Commanding lead for Cody in Déise duels - Waterford v Kilkenny

In 21 league and championship contests against the Déise, Brian Cody has emerged victorious on 17 occasions.

Waterford last celebrated success over Kilkenny in 2009 at Walsh Park, Cody's only defeat at the city ground. With the home team revved up from the All Ireland final of the previous September, a fiery game ensued. Six players were dismissed, four under the experimental yellow card laws and two straight reds. Waterford won 2-17 to 1-16 with goals from Stephen Molumphy and Dan Shanahan. Davy Fitzgerald appreciated the importance of the result. "Does it help? It does, because if Kilkenny could have beaten us by 10 points they would have, but they didn’t."

The Cats won the next nine league and championship encounters. On Sunday, the hosts seek some form of retribution for the All Ireland semi last August. While they came within six points, Kilkenny weren't overly extended. The team in stripes powered on relentlessly in the second half and forced their opponents into errors at both ends of the field. Their superior power and physicality resulted in rushed clearances and limp shots into Eoin Murphy. "Sustaining the effort against them was more taxing than any other game had been up to this," commented Derek McGrath in the post-match press conference.

Waterford need to adjust to that type of environment and five games in Division 1A will help that process along. After stewing over the details throughout the winter, McGrath will want to see a response to prove that they can measure up to elite company in 2016.

NHL

1999 at Walsh Park
Kilkenny 1-16 Waterford 1-12

2000 at Nowlan Park
Waterford 1-15 Kilkenny 1-13

2001 at Walsh Park
Kilkenny 2-14 Waterford 0-8

2002 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 1-12 Waterford 0-12

2003 at Walsh Park
Kilkenny 4-11 Waterford 0-12

2004 at Nowlan Park
Waterford 0-15 Kilkenny 1-10

2005 at Walsh Park
Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 0-17

2007 at Semple Stadium
Waterford 0-20 Kilkenny 0-18

2008 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 0-25 Waterford 0-14

2009 at Walsh Park
Waterford 2-17 Kilkenny 1-16

2010 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 1-20 Waterford 2-12

2011 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 1-13

2012 at Walsh Park
Kilkenny 2-21 Waterford 1-15

2013 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 2-15 Waterford 0-16

2014 at Nowlan Park
Kilkenny 4-22 Waterford 0-14

Championship

2004 at Croke Park
Kilkenny 3-12 Waterford 0-18

2008 at Croke Park
Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13

2009 at Croke Park
Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15

2011 at Croke Park
Kilkenny 2-19 Waterford 1-16

2013 at Semple Stadium
Kilkenny 1-22 Waterford 2-16

2015 at Croke Park
Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 0-18