Kilkenny returned to winning ways in the Allianz Hurling League, defeating Waterford in this fifth round Allianz Hurling League game in Nowlan Park. Kilkenny started well and enjoyed the better of the first half deservedly leading at the interval by 0-10 to 0-6. A Shane Walsh goal in the 51st minute followed immediately by an Eoin Mc Grath point saw the Déise edge ahead by two points but Kilkenny showed good character and responded well and thanks to goals from T.J. Reid and Colin Fennelly they remain on course to figure in the closing stages of this year’s League.
Kilkenny established an early lead through TJ Reid, who registered the opening two points of this encounter before a Richie Hogan free saw Kilkenny into a 0-3 to no score lead. Stephen Molumphey got Waterford’s first point and Ryan narrowed the difference to one, but a second Richie Hogan free doubled Kilkenny’s lead (0-4 to 0-2).
Richie Hogan and Richie Foley’s displayed their accuracy as both pointed frees but as the interval approached well taken points from Aidan Fogarty and Eoin Larkin pushed out Kilkenny’s advantage to 0-10 to 0-6. Kilkenny suffered the loss of Tommy Walsh, when he was forced off just before break after picking up an injury.Waterford, too, were weakened at the break, when captain Stephen Molumphy was forced to leave Nowlan Park prematurely, as he had work commitments with the Irish army in Poland to attend to.
Kilkenny’s four-point lead was gradually eroded as Waterford attacked in the second half. Three pointed fres from marksman Richie Foley and a Kevin Moran point from play cancelled out a Richie Hogan double as the blue and white clad men reduced the deficit to two points. 0-12 to 0-10. Kilkenny still appeared to be in control until Shane Walsh blasted a powerful shot to the Kilkenny net in the 51st minute when he collected a Richie Foley free which rebounded off the upright and almost immediately, Eoin Mc Grath followed up with a point. The game’s momentum seemed to have swung to the Waterford men. However Kilkenny reacted well. Aidan Fogarty brought Kilkenny level before Colin Fennelly’s point attempt dropped short in the 55th minute and T.J. Reid scored an opportunist goal.
Waterford continued to chase and points from John Mullane and Kevin Moran meant the difference stood at three points as the game moved to injury-time before Colin Fennelly knocked a high ball past Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keefe into the net. While Kilkenny will be happy with the win and the character shown the injury list continues to grow as neither Michael Fennelly nor James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick were able to start the game and Tommy Walsh and J.J. Delaney were both injured during the game.
Scorers – Kilkenny: R Hogan 0-7 (5f, 1 ’65’), TJ Reid, C Fennelly 1-2 each, A Fogarty 0-3, E Larkin, E Brennan 0-1 each.
Waterford: R Foley 0-7 (5f, 2 ’65’s), S Walsh 1-0, D O’Sullivan, K Moran, J Mullane, S Molumphy, T Ryan, E McGrath 0-1 each.
Kilkenny – D Herity , M Kavanagh , N Hickey , J Dalton , T Walsh , B Hogan , JJ Delaney , E Larkin , P Hartley , A Fogarty , TJ Reid , J Mulhall , E Brennan , R Hogan , C Fennelly . Subs : PJ Delaney for T.Walsh (inj 37m), M Ruth for J.Mulhall (46m), P Murphy for P. Hartley (52m), C Fogarty for J.J. Delaney (inj, 62).
Waterford — S O’Keeffe , D Fives , W Hutchinson , N Connors , D O’Sullivan 7, M Walsh , K Moran , R Foley , J Nagle , P Mahony , S Prendergast 6,, T Ryan , J Mullane , S Walsh , S Molumphy . Subs: E McGrath 7 for S.Molumphy (half time), E Kelly for P.Mahony (47m).
Ref – J Sexton (Cork)
For all of the photos and action shots from Donal Foley click here A day in the Park
By Mary Morgan Sun 27th Mar
