Kilkenny 1-20
Waterford 1-12
Tomás McCarthy reporting at Walsh Park
TJ REID TALLIED 1-11 on his first start of 2018 as Kilkenny got off the mark in Division 1A at a misty Walsh Park this afternoon.
A top corner strike from the 2015 hurler of the year followed by a Eoin Murphy penalty save midway through the second half were pivotal for the away side on a sticky sod. The Kilkenny net-minder made four significant saves.
Rookie wing forward Martin Keoghan also excelled with five points from play.
Five members of the Waterford attack were replaced before the finish. Tadhg De Burca offered leadership from centre back while Tom Dèvine troubled Padraig Walsh on his return to the side.
The hosts closed within three points during the third quarter before Reid’s green flag. The Déise haven’t won a league game on home turf in over two years.
Reid completed the opening thirty five with seven points to his credit. Eoin Murphy’s close range stop from Devine on 31 minutes was the most significant moment of an error strewn half. The Cats hit five in a row approaching the interval to reach the dressing rooms 0-11 to 0-5 ahead.
John Donnelly raised the first white flag just 21 seconds in. Two Reid frees and Martin Keoghan from play gave the Cats a 0-4 to 0-1 cushion.
Tadhg De Burca landed a 70-metre effort on 19 minutes, the first Déise man to register in open play. Keoghan’s second of the afternoon established a four-point advantage.
Four minutes before the break, Murphy denied Tom Devine and Reid rifled over a massive score off the counter attack, in what was a momentum-changer.
Donnelly pushed it out to seven before Austin Gleeson converted an injury time free, Waterford ‘s first point in a quarter hour.
The 2016 hurler of the year made way at half time as Derek McGrath sprung Colin Dunford and Patrick Curran.
Two Mahony frees and singles from both subs shaved the arrears to three. On 51 minutes, Reid brushed aside Tadhg De Burca and buried the sliotar past Ian O’Regan (1-12 to 0-9).
At the opposite end, Eoin Murphy hauled down Curran and Fergal Horgan signalled for a penalty. Stephen Bennett struck his effort into the ground however, and Murphy saved comfortably.
Two Reid frees offered the black and amber breathing space before subs Luke Scanlon and James Maher moved them out of sight. Keoghan added two more in an impressive outing. Thomas Ryan fired home a consolation goal two minutes into added time.
Waterford remain at the foot of the table with Cork and Clare to play. Kilkenny welcome Tipperary to Nowlan Park next Sunday.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-11 (9fs, 1 65’), Martin Keoghan 0-5, John Donnelly 0-2, Luke Scanlon, James Maher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-7 (6fs, 1 65’), Thomas Ryan 1-0, Tadhg De Burca, Austin Gleeson (f), Patrick Curran, Colin Dunford, Tom Devine 0-1 each.
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
3. Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
4. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
5. Conor Delaney (Erin’s Own)
6. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
7. Enda Morrissey (Bennettsbridge)
19. Lester Ryan (Clara)
9. Conor O’Shea (Clara)
10. Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
12. Pat Lyng (Rower Instioge)
13. Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan)
14. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
15. John Donnelly (Thomastown)
Subs:
25. Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge) for Ryan (33)
20. James Maher (St Lachtains) for O’Shea (42)
26. Luke Scanlon (James Stephens) for Ryan (55)
Waterford
1. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
9. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
5. Tadhg De Burca (Clashmore)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
22. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
15. Michael Kearney (Ballyduff Upper)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
12. Tom Devine (Modeligo)
Subs:
13. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for Gleeson (H-T)
20. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Kearney (H-T)
25. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Dillon (45)
26. DJ Foran (Portlaw) for Shanahan (58)
23. Thomas Ryan (Tallow) for Mahony (62)
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
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Reid is class act, cats not gone away yet .
An open letter to Dan Shanahan.
Dear Dan,
It is not the 80’s.
You are not American.
You are not a black rapper.
You are not a skateboarder.
You are not 13.
A peaked cap is specifically designed for the peak to keep the sun out of your eyes.
It is February.
Can you please turn your cap around the right way as it is making look truly ridiculous.
Wearing it backwards makes as much sense as wearing sunglasses on your arse.
Regards,
A cringing nation
@Cathal: Dear Dan,
You inspired a whole generation of hurlers both within your county and throughout the whole of Ireland, you were an inspiration to so many. Never change the way you are, that’s what we love about you, you bring passion and a bit of swagger to the sideline and its such a shot in the arm.
Never change , it’d be one hell of a boring world if we were all the same.
@Ray Farrell: “inspired a generation of hurlers nationwide”? Bless
@Cathal: you obviously don’t remember his performances that earned him his hurler of the year award, I suppose though haters gonna hate
I think you’re stretching it saying he inspired hurlers all over the country. I’d be confident the young lads were more looking up to hurlers winning All Irelands!! Anyway, let’s get back to how silly he looks with the cap backwards ;)
@Cathal: live and let live.
James Maher looked good when he came on. Only for that horrific injury 2 years ago I think he’d be up there with some of the best around. It’s a young Kilkenny team. With a 4-5 players to come back in including Paul Murphy, Richie Hogan and Conor Fogarty. I wouldn’t write them off at all.
@Jason Pierce: is Ger Alyward back with them?
And has John Power left the panel altogether?
@Leon Mc Gilton: John Power has left the panel, doubt he will be back in a black and amber jersey.
Ger Alyward is still recovering from injury, but by all accounts he is not far away
@Rory Mullins: why did John power leave?
@John Williams: Dont think he had the desire for intercounty hurling, a bit like Cha Fitzpatrick. He is not a huge loss to be honest. Not a patch on his brother
@Rory Mullins: fair enough….didnt realize that at all. Cheers
@Rory Mullins: Still have Kevin Kelly to come from Ballyragget also so bodes well
@Leon Mc Gilton: Ger Aylward was dropped from the panel last November or December from what I hear. John Power just wasn’t an intercounty hurler and didn’t have the desire for it I don’t think.
@Kieran Fennelly: I hadn’t heard that about Alyward. Heard John Joe Farrell was dropped. It would be disappointing if it’s true. Another guy robbed of form with the ACL injury in 2016. John Power is no loss really. Squad player at best.
They haven’t gone away you know!
Terrible standard of hurling but that pitch is shocking. Waterford will go nowhere with that sweeper system, terrible to watch.
@Martin McKenna: Agreed that the standard of hurling was poor but even Jesus Christ wouldn’t rise on that turf. Kilkenny probably should have won by more only for some poor wides. Waterford seem all over the place though. Austin Gleeson was loss for them at half time but I though Padraig Walsh dealt really well with some tough situations and didn’t look as uncomfortable as the article said. Don’t think anyone will fear Waterford in a relegation this year, with Tipp and Wexford left, that could still be Kilkenny.
@Kieran Fennelly: Abysmal stuff from Waterford today, and yes the pitch was dreadful but the same for both teams, Kilkenny made more of their chances. Waterford looked so rudderless at the best of times.
Sad stuff .
@Martin McKenna: we were in the aul all Ireland Final last year there bob
@Cillian OK: hope u enjoyed it. Ye won’t be there again for a while!
The famine for Liam could be over soon
Huge performances from Tj Reid and Martin Keoghan. Kilkenny always seemed to be in control. Good to see Eoin Larkin come on in the second half. He’ll add huge experience to the team for the upcoming championship
@Flembomb: Eoin Larkin??
@Flembomb: Yea great to see him back
@Flembomb: I’m sure there is some attempt at a joke in there somewhere!!!!! Not good when you have to explain it though. Eoin Larkin???
@Flembomb: he was tremendous in the second half.
@John Jones: ah lads have ye not seen flembomb here before….never question the flembomb!!!
@Flembomb: I thought Shefflin turned the game when he came on!