Brilliant Waterford rally to reach the Irish final

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Waterford produced a surprising comeback in the second half to surprise Kilkenny at Croke Park and reach their second Irish final in four seasons.

Kilkenny appeared to be sailing as goals from Martin Keoghan and TJ Reid helped them take a nine-point lead after half an hour, but Waterford closed the gap to seven at halftime (2-11-0-10) to provide what still seemed. Just the slightest ray of hope

A goal and two points from superb Stephen Bennett (1-10, 6f) kicked off the revival, and when Austin Gleeson found his range, the suddenly unbridled Déise edged the Cats 14 points to four in the third quarter.

Kilkenny, as they do, struggled to the end, but when substitute Darragh Lyons fired on a second Waterford goal shortly before the hour, Munster’s men had a five-point lead that saw them pass.

It’s just Brian Cody’s third semi-final loss as Kilkenny’s coach and the first since 2005.

In his first year at the top of the senior category, Liam Cahill has led a team that had not won a championship game between the 2017 Irish semi-final and the start of this campaign to the decider. Now they hope to end a wait for Liam MacCarthy that dates back to 1959.

Stephen Bennett scored 1-04 from the game

On a cool and quiet afternoon in Dublin, Kilkenny started sharper and seemed to have one foot in the final midway.

They scored the first three points, John Donnelly won two free kicks that Reid converted and Martin Keoghan scored from the game, as did five of the Cats’ forwards in the opening period.

Waterford was busy but nervous as Kilkenny stalked them all over the field, and the underdogs beat up some poor men, three of the nine on his team from a frustrated-looking Austin Gleeson alone.

Calum Lyons got Déise on the board and managed a second from midfield, but his teammates only managed three from play between them. Jake Dillon was replaced by Neil Montgomery in the 18th minute, shortly after getting into trouble unnecessarily; he was far from the only offender.

Ironically, since Colin Fennelly and Walter Walsh were at the bank, Waterford was opened twice for long installments.

In the 11th minute, Richie Hogan slid down to catch a smashing ball. His shot was well stopped by Stephen O’Keeffe, but the rebound fell to Keoghan, who had time to choose his spot. 1-04 to 0-02.

Eoin Murphy made stops on his near post from Gleeson and Jamie Barron before another long ball slipped from winger Conor Prunty’s grip and fell into the hands of Reid, the last man in need of an early Christmas present. He accepted the gift and Kilkenny was now eight ahead.

Dessie Hutchinson finally got on the scoreboard and Bennett scored first in the game after an exciting solo career, but Waterford appeared to be a long way from a seven-point interval deficit.

Instead, they did what Kilkenny has so often done to their opponents and came out as a transformed team.

Eoin Cody got the first point of the second half, but then Bennett brought his teammates to life, received a pass from Jack Fagan and moved closer to goal. The sliotar came loose, but the Ballysaggart man threw it into the net.

Bennett quickly added two game points, the second after a delicious overhead punch from TJ, and Waterford was suddenly playing confidently.

Richie Hogan got one back after good scores from Jack Prendergast and Shane McNulty, but then Cahill’s men took off.

They scored five unanswered points in as many minutes, Gleeson leveling after an inspiring catch and Montgomery throwing a shot that almost seemed to touch the moon before falling between the posts and giving his team the lead for the first time.

In the 53rd minute, Waterford led 1-21 to 2-15.

Kilkenny rebounded, with typical determination, but many of his scores were free from TJ, who finished 1-14 (13f). None of his four substitutes scored.

Shortly after replacement Walter Walsh made an effort at the side net, Lyons connected them with another goal from a long ball, the Meath Fagan native was once again the creator with a hand pass for his teammate to go through. and crash it.

The Cats closed the gap to two points in the final stages, and with Fennelly and Walsh roaming close to the square there was always a chance, but Waterford finished in style, Tadhg De Burca’s scores and the now irrepressible fourth Gleeson sealed the deal. .

Limerick or Galway await. Waterford will give them the game of their lives.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Conor Delaney, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley (0-01), Paddy Deegan (0-01); Conor Browne, Conor Fogarty; John Donnelly (0-02), TJ Reid (1-14, 13f), Martin Keoghan (1-01); Billy Ryan, Richie Hogan (0-02), Eoin Cody (0-02).

Subs: Walter Walsh for Keoghan (39), Colin Fennelly (C) for Ryan (49), Ger Aylward for Cody (58), Niall Brassil for Hogan (56).

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty (C), Shane McNulty (0-01); Calum Lyons (0-02), Tadhg De Burca (0-01), Kevin Moran; Jamie Barron (0-01), Jake Dillon; Jack Fagan (0-01), Kieran Bennett, Stephen Bennett (1-10, 6f); Dessie Hutchinson (0-02), Austin Gleeson (0-04), Jack Prendergast (0-02).

Subs: Patrick Curran for Fagan (68), Darragh Lyons (1-00) for K Bennett (49), Neil Montgomery (0-02) for Dillon (18), Iarlaith Daly (0-01) for Moran (61), Conor Gleeson for Prendergast (61).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)



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