Waterford's wonder year peters out

A template of all those Kilkenny stories that have percolated through the generations. They were unfancied going into yesterday's Guinness All-Ireland hurling semi-final against neighbours Waterford and looked to be on the road to defeat at half-time.

In the end they had to endure a frantic assault on their lead in the dying minutes before emerging with that most traditional of Kilkenny results, a one-point victory.

Waterford's disappointment that their great voyage of improvement has come to an end was made greater by the tantalising margin.

During a particularly crucial stage in the second half, most of the third quarter, they reacted in panic to Kilkenny's goal which appeared to have pushed the match beyond them.

Whereas the team showed great spirit in battling frantically to get back into the game, composure was completely lacking and a succession of ball was thrashed down the field missing the intended target. In the closing five minutes, Waterford chipped three points off their four-point deficit but could manage no more. But Kilkenny deserved their victory. They dominated the first half but squandered this domination by hitting nine wides as well as getting the range wrong a couple of times and forcing two fine saves from the outstanding Brendan Landers in the Waterford goal.

In the ninth minute, Shane Prendergast slipped in behind a throw-in between DJ Carey and Brian Flannery as the ball squirted loose. He mis-hit the ball but Landers reacted quickly and cleared. Nearly 20 minutes later, he again reacted well as Carey got a touch to a dropping ball. In the last minute before the break, Landers had to make a double save, firstly from Carey and then from the in-rushing Niall Maloney.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win was that neither Carey nor the team's form forward Charlie Carter had particularly memorable afternoons.

The former had difficulty taking frees in the windy conditions and found Brian Flannery a combative marker; Tom Feeney played well on Carter who managed only one point. The performance of both fullback lines was impressive with Waterford's full back Sean Cullinane and the redoubtable Willie O'Connor in Kilkenny's left corner proving primus inter pares. Kilkenny made two adjustments to their attack with Andy Comerford and Shane Prendergast slotting into the vacancies left in the selection.

Only three forwards lined out in their appointed positions - Brian McEvoy at right wing forward and Comerford on the 40 for Kilkenny; and Dan Shanahan on Waterford's right wing.

Comerford made an immediate impact, stroking over two points in little over 60 seconds within seven minutes of the throw-in.

Waterford's second trip to Croke Park this year didn't go to plan. Inaccuracy blighted their attacks, centrefield never achieved the levels of domination forecast and the team's bedrock half-back line didn't establish the stranglehold which form suggested.

Kilkenny's role wasn't, of course, merely passive. Philip Larkin kept pace with the season's leading midfielder, Tony Browne, and Peter Barry worked impressively to keep the sector evenly contested.

Peter Queally won a stack of ball for Waterford in the final quarter but often used it too hastily.

The Leinster champions' defence was also composed and dealt well with the variety of combinations devised by Waterford's bench - and manager Gerald McCarthy up in the stand.

Paul Flynn started the day on the edge of the square but he was to find greatest self-expression at centre forward late in the second half. The beefier presence of Sean Daly didn't quite do the trick either, nor did the in-between option of Anthony Kirwan.

Yet, Waterford trailed by only two points after 20 minutes of play. After half an hour the teams were level and two minutes from the interval, Dan Shanahan surged through Kilkenny's cover shrugging off challenges and pushed Waterford a point ahead.

No one could have believed that this would be the Munster finalists' last few seconds leading in this year's championship.

Comerford's sideline cut cancelled the deficit before Carey and McEvoy established a modest lead for Kilkenny.

Would it be enough? A strong wind had been behind the Leinster side in the first half and they had hit nine wides.

Waterford were quite happy with such a slim margin to aim at, and according to Charlie Carter, Kilkenny "got a lashing" from manager Kevin Fennelly at halftime.

What was probably overlooked was that Waterford needed to bridge the gap early after the restart. In the drawn Munster final, a goal in the opening moments of the second half had given them momentum to attack Clare's eight-point lead.

It was the same player, Anthony Kirwan, who had a similar run on goal within seconds of the restart. But no goal resulted; and Tony Browne missed a subsequent 65. It was to take 16 minutes for Waterford to add to their total in the second half.

By then, the match had dramatically changed. In the 40th minute, Carey lined up a free and hit it short - whether by accident or design. It took a deflection and Niall Maloney reacted quickest to strike the ball home.

Waterford were now in trouble. They responded with passion but little precision. A couple of urgent solos by Browne yielded nothing; Ken McGrath - again not as prominent as Waterford would have wanted - got booked for a rash challenge on O'Connor and conceded a converted free from where the ball landed.

Flynn's 46th minute free hopped off woodwork and neither substitute Billy O'Sullivan nor Daly were able to capitalise. As the team developed a disastrous addiction to attempting goals, Kilkenny pulled away to lead 1-9 to 0-5 and Waterford lost all focus. The breakthrough came on 57 minutes. Flynn addressed a 20metre free and immediately it was obvious that he intended to try and emulate his Munster final equaliser from the same position. This time the shot was blocked but Browne was on hand to snap the rebound into the net.

Carey and Kirwan exchanged points before the Kilkennyman extended his team's lead (1-11 to 1-7).

For whatever reason, Waterford suddenly gained an inner calm to complement their evident commitment. Flynn will regret not taking a point from a galloping solo, but it signalled that he was going to play what was nearly a winning hand.

Browne scored a free and a minute later Flynn displayed icy skills on a chaotic 40, picking up the ball and gliding around the cover into a scoring position.

The closing minutes reached a crescendo as Cullinane deftly blocked Carey when the decisive goal seemed inevitable. On 70 minutes Flynn cut the margin to a point from a free. In the last scene of the final act, Stephen Frampton launched the sort of high, dropping ball that makes for legend but on this occasion it was Pat O'Neill who emerged defiantly with the ball as Kilkenny roars greeted the final whistle.