Brian Cody's men got back to winning ways in the Allianz Hurling League, breaking clear of a determined Waterford side in the latter stages of the second half.

The Deise, whose suspended manager Davy Fitzgerald was in the stands, edged ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a blistering strike from Shane Walsh.

Richie Foley's free struck the post and Walsh rammed home the rebound, with Eoin McGrath's subsequent point making it 1-11 to 0-12 to the visitors.

Kilkenny had only landed two scores in the second half up to that point - both of them frees from Richie Hogan - but they wrestled back control with a goal from TJ Reid.

Aidan Fogarty brought them level before Fennelly's point attempt dropped short in the 55th minute and Reid nicked home an opportunist goal.

The gap stood at three points as the game ticked into injury-time and Kilkenny had the final say when Fennelly knocked a high ball past Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O'Keefe and into the net.

This Leinster v Munster match-up had lacked its usual bite and intensity in the opening 35 minutes, during which the the Cats eked out a 0-10 to 0-06 lead.

TJ Reid collected an early brace of points, the first coming from an assist from Hogan after just 55 seconds. Hogan, who finished with 0-07 (0-06f), opened his account shortly afterwards and Stephen Molumphy and Foley followed suit.

Free-taker Foley was responsible for four of Waterford's first half scores and he whittled Kilkenny's advantage down to 0-05 to 0-04, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Wing back Tommy Walsh cleared a lot of ball before an injury forced him off before half-time. Waterford captain Molumphy lasted just a little bit longer - he was seen leaving the ground after the break as he had work commitments with the Irish army to attend to in Poland.

Kilkenny's four-point lead was swiftly eaten into as the pace lifted in the second half. Scores from Foley (0-03) and Kevin Moran cancelled out a Hogan double as the Deise put the pressure on at 0-12 to 0-10 down.

Walsh's goal and McGrath's follow-up point shot Fitzgerald's charges ahead, but it was a lead they could not hold onto. The remaining 15 minutes belonged mostly to Kilkenny, who sit second in the table behind Galway on points difference.

Reid's timely goal got the home side back on track and although John Mullane and Moran gave Waterford a sniff at just two points behind, Hogan and Fennelly were able to keep Kilkenny on course for a shot at the league title.