Waterford United 7 Kilkenny City 2Waterford United overran Kilkenny City at the RSC last night in a thrilling game that was peppered with goals and produced the unusual spectacle of two players from the same side scoring hat-tricks.

United opened the scoring on 22 minutes when Jose Quitongo sent over a cross for Darryl Murphy whose looping header from 12 yards beat goalkeeper Kevin O'Sullivan.

Kilkenny were back on level terms six minutes later. Alan Mulcahy's in-swinging corner was met by Keith Maher who headed past Dan Connor.

Kilkenny took the lead on 35 minutes when Neil Andrews latched on to Andy Cosgrave's pass to head home from 12 yards.

United refused to panic and two goals in three minutes from Willie Bruton gave them a dramatic half-time lead. On 42 minutes, a quickly taken free-kick by Alan Reynolds from just inside his own half caught the Kilkenny defence and Bruton ghosted in to side-foot the ball to the net.

Just on the stroke of half-time, Kevin Waters crossed from the left and Bruton headed home.

Bruton secured his hat-trick after only five minutes of the second period before Murphy exploded into action in the 60th minute and scored three goals in four minutes to add to his first-half goal. Reynolds passed the ball for the first, Bruton was the provider for the second and a wonderful piece of skill by Jose Quitongo on the left wing created the opening for the third.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Carey (Browne, 82mins), Waters, Reynolds (McCarthy, 75 mins), Breen, Purcell, Bruton, O'Brien, Murphy, Grant, Quitongo (Ryan, 77 mins). Subs not used: Barnes, Hennessy.

KILKENNY CITY: O'Sullivan, Cosgrave, Stanley (Shanahan, 54 mins), M. Andrews, Cummins, Coogan, Maher, Mallon (Raggett, 67 mins), Gorman (Curran, 35 mins), N. Andrews, Mulcahy. Subs not used: Rockett, Bourke.

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).