Lyng 'pleased with the attitude' as Kilkenny grind out win against Waterford

Unusually, both side played better against the wind. Waterford manager Peter Queally had a theory as to why

Cian Kenny scored the winning point for Kilkenny against Waterford. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

National Hurling League Division 1A: Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 1-20 

Hardly a game for the purists, as compelling as the finale was here.

Kilkenny will file it alongside the opening game against Offaly as another gritty home win. Waterford will class it as an opportunity lost when two or possibly one could have been enough to keep them in Division 1A.

They will probably require something from one of their remaining games against Galway and Tipperary to ensure they don’t return to Division 1B as quickly as they left it.

There were positives here as they played the better hurling in the second half. Against a stiff breeze, they hit four points without reply between the 61st and 69th minutes to lead by two.

But that’s where their scoring ended. Cian Kenny posted a free either side of a Martin Keoghan point from play and Kilkenny escaped to victory.

There was a question about Kenny’s fading free to win the game in the sixth minute of additional time bisecting the posts but the home crowd were in no doubt about it after John Donnelly had won the placed ball.

A draw would have been fair but Kilkenny’s character was enduring. Even if it was a rare off-day for Eoin Cody, David Blanchfield excelled in the middle of the field.

Both teams amassed 12 wides and Waterford will look back and regret the aimless ball they sent into the Kilkenny half of the field in the second half.

Unusually, each of their superior halves came facing the wind but Peter Queally could explain that. “You were forced into using the ball better. There's an element of when you have the wind with you, just let it in direct. Teams sit off you, they kind of read what you're doing.

“So, when you're against it, you're forced to back yourself, your running and your hurling and hold possession and play it through the lines. And it suited both teams to play it that way.” 

Seán Walsh’s goal in the 41st minute squared up the game. Stephen Bennett claimed a puck-out and then left Kilkenny players in his wake before a reverse hand-pass to Walsh.

In their changed blue kit, Waterford went ahead for the first time two minutes later through substitute Patrick Curran. Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, who wore a protective boot following the game, then had to be alert to deny Curran a goal attempt.

Waterford’s full-back line was strong against the wind as Kilkenny’s had been in the first half. The ball was not sticking for the home side but overhitting deliveries didn’t help either. Although, Martin Keoghan and substitute Ed McDermott did break Waterford’s scoring burst to change the lead.

Yet the affair remained a nip and tuck one – the sides were level three times between the 53rd and 64th minutes. Waterford hit Kilkenny for four scores to lead by two in the 69th minute, a Stephen Bennett point doubling the gap.

Kenny fired back with a free and in the fourth minute of stoppage time Keoghan restored parity for an eighth occasion. Then Kenny made the decisive difference.

Derek Lyng knew it was imperfect but he credited the performance. “We moved the ball really well in the first 15, 20 minutes. We probably overdid it then for a spell and we weren't as clinical or efficient towards the end of the first half.

“In the second half with the wind, we had chances that we probably should have been taking. I think both teams maybe played better against the wind. Just pleased with the attitude and pleased that we ground it out in the end."

The less said about the opening quarter, the better. Keoghan’s eighth-minute goal was the highlight of a dour enough opening as both teams struck more wides than scores.

Keoghan expertly dispossessed Aaron O’Neill, lifted the ball and while his first attempt was kept out by Billy Nolan he followed it up with a ground stroke to the net.

Kilkenny went as far as six points ahead, 1-6 to 0-3, in the 21st minute. Queally raised Waterford's slow start afterwards. “We just have to look back now and reflect and work on why we were so lethargic and hesitant in that first 15, 20 minutes and build on that the next day coming out of the blocks because it's very important now.” A flurry of Waterford scores did follow. After hitting eight wides up to the 23rd minute, their following five shots sailed over the bar.

It was the defenders who led the way. Mark Fitzgerald won a footrace then sent over a long-range point. Shane Bennett and Paddy Leavey backed him up and then Mikey Kiely and Jamie Barron joined the party.

Kilkenny responded with three of their own, two from Kenny (one from a free), but Waterford came back with five of the next six scores to come within a point once more. Substitute Seán Mackey made a quick impact with a brace of them.

Kilkenny’s touch around the middle deserted them at times but Kenny sent over a free in additional time to expand their lead to two, 1-11 to 0-13. He would also finish out the scoring of the next half and crucially so.

Scorers for Kilkenny: C. Kenny (0-7, 6 frees); M. Keoghan (1-2); L. Moore, D. Blanchfield, E. Cody (0-2 each); M. Butler, T. Clifford, J. Molloy, E. McDermott, J. Donnelly, D. Corcoran (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: S. Walsh (1-2); Stephen Bennett (0-5, 2 frees, 1 65); S. Mackey (0-3); J. Barron, Shane Bennett (0-2 each); M. Fitzgerald, P. Leavey, M. Kiely, C. Treen, R. Halloran, P. Curran (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: A. Tallis; R. Garrett, M. Carey, M. Butler; K. Doyle, D. Corcoran (c), P. Deegan; J. Molloy, D. Blanchfield; C Kenny, E. Cody, L. Moore; T. Clifford, M. Keoghan, S. Donnelly.

Subs: J. Donnelly for T. Clifford (43); E. McDermott for S. Donnelly (50); R. Reid for M. Butler (64); M. Brennan for L. Moore (68); L. Connellan for J. Molloy (70+6).

WATERFORD: B. Nolan; A. O’Neill, M. Fitzgerald (c), C. Keane; P. Leavey, I. Daly, Shane Bennett; C. Lyons, J. Barron; M. Kiely, Stephen Bennett, R. Halloran; K. Mahony, S. Walsh, C. Treen.

Subs: S. Mackey for C. Lyons (31); P. Curran for C. Treen (h-t); J. Prendergast for C. Keane (40); D. Hutchinson for K. Mahony (53).

Referee: S. Stack (Dublin)