<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section possibly contains original research . Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations . Statements consisting only of original research should be removed . (December 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section possibly contains original research . Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations . Statements consisting only of original research should be removed . (December 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Sunday 6 September was the date of the 1959 All - Ireland senior hurling final between Waterford and Kilkenny . The attendance of 73,707 was not disappointed and was treated to some splendid hurling by both teams in one of the great All - Ireland finals . An exciting first half of hurling saw Waterford take a five - point lead . Immediately after the restart Tom Cheasty scored a memorable point after he stormed past five Kilkenny defenders who, according to Radio Éireann commentator Michael O'Hehir, fell around him' like dying wasps .' Waterford were masters at pure hurling; however, the downside of this was that they found it difficult to close out games and win easily . This was a factor on this occasion against Kilkenny . Two quick goals by Tommy O'Connell put Kilkenny ahead by two goals with just a minute left in the game . With the score at 5 - 5 to 0 - 17 Waterford needed a goal . A stroke of luck saw' the Decies' awarded a sideline cut . Team captain Frankie Walsh stepped up to take it when he saw Séamus Power bursting out of midfield with his hand raised looking for the sliothar . Walsh fluffed the sideline cut and the sliothar only went a few yards . Fortunately, Larry Guinan was running forward and he collected the sliothar . He had only one thing in mind as he headed straight for the goalmouth . He fired in a shot that full - back Jim' Link' Walsh deflected past his goalkeeper Ollie Walsh . The final whistle blew immediately and the score line read Waterford 1 - 17, Kilkenny 5 - 5 . </P> <P> Four weeks later on 4 October 77,285 returned to Croke Park to see the second installment of the All - Ireland final between Waterford and Kilkenny . The second game began terribly for Waterford, in spite of playing with a strong wind, and they trailed by 1 - 4 to 0 - 1 after only twelve minutes of play . Frankie Walsh also had a torrid time as he failed to raise the sliothar for a close - in free . All of a sudden, however, Waterford clicked into gear . Mick Flannelly, a player from the Mount Sion club, goaled to get Waterford's game back on track . Tom Cunningham added a second with a brilliant overhead strike before Tom Cheasty also goaled . After a disastrous start Waterford led by 3 - 6 to 1 - 8 at the interval . The second - half saw Joe Harney and Austin Flynn excelling in defence, so much so that Kilkenny only scored two points from Eddie Keher over the course of the thirty minutes . Waterford, on the other hand, forged ahead with Walsh and Cheasty excelling . After 120 minutes of hurling played out in front of an aggregate attendance of 150,000 Waterford took their second All - Ireland title by 3 - 12 to 1 - 10 . </P>

When did waterford last win all ireland hurling final