It was a cold, wet day in UPMC Nowlan, but that did not dampen the spirits of either team as the old rivals of Kilkenny and Waterford faced off again.
There were a few positional and personal changes in play from Derek Lyngs announced lineup. Billy Drennan however was not one of them, and he got the game off the mark from a free, proving how clinical he can be standing over a ball. After six minutes the loss of possession by Kilkenny allowed Waterford to get their first point of the game. Arguably the Deise should have been in the lead by this stage, failing to take their chances recording three wides in opening exchanges. Billy Drennan drew a foul from Conor Ryan, allowing himself to be in a similar position to his first score, with his two hands high up the hurley, Drennan rose it and put it over the bar. It was evident that Waterford were looking to play a possession game with no forwards occupying inside Kilkenny’s 45. Dungarvan Paddy Curren popped one over for the Munster county to draw the game level, before Martin Keoghan immediately put Kilkenny back in front, with that being the Cat’s first score from play. Eoin Cody played a cross-field ball, with Mossy doing well to hold off his man and establish the lead.
The ball was breaking down all over the pitch, with the game proving to be quite scrappy. This leads to frees, which Billy Drennan is more than obliged to turn into points, doubling the lead for Kilkenny. Dessie Hutchinson looked like a lonely figure as the ball struggled to make it toward the former Brighton player. An exquisite score from Colin Dunford cut the lead once again before Billy Drennan was allowed to opportunity to get his fourth free. A big cheer came from the crowd when Davy Fitzgerald received a booking for mouthing off at the ref, with our own Oisin Langan questioning whether this was a bit of tactical nous from the Clare man, taking the ref’s attention away from Conor Ryan. Waterford’s ill-discipline was now evident from the sideline to the pitch, with another foul allowing Billy Drennan to make it 0-06 – 0-03. In total Waterford had to wait nearly 10 minutes to get their next score, but just like waiting for a bus, two points came along pretty sharpish. Neil Montgomery broke the duct before Paudie Fitzgerald converted a free after he was put on them following the two Paddy Curren misses.
John Donnelly & Darragh Corcoran though got some more points from play for the Cats, with Paudie Fitzgerald replying by putting another two points to his name. Now as we approached halftime, there was only a one-point gap between the sides.
Half time – Kilkenny 0-08 Waterford 0-07
Waterford opened up the scoring the bring the game level straight after halftime, Tadhg de Búrca now stepping up to frees. There were no changes in free takers for Kilkenny though with Billy Drennan putting Kilkenny ahead once again before Paudie Fitzgerald drew level again. For the first time in the game, Waterford took the lead with a point from Tom Barron before The Deise looked to storm ahead after another two unanswered scores. However just like that Kilkenny went on their own spree, leveling the game for the fourth time after points from Billy Drennan, Conor Fogarty, and Gearóid Dunne.
It was tit for tat, with Waterford scoring two, before Kilkenny bagged another two. Then Derek Lyng’s men hit their stride and dominated the next ten minutes. The rain evidently sapped Waterford’s energy, giving fouls, allowing Drennan to put more points on the board with one from play from substitute Shane Walsh. Davy Fitzgerald’s men did not go down without a fight though cutting the deficit down to just one with the clock ticking over into added time. A draw won’t do for Waterford though, however with three minutes added time, there was still time. Tom Barron failed to draw the game registering another Waterford wide, and just like that Alan Murphy gave the Cats some breathing space by putting two points between them.
There was one last chance for Waterford as Tadhg de Búrca stood over a free, they knew they needed the win though so a goal was the only option. The ball was dropped in but was gobbled up by the Kilkenny defence and that was it. Kilkenny secured a semi-final berth against Cork.
