Kilkenny players celebrating a wonderful win.
All Ireland SHC Semi-Final replay
Kilkenny 2-19 Waterford 2-17
By Ciaran Gallagher at Semple Stadium
Champions Kilkenny remain on course for a three-in-a-row bid after claiming a narrow two-point All-Ireland semi-final replay win over Waterford in Semple Stadium.
Derek McGrath’s Waterford came inches away from sending the game to extra-time when a Pauric Mahony free fell into the hands of Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy in injury-time.
But Waterford hearts were broken once again as Richie Hogan fired over an insurance point moments later before referee James McGrath blew the final whistle on a dramatic Thurles tie.
The game had started in a frantic fashion with both sides finding the net twice within the opening 20 minutes.
Colin Fennelly raised two green flags inside 10 minutes for the Cats, with those scores bookended by goals from Waterford’s Austin Gleeson and Jake Dillon.
Kilkenny led by three at half-time and retained their lead all the way through the second half, despite going 18 minutes without a score at one stage.
Waterford found themselves just one point down after 73 minutes after inspirational sub Maurice Shanahan nailed a score.
Colin Fennelly scored two first half goals for Kilkenny.
And it looked as though the game could well finish level and head to extra-time.
But just like last week when Walter Walsh and Conor Fogarty came to the rescue, Kilkenny found a way to survive – and this time claim victory.
Cody’s late call to start Liam Blanchfield instead of John Power made an immediate impact as he opened after just a minute.
But Waterford soon hit back with Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh’s handpass putting Gleeson through to fire to the bottom right-hand corner of Eoin Murphy’s net after less than five minutes.
Gleeson fired over a quick point straight afterwards, but the Cats were quick to strike back.
Colin Fennelly and Walter Walsh combined for both of Kilkenny’s goal, the first coming after seven minutes with Fennelly firing to the bottom left-hand corner of the Waterford goal.
Walsh set up Fennelly again three minutes later to finish to the opposite corner past Stephen O’Keeffe.
The Déise goal was nearly breached for a third time after 23 minutes following a slaloming solo run from TJ Reid but O’Keeffe did well to deny the Ballyhale Shamrocks flyer.
At this stage, with Kilkenny 2-2 to 1-2 up, it looked as though Kilkenny had absorbed Waterford’s early blows to steal all the momentum.
But Gleeson was a towering presence in the middle third, roving around the centre-forward position.
Jamie Barron quickly followed that up before Waterford struck for their second goal in a fantastic team move just before the 20-minute mark.
Kevin Moran played a through ball into the hands of Stephen Bennett, who quickly fed Jake Dillon to fire home.
Blanchfield continued to be a profitable introduction for Cody, hitting three first-half points, and a run of five points in seven minutes left them up at the break, 2-10 to 2-7, as Waterford had to rely on two Mahony points to keep them ticking over.
TJ Reid shoots during the thriller tussle in Thurles.
Shanahan and Gleeson dragged Waterford back into the game in the second half.
Mahony’s frees kept them ticking over while Kilkenny misfired during their barren period.
But just as it looked like they would drag the game into extra-time Mahony’s distance failed him as Murphy leapt to claim the sliotar.
Hogan was on hand at the end of a next Cats move as Cody’s side booked their third All-Ireland final appearance on the bounce.
**Scorers for Kilkenny: **C Fennelly 2-1, TJ Reid 0-7 (6fs), R Hogan 0-4, L Blanchfield 0-3, P Walsh 0-2, E Larkin 0-1, W Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (7fs), A Gleeson 1-2, J Dillon 1-0, Shane Bennett 0-2, J Barron 0-2, M Shanahan 0-2.
Kilkenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast; P Walsh, M Bergin, C Buckley; C Fogarty, M Fennelly; W Walsh, TJ Reid, L Blanchfield; E Larkin, C Fennelly, R Hogan.
Subs: L Ryan for M Fennelly (59), J Farrell for M Bergin (60), J Power for W Walsh (blood) (60-66), K Kelly for L Blanchfield (73).
Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T De Burca, A Gleeson, Philip Mahony; J Barrron, C Gleeson; K Moran, Shane Bennett, M Walsh; Pauric Mahony, J Dillon, Stephen Bennett.
Subs: M Shanahan for Stephen Bennett (47), P Curran for Shane Bennett (54), T Devine for J Dillon (60).
Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).
