Kilkenny 0-25 Waterford 0-14: WATERFORD left Nowlan Park yesterday clutching for an encouraging context in which to place an 11-point reverse. Consolations were few, but worth considering.
They are not alone. They had suffered no worse than other teams steamrollered by Kilkenny this season and had been reduced to 14 men by a harsh dismissal. Anyway retention of their league title is still viable, but still . . .
Kilkenny, missing seven of their All-Ireland-winning side, were as awesome as league action permits a team to be. They struck 23 points on their last outing and bettered that by two yesterday. That they have not scored a goal on either occasion is more down to the fact they haven't really felt the need to go looking for goals. Everything else is coming so easily.
Yesterday, they let Waterford go shoulder to shoulder with them for 20 minutes before easing away with a performance of such confidence and aplomb another shaving of their odds for the three-in-a-row would be justified.
Waterford may be six or so weeks behind Kilkenny in training, but it is difficult to see any team closing the gap between Kilkenny and mere mortals at present.
Yesterday was a day for the figures who fill out the Kilkenny winter cast. Michael Rice at centre forward gave no less than Ken McGrath a torrid time; John Dalton and Brian Hogan both did well and young Richie Hogan gave a calm illustration of what the fuss is about.
There were indications the game was in trouble as a contest two-thirds of the way through the first half, but when Michael 'Brick' Walsh was dismissed just before half-time for a second yellow card (a harmless enough challenge that saw Michael Fennelly tumbled by a trip) the game effectively ended.
Both managers were critical (in a general rather than specific way) of the refereeing, sharing the feeling the dismissal was harsh.
Justin McCarthy reckoned other strenuous tackles had gone unpunished but Brian Cody felt inconsistency in refereeing was a broader problem with yellow and red cards being flung about in league and early-championship action in a way at odds with the spirit of the game.
"The refereeing will change as the season goes on," he said. "That has happened. The way games are reffed at this time of year isn't in keeping with the game of hurling."
Kilkenny led by three points at the break and Waterford went into the dressingroom reflecting not just on the loss of their midfielder, but on the prodigality of a forward unit that had run in 10 wides to three by their counterparts.
That difference in wide tallies told a lot about the gulf between the sides. Waterford repeatedly made wrong decision on shots, hurrying their strokes from unpromising positions, nobody more so than McGrath, whose ability to strike from long range had deserted him for the day.
Kilkenny were the essence of economy and wisdom, moving the ball quickly into the positions of maximum opportunity.
It was an afternoon when Martin Comerford looked typically languid (but scored four fine points) and everything else about Kilkenny looked urgent and efficient. Most pleasing perhaps was the continuing evidence Richie Hogan is the real deal.
Added to the panel just before the All-Ireland last year after a long drumroll as a juvenile, Hogan came in yesterday as a late replacement for Eoin Reid whose mother, Mary, passed away hours before the game.
Hogan looks ready to become something more than DJ's cousin. His turns of speed and speed of striking tormented Waterford. His first point from play came just before the 10th minute and offered evidence of a scorching turn of pace that will be a more potent weapon on firmer pitches.
What hope Waterford had of staying in touch in the second half resided mainly in the form and free-taking of Eoin Kelly. He scored six points in the second half, five from frees, but around him Justin McCarthy was removing four of the starting forwards. Not enough poke or thrust.
Kilkenny's list of options is awesome. John Dalton came in for JJ Delaney and his unfussy style complemented Kilkenny's brisk attitude, one catch while moving backwards in traffic was worthy of inclusion in coaching videos.
Brian Hogan excelled at centre back and Michael Rice at last looked like delivering on his promise. A point midway through the second half illustrated his confidence and skills. Taking possession down the right under pressure form swarming backs he not only got his shot away but landed the score, a feat of gaisce that drew warm applause from the Nowlan Park cognoscenti.
It as such a day for Kilkenny though. Where Waterford continually missed the opportunity to pass to players in better positions, Kilkenny were able to pull off that simple act while blindfolded.
It is springtime, a fact alluded to by both managers afterward.
McCarthy wasn't despondent. Cody wasn't giddy (that'll be the day). But come September when we look back on the ides of March their message is unlikely to be different from what it appeared yesterday.
KILKENNY: J McGarry; J Ryall, J Dalton, J Tyrrell; T Walsh (0-1, a free), B Hogan, PJ Delaney; J 'Cha' Fitzpatrick (0-2, one 65), M Fennelly (0-2); 10. R Power (0-1), M Rice (0-2), E Brennan (0-3); R Hogan (0-8, five frees), M Comerford (0-4), A Fogarty (0-2). Subs: D Cody for PJ Delaney (69 mins).
WATERFORD: C Hennessy; R Foley, K Moran, A Kearney; B Phelan (0-2), K McGrath, S O'Sullivan; M Walsh, J Kennedy; S Prendergast (0-1), D Shanahan. E Kelly (0-9, eight frees); J Mullane, D Prendergast, S Walsh. Subs: E McGrath (0-1) for D Prendergast (42 mins), S Molumphy (0-1) for S Walsh (48 mins), S Casey for Mullane (54 mins), P Kearney for Shanahan (64 mins).
Referee: M Haverty ( Galway).
