Kilkenny 1-21
Waterford 0-18
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
KILKENNY BOOKED YET another All-Ireland senior hurling final place in Croke Park today as they moved up the gears in the second-half to stave off the challenge of Waterford.
TJ Reid’s first-half goal was the crucial score in enabling Kilkenny to put daylight on the scoreboard between themselves and Waterford.
Reid availed of a mix-up in the Waterford defence between Barry Coughlan and Tadhg De Búrca to seize a loose ball and charge clear before finishing with aplomb past Stephen O’Keeffe in the 17th minute.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks man finished with 1-9 to his credit while Richie Hogan shrugged off any doubts over his fitness by grabbing 0-5 from play.
Ger Aylward’s second-half haul of 0-4 was also vital in propelling Brian Cody’s side to a 6 September final date against Tipperary or Galway.
Kilkenny wound up six-point victors and that margin accurately reflected their superiority on the day.
Waterford battled gamely throughout and were hugely competitive, particularly in the first-half. Maurice Shanahan was again prolific as he bagged 0-9 while Colin Dunford (0-4) and Austin Gleeson (0-3) also chipped in significantly.
But Waterford never looked like raising a green flag and they desperately needed such a strike in the second-half.
Kilkenny were in front 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval but after trailing 0-3 to 0-2 in the 8th minute, they were never behind on the scoreboard again.
Waterford got the gap down to the minimum after a terrific point by Gleeson in the 32nd minute but Reid was relentless in punishing Waterford from frees and they established that two-point lead at the midway mark.
Kilkenny came close to adding further goals but Eoin Larkin was hooked as he went to shoot at one juncture and the James Stephens man had another shot blocked on the line by Shane Fives.
Kilkenny upped the ante in the second-half constructing five-point leads frequently. For either side Aylward and Dunford became prominent in firing over points.
When Colligan club man Dunford struck his fourth of the day in the 55th minute, Waterford were still hanging in there as they trailed 1-17 to 0-17.
But after expending huge energy in battling Kilkenny, Waterford only registered a single point in the finale courtesy of a Shanahan free.
In contrast Kilkenny efficiently went about the business of killing off the game as Aylward and Hogan notched a brace apiece.
Aylward missed a glorious chance to find the net in the 56th minute but that miss didn’t halt Kilkenny’s drive as they march on to yet All-Ireland decider.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-9 (0-7f), Richie Hogan 0-5, Ger Aylward 0-4, Cillian Buckley, Michael Fennelly, Eoin Larkin 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Maurice Shanahan 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Colin Dunford 0-4, Austin Gleeson 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Kevin Moran, Shane Bennett 0-1 each.
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4. Shane Prendergast (Clara)
5. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6. Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge)
7. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
8. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
9. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own)
10. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
11. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13. Ger Aylward (Glenmore)
12. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens)
Sub
22. John Power (Carrickshock) for Walter Walsh (66)
Waterford
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
17. Darragh Fives (Tourin)
5. Tadhg de Búrca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
22. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
14. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
12. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
Subs
25. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Dillon (52)
11. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Shane Bennett (56)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
