Big three remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship.

The big three in the Waterford Senior Football Championship remain unbeaten in this years competition after recording big wins in the second series of games played over the past weekend.

Ballinacourty proved too strong for Rathgormack on Saturday evening at Fraher Field. The same two clubs met in the recent Under 21 ‘A’ Football County Final played at the same venue where victory went to the Comeragh Men, who over the past few years have put together some good results together on the underage scene and were expected to transfer this success to the adult scene this year.

The first half proved to be an even enough encounter with a goal struck by Mark Ferncombe from the penalty spot following a foul on Ross Dunford proving to be the difference between the sides.

In the second half with the winds at their backs Ballinacourty proved to be by far the stronger sides, as they allowed their opponents to register just two points on the scoreboard while they hit 1-10, their second goal coming from Mark Ferncombe in the last ten minutes of the game.

At Stradbally on Saturday evening, Ardmore and Gaultier had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Gaultier started by hitting a point inside ten seconds of the game starting and hit a goal eleven minutes from the break after Rory Walsh was in the right place in the right time to capitalise on a JJ Hutchinson effort that fell short of the target.

The Barony Men appeared to be destined to register a first win with time ticking down as they held a four point lead with as many minutes to play as JJ Hutchinson hit a brace of goals one from a penalty. They could even consider themselves to be somewhat unlucky not to have been even further in front as Conor O’Shea proved to be very alert when he took the ball off the line.

However Ardmore put in a terrific finish kicking four points in the closing minutes Wayne Hennessy, John Gartland and Seamus Keating to leave one between the sides and when Ardmore won a late free, Keating held his nerve to put the ball between the uprights from fifty metres.

The final game played on Saturday evening saw Stradbally prove too strong for Saint Saviours, running out winners with thirteen points to spare at Kilmacthomas.

In the three games played on Sunday, The Nire proved too strong for last years County Intermediate Champions Ballinameela in the opening game at Fraher Field.

Inter County Hurlers Shane Walsh and Liam Lawlor started for the Nire in this game. Liam Lawlor hit five points for his side playing at Full forward while Shane Walsh hit three points.

The Nire lead six points to one at the break, but Ballinameela hit three early second half points and looked as if they were going to make a game of it, but in the final quarter without ever moving up through the gears, The Nire were able to call on all their experience to coast to a 1-16 to 0-6 victory, the goal coming ten minutes from time from the boot of Brian Wall who was set up by Liam Lawlor.

The second game played at Fraher Field on Sunday between Clashmore and Kilrossanty saw stand out performances from Sean Fleming and Joey Veale for their respective side.

Two first half goals from Sean Fleming gave Clashmore a 2-3 to 0-5 lead at the break and they looked as if they were going to go on and record a comfortable victory.

However with Joey Veale in fine form in front of goal, finishing the game with seven points to his name, Kilrossanty managed to make a game of it in the second half and at one point nearing its conclusion just two points separated the teams after Paul Whyte hit Kilrossanty’s goal.

However after Kilrossanty had their numbers cut after Michael Kirwan was sent off on a second yellow card and John Prendergast was given a controversial point (from the stand it looked at least two metres wide), Kilrossanty found it hard to fight back and Clashmore were able to record a second win in this years championship with four points to spare.

The final game of the weekend saw Brickeys and An Rinn meet in a local derby clash.

An Rinn always looked like winners in this game and lead 0-5 t0 0-1 after twenty minutes but a point was taken off this lead at the break at which time An Rinn lead 0-6 to 0-3.

With six minutes to play An Rinn lead 0-10 to 0-6 and were looking somewhat comfortable but a Conor McGrath goal inside the last five minutes made things very interesting, but An Rinn held out for a 0-11 to 1-6 victory.

Meanwhile, this past weekend saw Waterford’s minor footballers record a first championship win since 2009 when they beat Limerick 3-10 to 3-9 at Fraher Field.

First half goals from Tom Devine and Conor Gleeson with Limerick responding through Jack English gave Waterford a deserved 2-5 to 1-5 at the break.

Waterford hit a third goal through substitute Kevin Daly which gave them a 3-9 to 1-6 lead but Waterford took the foot off the accelerator in the closing minutes and Limerick were able to take advantage of this as goals from Brian O’Connell and James Naughton hit goals with Jack Breen adding a point in between to bring them to within one of Waterford but the home side were able to hold off in the end for a deserved win and a place in the semi finals.

Senior Football results from this weekend

Stradbally        3-17     Saint Saviours  1-10

Gaultier           3-4       Ardmore          0-13

Ballinacourty   2-15     Rathgormack  0-7      

Kilrossanty       1-8       Clashmore       2-9

Nire                 1-16     Ballinameela   0-6

An Rinn            0-11     Brickeys           1-6

League Table J J Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Group 1

 

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Stradbally	2	2	0	0	47	18	29	4
Clashmore	2	2	0	0	22	17	5	4
Kilrossanty	2	1	0	1	27	17	10	2
Ardmore	2	0	1	1	19	20	-1	1
Gaultier	2	0	1	1	18	34	-16	1
St Saviour's	2	0	0	2	15	42	-27	0

 

League Table J J Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship Group 2

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
The Nire	2	2	0	0	35	12	23	4
Ballinacourty	2	2	0	0	33	16	17	4
An Rinn	2	1	0	1	20	21	-1	2
Brickeys	2	0	0	2	15	27	-12	0
Ballinameela	1	0	0	1	6	19	-13	0
Rathgormack	1	0	0	1	7	21	-14	0