Learning from early Cats lesson key to Cork win - Kieran Kingston

Cork hurling manager Kieran Kingston said the response of his team to Kilkenny's blistering start in their Division 1 semi-final was the most pleasing aspect of their victory at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Cork advanced to the final, and one game closer to a first league title since 1998, with a 1-27 to 2-20 win, where Darragh Fitzgibbon’s 67th-minute goal to put the Rebels two points ahead was crucial to Cork’s success.

For most of the first half it appeared that Kilkenny would be the side to emerge victorious, with Padraig Walsh, Billy Ryan, Alan Murphy and Eoin Cody on top in the Kilkenny attack, while Mossy Keoghan had a brace of goals by time the sides retired to the dressing room.

The Cork defence was struggling, but some readjustments, including the introduction of Tim O’Mahony, steadied the ship as the Rebels upped their performance with Fitzgibbon and Conor Lehane to the fore.

From six down, to win by four, that was really pleasing. We showed great character

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game, Kingston admitted the opening 35 minutes was a learning curve.

"I thought we were very slow out of the blocks," he said. "They [Kilkenny] gave us a lesson in the early stages of the game. We just couldn’t come to terms with nearly every aspect of their game and we found ourselves six points down.

"From six down, to win by four, that was really pleasing. We showed great character."

Kingston agreed that Fitzgibbon’s goal was the game’s "turning point" and said that the strong turnout from Cork supporters was a boost for the team ahead of the looming championship.

"In the championship round-robin we have only one home game," he said.

"Like I said before the game, this is an important occasion for Cork hurling. We had only two league games at