Cody satisfied with semi-final win

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody said the result was all that mattered after his side's 2-19 to 1-16 All-Ireland SHC semi-final victory over Waterford at Croke Park.

"An All Ireland semi-final, there is one prize and one prize only - that's to get to the All-Ireland final and that is achieved," admitted Cody after the game.

"For certain we are very, very happy. The alternative is serious disappointment, so we are going home very, very happy."

An early goal from corner forward Richie Hogan set the tone for the Cats' third victory of the summer, which has seen them reach the final for an incredible 11th time under Cody.

Hogan also claimed the Leinster champions' second goal before half-time, giving them a welcome 2-10 to 1-7 advantage at the break.

Cody added: "Goals are obviously very, very important. They can be very crucial. We got an early goal and we got a goal just before half-time. Obviously they were important scores.

"Richie happened to get both of them as it turned out. They were very, very important scores."

However, it was not all positive for Kilkenny. They registered 17 wides over the course of a game that lulled along, particularly in the second half.

Despite this statistic, Cody remained unconcerned. "17 wides - I don't worry too much about wides to be honest," he insisted.

"On the sideline you would love to see them going over the bar, but to me it is the creation of chances that is hugely important.

"We possibly and probably could have done more with that possession. Definitely, that is something that can be improved upon."

Waterford fell ten points behind at one stage in the second half, however they kept coming back and Kilkenny were unable to finish them off completely.

Henry Shefflin had a 0-7 tally for the winners, yet a number of his forward colleagues had a poor day shooting-wise and Cody agreed that it was a tough battle right until the final whistle.

"We weren't comfortable at any stage in the game. With 10 minutes to go, a goal for Waterford opens up that game very much.

"They had the ball obviously and we had a lot of wides, shooting from long distance and that. Possible chances, but we never really made a situation where we were comfortable.

"We got nine points ahead alright and we probably never went below five possibly but at the same time hurling is a game where a goal comes and a second one can come very, very quickly."

Kilkenny were awarded just six frees by referee Barry Kelly over the 70 minutes, in contrast to Waterford's 14. It was a statistic that left Cody very bemused.

"How many were Waterford awarded? Can you give me an idea? It sounded like that and it felt like that on the sideline from where I was. It felt like that. It's baffling, it's baffling!

"Baffled, confused, completely bewildered - can I go further? I never criticise referees. It's hard to figure it really."