Kilkenny Book Their Place In The Final

A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill

All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final
Kilkenny 2-19 Waterford 1-16

Kilkenny booked their place in a sixth successive All-Ireland senior hurling final with a comfortable six-point win against a wasteful Waterford side in last Sunday's semi-final at Croke Park.

31,634 spectators descended on GAA HQ for the latest instalment of this recent hurling rivalry and what they witnessed was a routine performance from the Cats, who were far from their best.

Kilkenny had performed brilliantly against Dublin in the Leinster final but this display was several notches down, which will give manager Brian Cody some cause for concern as he looks forward to the All-Ireland final on the first Sunday in September.

Two first half goals from Richie Hogan, cousin of Kilkenny legend DJ Carey, were pivotal as Henry Shefflin pulled the strings in attack.

Hogan's goals helped to provide Kilkenny with a 2-10 to 1-7 half-time cushion and although Waterford did threaten a second half revival and fought to the bitter end, the Leinster champions were never unduly troubled.

Waterford needed a good start to have any chance but Kilkenny got it in the third minute when Hogan raced through and lashed a shot past Clinton Hennessy for a classic goal and the game's opening score.

Kilkenny were 1-2 to 0-0 score ahead before Waterford managed a score but the Deise, inspired by the remarkable John Mullane, began to make a fight of it.

Mullane, who would finish with 1-6 from play, scored a 25th minute goal from an acute angle to drag the beaten Munster finalists back into contention and approaching half-time, Kilkenny's lead was just two points.

But after Mullane had another shot saved by Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity, the Noresiders swept up the pitch and Hogan showed great control to take a pass from Colin Fennelly and goal from close range as Clinton Hennessy advanced.

Shefflin completed the first half scoring with a free and added two points after the break to push Kilkenny eight clear.

It wasn't long before Kilkenny were in cruise control and leading by ten points but Waterford managed to get within five with eight minutes left.

Kilkenny's intensity levels had dropped considerably but after a good Waterford spell, Kilkenny sub Paddy Hogan settled his team's nerves with 65th minute point to kill any slim hopes of a Deise revival.

Kilkenny know they must up the ante considerably to compete with Tipperary or Dublin next month but they appeared to be playing well within themselves last Sunday.

But there were many positives to take from this game with Michael Rice and Michael Fennelly forming a potent midfield partnership.

Kilkenny were brilliant in many of the aerial exchanges, collecting clean possession from their own and opposition puckouts, while Shefflin was at the heart of much of his side's best work.

All-Ireland SFC Quarterfinal
Dublin 0-22 Tyrone 0-15

Dublin produced what some pundits have described as their most complete performance in years against Tyrone at Croke Park last Saturday to book their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.

The Sky Blues ensured that all four of this year's provincial champions will make up the last four with a seven-point drubbing of Mickey Harte's former All-Ireland champions.

And if there were any lingering doubts about Dublin's Sam Maguire credentials, they were dismissed with a powerful attacking display that blew away the 2003, 2005 and 2008 kingpins.

Conditions were far from ideal at GAA HQ but Dublin's handling and kick-passing skills were eye-catching in front of 52,651 spectators on a memorable evening.

Full-forward Diarmuid Connolly and the Brogan brothers were superb as they notched up 0-15 between them, with Connolly accounting for 0-7 from play.

And Dublin's victory could have been even more emphatic had they taken some of the numerous goal chances that presented themselves, with 2010 Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan and brother Alan particularly dangerous in this regard.

Dublin will now face Donegal on August 28 in the All-Ireland semi-final, with the winners to play the August 21 showdown between Kerry and Mayo.

Dublin's victory has now thrown up the prospect of a traditional final showdown with Kerry on the third Sunday in September - a mouthwatering prospect for supporters of both counties and neutrals alike.

Tyrone did open the scoring through Mark Donnelly but they were simply over-run thereafter.

And with Connolly superb at full-forward, and giving Joe McMahon a tour of Croke Park, Dublin went on to establish a 0-11 to 0-6 half-time lead.

To their credit, Tyrone kept on fighting in the second half but Dublin were in cruise control and repeated their 2010 championship victory against the same opposition, with a far greater degree of comfort.