised past Kerry 4-14 to 3-8.
