Hurney helps Waterford to first League win in 2016

Waterford’s bid to get out of Division Four for the 2017 National Football League received a boost on Sunday afternoon as they recorded a clear cut three goal win over Carlow at Dr. Cullen Park.

Having lost their opening games to Wicklow at Aughrim and Louth at Carriganore, Tom McGlinchey and his charges knew that nothing other than a win at Carlow would mean that their hopes for promotion were as good as over for another year.

This was a game that Waterford never trailed in. Tom McGlinchey’s men took the lead inside sixty seconds of the throw in when Joey Veale split the home side posts.

Carlow responded with a point on three minutes through Darragh Foley to draw level for the first of three times in this game.

Waterford however were soon on top of the home side with Man of the Match Patrick Hurney playing a pivotal roll.

He hit the first of his scores, a pointed free on six minutes and when Waterford won the resulting kick out the same player again had the umpire reaching for a white flag.

Waterford went five points up on seven minutes. Tommy Prendergast and Conor Prunty have built up a good centre of the field partnership for Waterford this year and when they won the ball on seven minutes, the ball was quickly sent into the Waterford attack where Patrick Hurney was again lurking and he shot low past Robbie Molloy for the first goal of the game.

Carlow pulled points back through Gary Kelly and JJ Smith to leave Patrick Hurney’s goal between the sides on the score board, a lead that was stretched by one when Donie Breathnach hit his first score of the afternoon on eleven minutes.

This however proved to be Waterford’s last score till just before the interval as the home side hit four scores in a row through JJ Smith, Brian Murphy, Chris Blake and Alan Kelly to draw the sides level for the second time in the game.

Waterford however would head to the dressing rooms at the short whistle with the smallest of margins between the sides (1-5 to 0-7) after Donie Breathnach split the Carlow posts for the second time on thirty five minutes.

Waterford came out for the second half intent on adding to their advantage on the score board but Conor Prunty and Paul Whyte had chances for goals kept out by Robbie Molloy.

The eventual winners must have wondered would they be made to pay for these misses three minutes into the half when Brian Murphy put over another point to draw the sides level for a third time.

Waterford however quickly got into their stride and were soon on top once more after Patrick Hurney and Shaun Corcoran landed points from frees.

Waterford went five points in front ten minutes after the restart when Patrick Hurney hit his second goal of the game after he was picked out by Gavin Crotty who has impressed in the white and blue shirt since he joined the panel for 2016.

A minute later, Waterford’s lead went to six as Paul Whyte put over a point, but the home side would soon have a purple patch. Alan Kelly and Conor Prunty swapped points before Darragh Foley and Brian Murphy kicked points which was followed with an effort from Tommy Prendergast and then two more points for the home side through Darragh Foley and Derek Hayden which had Waterford leading 2-10 to 0-13 with a quarter of an hour remaining on the clock.

Paul Whyte and Paul Broderick swapped scores for their respective sides before Ed Finnegan and Paul Whyte did likewise to keep Waterford 2-12 to 0-15 in front with six minutes remaining.

Disaster was then to strike for the home side as full back Daniel St. Ledger was sent to the line by Monaghan referee Niall McKenna after he was issued with a second yellow card.

With a numerical advantage Waterford in the closing minutes pushed the home side hard and were able to add points through Patrick Hurney and Michael O’Halloran before Donie Breathnach beat Robbie Molloy for a third Waterford goal on the day.

With the win secured deep in stoppage time, Waterford helped improve their score difference with a point from Patrick Hurney to bring his tally for the afternoon to 2-5.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Maurice O’Gorman, James McGrath; Brian Looby, Stephen Prendergast, Ray Ó Ceallaigh; Tommy Prendergast, Conor Prunty: Gavin Crotty, Donie Breathnach, Patrick Hurney; Shaun Corcoran, Joey Veale, Paul Whyte. Subs: Michael O’Halloran for Shaun Corcoran, JJ Hutchinson for Joey Veale, Michael Curry for Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Craig Guiry for Gavin Crotty, Liam Lawlor for Paul Whyte.

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 2-5 (0-2f), Donie Breathnach 1-2, Paul Whyte 0-3 (1f), Joey Veale, Shaun Corcoran (f), Tommy Prendergast, Conor Prunty, Michael O’Halloran 0-1 each.

Carlow: Robbie Molloy; Barry John Molloy, Daniel St. Ledger, Kieran Nolan; Gary Kelly, John Murphy, Benny Cavanagh; Sean Gannon, Darragh Foley; Ed Finnegan, Hugh Gahan, Alan Kelly; Brian Murphy, Chris Blake, JJ Smith. Subs: Derek Hayden for John Murphy, Darragh O’Brien for JJ Smith, Paul Broderick for Brian Murphy.

Scorers: Brian Murphy (1f), Darragh Foley (3f) 0-3 each, Alan Kelly, JJ Smith 0-2 each, Gary Kelly, Chris Blake, Derek Hayden, Ed Finnegan, Paul Broderick 0-1 each.

Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan)