Waterford advanced to an All Ireland semi final meeting with Dublin next month after a strong defensive effort laid the platform for a six point win over Kilkenny at Walsh Park. The game only ignited briefly in the second half and many scrappy passages of play resulted in throw balls throughout the hour.
The home side led by 0-9 to 0-4 after dominating the opening half. Donal Breathnach struck over three points from play with Jake Dillon adding another three from frees. Gavin O’Brien, Ray Barry and Cathal Curran also raised white flags. Jamie Barron led an uncompromising defence sweeping up all the breaks and launching attacks from the wing back position. Kevin Kelly converted three frees to keep the Cats in touch with Peter Vickery also on target. Waterford’s lead could have been greater but poor shooting clocked up seven wides in the opening thirty minutes.
Kilkenny returned fire early in the second half. Inspired by a monster point from centre back Eoin McGrath and the efforts of Chris Bolger and Kevin Kelly around midfield they reduced the deficit to three points. Both sides now found scores hard to come by as the game turned into a dogfight. With the scoreboard reading 0-10 to 0-7 mid way through the half Bolger stood over a 21 metre free in front of goal. Instead of taking the easy point he went for glory but his weak effort was cleared. The balance now shifted to Liam O’Connor’s side. A Jake Dillon free soon after opened up a four point gap and Waterford never looked back from that point. Despite being hampered by injury Gavin O’Brien picked off two points and Breathnach fired over his fourth of the evening.
With Barron, Jim Power and Damien Ahern rock solid in defence any threats of a Kilkenny fightback were snuffed out and the result was sealed well before the closing minutes. Shane Forristal also deputised well in goal and displayed a booming puck out. By the finish Kilkenny had replaced three of their starting six forwards. While this black and amber outfit didn’t match previous teams they have put out in this grade, Waterford showed bucketloads of graft to see them through with something to spare. Minus the services of Paddy Cooke, Adam O’Sullivan, Darragh Flynn and Cormac Heffernan this win again showed the depth in the panel and the splendid work done under the guidance of Chuck O’Connor and his management team.
Scorers:- Waterford: J. Dillon 0-5 (5f), D. Breathnach 0-4, G. O’Brien 0-3, R. Barry 0-2, C. Curran 0-1.
Kilkenny: K. Kelly 0-4 (4f), P. Vickery 0-2, C. Bolger 0-1, E. McGrath 0-1, P. Keneally 0-1.
Waterford: Shane Forristal, Ian Kenny, Damien Ahern, Colin Walsh, Jamie Barron, Darren Foley, Jim Power, Shane McNulty, Ray Barry, Jake Dillon, Peter O’Keeffe, Gavin O’Brien, Donal Breathnach, Stephen Bennett, Cathal Curran.
Subs: Michael Harney for O’Keeffe (54 mins), Cein Chester for Bennett (57 mins), Colin Dunford for Dillon (60 mins)
Kilkenny: Aaron Duggan, Ciaran Doyle, Jack McDowell, Eoin Moriarty, Jack McGrath, Eoin McGrath, James Maher, Richie Reid, David Kearns, Thomas O’Hanrahan, Kevin Kelly, Chris Bolger, Diarmuid Cody, Conor Martin, Peter Vickery.
Subs: John Hayes for Kearns (H-T), Peter Keneally for Martin (36 mins), Eoin Bergin for O’Hanrahan (50 mins), Mark Mansfield for Reid (54 mins).
Wides – Waterford: 8 Kilkenny: 8
Man of the match: Jamie Barron (Waterford)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Attendance: 3,780
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