Kilkenny upwardly mobile

JUST A couple of seasons ago they were the funny mend of European football. "And finally," newsreaders would tell their viewers across the continent, "if you've ever thought that your favourite team simply couldn't get any worse, spare a thought for the people of the picturesque Irish city of Kilkenny ...

Two points from 27 games City managed that painful 1994/95 season, a young team sacrificed to the longer-term interests of the club. But their widely reported humiliation was a distant memory last night at Buckley Park where some 5,000 locals had the last laugh.

A 0-0 draw might not have been what those supporters had wanted and the First Division championship celebrations may have been delayed for a game or two but there were no complaints from Alfie Hale after his side had made sure of their place in the Premier Division next season.

"Maybe Pete Mahon's lads will do us a favour on Saturday," said the City manager of his side's next match against St Francis. "But we won't worry about that tonight, for now we're just delighted to be up.

Nor did the manner in which his side had secured their point bother Hale for, he conceded, even if the game did produce a nail-biting end it was always going to be too-tense an encounter to be a footballing classic.

The early exchanges certainly didn't promise a memorable night's entertainment. Robust might be the term used in polite circles to describe the two teams' approach but battle would probably portray the scene a little more vividly.

Through the first quarter it was the home side who had just about the better of the chances with Brian Arrigan's effort from 25 yards drawing a fine save fron John Grace in the Waterford goal and John Power's glanced header from the middle of the area not too wide of the mark.

Powered on by their big defensive partnerships of Jimmy Lynch and Tony Hall, the visitors did well to absorb the pressure and gradually they began to fight their way into the game, with Colin Fanning instrumental down the left in most of their best attacks.

Fanning's free-kick in the 37th minute should have prompted a breakthrough. His shot, Just inches too high, rebounded off the crossbar into the path of the onrushing Trond Debes but his close-range header at an empty net was completely misplaced.

United, cheered on by their large band of travelling supporters, finished the half strongly but, while City's back four repeatedly looked unsure with the ball on the ground, Brendan Rea's airborne interventions were a constant frustration to the visitors.

Neither side dominated for long after the break with both creating scoring opportunities but neither forcing the opposing goalkeeper into doing too much work. Late in the game Ashley Stephenson earned his money when he gathered at the feet of the onrushing Donal Golden but Waterford, in particular, failed to turn their share of possession into clearcut scoring chances.

At the other end Power should have wrapped up the title for the hosts from a couple of yards when United made heavy going of clearing Arrigan's free. But as the game moved into its closing stages the locals, naturally enough, looked to be the happier with a draw.

With the final whistle the crowd erupted into celebrations and Hale was forced immediately to turn his attention to next year's campaign, the club's first in the Premier Division. "We'll cope all right," he said. "Although whether we'll be able to challenge the likes of Shelbourne is something we'll have to think about a little further down the line.

We'll worry about all that tomorrow, though, because tonight should be about the players. They've done tremendously well over the past few months.