Kilrossanty's league final win has them moving in the right direction.

The question is often asked which club can break the stronghold of Stradbally, The Nire and Ballinacourty in the County senior football championship.

Each year barring that two of the big three are paired together in the quarter final stages of the championship, it’s a fairly safe bet that the big three will all reach the last four. The only thing to be decided is often which of the two will be paired together in the penultimate round of the championship and which club outside the top three will get to meet the third of the threeo.

While little separates most clubs in the championship, with each able to beat the other on a given day, its possibly fair to suggest that if the big three is to be broken up, it is one of three other clubs that will do so.

Clashmore were going great guns a few years back, but they had one bad year which saw them relegated at the end of the campaign. However, their stay away from the senior championship was a short lived one, as they came back up at the first attempt. This year they reached the semi finals and it was till The Nire scored a third killer goal just after the break that the eventual winners were able to pull away.

An Rinn are another club moving in the right direction. They have some very good experienced players and also have some exciting young footballers coming through. It is expected that in the coming year or two that some of An Gaeltacht’s victorious minor football winning team from 2011 will make the step up. They had a big chance to make a break through in 2010 but a little bit of over confidence saw them loose out at the quarter final stages of the championship at the quarter final stages.

Some feel that if any club was to break up the dominance of the big three, that it will be Kilrossanty.

Its not all that long ago that the side from under the shadow of the Comeragh Mountains were fighting a relegation battle against their near neighbours John Mitchells. Kilrossanty won on the day, but playing in such a game might have proven to be the wake up call they needed and wake them up from a sleep that they had appeared to be falling into in the years previous to this.

Had Kilrossanty dropped down, it would be interesting to see what would have happened. John Mitchells have not managed to move up since, but have played in a county final. Would the same have happened to Kilrossanty? It’s hard to know.

In recent years they have been moving in the right way under the guidance of former Waterford senior football manager, John ‘Jackson’ Kiely.

They have appeared in the finals of a number of the county boards secondary competitions in recent years, collecting some silverware, the most recent coming as recent as last weekend when they beat Ballinacourty on their own patch at Lemybrien.

They won the game with four points to spare, but it could well have been a totally different story.

Ballinacourty got off to a rip roaring start. They hit early points from Gary Hurney, Jason O’Brien, Mark Gorman and Shane Briggs to give them an early lead, but it was not a case of Tús maith leath na hoibre.

Kilrossanty came storming back. Owen Cummins and Tommy Prendergast hit points which saw Ballinacourty loose half the value of their lead. William Brazil is a player that we have seen sprung from the bench a number of times lately in the championship. He started this game at corner forward and showed that he has the making of becoming a vital player for the Comeragh Men, hitting a goal half way through the opening half.

This score spurred on Kilrossanty and Paul Whyte hit two points shortly after Brazil’s goal and David Power followed up with a point to give his side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead with time in the opening half ticking down.

Ballinacourty suffered a major blow six minutes from the break when Gary Hurney picked up a serious injury and needed to be removed from the field of play on a stretcher and was then transferred for treatment in Waterford.

Paul Whyte in the time that remained hit two further points for Kilrossanty and Mark Ferncombe hit one as Kilrossanty went in at the break holding a deserved 1-7 to 0-5 lead.

Kilrossanty began the second half as they had ended the first, in total control. Points from Paul Whyte, Michael Walsh and Niall Walsh were hit early in the second half before Alan Quinn got inside the Ballinacourty defence to hit a second Kilrossanty goal.

Points from Stephen Prendergast and Paul Whyte followed for Kilrossanty who were now in total control of the games proceedings.

However, it was at this stage that they took their foot of the gas, and could have been made pay dearly.

Points from Mark Ferncombe, Richie Foley and Joey Power were hit for Ballinacourty to reduce Kilrossanty’s lead and when Laurence Hurney and David Collins followed up with a pair of quick fire goals, it was looking that Ballinacourty were coming more back into the game and maybe could get something from the game.

Mark Ferncombe hit another point fro Ballinacourty but it was but a consolation score, as Kilrossanty were able to hold out for a 2-13 to 2-9 victory.

Both of these sides made changes to the respective sides beaten in their final championship game of the year. Kilrossanty started with possibly the slightly stronger of the two sides, but the loss of Gary Hurney towards the end of the first half was a massive blow for Ballinacourty.

The question now is can Kilrossanty built on this win. Many will be hoping that they can. If they do manage to build on it, then they could well make a telling impact on the senior football championship in 2013.

A history of Waterford All-Stars.

With the past few weeks, W.L.R.fm’s Gaelic Games programme on a Friday evening, the show presenter and head of sport at the station, Kevin Casey has been playing pre-recorded interviews with Waterford’s All Stars.

So far it is a case of three down and following Kevin Moran’s selection in this year’s team, twelve more to go. The idea behind the interviews is a good one. It allows us to hear how the different winners saw their winning year pan out and also it gives them the chance to speak about some matters relating to the G.A.A.

The programme put me thinking about some research. Its widely reported now that in hurling Waterford now have fifteen different winners of All-Star awards, but how many people both men and women in the county - living and deceased have been honoured for their performances on the field of play in a calendar year.

Before what has become the All-Stars were presented for the first time in 1971, for five years between 1963 and 1967 awards known as the Cú Chulain Awards were presented to the best hurlers in the country each year.

In their first year, Waterford had a very good year. While defeated in the All-Ireland Final against Kilkenny, the Déise County won the Munster Final and the National League.

Four members of the Waterford team in 1963 were named in the Cú Chulain Award winners. Austin Flynn was the first to be named, selected at full back. Larry Guinan was selected at right half back, Mick Flannelly at centre forward and Phil Grimes at right corner forward.

Austin Flynn was to win a Cú Chulain award on two further occasions and both were once again in the full back position. His second award was in 1965 and his third award came twelve months later.

Waterford’s first All-Star winner was John Galvin. The Portlaw man was selected in the 1974 team filling the number nine shirt.

Waterford had to wait until 1980 to win a second All-Star. This time it went to Ballyduff Upper’s Mossie Walsh who coincidently was also picked in the number nine position.

In 1982, despite ending the playing year on a disappointing note, suffering a heavy defeat to Cork in the Munster Final, Waterford had two players named on the All-Star team. Eight years after winning his first award, Portlaw’s John Galvin was selected this time in the left corner back position while the city won its first award with Jim Greene named at right corner forward.

A number of very disappointing years were to follow for Waterford and it was not until 1998 till Waterford next won an All-Star. It was no surprise that Tony Browne following a magnificent year was named in the number eight shirt and the Mount Sion club man was also named Hurler of the Year.

In 2002, Justin McCarthy was named as Waterford Manager and since then many in Waterford have seen things happen that they could only dream of up to that point.

Three Waterford players received All-Stars in 2002, a year that Waterford won its first Munster Final since 1963.

Fergal Hartley was named as the left wing back on the team of the year, Eoin Kelly was named at left half forward and Ken McGrath was named at right corner forward.

John Mullane was named as Waterford’s only winner in 2003 filling the right wing forward position.

Twelve months on Waterford were Munster Champions again and at the end of the year three Waterford players were named in the team of the year. Ken McGrath was named in the middle of the field, Dan Shanahan was named at right half forward and fittingly Paul Flynn was named at left corner forward.

A disappointing year in 2005 saw Waterford win no All-Star but in 2006 another three followed.

Shamrock’s Eoin Murphy was named at right corner back, Tony Browne was named at right wing back and Dan Shanahan was named at right corner forward.

In 2007, Waterford had one of its best years ever. A National League was won, a Munster Final followed and the side were extremely unlucky not to have reached an All-Ireland Final, playing three weekends in a row was to prove too much for the team. However, for their exploits, a record five All-Stars followed at the end of the year.

Ken McGrath was named at centre back; to his left fellow Mount Sion club man Tony Browne was also selected. Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh was picked in the middle of the field, Dan Shanahan was named at right half forward and Stephen Molumphy became Ballyduff Upper’s second All-Star winner when he was named at centre forward. Dan Shanahan was also named as ‘Hurler of the Year’.

Despite reaching the All-Ireland in 2008 via the scenic route, Waterford received just one All-Star. Eoin Kelly was named at Full forward.

2009 saw Michael Walsh and John Mullane win their second All-Stars. The Stradbally Club man was named as Centre Back on the team of the year while the De La Salle man was fitted in at left corner forward.

2010 saw Waterford win three All-Stars. Passage’s Noel Connors was named in the number two shirt, Michael Walsh was named at centre back and John Mullane was fitted in at right corner forward.

De La Salle won his fourth and third All-Star in a row in 2011 at right corner forward and in the most recent naming of the team of the year he again was named in the same position with club mate Kevin Moran named in the middle of the field.  

What Waterford’s men can do, Waterford’s Women have show that they can do the same and maybe even better.

While Waterford have never had a player named on the Camogie Team of the year, a number of players have been named on the ‘Soaring Star’s team of the year. These are awards presented to the best Junior and Intermediate players each year.

In 2009, Waterford had two winners. Áine Lyng was named as the best left half forward over the course of the year while Karen Kelly was named at full forward.

Twelve months on, and Waterford doubled the amount of awards won. Shona Curran was named as the best full back of the year, Trish Jackman was named as the best centre back, Jennie Simpson was named as the best left half back and Áine Lyng was named in the best team of the year for the second year in a row, this time at centre forward.

After going so close to coming out of the junior grade in 2009 and 2010, Waterford did so in 2011 and a number of their players caught the eyes of the team of the year judges as when the team was named there was seven Waterford names in the list of fifteen.

Aisling O’Brien was named in goal, Emma Hannon was named right corner back, Jennie Simpson won her second award, this time at full back, and Grainne Kenneally was named at left half back. Trish Jackman won her second award at Centre Field while in attack, Nicola Morrissey was picked at centre forward and Karen Kelly was picked at full forward.

In Ladies Football, Waterford also has an impressive list of All-Star winners.

Marie Crotty was Waterford’s first winner back in 1986 when she was selected at centre forward. Twelve months on she was selected at full forward on the team of the year and was jointed in the team of the year by Ann Fitzpatrick who was selected at right half back.

In 1988, Waterford won four awards. Dolores Tyrell was selected at left former back, Kilrossanty’s June Whyte was selected at centre back and Marie Crotty and Bernie Ryan both from Ballymacarbry were selected at centre and full forward respectfully.

Three awards were won in 1989. Anne Dunford was selected at left corner back, Áine Wall was selected at right half forward and Bernie Ryan was named at centre forward.

Another twelve months on and three more All-Star’s for Waterford. Ann Fitzpatrick was named at centre back, Áine Wall was named at right half forward and Marie Ryan was named at left half forward.

In 1991, Waterford made the big break through, winning the first of five senior All-Irelands. Five players also were named in the team of the year. Martina O’Ryan was named at full back, Anne Dunford at left corner back, Ann Fitzpatrick at left wing back. Marie Crotty was named in the middle of the field and Áine Wall was named at full forward.

In 1992, Waterford won another five All-Stars. Martina O’Ryan won her second All-Star at full back. June Whyte won her second award, this time at left corner back. Bernie Ryan was picked in the middle of the field, Geraldine O’Ryan was picked at centre forward and Áine Wall was picked at full forward.

In 1993, Áine Wall was Waterford’s only All-Star picked at left corner forward and twelve months later Martina O’Ryan at full back, Noirin Walsh was named at centre back, Catriona Casey was named at left half forward and at Right corner forward and full forward, Fiona Crotty and Áine Wall were named respectfully.

In 1995, Waterford won a record seven awards. Anna-Lisa Crotty was named in goals. Later she was to win an award playing out the field, therefore becoming the only player (I stand to be corrected on this) to win awards in goals and out the field. Regina Byrne was named at right corner back and Cleona Walsh was named in the opposite corner. Julie Ann Torpey was named at left half back, Marie Crotty was named at centre forward, Catriona Casey was named at left half forward and Geraldine O Ryan was named at right corner forward.

Another six awards followed in 1996. Anna-Lisa Crotty was once again named in goals. Noirin Walsh was named at full back; Julie Torpey was named at left half back while Marie Crotty, Catriona Casey and Geraldine O’Ryan were named in the numbers eleven, twelve and thirteen shirts.

Five Waterford players were named in the 1997 team of the year. Anna Lisa Crotty was once again the best net minder in the country, Noirin Walsh was once again at full back, Julie Torpey was named at number seven while Geraldine O’Ryan and Catriona Casey filled the corner forward positions.

1998 saw Waterford win its fifth All-Ireland and five All-Stars also came Waterford’s way. Siobhan O’Ryan was named at full back; Noirin Walsh was named at left corner back, while the full forward line was all Waterford with Rebecca Hallinan, Áine Wall and Geraldine O’Ryan filling the positions.

Waterford had four winners in 1999. Siobhan O’Ryan was named in the full back position for the second year in a row, Anna Lisa Crotty was named at right half back, Catriona Casey was named at left half forward and inside her Geraldine O’Ryan was named in the corner.

Another four awards came Waterford’s way in 2000. Olivia Condon was named at left corner back, Martina O’Ryan was named at centre back, Anna Lisa Crotty was named at centre field and Mary O’Donnell was named at left half forward.

In 2002, Waterford again won four All-Stars. Donna Frost and Olivia Condon filled the corner back positions. Julie Torpey won her fourth award at left half back while Mary O’Donnell was selected in the middle of the field.

Anna Lisa Crotty at right half back, Mary O’Donnell in the middle of the field and Mary O’Rourke at right corner forward were winners of all stars in 2003 and since then, just two more awards have come Waterford’s way, Mary O’Donnell was selected in the middle of the field in 2006 and twelve months on Rebecca Hallinan was selected at right corner back.

The 2012 awards are to be presented in mid November. Waterford has two representatives in this year’s nominations. Grainne Kenneally is selected in defence while Michelle Ryan is selected in attack. Can they get their names to the list of those from Waterford to have won All-Stars? Here’s hoping they can.

Munster club hurling championship time is upon us.

The first game in this year’s Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships takes place this coming weekend. Over the coming weeks, the cream of Munster Hurling will do battle, until barring the need for a replay or a rearrangement of any games, the winners will be confirmed on Sunday December 2.

 

Limerick’s Champions;

Kilmallock will represent Limerick in this years Championship. In their County Final held recently at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, they had a 1-15 to 0-15 win over Adare.

In their County Final, Jake Mulcahy was their top scorer in a game where the victors had a nice spread of scorers. He finished the game against Adare with 1-1 to his name but they will also be able to call upon the likes of Paudie O’Dwyer. Paudie O’Brien and Eoin Ryan who all hit three points each against Adare to show what they can do once more as well as Robbie Egan in the middle of the field.

 

Tipperary’s Champions;

Thurles Sarsfields will provide the opposition for Kilmallock in this Sunday’s game. They came out on top in a local derby clash against Drom and Inch at Semple Stadium recently on a 1-21 to 2-15 scoreline.

The Thurles club have a number of players that will need no introduction to hurling supporters. Padraig Maher at Centre Back, Lar Corbett at centre forward and Pa Bourke at wing forward are the players that will stand out to most. However they are by no means a side that depend on the inter county duo. Aidan McCormack playing at corner forward hit 1-6 in the county final and will want to show that this was no flash in the pan.

 

Cork’s Champions;

The winner of the Kilmallock and Thurles Sarsfields game will mean Cork champions Sarsfields in the semi final stages of this years Provincial championship after they won the Cork County final earlier this month, beating Bishopstown 1-15 to 1-13 in a close final.

Cian McCarthy finished top scorer fro Sarsfields on the day, hitting eight points, a half a dozen of which came from frees.  Robert O’Driscoll was their goal scorer on the day. Others to impress on the day were Michael Cussen and Kieran Murphy who operated in their full forward line and accounted for three points between them.

 

Waterford’s Champions;

De La Salle were the favourites to win the championship in Waterford from a very early stage of the year and they did not disappoint, beating a Dungarvan side appearing in their first Senior hurling county final since 1951 on a 1-21 to 0-12 scoreline at Fraher Field.

Jake Dillon finished as top scorer for the Waterford City club side on 1-5. Right throughout the side there is an abundance of ability with the likes of John Keane, Bryan Phelan, Shane McNulty, Jack Kennedy and John Mullane all knowing where to find the posts, while at the other end of the field, the defence is anchored by Kevin Moran who is having the season of his life.

 

Clare’s Champions;

De La Salle will not know their opponents until this coming weekend after neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus and Cratloe do battle at Cusack Park.

The Old Boro win a classic.

It will come as no surprize to some to read here that with some time now, I am a firm believer that all championships within the County should be run on an all county basis in both hurling and football.

The under 14 and 16 championships which are played now on an all county basis for well over a decade now have helped in no small part in the rise of Waterford hurling in the past decade or so. The move a few years back to play the minor championships on a county wide basis is a move that has to be welcomed.

Sadly, there is some in the county right now that want the minor and possibly other competitions to revert back to a competition run on a divisional basis with the winners in each division advancing to a county final, as what has happed for more years than more care to remember for.

Make no mistake, the current championship formats are not without their flaws, but these are minimal and can easily be ironed out with a little bit of thinking and the agreement of the clubs and board officers.

It may not be a popular thing to say in some circles, but some that are currently making the most noise about reverting back to divisional style championship with the winners meeting in the county final could be to a degree, be feathering their own nests.

Some of those that are against the all county competitions at underage and adult levels argue that history is behind their reasons they are making the sounds they are, but cynics and call me one if you want, know that there is other reasons which are more important to them than historical ones.

There is some that are quiet vocal in arguing that history shows that Divisional Boards in the past have served the G.A.A. in Waterford well. There is not too many that will argue that this is not true. I won’t anyway.

However, there comes a time when changes have to be made. The history agenda used should not come into what should happen. What should is what is best for Waterford.

Anybody that knows me will know that I love history, but history is in the past and all county competitions are about the future and the future only becomes history when it becomes the past.

This years county minor hurling championship final shows why the minor and all other competitions have be run on an all county basis.

For the second year in a row, those attending the county final were served up what can only be described as a classic.

Who in their right mind could argue that Dungarvan and Saint Carthage’s, two clubs from the west of the county should not be in the competitions show piece finale.

If this years minor county final was played on a divisional basis within the county, then one of these two fine teams, who proved themselves to be the best in the county this year, would not be have contested Sunday’s final. Ask yourself who would be the looser. The answer most defiantly would be hurling. What a shame it would have been if these two sides had not got the chance to do battle.

From the off the writing was on the wall that this was going to be one of those not to miss games.

When the sides met in the league stages of the competition back in July it was Saint Carthage’s that came out on top winning 2-14 to 1-9. On the night Dungarvan were short some players, so with both sides at full strength everybody knew that this battle was going to be a very tight one.

When two sides meet twice in the same competition, the side that wins the first game always know that they are up against it in the second game which is always the harder game to win.

Dungarvan had a good start in this game. Cathal Curran who won the Man of the Match Award hit a brace of early points to give them a 0-2 to 0-0 score with less than three minutes played.

The side from the far west who in the panel include players from Ballysaggart, Lismore, Melleray and Tourin hit back with a goal on five minutes. Shane Bennett had his shot saved but Adam Flynn was in the right place at the right time and got a touch on the ball too put it past Rian Crotty in the Dungarvan goal.

Cathal Curran and Shane Bennett swapped scores from frees before Cathal Curran levelled matters with ten minutes played when he put over his fourth score of the game.

For many years Waterford were struggling to find goal keepers that were up to the same standard as the likes of Donal Óg Cusack, Davy Fitzgerald, Brendan Cummins and Damien Fitzhenry, but all of a sudden, a group of brilliant young goalkeepers have started to come through where little if anything separates them in ability.

One of these goalkeepers is Seanie Barry. In this game he proved why he is so highly rated, making two fantastic saves. The first of these saves came on ten minutes when he dived low to his left to keep out a Patrick Curran effort. He put the ball out for a ’65 which Cathal Curran converted. The same player hit his sixth point of the game moments later and on fourteen minutes Seanie Barry again made a fantastic save keeping out a Lee Hyslop shot using his feet.

Cathal Curran and Darragh Prendergast exchanged points either side of the quarter way mark in the game before Shane Bennett and Cormac Curran exchanged points from frees.

Patrick Curran gave Dungarvan a three point advantage on twenty one minutes before Stephen Bennett and Ryan Donnelly swapped scores within seconds of each other on twenty-two minutes.

Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Ryan Donnelly, Stephen Bennett again and Cathal Curran hit points between the twenty-third and twenty-eight minute which kept four between the sides.

On twenty-nine minutes a long range Stephen Bennett free went straight to the net to cut Dungarvan’s lead to one but in the time added at the end of the first half Cathal Curran twice scored to give his side a 0-15 to 2-6 lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

Dungarvan began the second half as they had started the first with Aaron Donnelly pointing two minutes after the restart.

Stephen Bennett who had a fine game in the black and amber shirt hit four points in a row, two from frees and two from play to draw the sides level with thirteen minutes of the second half played.

Patrick Curran followed up with a delightful score before older brother Cathal cracked the ball past Seanie Barry following some good work by Ryan Donnelly on forty-six minutes which gave Dungarvan a 1-17 to 2-10 lead.

However, within seconds the sides were back to a one point difference once more. From the restart the side from the far west of the county worked the ball down field and Adam Flynn made no mistake in hitting his second goal of the game with fourteen minutes to play.

Cathal Curran added two points before Stephen Bennett did like wise to leave one between the sides with time ticking down.

However, there was still time for some drama, lots of it.

Kieran Bennett brought the sides level with a minute to play. Dungarvan attacked and after some good work by Ryan Donnelly he found Aaron Donnelly who hit a second Dungarvan goal which sent the large support for the Old Boro club leaping into the air.

However, the game was not over and with two minutes of added time played Stephen Bennett hit his second goal of the game to level matters once more.

Most would have been in agreement had the time to be added at the end of the half not been announced, the fairest thing that referee Thomas Walsh could do at this stage would be to blow his full time whistle. If he did, few would have complained. But the time was announced and he had to keep going.

Patrick Curran with the help of the upright gave Dungarvan the lead on sixty-three minutes and seconds later Ryan Donnelly who played a real captains roll in this game further extended Dungarvan’s lead.

When the full time whistle followed shortly afterwards, it was met with a huge seal of approval from the Dungarvan supporters who won a first final at this grade for the first time in twenty-eight long years.

Dungarvan: Rian Crotty; Shane Duggan, Jack Morrissey, Billy Egan; Keith Healy, Kevin Daly, Darragh Lyons; Glen Power, Joe Allen; Cathal Curran, Gavin Power, Patrick Curran; Aaron Donnelly, Ryan Donnelly, Lee Hyslop. Subs: Denis Kirwan for Shane Duggan, Darragh Fitzgerald for Denis Kirwan,

Scorers: Cathal Curran 1-13 (0-11 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Patrick Curran 0-4, Aaron Donnelly 1-1, Ryan Donnelly 0-3.

Saint Carthage’s: Seanie Barry; Pat Hennessy, Bobby Ryan, Jack Leahy; Darren Meagher, Kieran Bennett, David Prendergast; Mark Montayne, Paudie Coleman; Stephen Bennett, Darragh Prendergast, Jordan Shanahan; Adam Flynn, Shane Bennett, Ronan Landers. Subs: Cathal Fitzgerald for Mark Montayne, Stephen Hale for Darragh Prendergast.

Scorers: Stephen Bennett 2-9 (0-4 frees), Adam Flynn 2-0, Shane Bennett 0-2, Darragh Prendergast, Kieran Bennett 0-1 each.

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Fourmilewater).  

Kilmacthomas, Ballinameela and An Rinn advance to Munster Club Championships

Another exciting weekend of hurling and football in the Déise County has come to an end. Five different clubs have collected some silverware, three of which now go on to represent the county in the Munster Club Championship while other clubs have moved to with sixty minutes of possibly collecting some silverware in the next week or two.

Kilmacthomas are county junior football champions for 2012 after they beat Tallow in the first of three finals played at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon beating Tallow.

Early goals from Anthony Power and Eoin Walsh sent the mid county side nicely along their way.

A Michael Curley goal for Tallow four minutes from the break brought the Bride-siders to within a point of Kilmacthomas who went in leading 2-4 to 1-5 at the break after kicking a late point.

Scores in the second half were hard fought. Kilmacthomas added six to their half time tally while Tallow added just two.

Kilmacthomas will now move up to the Intermediate ranks in 2013 adding to what is already a tough Eastern Championship to come out of.

The middle game at Walsh Park was the first of two between Ballinameela and De La Salle. The first meeting of the two sides was the County Junior Football ‘Intermediate Attached’ Final which proved to be a closely fought battle.

De La Salle had the better of the exchanges in the first half and went in at the break leading 0-5 to 0-3.

A goal from Kieran Egan mid way through the second half helped extend the city sides lead to 1-9 to 0-4 but the Western Champions finished the stronger of the two sides. The added a Benny Fitzgerald goal in the closing five minutes of the game but they had left themselves with too much to do and after sixty minutes had to settle for second best going under 1-10 to 1-8.

The Intermediate County Final between the same two sides saw De La Salle have a flying start hitting a very early goal. However by the time the break came around, Ballinameela had reeled in De La Salle and lead 0-8 to 1-3.

The second half saw the two sides continue to battle hard against each other and after sixty minutes it was Ballinameela who moved back up to the Senior ranks twelve months after dropping down to the Intermediate grade, winning the game on a 0-12 to 1-8 scoreline.

In the Senior Football Championship, the Nire proved too strong for Clashmore at Fraher Field, and in the process proved that goals do win games.

First half goals from Shane Ryan from a Penalty and Jamie Barron help set up a 2-6 to 0-7 lead at the break for The Nire.

A third Nire goal from Thomas O’Gorman twenty three seconds after the restart killed off any chance that Clashmore had. The Nire eventually ran out 3-13 to 0-15 winners and will now meet Stradbally in the County Final in two weeks time.

Dungarvan won a classic Minor ‘A’ Final at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon. Both sides had a number of outstanding players on show in this game.

Dungarvan with the wind at their backs in the first half proved to be slightly the better of the two sides, with Cathal Curran having an impressive thirty minutes from placed balls. Goals from Adam Flynn and Stephen Bennett however kept them in the game and went in only trailing 0-15 to 2-6.

Cathal Curran hit a goal for Dungarvan on forty-six minutes to give his side a 1-17 to 2-10 lead but it was cancelled out within seconds after Adam Flynn hit his second of the game.

Aaron Donnelly hit a second Dungarvan goal sixty seconds from the hour mark to give his side a 2-19 to 3-13 lead but in added time Stephen Bennett hit his second of the game to level matters on sixty two minutes.

Dungarvan however proved to be the hungrier of the two sides and in the two remaining minutes, they made up somewhat for the disappointment of loosing the senior final a week previously after Patrick Curran with the help of the upright and team captain Ryan Donnelly added points to secure a 2-21 to 4-13 victory.

The Intermediate Hurling final proved to be a very disappointing affair. On the day Portlaw proved no match for an An Rinn side that had obviously done a lot of work under the guidance of Peter Power in recent weeks.

A goal from Man of the Match – Liam Ó Lionáin on six minutes set the ball rolling as far as An Rinn were concerned.

Portlaw had a goal disallowed on thirteen minutes, the referee and umpires seemingly indicating that the ball was thrown or hand passed to the An Rinn net.

Within seconds An Rinn won a penalty after Liam Ó Lionáin was fouled but Donie Breathnach saw his effort saved and cleared by former reserve Waterford senior hurling net minder Noel Kelly.

An Rinn went in leading 1-8 to 0-3 and despite finishing the game with thirteen men after Ciaran Ó Manachain was sent off midway through the second half on a straight red card and loosing Eoin Breathnach late in the game with an injury having used their quota of subs, An Rinn proved too strong for Portlaw and will now go on to play the Cork or Limerick Champions in a Munster Semi Final in the coming weeks.

The Nire March On

If there is a better footballer in this years County Senior Football Championship than The Nire’s Liam Lawlor, I have yet to see him.

Throughout this years championship he has been model of consistency playing on the edge of the oppositions square. He’s involved in much of what the Nire do in their opponent’s side of the field. If he is not scoring he is making scores for others.  

On Saturday evening in The Nire’s 3-13 to 0-15 victory over Clashmore in the County semi final he was at it again. He finished the game with another two points behind his name on the score sheet but his fine worked helped in no small way in building up an impressive tally on the scoreboard for his side.

Clashmore will obviously feel hard done by with their effort in this game. Normally fifteen points in a game would not just win you a game, but win it well. But it was not to be in this game.

For much of this year, The Nire has proven themselves to be a very attractive team to watch and they did so again here. They are playing a brand of football that is easy on the eye and if they go on to win the County Final they will win many admirers for their way of playing when they go on to represent the county in the provincial championship.

Both teams in this game had to make changes to the team submitted for the programme. Clashmore lost their influential inside forward Sean Fleming, while The Nire were without Shane Walsh who retired early against Kilrossanty in their quarter final replay win a week earlier.

It was The Nire that was quickest off the mark as Liam Lawlor pointed with just forty-five seconds played.

Cillian O’Keeffe responded with a point for Clashmore. Seconds later Liam Lawlor saw his effort come back off the posts but Darren Guiry was quick to react and put the ball between the uprights to give The Nire the lead once more.

It was a short lived lead however as inside a three minute spell, Brian O’Halloran who had a fine game for Clashmore trice pointed to give Clashmore the lead.

Brian Wall pulled a point back for The Nire on eleven minutes and seconds later the sides were all square again when Liam Lawlor kicked his second score of the game.

A Tadhg Bourke free on thirteen minutes gave Clashmore a 0-5 to 0-4 lead and many were begin to wonder could we be about to see a championship where the two sides that played the opening game back in April be involved in the closing game in early November.

However, we got an indication three minutes later that this might not be about to happen. Richie Fenton won his side a soft penalty after he went tumbling to the ground and from twelve metres Shane Ryan made no mistake planting the ball low and hard to Declan Hickey’s right hand side of the goal to give his side a 1-4 to 0-5 lead.

Points from Brian O’Halloran and Seamus Lawlor were traded in the following minutes before John Prendergast was put through with a Paul O’Connor pass but he saw his effort rise just over the cross bar just as it looked that a goal could be on.

Five minutes from time, The Nire hit their second score of the game and possibly their most crucial. John Moore did well to find Jamie Barron in front of the Clashmore goal and from close range he made no mistake in giving his side a 2-5 to 0-7 lead and three minutes later Martin Walsh broke forward from his centre back position and from forty-five metres he dissected the posts for a good score which gave his side a five points lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

The second half was just twenty three seconds old and when The Nire hit their third goal of the game. The Comeragh men won the throw in and immediately attacked the Clashmore goal. Thomas O’Gorman attempted to fist pass the ball over the bar but the attempt never got the required height. Expecting the ball to go straight to the net The Clashmore defenders waited for the whistle rather than keep an eye on the ball and when the ball hit the upright and came back to Thomas O’Gorman the Clashmore defence was powerless to stop him hitting the net at the second time of asking.

Clashmore at this stage needed a goal to come back into contention but it never came. Credit to Clashmore however they never gave up and were still trying hard near the end of the game.

Brian O’Halloran, Richie Fenton and Declan Allen swapped points before Brian O’Halloran kicked a brace of frees to leave his side trailing 3-7 to 0-11 with ten minutes of the second half played.

Jamie Barron and Michael O’Gorman kicked points for The Nire in a sixty minute spell before Tadhg Bourke hit a free at the end of the third quarter at which point The Nire held a 3-9 to 0-12 advantage.

Cousins Shane Ryan and Brian Wall extended The Nire’s lead to eight points with ten minutes to play and three minutes later Brian Wall further extended the lead with another point.

Declan Allen and Karl O’Keeffe kicked points for Clashmore to reduce The Nire’s lead but they were mere consolation scores.

Seamus Lawlor kicked his second score of the game three minutes from the hour mark and in added time Brian O’Halloran brought the scoring to its conclusion in this game with his eight score of the game.

This is a game that will have done a lot of good to The Nire. In recent weeks they looked a team starting to tire, but their quarter final replay win seemed to have instilled new life into the team and this win should instil even more life into them.

They have two weeks to wait now before they play Stradbally in the County Final.

It’s a final that could attract some considerable interest. The Nire as pointed out are playing some good football all year and under Pat Curran, Stradbally as they year have gone on have looked better and better as the year progressed.

It’s likely to be a final where contrasting styles of football will be used.  Who will win is anybody’s guess at this stage but one things for sure, its likely to be a close game as so many of the clashes between the sides have been in recent years.

The Nire: Tom Wall; Maurice O’Gorman, Justin Walsh, James McGrath; John Moore, Martin Walsh, Seamus Lawlor; Thomas O’Gorman, Michael O’Gorman; Richie Fenton, Brian Wall, Jamie Barron; Darren Guiry, Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan. Subs: Craig Guiry for Michael O’Gorman, Diarmuid Wall for Darren Guiry, Ian Coffey for John Moore, Connie Power for Richie Fenton, JP Fitzgerald for Jamie Barron.

Scorers: Shane Ryan 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 free), Jamie Barron 1-1, Brian Wall 0-3, Thomas O’Gorman 1-0, Liam Lawlor, Seamus Lawlor 0-2 each, Darren Guiry, Michael O’Gorman, Richie Fenton, Martin Walsh 0-1 each. 

Clashmore: Declan Hickey; Sean Bourke, Jason Seaward, Sean O’Connor; Colm Faherty, Gavin Dower, Kieran Connery; Karl O’Keeffe, Darren Foley; Brian O’Halloran, Tadhg Bourke, Declan Allen; Cillian O’Keeffe, John Prendergast, Paul O’Connor. Subs: Ciaran Bourke for Sean Bourke, Donal O’Connor for Paul O’Connor.

Scorers: Brian O’Halloran 0-8 (0-5 frees), Tadhg Bourke (2 frees), Declan Allen 0-2 each, Cillian O’Keeffe, John Prendergast, Karl O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Affane)