Cats claw their way into final

Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15

Henry Shefflin inspired Kilkenny to a hard-earned five points win over Waterford in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

Sheff helped himself to a 1-14 tally as the defending champions progressed to yet another decider in a somewhat less impressive fashion than the hurling world has become accustomed to.

There was never going to be anything like a repeat of last September’s All-Ireland final rout, which saw them hammer the Decies by 23 points.

This one was much closer, thanks to a combination of Waterford’s determination to endure, and Kilkenny’s fall from the realms of invincibility.

But for Shefflin’s exhibition of finishing, the Cats could have been in trouble, and the manner in which they conceded three goals, one of them direct from an Eoin Kelly ’65, will have manager Brian Cody somewhat concerned.

Shane Walsh gave Waterford an early boost with a fifth minute goal, but the Cats never panicked, and Henry Shefflin and James Cha Fitzpatrick responded with points

Eddie Brennan’s cracked home a 13th minute goal for the champions, finishing with deadly accuracy from Shefflin’s pass.

Eoin Larkin tagged on a couple of points, and by the 19th minute, it was 1-7 to 1-3 in favour of Kilkenny.

The Cats stretched their lead, with another couple of Shefflin efforts and an Eoin Larkin point, but the Decies hit back for scores through Kevin Moran and four Eoin Kelly frees.

But Kilkenny struck for a second goal in the 26th minute, once again the product of a long delivery from defence.

Somehow, Tommy Walsh’s punt made it through to Shefflin, and he rifled first-time to the net, giving Hennessy no change.

Kilkenny led by 2-12 to 1-9 at the break, but the Munster men made a flying start to t second half when Walsh caught the Kilkenny defence on the hop to boot home his second goal.

Brian Cody took the unusual step of replacing Shefflin for little more than a minute by Richie Hogan so he could change his boots, and he quickly got back into swing, with his fourth converted free

Everything he touched flew over the bar, but Davy Fitzgerald’s men refused to allow their heads to drop.

They posted worthy replies through Kelly and substitute Dan Shanahan, and got themselves right back in the game when Kelly’s ’65 went all the way to the net in the 63rd minute to narrow the gap to four points.

King Henry steadied the ship once more, however, with another volley of scores, and the Cats are purring once more.

Kilkenny: PJ Ryan, M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell, T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson, J Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Rice (0-1), H Shefflin (1-14, 7f, 1 ’65), M Comerford, E Larkin (0-2), E Brennan (1-2), R Power (0-1), A Fogarty (0-1).

Subs: TJ Reid for Comerford (40), R Hogan for Shefflin (44), Shefflin for Hogan (45), Hogan (0-1) for Fogarty (47), D Lyng for Fitzpatrick (56)

Waterford: C Hennessy, E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors, T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast, S O'Sullivan (0-1,f), K Moran (0-1), S Prendergast (0-1), S Molumphy, S Walsh (2-0), J Mullane (0-1), E Kelly (1-9, 1-0 ‘6, 0-7f), E McGrath (0-1).

Subs: D Shanahan (0-1) for S Prendergast (52), M Shanahan for Walsh (61), J Nagle for Molumphy (61), K McGrath for E McGrath (64)

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)