Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15
By Cóilín Duffy
Cody’s Cats kept their four-in-a-row dream alive with a five point victory over Waterford on a balmy Sunday afternoon before an attendance of 61,962 people at Croke Park.
It was a game of high octane quality — the sublimity of the Cats’ first touch, the hunger and determination of the Deise to stay in contention — this game had it all.
But the cream always rises to the top and like on so many occasions in the past Kilkenny came good when they needed it most, showing their class and experience to qualify for a fourth All-Ireland final in succession.
Henry Shefflin once again proved that he is the king with a magnificent haul of 1-14, in a game where the Cats brilliance was evident from start to finish.
It wasn't just about right-half-forward Shefflin, however, with eight players on target for Brian Cody's charges, while there was a resilient display also from the Cats’ defence.
This was a game which enthralled and entertained throughout, as last year's comprehensive All-Ireland final win for Kilkenny over Waterford was firmly cast aside — on Sunday afternoon it was certainly a case of game on!
From the time Henry Shefflin slotted over the games opening point within 20 seconds of the throw-in, until the full-time whistle this was a keenly contested affair.
An early off the ball incident involving Tommy Walsh and Waterford corner-forward Eoin McGrath drew yellow cards for both players — an indicator of just how much was at stake for both sides in this game.
Kilkenny were quickest off the blocks — two Shefflin points and a James Fitzpatrick score, ensuring a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after four minutes.
But Waterford showed guile and determination, and after a great bursting run by Waterford midfielder Kevin Moran, he fed the ball off to his unmarked Deise colleague Shane Walsh who rifled the ball past PJ Ryan in the fifth minute.
Ryan’s net would be set rattling for another two occasions in this game — a rarity for the Fenians’ net-minder.
Shefflin continued his good work for the Cats, and with Eddie Brennan’s first touch was immense. The Graig Ballycallan clubman rocked the Waterford net with his 13th minute goal pushing Kilkenny 1-4 to 1-3 in front.
Brennan and Shefflin continued to inflict damage on the Waterford defence throughout, with a 26th minute Shefflin goal, after a long range pass from Tommy Walsh ensuring a comfortable 2-12 to 1-9 interval lead.
Waterford got off to the perfect start in the second half, following a 38th minute kicked Shane Walsh goal.
However the Fourmilewater clubman was otherwise quiet for the remainder of the contest — Shefflin punishing hard with precision pointing accuracy.
A 63rd minute Eoin Kelly 65 finished in the back of the Kilkenny net to cut the gap to four points, but Kilkenny had that extra resolve to book a place in another All-Ireland decider.
Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; Michael Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, John Tennyson; James Fitzpatrick (0-1 ), Michael Rice (0-1 ); Henry Shefflin (1-14 ), Martin Comerford, Eoin Larkin (0-2 ); Eddie Brennan (1-2 ), Richie Power (0-1 ), Aidan Fogarty (0-1 ). Subs: TJ Reid for Comerford (40 ), Richie Hogan for Shefflin (44 ), H Shefflin for Hogan (45 ), R Hogan (0-1 ) for Fogarty (47 ), Derek Lyng for Fitzpatrick (56 ).
Waterford: Clinton Hennessy; Eoin Murphy, Aidan Kearney, Noel Connors; Tony Browne, Michael Walsh, Declan Prendergast; Shane O'Sullivan (0-1 ), Kevin Moran (0-1 ); Seamus Prendergast (0-1 ), Stephen Molumphy, Shane Walsh (2-0 ); John Mullane (0-1 ), Eoin Kelly (1-10 ), Eoin McGrath (0-1 ). Subs: Dan Shanahan (0-1 ) for S Prendergast (52 ), Maurice Shanahan for Walsh (61 ), Jamie Nagle for Molumphy (61 ), Ken McGrath for E McGrath (64 ).
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath ).
