Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A: Waterford 0-14 Kilkenny 0-10
SUNDAY’S meeting of the league and All-Ireland champions pulled in a huge crowd at Walsh Park and it was the big contingent of home fans who left happiest as the NHL champions got their campaign off to the perfect start with a win over the Cats that was far more decisive than the margin might indicate.
In fact, Waterford dominated the game in almost every department, but could have paid a high price for some dreadful finishing that saw them hit 18 wides to Kilkenny’s six. Waterford took the game to the opposition from the start and had moved into a three-point lead inside five minutes with strikes from Patrick Curran, Maurice Shanahan and Jake Dillon, as well as hitting two early wides.
The Kilkenny forwards had seen very little of the ball before TJ Reid converted his first opportunity in the sixth minute from play and followed up immediately with a second from a free. The sides were level for the first time in the 10th minute, with Padraig Walsh getting forward for a fine point and, though Waterford were dominating in general play, their wides tally continued to mount. Despite fine points from play by Austin Gleeson and Colin Dunford, Kilkenny were able to stay in touch, with Reid’s two points from frees leaving the teams level at 0-5 each.
The All-Ireland champions took the lead for the only time in the game when Colin Fennelly found the range in the 26th minute. However, Waterford dominated in general play without transferring that dominance to the scoreboard as Gleeson and Shanahan continued to miss the target.
The sides were level in the 30th minute as Dunford broke through from midfield to send over a great point and, in the 33rd minute, Shane Bennett had the home side back in front as he sent over from a difficult angle.
A resolute Deise defence was giving little away as Reid was ploughing a lone furrow up front for the Cats. At the other end, Dunford and Shanahan brought the Waterford wides tally to 11 against Kilkenny’s three before Patrick Curran took over the free-taking duties from Shanahan and gave Waterford a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at half-time.
Waterford started the second-half with Dillon shooting wide from in front of the posts, but two points in quick succession from Richie Hogan and another Reid free had the sides level for the third time as Waterford looked like paying the price for their poor finishing.
The intensity of the home side never dropped, however, and despite hitting two further wides, they regained the lead in the 42nd minute when Shanahan collected a sideline cut from Gleeson and sent over the point. Further points from Curran and Shanahan saw the lead stretched after 50 minutes but, despite prolonged pressure, Waterford were unable to drive on as Kilkenny were thrown a lifeline with a point from Reid after Gleeson had been penalised for over-carrying.
With Bennett taking over the free taking from Curran, Waterford went three points clear in the 63rd minute and the same player made it a four-point game with a great point on the run in the 67th minute. With a four-point lead, Waterford looked safe, but Walter Walsh was fouled on winning the ball from the puck-out and Reid made it a three-point game again.
It was a nervous closing period for Waterford as three minutes of added time were signalled. Kevin Moran and Shane Bennett should have sealed the issue and Noel Connors had to be brave to block Reid at the cost of an injury.
With time running out, Michael Walsh won possession from a Waterford puck-out and set Dillon up for the insurance point. There was still time for one last Kilkenny effort, but Stephen O’Keeffe was equal to the task as he made a fine save from Patrick Walsh.
MATCH STATS
Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; D Fives, P Mahony, K Moran; J Barron, C Dunford (0-2); S Bennett (0-3, 0-1 free), M Walsh, J Dillon (0-2); P Curran (0-3, 0-1 free), M Shanahan (0-3, 0-1 free), A Gleeson (0-1); Subs: B O’Halloran for Curran (64).
Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh (0-1), K Joyce, D Cody; C Buckley, C Fogarty; W Walsh, R Hogan (0-1), TJ Reid (0-7, 0-6 frees); J Farrell, C Fennelly (0-1), M Kelly.
Subs: J Maher for Kelly (48).
Referee: A Kelly (Galway).
