Waterford taste slice of revenge

Waterford 2-17 Kilkenny 1-16

Waterford gained a slice of revenge for their defeat by Kilkenny in last year's All-Ireland final as they battled their way to a four-point Allianz NHL Division 1 win at Walsh Park this afternoon.

The Deise climbed to third place in the top flight table, with centre-forward Ken McGrath scoring a fine personal haul of nine points.

Kilkenny, winners over Limerick last time out, trailed Waterford by 1-11 to 0-11 at half-time with Stephen Molumphy kicking home the goal.

Molumphy came into the Waterford team as the only change manager Davy Fitzgerald made from the one which beat Clare last time out.

Both sides played fast, direct hurling and strung together some excellent attacking moves. However, tempers flared at times and referee Anthony Stapleton was a busy man.

He flashed yellow cards to Kilkenny's Tommy Walsh and Jackie Tyrrell, while Waterford duo Eoin Kelly and Seamus Prendergast were also yellow-carded and replaced.

The Cats' leading scorer Richie Power closed the gap between the sides to two points but an 82-yard effort from McGrath, on the stroke of half-time, gave the Deise a goal-lead to take into the second period.

There was a flurry of pointed frees on the resumption with Power and McGrath going head-to-head. They shared out eight successful attempts between them as Waterford maintained their lead at 1-15 to 0-15.

During that time, Declan Prendergast and goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy combined to stop a goal-bound shot from Kilkenny ace Eddie Brennan.

But Prendergast and Brennan did not feature on the pitch for much longer as Laois official Stapleton soon gave the pair straight red cards for some over zealous play.

Power and Ryall helped close the gap back to two points but when a Maurice Shanahan point attempt came back off a post, the ensuing scramble led to a goal for his brother Dan Shanahan, the former Hurler of the Year.

That score really put Waterford in the driving seat and while 1-7 hero Power found the net at the other end with a low, stinging shot, a subsequent point from Dan Shanahan steadied Fitzgerald's men.

Fittingly, it was left to the impressive McGrath to close out the win with his ninth point of the afternoon. Job done and Waterford will move on with added confidence into their next game away to Dublin on March 22.

Brian Cody's Kilkenny charges, who are sixth in the table, have a rescheduled trip to Galway to contend with next Sunday before they entertain reigning league champions and current table-toppers Tipperary in three weeks' time.