League classic sees Tipperary share the spoils with the Cats in high scoring final round tie

Allianz National Hurling League - Division 1A - Round 7

Tipperary 2-27

Kilkenny 3-24

Tipperary and Kilkenny don’t do dead rubbers, as was proven with certainty in FBD Semple Stadium, as the supporters in attendance were treated to an absolute classic in the final round of this year’s Allianz National Hurling League.

READ NEXT: Unreal achievement as Tipperary referee is honoured for 50 years of service to Gaelic Games

With nothing to play for after Waterford fell through the trapdoor at the hands of the Premier last weekend, the teams could have been forgiven for taking their eyes off the contest here and turning their attentions toward championship action, but the complete opposite transpired.

A brilliant contest, particularly in the second half, burst into life in the final quarter when Tipperary looked like pulling away from the Cats after 2-19 to 1-17 lead with Darragh McCarthy’s early second half goal adding to Jake Morris’s early one to put Tipperary in a good spot.

However, the Kilkenny pride was severely bruised in the loss to Galway the last day out, and they were not going to lie down and allow their great rivals to pull away. Playing in his first league game of the year, the evergreen TJ Reid was irrepressible, scoring 1-2 in a minute around the 52nd minute, with further points from John Donnelly and Eoin Cody turning the game on its head.

Kilkenny were in front by 2-21 to 2-19, and that earmarked the beginning of a highly entertaining final quarter where the Kilkenny lead was extended with a third goal through Mossy Keoghan in the 59th minute, leaving Tipp three points in arrears.

But this game never stopped and continued to ebb and flow back and forth, showing real grit to fight back after each Kilkenny sucker-punch, eventually levelling with two minutes remaining through Eoghan Connolly and Jason Forde frees.

Tipp looked like they had won it on two occasions in added time when Sean Kenneally and Jake Morris hit breathless scores to the elation of the home support, but to their credit, Kilkenny battled gamely as Jordan Molloy slotted over the final puck of the game deep into injury time to share the spoils between them, which was the fair result come the final whistle.

Scorers: Tipperary: Jason Forde (0-8, 0-6f, 0-2 65s), Jake Morris 1-5, Eoghan Connolly (0-5, 0-2 65s, 0-1f), Darragh McCarthy 1-1, Sam O’Farrell, Sean Kenneally 0-2 each, Conor Martin, Oisin O’Donoghue, Michael Breen, Alan Tynan all 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: TJ Reid (1-8, 0-3f, 0-1 65), Liam Moore, Mossy Keoghan 1-2 each, Cian Kenny (0-3, 0-2f), John Donnelly, Ed McDermott 0-2 each, Killian Doyle, Luke Hogan, Jordan Molloy, Richie Reid, Eoin Cody all 0-1 each

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Brian McGrath, Michael Breen; Eoghan Connolly, Ronan Maher, Oisin O’Donoghue; Conor Martin, Darragh Stakelum; Jake Morris, Alan Tynan, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, Jason Forde, Gearoid O’Connor.

Subs used: Johnny Ryan for B McGrath (HT); Sean Kenneally for O’Connor (42); Noel McGrath for Stakelum (55); Andrew Ormond for Martin (57); Peter McGarry for Forde (70); Joe Caesar for McCarthy (71, temp sub).

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Ivan Bolger, Rory Garrett, Paddy Deegan; Killian Doyle, Darragh Corcoran, Richie Reid; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Mossy Keoghan, John Donnelly, Tom Phelan; Liam Moore, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs used: Luke Hogan for Phelan (19); David Blanchfield for Bolger (31, inj); Ed McDermott for Hogan (HT); Cathal Beirne for Doyle (60); Rory Glynn for Cody (74); Shane Murphy for Corcoran (74, temp sub).

Referee: John Bugler (Clare)