Waterford beat All-Ireland champions

Justin McCarthy

Waterford put their recent injury problems behind them to defeat Kilkenny by 1-20 to 0-20 in a senior hurling challenge in aid of the South-East Cancer Foundaiton at Walsh Park on Sunday.

In doing so, they became the inaugural winners of the Tom Cheasty Memorial Trophy. This was an excellent win for the Deise, given that they were six of their biggest names in Ken McGrath, Seamus Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy, Eoin Kelly, Dan Shanahan and Eoin Murphy.

The All-Ireland champions, with Richie Power in fine form from placed balls, looked set to prevail when they led by three points with six minutes remaining. But four minutes later, Waterford football captain Gary Hurney justified his recent call-up to the hurling squad by scoring what proved to be the winning goal. Just moments earlier, Richie Hogan was denied a Kilkenny goal at the opposite end by a brilliant Clinton Hennessy save.

The sides had been level four times in the opening half before Kilkenny finished with points from Eoin Reid and Michael Rice to lead by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval.