Waterford Minors into first All-Ireland Final since 1992.

Waterford Minor hurlers are through to a first All-Ireland Final since they lost to Galway in the 1992 final after they recorded a 2-12 to 0-16 win over Galway at Croke Park.

Not for the first time this year Waterford had to dig deep to come out on top in a game which saw both sides finish the game with fourteen men on the field.

Waterford lead at the break 2-5 to 0-9, the Déise goals coming from Adam Farrell and Darren Foran but in truth Waterford should have held a greater lead at the interval and would have but for the concession of a large amount of frees which Alan Murphy proved to be unerring from and had it not for his first half tally from placed balls, Waterford would possibly would have been almost at the line out of sight at the break.

Kilkenny heading into this game had a five week lay off from championship action heading into this game. They had not played since they easily beat Laois in the Leinster Final five weeks ago, while Waterford in the meantime had a Munster final clash with Limerick and a replay which was needed to get a winner for this years championship a quarter final meeting with Antrim two weeks ago and a round of games in the County Minor Championship and the extra games showed for Waterford.

Not for the first time this year, Waterford let their opponents have the better start in the game in it looked as though a repeat of the games against Cork and the Munster Final replay against Limerick was going to be on the cards.

Playing into a near empty Hill 16 at the start of the game Kilkenny raced into an early two point to no score lead courtesy of efforts from Kevin Kenny and an Alan Murphy free.

Waterford hit back with a point from Patrick Curran following a foul on Tom Devine on five minutes and less than two minutes later Waterford were in front when Adam Farrell netted following some good spadework by Stephen Bennett who picked out the De La Salle man with a brilliant pass.

Waterford missed a chance to further extend their lead on nine minutes when Adam Farrell and Patrick Curran linked up brilliantly but the De La Salle man with his final effort shot wide of the target.

Discipline was always going to be key to Waterford getting a result in this game. With Alan Murphy in the Kilkenny side, the Waterford defenders know that when presented with the chance he was not going to make too many mistakes and on eleven minutes when Waterford conceded another free, Murphy made no mistake in putting the ball between the uprights.

On thirteen minutes Kilkenny drew level when Murphy again put over another free and seconds later there was the same result when Kilkenny won another free.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Waterford went back in front when they struck for a second goal, and what a goal it was as Portlaw’s Darren Foran slammed to the net after he weaved his way through the Kilkenny defence before putting the ball high into the top corner of the net.

Kilkenny cam back as Alan Murphy shot over two points from frees to level matters 2-1 to 0-7 after seventeen minutes.

Patrick Curran from a free and John Walsh swapped scores to keep the sides tied with ten minutes of the first half remaining, but it could be said that Kilkenny were somewhat unlucky not to have been in front at this stage as Gavin Power did well to divert Walsh’s effort over the crossbar.

Two points from Patrick Curran, the first from a free and the latter from a sixty five gave Waterford a 2-4 to 0-8 lead with three minutes of the half remaining.

Niall Mullins pulled a point back for Kilkenny with two minutes of the half remaining, but Waterford would retire to the dressing rooms under the Cusack Stand holding a two point advantage when Stephen Bennett pointed from play.

In a number of games played this year, Waterford got off to a great start at the second half and they did so again in this game as Mikey Kearney and Patrick Curran with a stunning effort from near the sideline hit points to extend Waterford’s lead to four.

Kilkenny wasted no time to hit back as Alan Murphy from another free and John Walsh pointed to pull Waterford’s lead back to two.

Patrick Curran extended Waterford’s lead to three points four minutes into the second half. Three minutes later that lead was just one when Alan Murphy and then Liam Blanchfield fired over.

Austin Gleeson who again proved to be outstanding for Waterford put over another magnificent point on thirty nine minutes to give Waterford a two point cushion, which was extended to three a minute later when Mark O’Brien found the range.

Patrick Curran put four between the sides when he put over a sixty-five on forty-two minutes, before Murphy pulled one back for The Cats with thirteen minutes to play.

Waterford had their numbers cut in forty nine minutes when Stephen Bennett was sent off for what appeared to be a second yellow card, but from a personal point of view, I wonder was it a case of mistaken identity by the referee as from notes I had it that number five Michael Harney that was booked earlier in the game, and for the second offence it was the Ballysaggart man wearing number twenty five that was sent off.

From the resulting free Alan Murphy pointed from close range and minutes later, Murphy made an uncharacteristic error from a free shooting wide of the near post.

Stephen Bennett missed a chance to extent Waterford’s lead just before Eoin Kelly had their numerical advantage wiped out when Eoin Kenny was dismissed for a foul on Austin Gleeson, but from the resulting free Patrick Curran failed to convert.

Stephen Bennett missed another chance to extend Waterford’s lead four minutes from the hour mark but a Darren Foran effort soon followed to put three between the sides. Liam Blanchfield quickly responded for Kilkenny to ensure a tense finish, but in the time that remained, Waterford were able to hold out for a two point win and set up an All-Ireland final against the winners of next weeks semi final between Limerick and Galway.

Waterford: Gavin Power; Cian Leamy, Kevin Daly, William Hahessey; Michael Harney, Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett; Mark O’Brien, Tom Devine; Stephen Bennett, Colm Roche, DJ Foran; Patrick Curran, Adam Farrell, Mikey Kearney. Subs: Cormac Curran for Stephen Roche; Conor Gleeson for Adam Farrell; Sean Hogan for DJ Foran.

Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-07 (5f, 1 ‘65); DJ Foran 1-1; Adam Farrell 1-0; Austin Gleeson, Mark O’Brien, Stephen Bennett, Mickey Kearney 0-01 each.

Kilkenny: Darren Brennan; Ciaran Wallace, Evan Cody, Darragh Joyce; Jason Stanley, James Maher, Conor Delaney; Niall Mullins, Ciaran Ryan; Liam Blanchfield, Eoin Kenny, Vinny Teehan; Alan Murphy, Kevin Kenny, John Walsh. Subs: Michael Kenny for Niall Mullins, Luke Scanlon for Ciaran Ryan.

Scorers: Alan Murphy 0-09 (9f); Kevin Kenny (1f), Liam Blanchfield, John Walsh 0-02 each; Niall Mullins 0-01.