ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Kilkenny 2-16 Waterford 1-13:KILKENNY REVIVED their National Hurling League hopes when they stormed back from two points down to win by six at Nowlan Park yesterday.
Waterford hit the front for the first time in the 50th minute when Shane Walsh goaled from close range after Richie Foran’s booming free came back off an upright. Within seconds, sub Eoin McGrath tapped over a point to make it 1-11 to 0-12 in what was Waterford’s best spell of the game.
Kilkenny, who had lost Tommy Walsh through injury and were later to lose JJ Delaney, looked troubled but they stormed back.
Aidan Fogarty snatched a point before TJ Reid rose on the edge of the small square to turn a dropping ball from Colin Fennelly into the net in the 55th minute (1-13 to 1-11).
Suddenly the game was turned on its head again. The Cats were all over the opposition.
After Fennelly and John Mullane traded points the winners hit the road to victory with points from Richie Hogan (2) before they finished with a goal from Fennelly – an identical effort to Reid in that he rose on the edge of the square to touch the ball home – to run out somewhat flattering winners.
“The late second goal put us a bit further ahead than was fair on the overall run of play, but it was a great win for us,” insisted Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody. “It sets up things nicely for us now heading to Dublin next weekend for a game that will be hugely important for both sides.”
Waterford felt they were robbed of a chance to sneak something out of the game four minutes from the end when John Mullane was downed on his way to goal. The losers argued they should have been awarded a penalty, but the call was a 20-metre free.
Eoin Kelly had a crack for a goal, but the effort was blocked out and Richie Foley flashed the rebounding ball wide. Waterford were 1-13 to 1-16 down at the time.
Kilkenny opened smartly and after eight minutes they showed 0-4 to 0-1 in front. They were drawn back by Waterford, mainly through the scoring efforts of midfielder and free-taker Richie Foley so that the divide was down to the minimum in the 27th minute (0-6 to 0-5).
The home side took over again, and a late rush of points from Aidan Fogarty (2), Eoin Larkin and Richie Hogan (free) left them leaders by 0-10 to 0-6 at the break.
The attendance of 7,646 had been treated to decent hurling, but things were about the warm up. Early in the new half the teams shared four points.
However, between the 35th and 51st minutes Waterford shot 1-4 without replay through wing-back Kevin Moran, Foley (2), Shane Walsh (goal) and McGrath to slip 1-11 to 0-12 in front.
Kilkenny needed a lift. They got it at the double, first a point from Aidan Fogarty and then the goal from Reid. Those scores inspired them to a winning effort.
KILKENNY: D Herity; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Dalton; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; E Larkin (0-1), P Hartley; A Fogarty (0-3), TJ Reid (1-2), J Mulhall; E Brennan (0-1), R Hogan (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), C Fennelly (1-2). Subs: PJ Delaney for Walsh (inj, 35 mins); M Ruth for Mulhall (46 mins); P Murphy for Hartley (51 mins); C Fogarty for Delaney (inj, 61 mins).
WATERFORD: S O'Keeffe; D Fives, W Hutchinson, N Connors; D O'Sullivan (0-1), M Walsh, K Moran (0-1); R Foley (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-2 65s), J Nagle, P Mahony, S Prendergast, T Ryan (0-1), J Mullane (0-1), S Walsh (1-0), S Molumphy (0-1). Subs: E McGrath (0-1) for Molumphy (half-time); E Kelly for Mahony (47 mins).
Referee: J Sexton(Cork).
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