Kilkenny 1-22
Waterford 2-16
(After extra-time)
CHAMPIONS Kilkenny are through to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals after a quite remarkable qualifier against Waterford at Semple Stadium this evening.
The Cats edged past the Déise by three points in front of 17,235 spectators on a balmy evening in Thurles. Like its predecessor, this tie required extra-time as referee James Owens found himself in the eye of a storm.
The Wexford official disallowed what looked like a winning point for Matthew Ruth with time up. An error by Shane Fives allowed Ruth to gain possession and the Kilkenny attacker fired the ball over the crossbar.
But as Waterford players sunk to their knees, it emerged that Owens had whistled up for full-time after Fives allowed the sliotar to slip under his hurl as he tried to control it.
There was drama too at the end of the first half as Richie Power’s penalty goal was eventually allowed to stand. The umpires at the Town End goal failed to spot Power’s powerful shot cannon off the underside of the crossbar and against the back stanchion.
As the ball broke loose, Colin Fennelly appeared to double on it and send it over the bar but after consulting with his umpires, the green flag was raised and Kilkenny led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
Kilkenny looked good for victory as they led by five points – 1-12 to 0-10 – with eight minutes of normal time remaining. But Waterford hit five points without reply as Kevin Moran fired over a leveller in the second minute of stoppage time.
Then all hell broke loose as Owens ruled out Ruth’s apparent winner but when the teams regrouped, those fortunate enough to be present witnessed more helter-skelter excitement. The Cats were on course for a comfortable lead at half-time in extra-time before Jake Dillon netted, despite looking suspiciously in the square.
Kilkenny were now 1-17 to 1-15 in front and they were clinging onto a three-point lead when never say die Waterford bagged an equalising goal in the 88th minute. Maurice Shanahan’s 20m free was saved by Eoin Murphy but sub Ray Barry, who bagged 1-3, was on hand to pick up the pieces and find the net from a tight angle.
But Kilkenny’s remarkable resilience came to the fore in the closing minutes as Colin Fennelly, Matthew Ruth and Aidan Fogarty fired over the points that made the game safe.
Kilkenny had matchwinners in Fennelly, Richie Power and Richie Hogan in attack but unfortunately, Henry Shefflin lasted just half an hour after he was introduced as a substitute. It remains to be seen if the Ballyhale Shamrocks wizard has suffered a recurrence of his foot injury.
A final word to Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe, who pulled off a number of fine saves. The pick of the bunch was O’Keeffe’s sensational save from Matthew Ruth at the death.
Scorers for Kilkenny: Richie Power 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), Richie Hogan 0-5, Colin Fennelly 0-4, Eoin Larkin 0-4 (3f), Aidan Fogarty 0-2, Matthew Ruth & Michael Fennelly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Ray Barry 1-3, Jake Dillon 1-2 (0-1f), Kevin Moran 0-3, Darragh Fives 0-3, Jamie Nagle (f), Richie Foley, Seamus Prendergast, Brian O’Sullivan & Jamie Barron 0-1 each.
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Paul Murphy (Danesfort), JJ Delaney (Fenians), Jackie Tyrell (James Stephens); Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge); Eoin Larkin (James Stephens), Michael Rice (Carrickshock); Colin Fennelly (capt, Ballyhale Shamrocks), Richie Power (Carrickshock), Matthew Ruth (James Stephens); Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon), Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds).
Subs: Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks) for W Walsh (39), Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks) for Rice (48), Walter Walsh for Shefflin (70), Lester Ryan (Clara) for A Fogarty (70), A Fogarty for W Walsh (84).
WATERFORD: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner); Shane Fives (Carrigtwohill), Liam Lawlor (Fourmilewater), Noel Connors (Passage); Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan), Michael Walsh (Stradbally), Darragh Fives (Tourin); Kevin Moran (capt, De La Salle), Richie Foley (Abbeyside); Jake Dillon (De La Salle), Seamus Prendergast (Ardmore), Shane O’Sullivan (Ballygunner); Brian O’Sullivan (Ballygunner), Maurice Shanahan (Lismore), Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater).
Subs: Ray Barry (Lismore) for B O’Sullivan (48), Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion) for Shanahan (55), Shane Walsh (Fourmilewater) for O’Neill (58), Paudie Prendergast (Lismore) for Foley (60), Tony Browne (Mount Sion) for D Fives (68), Eddie Barrett (De La Salle) for Barron (78), D Fives for Prendergast (82), Shanahan for Moran (85).
