Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Kilkenny 2-21 Waterford 1-15

Stern test for clinical Kilkenny

Waterford 1-15 Kilkenny 2-21

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Kilkenny continued their impressive early-season form with a nine-point win in sunny Walsh Park yesterday but not before getting a stern early examination from the injury-hit home side. Already without the vastly experienced John Mullane and Eoin Kelly from the forward division, Waterford lost All Star corner-back Noel Connors and star full-forward Shane Walsh before a ball was struck, but after a very solid first half were within a point of the All-Ireland champions at the break (1-10 to 1-9).

Doing most of the damage for the Déise in that opening period was a precocious full-forward line with an average age of 20 but Martin O’Neill, Gavin O’Brien and Maurice Shanahan were all to the fore. Waterford came back from two points down to take a two-point lead by the 26th minute (1-7 to 0-8), the towering Shanahan with a superb goal set up by Pauric Mahony, O’Neill and captain Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh. Wing-back Tony Browne also had a brace of points for Waterford, both from around his own 65. It was Tony’s first game of 2012 but it was the start of his 22nd season and he’s looking as fit and as fresh as ever.

Kilkenny were struggling in that first half, Brick Walsh doing very well on the 40 for Waterford, the defence also doing well. The Kilkenny goal though was eminently preventable, Richie Power charging though the middle, Matthew taking brave possession in heavy traffic of Richie’s lobbed pass, beating Ian O’Regan with a low angled shot. Unfortunately for the strong local support in the large crowd of around 6,000 that was a sign of things to come. Within three minutes of the restart Kilkenny increased their lead by three points. Their second goal, again by Ruth but set up by a fantastic handball-type pass by Richie Hogan, TJ Reid twice involved, put daylight between the teams (2-14 to 1-10, 44th minute) and from there to the finish it was Kilkenny in control.

Eoin Larkin had a goal that wasn’t allowed, a bullet that rebounded from the back stanchion with such pace it was missed by everyone in the ground, including the umpires. Overall then another very impressive early-season show from Kilkenny, Paul Murphy brilliant at the back, TJ Reid with a fielding exhibition, Richie Power deadly from placed balls. A happy Brian Cody afterwards then, understandably. With the Walsh Cup and the Railway Cup (Leinster were mostly Kilkenny) already in the bag they have now taken two giant steps towards qualification for the semi-final of this year’s league, are looking as sharp as they’ve even been at this time of year.

“It’s beautiful weather, really mild,” is Brian Cody’s explanation. “Really hurling weather and that contributes to it. Very often at this time of the year it’s freezing cold, but this weather — it’s like playing in the summer.” His Waterford counterpart Michael Ryan was looking at the positives. “I’m very happy with the first half. In the second half the physical strength and experience of Kilkenny came to the fore and as our lads tired they were able to take the right options up front. “We’ve got a lot of good young lads, we’re determined that if some fella is doing well we’re not worried about his age or his birth cert — if he’s good enough he’s going to get on the team. We had 12 fellas injured for the Cork game, eight still missing today — hopefully by the end of the league we’ll have everyone back.” By then it may well be too late for Waterford, now in relegation territory, but yesterday in Walsh Park there were green shoots.

Scorers for Kilkenny: R Power 0-10 (8fs), M Ruth 2-1, E Larkin 0-3, R Hogan, C Fennelly, TJ Reid (1 s/l) 0-2 each, M Fennelly 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: M Shanahan 1-3, M O’Neill 0-6 (4fs), G O’Brien, T Browne (1f) 0-2 each; S Prendergast, Paudie Mahony (f) 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, P Hogan, C Fogarty; M Fennelly, R Doyle; TJ Reid, R Power, E Larkin; C Fennelly, R Hogan, M Ruth.

Subs: K Joyce (P Hogan 43), J Mulhall (C Fennelly 56), W Phelan (Delaney 67), C Buckley (M Fennelly 67).

WATERFORD: I O’Regan; D Fives, L Lawlor, Phillip Mahony; T Browne, K Moran, D Prendergast; P O’Brien, S Molumphy; Pauric Mahony, M Walsh, S Prendergast; M Shanahan, M O’Neill, G O’Brien.

Subs: J Nagle for D Prendergast (46), S O’Sullivan for S Prendergast (51).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork).

Dominant Cats roll on in League

Published on Monday 12 March 2012 10:00

ALL-Ireland champions, Kilkenny continued their current red hot form when overpowering limited Waterford in the Allianz National Hurling League in Walsh Park yesterday (2-21 to 1-15), writes John Knox for the Kilkenny People newspaper.

The Cats didn’t exactly take up where they left off against Tipperary in the first round, but when they let rip from the start of the second half they made things look easy against a Waterford team that is being reshaped by new manager, Michael Ryan. Kilkenny were all business from the throw-in. An early foul on Eoin Larkin led to Richie Power opening their account from a free. Michael Fennelly added a second before the losers’ most threatening attacker, Maurice Shanahan shot a reply.

At one stage the visitors opened out a lead of 0-6 to 0-3, but a well taken goal by Shanahan in the 16th minute, with an assist by Michael Walsh, levelled the scores at 0-6 to 1-3. Kilkenny, who were top class at winning ball on their own puck-outs, won back the lead through T.J. Reid before strong attacker leader, Richie Power converted a free to give them a bit more breathing space. However, the evergreen Tony Browne, who was wonderful for Waterford during this half, cracked over a great point from the right half-back position to inspire his colleagues. During the following minutes the home team got on top, and they actually held the lead between the 22nd and 27th minutes (1-7 to 0-8).

A well put away goal by Matt Ruth, who shot to the net from a tight angle on the left after turning a hopeful pass from Power into something really good, lifted Kilkenny and drove them on to lead of 1-10 to 1-9 at the end of a tame first half. From the start of the second half the game simply ran away from Waterford. They were hit for 1-4 against a single point reply during the nine minutes after the run as the Cats turned up the heat big time. Richie Power opened the barrage by shooting a point. Richie Hogan followed in like fashion before Power added his second and Kilkenny third point. Maurice Shanahan tried to arrest the slide when pulled back a nice point. That drew a reply from the on fire Hogan, who proceeded to rip asunder the home defence. In the 44th minute Hogan started the deadly move that also involved T.J. Reid and finished with Matt Ruth crashing home his second goal.

Kilkenny shot 2-14 to 1-10 clear. Waterford never got within shouting distance after that. The visitors were so comfortable nearing the end that they introduced a number of subs, including Kieran Joyce and Willie Phelan in defence. The All-Ireland champions entertain League champions, Dublin, at Nowlan Park on Sunday. A third win would put them within touching distance of the semi-finals. “We want to do as well as we can in the League, and win it if we can,” Kilkenny manager, Brian Cody said at the start of the campaign. So far, so good, would be the assessment of things right now.

Scorers: Kilkenny – Richie Power (0-10, seven frees); Matt Ruth (2-1); Eoin Larkin (0-3); T.J. Reid, Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan (0-2 each); Michael Fennelly (0-1). Waterford – Martin O’Neill (0-6, four frees); Maurice Shanahan (1-3); Tony Browne (0-2, one free); Gavin O’Brien (0-2); Seamus Prendergast (0-1); Paudie Mahony (0-1, free).

Kilkenny – Eoin Murphy, Paul Murphy, J.J. Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, Paddy Hogan, Conor Fogarty, Michael Fennelly, Richie Doyle, T.J. Reid, Richie Power, Eoin Larkin (capt), Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, Matthew Ruth. Subs – Kieran Joyce for P. Hogan 43rd min; John Mulhall for C. Fennelly 56th min; Cillian Buckley for M. Fennelly 67th min; Willie Phelan for J.J. Delaney 67th min.

Waterford – Ian O’Regan, Darragh Fives, Liam Lawlor, Philip Mahony, Tony Browne, Kevin Moran, Declan Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy, Paul O’Brien, Seamus Prendergast, Michael Walsh (capt), Paudie Mahony, Martin O’Neill, Maurice Shanahan, Gavin O’Brien. Subs – Jamie Nagle for D. Prendergast 45th min; Shane O’Sullivan for S. Prendergast 51st min.

Referee – John Sexton (Cork)