Lyng’s charges back to winning ways ahead of big tests
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A
Kilkenny 1-21 Waterford 1-20
Hitting the last three scores of this Round 4 clash on Noreside, saw Kilkenny return to winning ways in Division 1A of the National Hurling League with a hard-fought victory over Waterford in UPMC Nowlan Park last weekend. Cian Kenny’s late placed ball, in the sixth minute of additional time, was the score that edged the Cats ahead and secured the vital win, ahead of three tough tests that start with the visit of Cork this Sunday. On the evidence of this game, Derek Lyng’s side will need to find another gear or two if they are to collect further points on the board in this league campaign.
There was one late change to the Kilkenny line-up, with former All-Star keeper Eoin Murphy coming in for his first start of the year, replacing Lisdowney’s Aidan Tallis between the sticks. The first score of the game came from the hurl of the returning David Blanchfield. Emerald’s Killian Doyle took a quick sideline and the Bennettsbridge man steadied himself before striking over a booming effort from distance. The home side had a chance to double their lead moments, later but Cian Kenny’s first placed ball of the day was pulled wide to the surprise of many in Kilkenny headquarters. The Deise got off the mark after 4 minutes of play, thanks to a ‘65 from Ballysaggart’s Stephen Bennett. Some good work from Timmy Clifford saw the ball fall to clubmate Liam Moore and the ‘Boro man split the posts for a tidy score.
Then came a big moment for the Cats. Waterford had the ball and were trying to move it across the back line, but the busy Mossy Keoghan had other ideas as he cleverly dispossessed Aaron O’Neill. The Tullaroan star sprinted towards goal and while his initial effort was stopped by the foot of Deise keeper, Billy Nolan, the Roanmore man couldn’t prevent Mossy’s follow up which hit the net. The Cats four ahead after 8 minutes in UPMC Nowlan Park. The lead was pushed out to 5 points when Killian Doyle’s pass was collected by Eoin Cody, who spun his marker before popping the ball over. A foul on Sean Walsh by Cian Kenny saw Stephen Bennett get his and his team’s second point of the afternoon. While Village star Kenny was at the heart of lots of his sides play, his free taking was letting him down, as he pulled another one wide after Fenian’s Rory Garrett had done well to emerge with the sliotar from a ruck of players.
Liam Moore then showed a clean pair of heels to Conor Keane and raced away before striking over for a lovely point. An even nicer score then followed for the visitors. Towering forward, Sean Walsh collected the ball near the endline and came back out before turning Mikey Carey and popping over from a tight angle. The home side’s placed ball problems continued, even with a change of taker. Eoin Cody was fouled, and he stood over the free, but again the sliotar tailed off and wide was signaled again, a fifth wide of the opening period for the black and amber. A long ball into the danger zone saw Mossy fouled by Deise captain Mark Fitzgerald. The shouts of Cats manager Derek Lyng on the sideline were clear for all to hear; “Cian, Cian, get on it”. The James Stephens man did as instructed and popped the free over to push the lead out to 5 points.
Cian Kenny had another free. This time he played it quickly along the ground, having spotted Mikey Butler’s run. The O’Loughlin’s man collected the ball and showed his attacking nous, splitting the posts from tight to the sideline. Further poor wide’s followed for Waterford, by the 24th minute, then had converted three of twelve chances, while the hosts had success with seven of their fourteen, improvement needed. Peter Queally’s skipper must have realised that leadership was needed. Fitzgerald raced out to claim the ball ahead of Stephen Donnelly and as he reached his own ‘65, he let fly and the sliotar sailed between the Kilkenny posts. This score gave some belief to the men in blue. A misplaced pass from Paddy Deegan was collected by Shane Bennett who sent over a stunning score. A third cracking score then arrived; this time Ballygunner’s Paddy Leavey joined the long-range club with a beautiful strike. Just Mossy’s goal between the rivals now.
Abbeysides Michael Kiely then struck a fierce effort just over the Cats bar, as the Waterford purple patch continued. The home sides lead was reduced to the bare minimum when Jamie Barron rifled over from the centre of the pitch to the cheers of the Deise faithful in attendance. Cian Kenny stopped the visitors scoring run when he struck over a lovely effort from out the park, and this was built on when Timmy Clifford pounced on a loose ball before firing over. A foul on Eoin Cody, Cian Kenny converting the resulting free, the lead back to four points. The industrious Jamie Barron then notched his second of the day, before O’Loughlin’s duo Mikey Butler and Jordan Molloy combined for the latter to strike a lovely score. Waterford then went on another run, striking the games next four scores, Charlie Treen, Reuben Halloran and a brace from Sean Walsh levelling matters in the 34th minute. The home side completed the first half scoring, thanks to a free from Cian Kenny to leave the hosts with a slender lead at the short whistle.
When the second half got underway, David Blanchfield did the honors again, notching his second point of the game, just ahead of another placed ball effort from Cian Kenny. Then came the games second major. Stephen Bennett showed tremendous pace as he raced clear of Garrett and Clifford and headed for goal. The Ballysaggart man then popped a pass to Sean Walsh who rifled his effort beyond Eoin Murphy in the Cats goal to level matters at UPMC Nowlan Park. Sub Patrick Curran and Mossy Keoghan swapped points before Derek Lyng made a double change, John Donnelly and Ed McDermott replacing Timmy Clifford and the ineffective Stephen Donnelly.
The Village’s Ed McDermott got off the mark quickly just ahead of a booking for Paddy Deegan. Fellow sub John Donnelly got on the scoreboard in between a pair of points from Bennetts, Stephen and Shane. A quickfire brace from captain Darragh Corcoran and Eoin Cody gave the Cats a 2-point lead on the hour mark, but again Stephen Bennett showed his importance to Waterford by adding to his personal tally. Richie Reid then replaced Mikey Butler, just ahead of a trio of points from the Deise, Sean’s Mackey and Walsh and another for their top scorer Bennett to give Peter Queally’s men a 2-point lead with time running out. Cian Kenny then popped over another placed ball effort as the game entered 5 minutes of added time. The Sash’s Mossy Keoghan struck over a lovely point to deadlock matters, and a share of the spoils seemed likely, but some steely determination from John Donnelly close to the sideline saw the Thomastown man make ground before being halted illegally. Step forward, Cian Kenny. Despite some earlier misses, the James Stephens man showed great character to send his effort between Billy Nolan’s posts. There was a huge sigh of relief felt across Noreside when Sean Stack sounded the long whistle, Kilkenny by the skin of their teeth.
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: Eoin Murphy; 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 for Kilkenny: 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 for Waterford: 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)
