Thrilling draw the fair result as Waterford and Kilkenny wage titanic battle

Waterford 0-24 Kilkenny 1-21

Sport is so rarely kind. At least today it wasn’t cruel. Waterford had Kilkenny in at least two choke holds during this All-Ireland semi-final only for the champions to wriggle free and escape with the draw.

Conor Fogarty demanded it be so when all the Kilkenny sharpshooters went quiet.

Such marvellous alchemy at play here.

Pauric Mahony awoke this morning with flawless hurling on his mind. Nine first half points put Waterford a score ahead at the turn. TJ Reid’s laser proved equally unstoppable, his 0-11 total was precious to the All-Ireland champions getting another chance at Derek McGrath’s ravenous young hurlers next Saturday.

Anyway, we should start at the beginning. Waterford drew first blood via Jake Dillon. Reid responded. Mahony opened his account soon after.

Richie Hogan was getting angsty. Onto the sliotar came Kilkenny’s pocket battleship but Tadhg De Burca hounded him off it. Hogan’s response? Four scores, each one more mesmeric than the previous.

Strangely Hogan faded in the second half.

Austin Gleeson was also in the stadium, it may one day become his private domain. Five herculean points he registered but his power and skill was in full view for the assist of a Kevin Moran point. And almost every other moment he came into the action. Which was more often than usual.

Walter Walsh responded to an early yellow card with the score of the day – flipping up the ball and pointing from the sideline. Hogan then Mick Fennelly scores brought matters level at 0-9 apiece with 21 minutes on the clock.

Gleeson’s second score drew gasps of disbelief. A quick brace of Mahony frees rebuilt Waterford’s three point lead. TJ wouldn’t let them away though.

Nothing compares to this. There was some error (plenty down the home straight). Shane Bennett stalled in possession too long to deny Dillon a clear sight of the Kilkenny goal. Same goes for a poor Reid pass that would have set Colin Fennelly free.

But the defenders at either end were awesome. Paul Murphy, in case you were unaware, was his beastly self under dropping grenades.

Such was the standard, and considering Eoin Larkin simmered on the Kilkenny bench, Walsh appeared to be on borrowed time when warned by Wexford referee Justin Heffernan for a second foul.

Heffernan was a busy man. TJ Reid and Barry Coughlan went for their break with yellow cards, gifts for some wrestling.

The 34,432 lucky souls waited to see what came next. Could Waterford keep pace? What gear would Kilkenny shift into?

“We’ve been reared on hurling like that in Waterford,” said Ken McGrath on RTÉ. “I know we haven’t won an All-Ireland (since 1959) but if we play like that...”

Waterford were first to unleash a weapon held in reserve as Maurice Shanahan sauntered into the fray. Within three minutes another Mahony free and the latest Gleeson point from miles out put them three up again. Conor Fogarty’s brilliant first point told us this blow for blow affair would not die away.

A goal might settle it. Dillon gave Moran a run on Eoin Murphy’s nets but Padraig Walsh denied the shot with a block his brother Tommy would struggle to pull off.

Gleeson, fast being embroiled in the game of young life, obliterated Hogan with a full frontal charge. Moments later he clipped his third wonderful point.

Mahony could not miss either. Even Hawkeye said “Tá” for his effort out by the left sideline.

If Waterford could stretch this lead to four points then victory would seem possible. Shanahan duly obliged.

Eoin Larkin came in and hit a wide. Still a long road to go but Waterford were playing as they were reared. But so were Kilkenny. Larkin took his score at the second opportunity.

But there was daylight now. Mahony ensured it kept shining upon the desperately nervous Waterford faithful.

Richie Hogan stepped up next. Wide.

Four point game became five with Gleeson spinning away, index finger pointing to the heavens. Belief surged through An Deise ranks.

But TJ kept chipping away. Two frees from the Ballyhale man made it 0-22 to 0-19 with 13 minutes of regular time to play. The skies darkened overhead. Perfection became essential for Waterford to progress. Patrick Curran arrived to ease the cushion back to four points.

TJ brought it back to three.

That’s when it got awfully shaky as high balls rained down on the Hill end goal. Gleeson missed a shot dead in front from halfway. Hawkeye said “Níl.”

A great roar, a sound of a pressure valve releasing, came on 67 minutes when Kevin Moran pointed from distance. Heffernan went to Hawkeye. Níl. Three point game.

Then, with the flick of a wrist, tragedy for Waterford. Colin Fennelly drew the whole defence onto him before a left-handed pass found Walter Walsh. Goal. That defiant Kilkenny voice could be heard all round the stadium.

Brian Cody was on the pitch, up in arms.

Five minutes of injury time were called. Padraig Walsh blocked Mahony to give Gleeson a sideline cut. Had the height not the accuracy.

Another chance came when Jamie Barron was hauled down by a back tracking Colin Fennelly. Mahony landed his 13th point. In mere seconds Conor Fogarty had responded.

Paul Murphy grabbed a wayward clearance at the death but struck it wide.

Defeat at that moment would have been wrong.

Waterford: Stephen O'Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Tadgh de Burca, Michael Walsh, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson; Kevin Moran (0-2), Shane Bennett, Austin Gleeson (0-5); Pauric Mahony (0-13, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65), Jake Dillon (0-2), Colin Dunford. Subs: Maurice Shanahan (0-1) for Dunford, half-time; Paddy Curran (0-1) for Bennett, 54 mins; Brian O'Halloran for Dillon, 66 mins

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Shane Prendergast; Padraig Walsh, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley; Conor Fogarty (0-2), Michael Fennelly (0-1); Walter Walsh (1-1), TJ Reid (0-11, 0-10 frees, 0-1 65), John Power; Jonjo Farrell, Colin Fennelly (0-1), Richie Hogan (0-4). Subs: Eoin Larkin (0-1) for Farrell, 46 mins; Lester Ryan for Joyce, 50 mins.

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).