Waterford hurlers find extra gear to down Kerry

2023 was a year to forget for Waterford and despite only 14 players from last term's panel available for selection this evening, Davy Fitzgerald’s side looked at full strength against Kerry.

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS: Brandon Barrett of Kerry in action against Brian Looby of Waterford. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster Hurling League Group B 

Waterford 3-23 Kerry 3-12 

Waterford made a winning start to 2024 running out 11-point winners over Kerry in their opening Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group B encounter on a wet and blustery night in Tralee.

2023 was a year to forget for Waterford and despite only 14 players from last term's panel available for selection this evening, Davy Fitzgerald’s side looked at full strength against a Kerry outfit managed by former Waterford Munster Championship-winning captain Stephen Molumphy.

The advantage was Waterford's at the break leading 1-11 to 1-6. 

Kerry did show dogged determination throughout the contest but Waterford found the extra gear when it mattered most. 

Shane Conway was at his sparkling best for Kerry notching 2-7, while Paudie Fitzgerald put his hand up for a regular starting berth with a tally of 1-9.

It was largely nip and tuck for the opening quarter, one lapse in concentration cost Kerry the opening goal after 13 minutes. 

Michael Kiely sent a long ball into the full-forward line, Jack Fagan ghosted behind the Kerry defence as Kiely supplied the delivery. The wing-back showed composure in striking low to the net past Kerry debutant goalkeeper Diarmuid Quirke.

By the quarter's end, the Déise had some breathing room for the first time leading 1-4 to 0-3, this served as a real catalyst for the visitors who kept doing the right things in the forward line, moving clear by eight approaching the interval.

Shy of the break Waterford were dealt a double blow. 

Conor Prunty was shown a black card for a pull-down on Michael Leane inside the area. Up stepped Conway to dispatch the resulting penalty with a bullet of a strike to the net.

Jack Prendergast capitalised on a Kerry error to notch the second goal for Waterford to lead 2-13 to 1-7 at the end of the third quarter. 

Maurice O’Connor gave Kerry a lifeline with a goal after Dan Goggin turned over possession close to the Déise net, the gap was now down to six.

Waterford showed their strength to score a third goal after the hour mark. 

Michael Kiely, grabbing a third assist, set up Paudie Fitzgerald to strike from close range to rubber-stamp the result. 

Conway would strike a second penalty to the net a few short minutes later. The score did little, however, to reflect the outcome of proceedings in Tralee.

Scorers for Waterford: P Fitzgerald (1-9, 5fs), J Fagan (1-2), J Prendergast (1-2, 2f), P Curran (0-3), M Kiely (0-2), K Bennett, S Fitzgerald, T Barron, M Fitzgerald, S Callaghan (0-1 each). 

Scorers for Kerry: S Conway (2-7, 2-0 pen, 6fs,), M O’Connor (1-0), D Goggin( 0-2), M Leane, R Walsh, K O’Connor (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: S O’Brien; C Prunty, M Fitzgerald, B Looby; PJ Fanning, K Bennett, J Fagan; T Barron, S Fitzgerald; J Prendergast, P Curran, P Fitzgerald; S Callaghan, S Walsh, M Kiely. 

Subs: M Mullaney for S Callaghan (57), M Power for T Barron, C Bonnar for S Walsh (Both 63), R Furlong for P Curran (69), W Hassett for J Fagan (70+2). 

KERRY: D Quirke; D Griffin, D Shanahan, E Murphy; M Madden, R Walsh, K O’Connor; B Barrett, S Conway; M Leane, D Goggin, K Hayes; T Doyle, G Dooley, F Mackessy. 

Subs: M O’Connor for G Dooley, N Mulcahy for M Madden (both h/t), F O’Sullivan for D Shanahan, L Crowley for B Barrett (Both 48), S Brosnan for T Doyle (52), F McCarthy for R Walsh (66). 

Referee: S Scanlon (Cork).