CODY’S CATS OUT
Decies extra special qualifier win
TWO extra-time goals from Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan finally allowed Waterford to beat Kilkenny in senior Championship hurling for the first time since 1959.
A gripping round 2 qualifier required extra-time before the sides were separated – and the Déise could avenge last year’s heartbreaking All-ireland semi-final defeat.
Kilkenny died with their boots on, coming from eight points down with 11 minutes of normal time left to force extra-time but it wasn’t enough.
Tipperary hammered Dublin in the other SHC qualifier in Thurles.
JAMIE Barron and Maurice Shanahan fired the extra-time goals as Waterford beat Kilkenny in senior championship hurling for the first time since 1959.
A 58-year famine was ended in sensational style during a gripping All-ireland round 2 qualifier that required extra-time.
With 11 minutes of normal time left, Kilkenny were eight points down but, amazingly, they rallied to level.
Leading scorer TJ Reid bundled home a goal to spark the fightback and it was complete in stoppage time when Colin Fennelly pointed to level at 2-15 each.
Shanahan dragged a free wide when a point would have won it but Waterford lifted their heads again to book a spot in the last six.
Kilkenny boss Brian Cody could be in hot water with GAA disciplinary chiefs too, after he appeared to push a sideline official.
But Waterford were the real story on a night when Barron and Hurler of the Year Austin Gleeson sparkled.
At the end of a rip-roaring first half in front of 33,181 in Thurles, Waterford had a 1-10 to 1-5 lead.
Kilkenny managed just two points from play in the opening half, a pointed free from goalkeeper Eoin Murphy and 1-2 from the stick of Reid on placed balls.
The hungry Déise were 0-6 to 0-2 clear by the 18th minute, with Pauric Mahony doing well on placed balls.
Reid’s 25th-minute free kept Kilkenny ticking over but Waterford were having the better of it, and Gleeson put over a monster score in the 27th minute.
Approaching half-time, Waterford had a five-point advantage but the Cats were back in it when Reid battered a 33rd-minute penalty to the net.
Waterford now led by 0-9 to 1-4 but Gleeson tore down the touchline before landing another special score to stretch the advantage to three.
Kevin Kelly lofted over a fine Kilkenny point in first half stoppage time but there was still time for Michael Walsh to strike, taking a pass from Shane Bennett finding the net for Waterford.
Kilkenny are renowned for hard periods of pressure after half-time – and so it proved again.
Impressive sub Lester Ryan and Reid, with a score verified by Hawkeye, landed points before Conor Fogarty forced a fine save from Stephen O’keeffe.
Reid added a ’65 and Kilkenny were within two points – and smelling blood.
Waterford appeared to have weathered the storm and came roaring back with a point from Jamie Barron and two more from that man Gleeson.
And when Bennett nearly took the netting out of the Killinan End goal with 16 minutes left, Waterford were in dreamland.
But there was still time for Kilkenny to force extra-time, as they launched that amazing revival.
Barron netted in the first period of extra-time as Waterford turned at 3-19 to 2-18 clear, a fabulous individual effort after Gleeson had picked him out with a great pass. And Shanahan settled it in the 83rd minute – racing clear before batting to the Killinan End net.