13 hours ago
Waterford finally 'click' to reach first minor hurling final in 12 years
All-Ireland MHC semi-final: Waterford 2-21 Kilkenny 2-18
Waterford are into the All-Ireland Minor Hurling final for the first time since 2013 after a thrilling three-point win over Kilkenny at Wexford Park, powered by a superb 2-6 from talisman Cormac Spain.
Despite Kilkenny striking early through Cian Byrne inside 42 seconds, Waterford quickly steadied. Shane Power and Jamie Shanahan replied before Tommy Kennedy's slick assist set up Spain for his seventh goal of the season.
With points from Power, Gearoid O'Shea, and Hugo Quann, Waterford led 1-10 to 1-7 at the break. But Kilkenny roared back after half-time, hitting five unanswered points, including two from the lively Eoin Brennan.
That seemed to spark Waterford back to life. They responded with 1-7 on the trot, as Power, Éanna McHugh, and O'Shea all found their range. Spain then finished emphatically again on 43 minutes to stretch the lead.
O'Shea launched over a huge point and with Jake Mullen keeping Kilkenny in touch from frees, the game stayed alive. As the clock neared 60 minutes, Waterford led by seven – aided by a brilliant James Comerford save to deny Conor Holohan.
But Kilkenny weren't done. Sub Adam Maher blasted in a goal before Holohan's point cut the gap to two. It took fierce defending and a final Jamie Shanahan score to secure the win – and send the Déise support wild.
They'll now face Clare after the Banner's 0-27 to 1-22 win against Munster champions Cork. Waterford manager James O'Connor said the victory was the culmination of three years of hard work.
"The defence was outstanding, midfield, and same with the forward line. Everyone put in the big shift. I said this earlier, and I kept on saying it, that the group were always going to click, it's a case of when - they clicked here, and I was right, so I'm delighted. I'm seeing that week in, week out at training. Ye got to see it tonight for 63 or 64 minutes. That's what I'm happy about, I knew if they performed like I've been seeing at training, they would win.
'This is the first bunch of players that really have come through with proper strength and conditioning in Waterford from U14 level, and now you see the rewards when you do things right. To have a team now in an All-Ireland minor final again, these are things that in Waterford, it doesn't happen easily, so there needs to be a massive push at all grades."
WATERFORD: J Comerford; C Lynch, D Murphy, D Keane; B Penkert, H Quann (0-1), T Kennedy; E McHugh (0-1), G O'Shea (0-3); P Quann, J Power (0-1), S Power (0-4); D Murphy (0-1), C Spain (2-6, 5fs), J Shanahan (0-3)
Subs: C Reville (0-1) for Penkert (56)
KILKENNY: J O'Doherty; O Henderson, L Phelan, D Hickey; B Nevin, J Dowling, PJ Mackey; D Behan (0-1), B Hickey (0-1); K Buggy (0-3), O O'Donovan (0-2), J Mullen (0-6, frees); E Brennan (0-2); C Holahan (0-2), C Byrne (1-1)
Subs: A Maher (1-0) for Byrne (45); K Barcoe for Brian Hickey (54); S Hanrahan for J Mullen (60)
Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford)
