1st Quarter
Kilkenny only had one chance at goal in the first half and they took it cleanly through Martin Keoghan jumping on an initially deflected shot.
A lot of the aerial duals were dominated by Kilkenny in the first quarter
Some poor wides from Waterford – especially in the first 4 or 5 minutes, allowing Kilkenny to run rampant with their scoring.
Austin Gleeson was left up front early on – not venturing back the field much
Score after the first quarter Waterford 0-3 Kilkenny 1-5
2nd Quarter
Straight after the water break, Liam Cahill opted to take off Jake Dillon with Neil Montgomery coming in to the game – Cahill again showing that second chances wouldn’t be offered for a blow par performance.
A powerful run from Callum Lyons to start the second quarter, but no point earned from the attempt, however he made up for it shortly after knocking a point over the bar.
TJ Reid had a bursting run on the 25th minute striking low and hard, billowing the net in his effort – allowing Kilkenny to stretch their lead to eight points.
Score on 25 minutes Waterford 0-5 Kilkenny 2-7
Tadgh De Burca was quite in the early going – but Kevin Moran and Ian Kenny putting in a big shift of work
After an half hour played Kilkenny held a 9 point lead over Waterford despite several wides, an offence both sides were guilty of.
A massive free from Stephen Bennett on 33 minutes reduced the deficit to 8 and then moments later after a booming run, Bennett struck again to put over another
Score on 33 minutes Waterford 0-9 Kilkenny 2-10
Neil Montgomery picked up a yellow card in the 34th minute – with TJ Reid putting the subsequent free between the posts
Stephen O Keefe opted for the long puck out with Cillian Buckley mopping up the corner.
A free for Stephen O Keefe on his own 65, dropped into the box but well taken by the Kilkenny defence.
After a charging run from Callum Lyons in response, he earned his side a free and Kilkenny’s Paddy Deegan earning the second yellow card of the game. Stephen Bennett kept the scoreboard ticking over with the following free.
Liam Cahill will surely have gone in to the changing rooms with words of encouragement and possibly a few scolding words for his charges - the excessive wides and space offered to Kilkenny was enough to allow Brian Cody’s Cats take a comfortable lead in to the break.
Waterford secured the last two points of the half putting some respectability on the scoreboard.
Kilkenny’s defence did a great job of marshalling Austin Gleeson and Dessie Hutchinson – while at the other end of the field, Kilkenny were being offered too much space and they pounced on the chances they were offered.
Stand out performers for Waterford from the first half were Callum Lyons and Stephen Bennett – with Waterford possibly relying on Bennett too much.
HALF TIME Wat 0-10 Kilkenny 2-11
Second Half
3rd Quarter
The teams returned to the field the same as they had left it
Kilkenny opened up the second half dangerously, threatening on goal but the Waterford defence did their job.
The ensuing break from Waterford came to Dessie Hutchinson but he put his shot right and wide.
Kilkenny’s Billy Ryan put in a charging run off the back of a quickly taken free from Jamie Barron.
The man who’d had the most impact in the game for Waterford up to the 37th minute – Stephen Bennett took the ball near the middle of the field, charged into the Kilkenny D and pumped it to the back of the net.
Score after 37 minutes Waterford 1-10 Kilkenny 2-12
Brian Cody made his first change of the game on 28 minutes the opening goal scorer Martin Keoghan coming ashore with the stalwart Walter Walsh being introduced.
Austin Gleeson made his first big impression in the 40th minute, taking the ball in his own half and rushing in to the Kilkenny half, splitting the posts in his effort.
Moments later, Waterford applied some major pressure through Stephen Bennett who put the ball over the bar from an awkward angle.
Score after 41 minutes Waterford 1-13 Kilkenny 2-13
Waterford maintained the pressure after Bennett’s point and a earned a free for their work, with Bennett adding the necessary point on the board.
For the first time since the opening 5 minutes, Waterford had brought the deficit to 3 points.
On 46 minutes Shane McNulty put over a massive point from distance bringing it to a one point game. Only for Richie Hogan to punish Waterford once more drilling one over from the sideline.
A breaking ball near the Kilkenny goal hopped into the hand of Jamie Barron which he happily stuck over the bar, bringing it to a one point game.
Shortly after, a quality puck out from Stephen O Keefe saw the sliotar land for Austin Gleeson and ended up between the posts.
The game drew level for the first time.
Score after 51minutes Waterford 1-18 Kilkenny 2-15
It didn’t take long for the score to change again as Waterford managed to take the lead for the first time before another minute had passed.
With the second half water break approaching the former Brighton and Hove Albion player Hutchinson made himself known putting the ball over the bar from an uncomfortable angle extending the lead to 2 points.
With a head of steam built Waterford pounced once again with Neil Montgomery adding another point.
The Waterford players would surely have preferred play on instead of taking a break for water.
Score at the second half water break Waterford 1-21 Kilkenny 2-15
4th Quarter
Kilkenny were given the chance to reduce the deficit shortly after the resumption of play with a free given –TJ Reid ably knocking it over from distance.
Another free on the 55th minute deep in the Kilkenny half dropped dangerously for Stephen O Keefe but he rose high and controlled the ball clearing for safety – a moment of real danger averted.
Waterford first wide of the second half arrived on the 58th minute with Stephen Bennett putting it right of the posts.
Moments later, Kilkenny again threatened with a real goal scoring chance , but Stephen O Keefe’s presence sheparding the ball wide of the post.
TJ Reid kept Kilkenny in the game on the 58 minute putting one over the bar, but Waterford responded quickly with Darragh Lyons cleanly running through and billowing the back of the net.
Score after 59 minutes Waterford 2-22 Kilkenny 2-17
The Waterford players had a slight rush of blood after their game changing goal, offering up a free to Kilkenny with TJ Reid again securing the point, bringing the scoring difference to four points.
Kevin Moran was taken off with 10 minutes to go having completely emptied the tank - Iarlath Daly coming on in his stead.
A Kilkenny free from a solid 100 metres out the field dropped in to a lethal spot for Waterford, but Tadgh De Burca rose high and fielded comfortably, driving the ball back out the field.
Stephen Bennett put over a superb point in the 63rd minute after some beautiful stick work to evade the Kilkenny defence.
Score after 63 minutes Waterford 2-23 Kilkenny 2-19
Jamie Barron was stopped late in a run on in the 64th minute in what was a real goal scoring chance with Conor Delaney getting his stick across Barron.
Kilkenny’s Hugh Lawlor earned a free near his own 65 in the 66th minute – TJ Reid stood over it, steadied himself and put it over the bar yet again, making it three points in the balance. Seconds later, Reid struck again to make it a two point difference.
Jack Fagan was called home in the 67th minute with Patrick Curran replacing him.
Austin Gleeson pulled off an unnatural point in the 68 minute, almost striking the ball from behind himself – it somehow went over the bar.
Score after 68 minutes Waterford 2-24 Kilkenny 2-21
With the clock showing four minutes added time, Waterford opted for safety through an Iarlaith Daly point – extended the lead to three points.
Kilkenny responded well with another point from Paddy Deegan.
Tadgh De Burca settled his team mates nerves with the clock ticking down – a thumping run down the middle of the park ended up with the ball going clean through the posts.
In the last seconds, Austin Gleeson proved his match breaking ability knocking over the last point of the game to put Waterford ahead by four.
Full Time Score Waterford 2-27 Kilkenny 2-23
