Deadly free-taker Ollie O'Connor earned Kilkenny a battling draw with Cork in a dull game at Nowlan Park yesterday. Two late points from O'Connor, the second 90 seconds into injury time, tied the game. A 28th minute goal from Joe Deane had given Cork a 1-4 to 0-4 half-time lead after an even first period. Kilkenny bounced back to level terms thanks to a goal from Niall Moloney immediately after the break, but trailed by two points (1-12 to 1-10) before O'Connor's late strikes.

Kilkenny: J McGarry; M Murphy, E Drea, J Costelloe; L Keoghan, P O'Neill, E O'Dwyer; P Larkin, C Phelan; S Prendergast, J Dooley (0- 1), A Ronan; D Cleer (0-4), N Moloney (1-2), O O'Connor (0-5). Subs: T Shefflin for Ronan.

Cork: B Hurley; J Browne, S Barrett, D Murphy; M Landers, B Corcoran (0-1), W Sherlock; T Murphy, A Walsh, M O'Connell (0-5); F Ryan (0-1), F McCormack (0-1); J Deane (1-2), Sean O'Farrell (0-1) J Anderson. Subs: D Barrett (0-1) for Anderson; P Mulcahy for T Murphy.

Referee: M Wadding (Waterford).