Kilkenny v Waterford AI semi final 9th August - can Waterford exact revenge ?

[GalwayBayBoy]

The difference between Kilkenny and Cork teams going stale after a period on top is that Kilkenny are still producing super underage teams (granted they robbed us blind in last year's minor final the feckers). While they may not be as good in years to come they will still have enough quality coming through that they will remain there or thereabouts. Cork just don't have the same quality coming through underneath to replace the older lads.

[EddieMerx]

Who is going to pass Kilkenny out next year though The thing is, in order for Kilkenny to lose they have to be beaten! I just can't see who the contender to the crown is! If Kilkenny win the title this year they know changes need to be made and we all know they have the talent to freshen things up. I think there was a better opportunity this year for them to be caught than there will be next year

[INDIANA]

Who is going to pass Kilkenny out next year though The thing is, in order for Kilkenny to lose they have to be beaten! I just can't see who the contender to the crown is! If Kilkenny win the title this year they know changes need to be made and we all know they have the talent to freshen things up. I think there was a better opportunity this year for them to be caught than there will be next year

I think Galway or Tipp could take them next year. Remember I'm not talking about Kilkenny disappearing- simply that their standard might fall by 20%. That just means that a couple of teams will have a chance of beating them. They will continue to win all-irelands - they just mighn't do it consecutively- ie 3 and 4 in a row. Even Kilkenny have no player in theri underage ranks as good as Henry . He is absolutely irreplaceable. But the conveyor belt is so strong that kilkenny will always be in the top 2- even in a bad year.

[johnneycool]

what about big Walter?

Henry and Walter in the same forward division, sounds like a BB soccer team.

Who gives a youngster a name like that nowadays?

[bottlethrower7]

Walter Walsh is the next Christy Heffernan

[orangeman]

CATS ON THE EDGE OF IMMORTALITY

By Martin Breheny


Monday August 10 2009

A record number of successive championship wins, a place in the All-Ireland final for the eighth time this decade and their four-in-a-row ambitions still very much intact -- that was the bountiful haul Kilkenny extracted from a busy afternoon in Croke Park.

Yet it wasn't without its worries for them, both on the day itself and in terms of the All-Ireland final challenge ahead, as Waterford did enough to offer substantial hope for whoever emerges from next Sunday's second semi-final. The perception of Kilkenny as unquestioned certainties to skate to another All-Ireland triumph will have changed somewhat in the light of certain aspects of yesterday's game.

The depiction of Kilkenny as pre-programmed robots who don't make mistakes is, of course, as inaccurate as it's illogical, but such has been their dominance throughout most of the decade and, more specifically since 2006, that it's very much the working currency among many hurling people.

Match that up with the humiliation which Waterford experienced in last year's All-Ireland final and it really was difficult to make a case against Kilkenny winning a fourth successive semi-final. However, it was equally silly to believe that their dominance would be anywhere nearly as pronounced as in the 2008 All-Ireland final. It was never going to be anything like that simply because Waterford couldn't possibly have been as out-classed again.

Kilkenny's capacity to reach stratospheric levels is well known, so the test for all opposition is to force them into performing at more manageable heights, something which Waterford did at various stages yesterday. Indeed, they were still there right at the end, snapping and snarling at Kilkenny's ankles, leaving the champions' supporters anxiously counting down the seconds.

Kilkenny had five points to spare at the end, but it was mighty close to being only three when Eoin Kelly's whizzing drive brought a great save from PJ Ryan, who diverted the ball over the bar deep in stoppage time. It was a super stop, but then Ryan would have felt that he owed his colleagues something after Waterford had pilfered an unlikely goal in the 63rd minute when Eoin Kelly's '65 dipped into the net.

It was Waterford's third goal of the day, a giveaway rate not often associated with Kilkenny and one which will be the subject of enquiries around Nowlan Park over the next few weeks.

Erupted

It cut Kilkenny's lead to four points, which was the exact same position as Waterford found themselves in against Galway two weeks earlier. And as the Deise roar erupted around Croke Park, the possibility of an upset appeared to be hardening into something real.

However, Kilkenny are no Galway. Their response was calm, measured and effective as they set about creating and finishing the opportunities which would take them safely over the finish line. Two points by Henry Shefflin (free and '65) restored Kilkenny's working majority as they edged a point ahead of their usual average of 28 points.

Those points raised Shefflin's total to 1-14 (1-6 of which came from open play) in one of those dazzling performances he does better than anybody else in the game. It was an important day for him to deliver in style as Shefflin's attacking colleagues rarely got themselves into the collective destruction mode we have seen so often.

Eddie Brennan hit 1-2 but Eoin Larkin, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty managed just 0-4 between them, while Martin Comerford, man-of-the-match against Dublin in the Leinster final, drew a blank before being replaced by TJ Reid six minutes into the second half.

Most of Shefflin's haul from play was delightfully crafted, especially the goal in the 26th minute when a long delivery from Tommy Walsh skidded past the defence towards the edge of the square. Shefflin's anticipation and reflexes took him onto it quicker than anybody else and he whipped the ball past Clinton Hennessy for a goal that raised real questions for Waterford.

They had seen an early two-point advantage, reached through a goal by Shane Walsh in the fifth minute, not only wiped out but replaced by a six-point deficit, and with haunting images of last year's All-Ireland final still in the memory bank, it was crucial for Waterford not to fall any further behind.

To their credit, their response was far more in keeping with the real character of the side than the pathetic check-out of September '08. They scored the next three points, which proved that their powers of resistance were still very much intact and while Kilkenny reeled off three points of their own just before the break, Waterford were still very much in contention when they trailed by 2-12 to 1-9 at the break.

Significantly, though, Waterford had shot eight first-half wides in a wasteful streak which would cost them dearly. Still, it did show how much possession they had enjoyed and how focused and well organised they really were.

Things got better for Waterford early in the second half when Shane Walsh netted his second goal three minutes after the restart and when Eoin Kelly added a point to pare the deficit to two, it presented Kilkenny with another major test of their resolve. It wasn't found wanting and between then and the 62nd minute they out-scored Waterford by 0-7 to 0-4 and appeared to be powering up for a comfortable finish until Kelly's '65 dropped into the net.

Impossible

Davy Fitzgerald was understandably devastated by the outcome, believing that the game was within Waterford's range and that the first-half misses were ultimately to prove the big difference. It's impossible to decide if, indeed, that were the case. For, while Waterford were within striking distance at the end, Kilkenny had the luxury of never having their lead cut below the dangerous three-point mark from the 46th minute on.

Switching Eoin Kelly out to the half-forward line made an appreciable difference to Waterford in the second half, as he grew increasingly influential and eventually finished on 1-10 (1-7 of which came from placed balls). John Mullane won possession quite often in the first half but was shadowed extremely well by Jackie Tyrell and ended on up on one point, a disappointing return in the circumstances.

Shane Walsh achieved the rare distinction of scoring two goals against Kilkenny while Kevin Moran also did well. In defence, 'Brick' Walsh was a powerful influence at centre-back. Waterford would have been quite happy if they were told in advance that five of Kilkenny's starting six forwards -- plus two subs -- would be limited to a total of 1-7 between them, but then they wouldn't have thought that it would have turned into such a bonanza occasion for King Henry.

Tommy Walsh was Kilkenny's best half-back while Tyrrell and Michael Kavanagh were solid in the corners. Nonetheless, Brian Cody will not be happy with a concession rate of 3-15.

Still, in some respects, it was the ideal way for Kilkenny to reach the final. They were pushed hard, but not to breaking point, by Galway, Dublin and Waterford but worked calmly through all the tests to leave themselves on the edge of sporting immortality.

They have things to work on for the final but, for now, they will be happy to have booked another Croke Park date on September 6 by reeling off their 17th successive championship win, something never previously achieved.

Scorers -- Kilkenny: H Shefflin 1-14 (0-7f, 0-1'65), E Brennan 1-2, E Larkin 0-2, J Fitzpatrick, A Fogarty, R Power, R Hogan, M Rice 0-1 each. Waterford: E Kelly 1-10 (7f, 1-0 '65), S Walsh 2-0, S O'Sullivan, S Prendergast, J Mullane, K Moran, E McGrath 0-1 each.

Kilkenny -- PJ Ryan 6; M Kavanagh 7; JJ Delaney 7, J Tyrrell 8; T Walsh 8, B Hogan 7, J Tennyson 7; J Fitzpatrick 6, M Rice 7; E Brennan 7, M Comerford 5, E Larkin 6; R Power 6, H Shefflin 9, A Fogarty 5. Subs: TJ Reid 6 for Comerford (41), R Hogan 7 for Fogarty (48), D Lyng 6 for Fitzpatrick (57).

Waterford -- C Hennessy 7; E Murphy 7, A Kearney 5, N Connors 7; T Browne 7, M Walsh 8, D Prendergast 6; S Molumphy 5, S O'Sullivan 6; K Moran 7, S Prendergast 5, E McGrath 6; J Mullane 6, S Walsh 7, E Kelly 7. Subs: D Shanahan 5 for S Prendergast (53), M Shanahan 5 for S Walsh (61), J Nagle 5 for Molumphy for (61), K McGrath 5 for E McGrath (64).

Ref -- B Kelly (Westmeath).

The game at a glance
Man of the match

Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)

He scored 1-14 (1-6 from play) which was crucial on a day when the Kilkenny forward line wasn't as collectively smooth as usual. His goal was a pure gem, finished with pace, power and precision.

Turning point

None. Kilkenny held the advantage most of the way but Waterford kept them honest by coursing them all the way to the finish line.

Talking point

What if Waterford had been more accurate in the first half, during which they shot eight wides? It was a crippling miss rate especially when viewed against the final score.

Ref watch

Like all other referees, Barry Kelly had a problem deciding on what was a high tackle. On several occasions players ducked low into the tackle, drawing the free but what's a defender supposed to do in that situation? It's an area that needs to be sorted out.

They said

"It was exactly as tough as we expected. I don't know, I thought it was a ferocious contest. The All-Ireland final is a smashing place to be." Brian Cody (Kilkenny manager)

"I'm absolutely gutted. I genuinely came up here thinking we were going to win. The mistakes absolutely crucified us. But I can't say enough about the lads. I'm very proud of them."

Davy Fitzgerald (Waterford manager)

Match statistics

Wides: Kilkenny 9 (4); Waterford 11(

Frees: Kilkenny 11 (4); Waterford 20 (

Yellow Cards: Kilkenny 5 (T Walsh 2, J Fitzpatrick 20, M Comerford 31, M Rice 41, J Tennyson 52); Waterford 4 (E McGrath 2, S Prendergast 17, A Kearney 44, S Molumphy 46)

Red Cards: Kilkenny 0; Waterford 0

Attendance: 61,962.

What next

Kilkenny play Limerick or Tipperary in the All-Ireland final on Sunday, September 6

[seafoid]

Henry and Walter in the same forward division, sounds like a BB soccer team.
Who gives a youngster a name like that nowadays?

Normans. Kilkenny are at least half Norman . Fitzes, Hennessys, and Delaneys. Listen to dose accents. Same thing with the way they pronounce r's
in Waterford. Straight out of French.  Guillaume became Willie. Henri became Henry.

There is also lots of English blood. Tennysons and Langtons and Rochfords. They didn't speak Irish in Kilkenny for a very long time.

[bottlethrower7]

They didn't speak Irish in Kilkenny for a very long time.

they were too busy playing hurling.

Henry and Walter are both very common names in South Kilkenny. Its no different from other parts of the country that have common names, such as Fergus in Clare, Jarlath in Galway, etc.

Lots of Walters in Waterford too.

[Waterford Lurker]

They didn't speak Irish in Kilkenny for a very long time.

they were too busy playing hurling cricket.

Henry and Walter are both very common names in South Kilkenny. Its no different from other parts of the country that have common names, such as Fergus in Clare, Jarlath in Galway, etc.

Lots of Walters in Waterford too.

fixed that for ya BT

fair play to KK on Sunday, better team won in the end and Shefflin really is a super player. Just watched it again on Setanta and the tackling from KK was just ferocious, pity we couldn't kick on when we got it back to two points of a difference but in fairness this is a fantastic KK team. possibly the best ever so no shame in losing to them. Probably Tony Browne's last game at this level but despite losing he can leave intercounty hurling with his head held high after last years disappointment / collapse. Still we have a bit of hope for next year after this and you never know....

forever the optimist I suppose...