History Beckons For Cats

All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final
Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15

By Denis O'Brien

Kilkenny are on the brink of history as their hard-fought win over a battling Waterford in Sunday's All Ireland semi-final placed them into the final for the eight time this decade with a chance of hurling immortality as they chase a tantalizing fourth-in-a-row.

Raging 1/10 on favorites in this repeat of last year's final, that much talked of Noreside walk-in-the-park, Kilkenny this time hadn't things all their own way as a spirited Waterford asked questions of the Champions on repeated occasions in this thrilling hurling match.

Anytime that Kilkenny looked like they were about to pull into the distance, Deise goals kept the Cats within range.

Waterford's Shane Walsh scored two goals early in both halves which dented Kilkenny's efforts to sustain a comfortable lead and, were it not for the heroics of one Henry Shefflin, Kilkenny's five-point winning margin might have been much slimmer. Man-of-the-match Shefflin went in at full forward from the off and returning 1-6 from play out of a total of 1-14, gave possibly his best ever performance in a Kilkenny jersey. His touch was sublime, his accuracy was breathtaking. He was simply beautiful to watch.

He led by example and though his fellow forwards weren't at their best they still managed to chip in with points when they needed, something that Waterford had more difficulty achieving.

Kilkenny led by six points at the break and looked to inflict further damage when Richie Power barreled towards goal with a major on the cards however his pass was too high for the waiting Shefflin.

Waterford weren't about to lay down their arms though and came right back into the game when Shane Walsh got behind the Kilkenny defense and booted to the top of the net to leave them just a goal behind.

Then Kilkenny sub TJ Reid delayed just a fraction when put through and his shot was blocked and cleared.

A free from Eoin Kelly left just two between them with the large Waterford following now sensing that this could be their day.

But as Kilkenny had done so many times before when questions are asked of this super team, the All Ireland champions answered emphatically once more with five unanswered points in an eight minute burst.

A pair of frees from Kelly kept Waterford in touch but with the Cats wing backs, John Tennyson and Tommy Walsh allowing little past them and Jackie Tyrell and JJ Delaney giving little to John Mullane and Kelly, the Deise struggled to make an impression upfront.

Points from Shefflin and Eddie Brennan, who thwarted the considerable influence of Michael 'Brick' Walsh, when moved to center forward, pushed Kilkenny's lead out to seven with ten left to play.

Then Waterford were thrown a lifeline after good work by sub Dan Shanahan forced a '65. Eoin Kelly's subsequent conversion went straight to the back of the Kilkenny net in between Walsh and PJ Ryan on the goal line.

It was a shock for Cats fans and a ray of hope for the Deise.

In a frenzied last few minutes a free and a '65 from the peerless Shefflin restored Kilkenny's six points advantage.

In injury time, the near 62,000-strong crowd were stunned as they saw an incredible reflex save by Ryan after Eoin Kelly, from a brilliant volley, sent a missile of a shot on goal but somehow the Cats' keeper managed to steer the ball over the bar.

Despite coming out on the losing side of an intense battle, the manner in which Waterford took the game to their opponents, particularly after last year's humbling, has without doubt restored the county's hurling pride.

In the opening minutes of the game Kilkenny had opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead but Waterford replied brilliantly after a wayward Cats pass was intercepted with Kevin Moran opening up the Kilkenny defense, before he found Shane Walsh who lashed to the back of the net.

A Seamus Prendergast point pushed Waterford two clear before points from Shefflin, who had the measure of full back Aidan Kearney and John Mullane, his only one for the afternoon, kept the excitement bubbling.

Then Kilkenny struck for their first goal after Henry Shefflin rose high to field a high ball before laying off to the in-rushing Eddie Brennan and he slotted into the far corner of the net to restore a one point lead. Two points from Eoin Larkin and another from Shefflin stretched the lead further in this intense battle.

The sides swapped points before Kilkenny struck for their second goal after Shane O'Sullivan's cross-field ball was picked off by Tommy Walsh. He looked up to see Shefflin had coasted in behind the Deise defense and a brilliant pass saw the big Ballyhale man goal from close range.

But Waterford just would not go away and three Kelly frees reduced the deficit but points from Power, Brennan and Shefflin had the margin out to six again by the half time whistle.

Despite conceding that early second half goal, Kilkenny were always able to tag on scores in the second half and with Mullane and the rest of the Waterford attack well marshaled, a Cats win looked the likely outcome.

Eoin Kelly prospered when moved out to the half line and maybe the move should have been made earlier.

Three goals, even though the last looked out of place, went past the much-vaunted Kilkenny rearguard, something unheard of last season and should give the Cats pause for consideration as they ready for the final.

Martin Comerford though excelling in the Leinster final was substituted and with sub Richie Hogan showing well he might struggle to regain his place. James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick back for the first time this year, was off the pace at midfield for Kilkenny and substituted, yet his partner Michael Rice's display especially in the second half harbors well for the champions as they continue on their historic quest.

Teams & Scorers:
Kilkenny: PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson; J Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Rice (0-1); E Brennan (1-2), M Comerford, E Larkin (0-2), R Power (0-1), H Shefflin (1-14, 7f, 1 '65), A Fogarty (0-1). Subs: TJ Reid for Comerford (40), R Hogan (0-1) for Fogarty (47), D Lyng for Fitzpatrick (56)
Waterford: C Hennessy; E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast; S O'Sullivan (0-1,f), K Moran (0-1); S Prendergast (0-1), S Molumphy S Walsh (2-0); J Mullane (0-1), E Kelly (1-9, 1-0 '65, 0-7f), E McGrath (0-1). Subs: D Shanahan (0-1) for S Prendergast (52), M Shanahan for Walsh (61), J Nagle for Molumphy (61), K McGrath for E McGrath (64)
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)