NHL DIVISION ONE A Kilkenny 2-21 Waterford 1-15:IN THE end it was easy for the All-Ireland champions as they enjoyed a nine-point victory over their neighbours in Walsh Park yesterday.

However, the scoreline does not do justice to a game Waterford side who, despite a crippling injury list, gave Brian Cody’s side plenty to think about before the Cats moved into top gear during the second half.

There was precious little between the teams in a stop-start first half in which the home side gave as good as they got. Kilkenny did manage to open up a three -point lead by the 15th minute with Richie Power punishing several indiscretions in the Waterford defence. Indeed, free-taking was one of the areas where Kilkenny were superior all day with Waterford’s Pauric Mahony having a day to forget from placed balls.

Waterford bounced right back into the game in the 17th minute, when an excellent team move set up Maurice Shanahan for the game’s opening goal.

With their dander up, Waterford soon opened up a two-point lead with one long-range point from the evergreen Tony Browne bringing a big round of applause from the enthusiastic home crowd.

But the wind was taken out of their sails in the 27th minute when a blistering run through the Waterford defence by Richie Power set up Matthew Ruth for Kilkenny’s opening goal.

Waterford didn’t die and Martin O’Neill scored after taking over the freetaking duties, as did Maurice Shanahan and debutante Gavin O’Brien.

But a late Power free sent the sides in at half-time with Kilkenny leading by 1-10 to 1-9.

However after the break, Kilkenny moved into another gear which Waterford simply could not match. Points from Power and Richie Hogan nudged them clear, while Waterford were forced to live on scraps as the Kilkenny half-back line began to dominate, especially after the introduction of Kieran Joyce at centre back.

In the 44th minute, Kilkenny put the result to bed when a blistering sequence of passes involving Hogan and TJ Reid sent in Ruth for his second goal of an impressive showing.

Thereafter, the Cats were satisfied to fire over points from out the field rather than go for the jugular while, up at the other end, Waterford failed to manufacture a half-decent goal chance that could have got them back into the game.

Ruth and Power knocked over another brace of points to put Kilkenny nine clear and, despite another two points from the impressive O’Neill, Waterford failed to even worry Kilkenny in the last quarter.

One of the highlights of the game was a spectacular point direct from a sideline by TK Reid after which the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion.

Brian Cody will be happy with Kilkennys performance – especially in the second half when Paul Murphy, Tommy Walsh and Richie Power stood out.

Michael Ryan’s Waterford are now staring down the barrel of a relegation dogfight and, on the evidence of this performance, they need to get John Mullane back into their line-up, and quickly.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, P Hogan, C Fogarty; M Fennelly (0-1), R Doyle; TJ Reid (0-2, 1 sideline), R Power (0-10, 8f), E Larkin (0-3); C Fennelly (0-2), R Hogan (0-2), M Ruth (2-1). Subs: K Joyce for P Hogan, J Mulhall for C Fennelly, W Phelan for JJ Delaney, C Buckley for M Fennelly

WATERFORD: I O'Regan; D Fives, L Lawlor, Philip Mahony; T Browne 0-2 (one free, K Moran, D Prendergast; S Molumphy, P O'Brien; Pauric Mahony (0-1, f), M Walsh, S Prendergast (0-1); M Shanahan (1-3), M O'Neill (0-6, 4f), G O'Brien (0-2). Subs: J Nagle for D Prendergast, S O'Sullivan for S Prendergast.

Referee: J Sexton(Cork).