Waterford footballers begin with a win

This years Allianz National Football Division Four League has the potential to be the best in a long time.

In recent years, very little has separated the majority of the competing teams with most on a given day able to pull off a result.

Sides that have gone up in recent years have also done well and some have put back to back promotions together proving that the gap between teams in the third tier of the National League and the fourth is very small.

For every team this year a win is a must as points dropped could prove to be very costly come late spring when the top two sides after seven rounds of games get the chance for most of the sides in the division will get the chance to play at G.A.A. head quarters on Jones’ Road in Dublin 3.

Waterford made the long trip to Hennessy Memorial Park in Miltown Malbay on Sunday last for their opening game in this years league against a Clare side who this year are under the guidance of the legendary Mick O’Dwyer who in the late 1970’s and early 80’s guided Kerry to four All-Ireland finals in a row, and came within a whiskers length of winning what would be an historic five finals in a row.

Clashes between Waterford and Clare in recent years were close fought battles and this latest one was no different.

David Tubridy got the scoring under way in this game with a point from a free on five minutes.

In the opening half the sides were all square on five occasions. Shane Ahearne levelled matters for Waterford before Cathal O’Connor gave the home side the lead once more.

Patrick Hurney pointed for Waterford and then Darren Guiry gave Waterford the lead for the first time when he slotted over on his debut at this level of football.

Alan Clohessy levelled matters once more and his effort was followed by a point from Chris Dunning as Clare took a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.

Paul Whyte hit points for Waterford on twenty three and twenty five minutes to give Waterford a 0-5 to 0-4 lead playing with the wind at their backs and with ten minutes of the opening half to play.

The home side however were to finish the stronger of the two sides in the opening half and a brace of points from David Tubridy on twenty seven and thirty one minutes had Clare in front once more and they managed to double their lead before the break when Marty McMahon gave Mick O’Dwyer’s men an 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the change of ends.

On the resumption Clare began as they ended the opening half as Shane McGrath pointed inside thirty seconds of the restart to give his side a three point lead.

Waterford however then began to enjoy a period of dominance.

Winning much of the breaking ball in and around the middle of the field, Robert Ahearne put over a brace of frees and then Paul Whyte scored to level matters at eight points each.

The games only green flag was raised on forty eight minutes. Some good work by Liam Ó Lionáin set up Darren Guiry who beat Joe Hayes in the Clare goal to give Waterford a three point advantage.

Shane McGrath responded with a point for Clare only for it to be cancelled out by Brickeys club man Conor McGrath.

Clare began to pile on the pressure in the time that remained and his two points from David Tubridy but were unable to get the further scores that would get them something from the game.

A 1-9 to 0-11 win it was for Waterford who next up play Tipperary at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

The two sides met recently in the McGrath Cup at Tipperary Town where the home side came out on top after extra time.

Since then however, the Premier County side have lost twice, to Kerry in the McGrath Cup final and last weekend at home to Carlow in the National League. They will want to bring their loosing run to an end against Waterford but at Fraher Field a side over the last few years have had to work extremely hard if they are to get something from the game.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Conor Phelan, Stephen Prendergast, John Hurney; Paul Whyte, Shane Briggs, Tony Grey; Shane Ahearne, Tommy Prendergast; Conor McGrath, Patrick Hurney, Maurice O’Gorman, Darren Guiry, Robert Ahearne, Liam Ó Lionáin. Subs: Gavin Nugent for Conor McGrath, Ronan Cahill for Tommy Prendergast, David Hallahan for Darren Guiry.

Scorers: Darren Guiry 1-1, Paul Whyte, 0-3, Robert Ahearne 0-2 (2 frees), Shane Ahearne, Conor McGrath, Patrick Hurney 0-1 each.

Clare: Joe Hayes; Laurence Healy, Shane McNelis, Enda Coughlan; Declan Callinan, Gordon Kelly,  Martin McMahon; Gary Brennan, Cathal O’Connor; Alan Clohessy, Shane McGrath, Chris Dunning; Mark McCarthy, Niall Kelly David Tubridy. Subs: Ger Quinlan for Gordon Kelly, John Keane for Shane McGrath, Cathal Duggan for Mark McCarthy.

Scorers: David Tubridy 0-5 (3 frees), Shane McGrath ((0-2), Martin McMahon, Cathal O’Connor, Alan Clohessy, Chris Dunning 0-1 each.

Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)