AN unexpected cracker of a second half - a prospect as apparently distant as the summer solstice during a dull first half hour - redeemed the inaugural final of the Waterford Crystal South East League at Walsh Park yesterday.
An injury-time point by Charlie Carter pushed Kilkenny decisively ahead just seconds after Tipperary's Stephen Hogan tied the match with a well-taken score from 30 metres.
The vigorously-contested match was a fitting commentary on the end of the 1996 hurling year. Two counties who only a few years ago bestrode the hurling scene fighting over a secondary trophy - albeit a large cut-glass one too delicate to be presented - was testimony to a world where they have been overtaken even in their own provincial dominion by, respectively, Offaly and Wexford and Clare and Limerick.
As a testing ground for what they will hope is a more prosperous future, a set-to between two under-strength teams 10 days before Christmas will not have particularly impressed managers Nicky Brennan or Len Gaynor. Nonetheless, both will have detected a couple of useful indicators during a competitive encounter in front of a good crowd of 4,500.
Tipperary opened the match with a completely revised midfield - Stephen Hogan and Aidan Butler replacing the originally selected Colm Bonnar and Raymie Ryan - and Kilkenny started with Charlie Carter in the left corner-forward position in place of Ken O'Shea.
The first half was largely Tipperary's - more largely than the four-point interval margin (0-7 to 0-3) suggested. Their forwards looked more accomplished than their pedestrian opponents who managed to take only one point from a purposeful Tipperary defence.
In fact, of all the new forwards on display, only one looked comfortable in even this limited module of top-class hurling. Aidan Flanagan, of new Tipperary champions Boherlahan-Dualla, was a lively presence in the left corner although presumably, what with the eventual margin, he will feel embarrassed at the missed free he served up within a minute of the restart.
Declan Ryan was sprightly enough for December and won a good amount of ball in his travels between full and right corner-forward.
Kilkenny's backs played their part in restricting Tipperary with their half-backs particularly impressive. Dan O'Neill's slight build might trigger reservations about his capacity as a championship centre back but he was competent and assured.
The siting of DJ Carey at midfield wasn't a great success but his partner Stephen Grehan caught the eye.
Brian Gaynor, son of manager Len, operating from right wing back was arguably the most effective of Tipperary's scorers with his raids down the flank and long-range striking very noticeable until the presence of a switched DJ Carey made him more concerned with primary duties.
The key to Kilkenny's win was the gradual introduction of a number of distinguished faces. Willie O'Connor entered the fray at half-time in a shake-up that saw Carey move forward and Liam Keoghan go to midfield. O'Connor was subsequently joined by John Power and Adrian Ronan.
Power made a substantial impact, and his snappily-taken points must have made pleasant viewing for Nicky Brennan.
Twelve minutes into the second half, Kilkenny secured the vital only goal of the afternoon. It moved them into the lead for the first time and was the launch pad for their victory. The score was the product of Noel Sheehy's misfortune, on an otherwise sound afternoon, when he allowed a ball across goal by Brian McEvoy run to Carter who finished to the net.
Tipperary threw on Liam Cahill and Michael Cleary and with both sides looking more themselves, the match caught fire.
Three times, in the 54th, 56th and 61st minutes, Kilkenny followed the concession of a point by hitting back with one of their own. The only isolated score - and effectively the difference between the teams - was an unusually rare trip into splendour by Carey who flighted over a 70-metre free in the 59th minute before the injury-time excitement.
