Kilkenny stole victory in spectacular fashion in injury time at Parnell Park. Down a point with just seconds to go Kilkenny half forward Sinead Millea sent in a long-range free with the intention of levelling the scores. Instead the ball dropped under the bar and into the net. Cork had opened a four-point gap with a Lynn Dunlea goal in the first half, and it had taken a Margaret Comerford goal with two minutes remaining to keep Kilkenny in the contest.

KILKENNY: M Holland; T Milea, M Hickey, U Murphy; S Costelloe, J Maher, M Costelloe; M Downey, K Long (0-1); B Mullaly, S Millea (1-9, five frees, two 45s), M Comerford (1-1); ME Butler, M Maher (0-1), C Dunne. Subs: L Lyng for Butler (20 mins); S Gleeson for Dunne (25 mins); A Downey for Mullaly (50 mins).

CORK: C Keohane; S Dunlea, E Duggan, M Finn; V Harris, D Cronin, P O'Connor; S Hayes (0-2, two frees), U Troy; M O'Connor, L Mellerick, S O'Callaghan (0-2); L Dunlea (1-3, two frees), F O'Driscoll (0-3, two frees), M Deasy. Subs: G Harrington (0-2) for Deasy (25 mins); U O'Donoghue (0-1) for O'Connor (25 mins).

Referee: C O'Hara (Antrim).