Reputations redeemed but Kilkenny always in control

HURLING ANALYST:THIS WAS a really enjoyable game with both sides guaranteed to take plenty from it but really, for both Waterford and Kilkenny, it was about hanging on. Waterford held tough in the face of a team that constantly threatened to pull clear, while Kilkenny appear to be hanging on a little in their quest for greatness. For certain, they are not in as domineering a position as at this juncture in the previous three campaigns but the quest for four-in-a-row is alive even if they look less convincing.

This can be viewed as a positive from Brian Cody’s perspective as it means there is plenty to work on over the next few weeks. Signs of mental fatigue do appear to be creeping in and the option of flogging his men down in Nowlan Park, as he has possibly done in the lead in to the previous All-Ireland finals, may not be the right option.

We are just trying to find cinks in this great Kilkenny armoury. It is still their title to lose but no team has been obliterated like last season. It is not as easy to do anymore as rival defences are catching on.

Yesterday was a tricky proposition on a psychological level as well considering Waterford had nothing to lose. They never looked like winning, mind. They remain a talented team that has done many spectacular things these past 10 years and it was their unpredictable nature that kept Kilkenny on their toes. What killed them off were the goals, both of which came far too easily. Particularly Henry Shefflin’s on 26 minutes.

Aidan Kearney was in trouble from the very outset, clearly struggling in a physical mismatch with an electric opponent. He shouldn’t have been in the position to make that crucial error in the 26th minute. He should have been switched with Declan Prendergast much earlier.

There were other small moments that hurt Waterford, like in the second half the hard-working Stephen Molumphy gathered three or four good balls from Clinton Hennessy but was unable to move them on quick enough.

At least this performance confirms last year’s All-Ireland final was really just an aberration. Several true servants of hurling were provided an opportunity to redeem dented reputations and it was hardly surprising to see Tony Browne, Brick Walsh and Eoin Kelly produce admirable displays.

To their credit, they didn’t set up to contain Kilkenny but rather played their own game, albeit, always on the back foot. They fought right to the finish and atoned somewhat for the past humiliation, even in defeat.

In hindsight an argument could be made that they had chances to win but, really, I don’t believe that to have been the case.

There was an obvious reliance on Eoin Kelly frees once John Mullane was well marked by the outstandingly-disciplined Jackie Tyrrell. Later, Kelly even became the main source of scores from play. They needed another outlet to be truly considered a threat to Kilkenny’s title. At the finish they threw everything at them but to no avail.

What disappointed me at that stage was the inaccuracy of the high balls into Dan Shanahan and Ken McGrath. These were miscued to the point that the Kilkenny full-back line was certainly not stretched to the pin of their collar, as it needed to be.

It was always a comfortable six-point margin once Waterford hit that nine-minute scoring drought between an Eoin Kelly free on 41 minutes, which brought matters to two points, and his score from play on 50 minutes. During that period, Shefflin rattled off 0-3 and Richie Hogan arrived to conjure up a fine point.

The Waterford performance was still a testament to their spirit and quality as at times Kilkenny were supreme. Tyrrell was awesome as was John Tennyson despite Kevin Moran putting him under serious pressure. Michael Rice’s industry stood out in midfield, while the first half belonged to the outstanding player on view. I don’t think Henry Shefflin missed until the hour mark.

At times Kilkenny looked primed to blow Waterford away but they were unable to win enough clean ball. With Tyrrell hurling Mullane so well the threat was never bad but the goals in either half came at times that allowed them to keep it a proper contest.

Kilkenny may not have been able to stretch their legs but they can look at other areas of improvement. Eddie Brennan got a great goal in the first half and upped his performance from the Leinster final and he limited the influence of Walsh by switching to centre forward. Eoin Larkin has an unbelievable ability to earn frees by ducking into the areas that usually means a painful collision. Also, Brian Hogan and Cha Fitzpatrick got more hurling under their belts.

While the threat of a massive performance remains, their forwards must start winning more clean ball. Then it will come like an avalanche.