Kilkenny–Waterford hurling rivalry

The Kilkenny–Waterford fixture, while not that common in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, is seen as one of the most intense in hurling. Due to the provincial structure of the All-Ireland Championship, all meetings up until 1998 took place in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. The teams have met in numerous semi-finals and one final since. Outside of the Hurling Championship, the two teams have usually met yearly in the National Hurling League. The two teams notably met in the 2007 National Hurling Final, won by Waterford.

Roots

History

Kilkenny are one of the most successful teams in the championship, having captured thirty two All-Ireland titles, and together with Cork and Tipperaryform hurling's 'Big Three'. Waterford, on the other hand, have had sporadic periods of success throughout championship history resulting in only All-Ireland titles. After a golden age for the team in the 1950s and 1960s Waterford went into severe decline in subsequent decades.

The Kilkenny - Waterford hurling rivalry first began in 1957 with their first meeting in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Kilkenny won on a scoreline of 4-10 to 3-12. Two years later, in 1959, the teams played out a draw. To date, this has been the last drawn game in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. The replay saw Waterford win their 2nd, and last to date All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The game was also notable for the Kilkenny debut of Eddie Keher. The two teams also met in the 1963 Final, with Kilkenny winning. This would be the last game between the two teams for 35 years.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Waterford hurling experienced a resurgence after the dark periods of the 1970s and 1980s. Waterford met Kilkenny in two semi-finals in both 1998 and 2004, with Waterford losing in two close battles. Having not played in a final since 1963, Waterford again met Kilkenny in the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final. The game has become infamous for its one-sidedness. Kilkenny won the game, with the biggest scoring difference for over 80 years. Since then, the two teams have met in one other Semi-final.

Outside of hurling

The intensity of the rivalry has also been stoked outside of hurling. The two counties share a border. Due to the expansion of Waterford City, numerous areas of south County Kilkenny have been transferred to County Waterford by an Act of the Oireachtas. Future expansion of County Waterford into County Kilkenny has been muted which has hightened the rivalry.

Statistics

Notable matches

• 1957 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
• 1959 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
• 1963 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
• 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

See also

• Kilkenny GAA
• Waterford GAA
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship
• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship