SEMI-FINALS 2000-2018
Kilkenny and Tipperary
had faced each other more
than a dozen times in finals,
but for just the third time
ever, and the first since
1958, they clashed at the
penultimate stage. It was a
meeting of the champions
for the previous two years
with Kilkenny enjoying a
first-ever semi-final success
over Tipp on a 1-20 to 1-16
scoreline.Seventeen years passed
between the 1981 and
1998 semi-final draws, but
Wexford and Tipperary
provided a second in four
seasons after they tied
1-16 to 3-10. In the replay
half-time substitute Eugene
O’Neill (for Lar Corbett)
scored two goals to help the
Premier County advance on
a 3-12 to 0-10 scoreline.More Wexford semi-final
replay heartache as they
succumbed tamely to
Cork while for the second
successive year Kilkenny and
Tipperary met in the ‘last
four’. Result didn’t change
though, only the margin as
the Noresiders eased to a
3-18 to 0-15 success despite
the heroics of Brendan
Cummins in the Tipp goal.
20002008 2009 2010
2002
For the second year running Offaly and Cork met at the 2001 2003
semi-final stage and again
they failed to produce a
goal with Offaly reversing
the previous year’s loss
on an almost identical
scoreline – 0-19 to 0-15. It
was the last semi-final for
the Midlanders who next
year will be operating in the
Christy Ring Cup.Eureka. After three semi-final losses
in the previous four years Waterford
reached the final with a narrow
success over Tipperary. Leading by a
point five minutes from time Clinton
Hennessy saved from Séamus
Callanan and Eoin Kelly’s late point
sealed Waterford’s first final berth
in 45 years.After the final drubbing of 2008,
Waterford again engaged Kilkenny
in semi-final combat 11 months
later and although the margin had
reduced considerably, the result
hadn’t changed. The other ‘semi’
was a total blowout as a hat-trick
from Lar Corbett helped Tipp
demolish Limerick by 6-19 to 2-7.In less than ideal conditions
Limerick had the better of Kilkenny
for long periods in their semi-final
tussle but goals from Richie Hogan
and Eoin Larkin were crucial as the
Noresiders rode their luck to win
by a couple of points. The other
‘semi’ saw Tipp ease by Cork with
something to spare.Scoring 3-9 and not being on the
winning side is a rarity but that
scenario befell Séamus Callanan
as Tipperary lost out to Galway.
The Drom-Inch ace was a constant
menace to the Corrib rearguard
but in the end it wasn’t enough and
sub Shane Maloney’s point was the
difference in the end (0-26 to 3-16).For the second time in three years
the paths of Cork and Kilkenny
crossed at the semi-final stage, but
after 35 minutes the Rebel cause was
holed below the water-line as the
champions led 2-12 to 0-5. Points
by Richie Power (2), Eddie Brennan
and ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick on the restart
quelled any comeback notions.2014 2015
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