Kilkenny qualified for a sixth consecutive All-Ireland Hurling final with a six-point victory over a gallant Waterford side at Croke Park.
Richie Hogan grabbed both goals for a Cats side which appears to have rediscovered the hunger and the passion which has seen them dominate the game in recent years.
The Dansefort man hit the net twice in the first half to lay solid foundations for an impressive showing by Brian Cody’s men.
Henry Shefflin finished with a seven-point tally, and John Mullane’s 1-6 total was not enough to deny a fired-up Kilkenny side now awaiting the winner of next weekend’s second semi-final between Tipperary and Dublin.
In front of a crowd of 31,634 at Croke Park, Kilkenny’s attackers pressurised their opponents incessantly in the opening minutes, and it was the intensity they brought to the contest which gave Richie Power the opportunity to burst through and smash in a goal after just three minutes.
Michael Fennelly and Henry Shefflin pushed the Cats into a five points lead, but Waterford settled to get their challenge going.
Darragh Fives and Liam Lawlor got to grips with the offensive thrust, and Kevin Moran won vital ball around the middle.
John Mullane and Seamus Prendergast knocked over stylish points, and teenager Pauric Mahony steered over a couople of frees.
But with Tommy Walsh once again putting in a dominant display at the back and Shefflin getting involved in all their best attacking efforts, Kilkenny stepped it up.
Four points in the spin, including Fennelly’s second, restored teir five points advantage, but in th 25th minute they were stunned by a superb Mullane goal.
The De La Salle star collected Seamus Prendergast’s pass out left and whipped a fiercely struck angled shot past David Herity.
Eoin Kelly narrowed the gap to two, but in typical Kilkenny fashion, Brian Hogan’s men finished the half with another flourish, Colin Fennelly’s perceptive pass sending Hogan in for his second goal, a delightful two-touch execution past Clinton Hennessy.
Kilkenny led by 2-10 to 1-7 at the break, and Waterford’s failure to take their opportunities to close the gap early in the second half made their task all the more daunting.
Michael Fennelly and Shefflin swept over long range scores to pile more pressure on a Waterford side struggling to compete in the vital areas.
Paul Murphy, Jackie Tyrrell and Brian Hogan reigned supreme at the back, and with their direct opponents rendered virtually ineffective, Kilkenny were able to build with purpose and efficiency.
An incisive move ended with Colin Fennelly extending the margin to 10 points at 2-16 to 1-9 with 20 minutes to play.
But Waterford dug deep, and narrowed the gap through Stephen Molumphy, Maurice Shanahan, Richie Foley and Mullane cut the gap to five.
That was as good as it was to get for Davy Fitzgerald’s side, however, and subs Paddy Hogan and Eddie Brennan finished the job off with classy Kilkenny scores.
Kilkenny: D Herity, P Murphy, N Hickey, J Tyrrell, T Walsh, B Hogan (0-1), JJ Delaney, M Fennelly (0-3), M Rice (0-1), TJ Reid (0-1), R Power, E Larkin (0-2), C Fennelly (0-2), H Shefflin (0-7, 4F), R Hogan (2-0).
Subs: P Hogan (0-1) for Reid, E Brennan (0-1) for Rice
Waterford: C Hennessy, D Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors, T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast, K Moran, S O’Sullivan, S Prendergast (0-1), S Molumphy (0-1), P Mahoney (0-2, 2f), J Mullane (1-6), S Walsh, E Kelly (0-3, 2f).
Subs: J Nagle for D Prendergast, M Shanahan (0-2, 1F) for Mahony, T Ryan for Kelly, R Foley (0-1) for S Walsh
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)
