Drennan fires Cats past Deise and into league semi-finals

A total of 10 points from Billy Drennan helped Kilkenny overcome Waterford in a tightly fought Division 1B league affair in UPMC Nowlan Park.

The victory sees the Cats advance to the league semi-finals where Cork will be the opposition for a second year running.

Kilkenny struggled for long periods but with Drennan proving super accurate on the frees, the Cats found a way to come through.

Waterford had their own free-taking problems which saw Patrick Curran replaced by Paudie Fitzgerald and like Drennan, Fitzgerald had his eye in.

As well as the free-taking issues, the Deise also squandered a number of opportunities as they hit eight first half wides.

That prolificacy in front of goal allowed the home side to lead 0-8 to 0-7 at the break with Drennan providing five of those points.

Waterford were much the better side in the third quarter and they led by three at the 45 minute mark.

Kilkenny stormed back into the contest though and through efforts from play by Drennan, Conor Fogarty and Gearoid Dunne, the game was all square.

The visitors were back in front by the 56th minute but it was Derek Lyng's side that finished much the stronger and after Drennan nailed a very difficult free on the sideline to deadlock the teams at 0-14 each, the momentum was with the Cats.

A Shane Walsh effort from play as well as a pair of frees from Billy Drennan gave Kilkenny a 0-17 to 0-14 lead and although Waterford got back to a point, an Alan Murphy score put the seal on the last four clincher for the Noresiders.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny- Billy Drennan (0-10, nine frees), Conor Fogarty, Shane Walsh, John Donnelly, Martin Keoghan, Eoin Cody, Darragh Corcoran, Alan Murphy, Gearoid Dunne (0-1 each)

Waterford- Paudie Fitzgerald (0-6, six frees), Colin Dunford, Tom Barron, Neil Montgomery (0-2 each), Tadhg de Burca (0-1, one free), Patrick Fitzgerald, Patrick Curran, Jack Prendergast (0-1 each)

Kilkenny- Darren Brennan; Tommy Walsh, Conor Delaney, Padraig Walsh; David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan, Darragh Corcoran; Conor Fogarty, Cian Kenny; Billy Ryan, John Donnelly, Eoin Cody; Billy Drennan, Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne.

Subs- Alan Murphy for Kenny h-t, Timmy Clifford for Ryan 42 mins, Shane Walsh for Dunne 58 mins, Tom Phelan for Keoghan 67 mins, Ronan Corcoran for Cody 69 mins.

Waterford- Billy Nolan; Iarlaith Daly, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Ryan; Jack Fagan, Tadhg de Burca, Callum Lyons; Carthach Daly, Neil Montgomery; Tom Barron, Dessie Hutchinson, Jack Prendergast; Colin Dunford, Patrick Curran, Paudie Fitzgerald.

Subs- Patrick Fitzgerald for Curran 48 mins, Paddy Leavey for Daly 59 mins, Kevin Mahony for Paudie Fitzgerald 69 mins, DJ Foran for Dunford 70 mins.

Referee- Liam Gordon (Galway)