Reid & Cody on song as Limerick await in semi
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
Allianz National Hurling League
Round 5, Walsh Park
Waterford 2-9 Kilkenny 0-18
Kilkenny finished the group stages of this year’s Allianz National League with a 3-point win over The Deise at Walsh Park. The accuracy from the placed ball by legendary forward TJ Reid saw The Cats take maximum points from a miserable Walsh Park and sets up a semi-final meeting this weekend with Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
A smaller than expected crowd of just over 2,900 braved shocking conditions in Walsh Park and the players on both sides deserve much credit for getting through the 70-odd minutes as there were times during the first half, when a resumption of play following the interval looked highly unlikely.
The Noresiders raced into an early 3-point lead courtesy of two lovely efforts from play by Luke Hogan and a free from TJ Reid after a foul on the O’Loughlin’s man. The home side got off the mark in the 5th minute, thanks to a placed ball effort from Shane Bennett. The same player then struck the game’s first major when his mishit ‘65 was flicked to net by Partrick Curran. Deise captain Jamie Barron then popped over a point to edge the hosts 2-points ahead.
Derek Lyng’s charges were dealt a blow when All-Star defender Mikey Butler was forced to leave the action with what appeared to be a muscle injury in the 11th minute and was replaced by Kevin Blanchfield. The next score came from the hurl of Eoin Cody, after great work by Mossy Keoghan, the first of three points for the Shamrocks Ballyhale man. Waterford struck their second major of the game when Paddy Leavey sent a fine pass into Shane Bennett who got the better of a couple of Cats Defenders before passing to Ballygunner’s Dessie Hutchinson who rifled his shot past Eoin Murphy to push the home sides lead out to four points.
Luke Hogan then turned provider as he set up Tullaroan’s Mossy Keoghan for a lovely point which was responded to by the returning Dessie Hutchinson, who fired over from a tight angle before defender Mark Fitzgerald finished off a lovely short passing move up the pitch on 26 minutes. The rain appeared to be getting heavier and the Walsh Park surface was beginning to cut-up as all players struggled to display their skill.
The Cats notched four of the final five scores of the opening period, TJ popping over a free, two quality points from Thomastown’s John Donnelly along with a fine score from sub Kevin Blanchfield. Ballysaggart’s Shane Bennett struck over the home side’s response from another placed ball to leave the interval score, Waterford 2-5, Kilkenny 0-9.
Due to the worsening conditions, scoring in the second period was a little more intermittent, although the men in black and amber did manage to match their first half total.
Eoin Cody got the scoreboard moving after the interval for the Cats, but Waterford did likewise int he 41st minute after another slick passing move that ended with Lismore’s Jack Prendergast splitting the posts. The Kilkenny management team then made their second change of the game, with Mikey Carey making way for Dicksboro’s Padraic Moylan. TJ nailed another free before Shane Bennett hit possibly the point of the game, from the sideline under the stand, following nice play from Calum Lyons.
TJ struck over free on 45minutes as Billy Drennan entered the fray in place of Luke Hogan. Glenmore’ Shane Murphy, who was having a good game in and around the engine room then set up Eoin Cody for his 3rd point of the game as he levelled matters in Walsh Park. The next four scores all came from frees, as Shane Bennett collected one more, while TJ notched three to push the Marble City men two clear.
Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan then notched a fine point before TJ struck his eight point of the day to give his side that crucial 4-point cushion. Davy Fitz’s outfit needed a goal to try and force a frantic finish, but they had to settle for one further point, from sub Patrick Fitzgerald before Limerick whistler Johnny Murphy brought proceedings to a close at a drenched Walsh Park. Final score, Waterford 2-9, Kilkenny 0-18.
Waterford: Shaun O’Brien, Mairtin Power, Mark Fitzgerald (0-1), Kieran Bennett, Jack Fagan, Billy Nolan, Darragh Lyons, Paddy Leavey, Jamie Barron (0-1), Peter Hogan, Jack Prendergast (0-1), Calum Lyons, Shane Bennett (0-4, 0-3f), Patrick Curran (1-0), Dessie Hutchinson (1-1).
Subs: Neil Montgomery for Patrick Curran (50m), Padraig Fitzgerald for Peter Hogan (60m), Patrick Fitzgerald (0-1) for Shane Bennett (66m), Iarlaith Daly for Paddy Leavey (69m), Kevin Mahony for Dessie Hutchinson (70+1m).
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh, David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Mikey Carey, Cian Kenny, Shane Murphy, Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody (0-3), John Donnelly (0-2), TJ Reid (0-8f), Martin Keoghan (0-1), Luke Hogan (0-2).
Subs: Kevin Blanchfield (0-1) for Mikey Butler (11m), Padraic Moylan for Mikey Carey (44m), Billy Drennan for Luke Hogan (48m), Timmy Clifford for John Donnelly (58m), Billy Ryan (0-1) for Martin Keoghan (64m).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
