Waterford Senior Hurling and Football Fixtures Are Confirmed

Waterford’s fixtures in both Senior Hurling and Senior Football have been confirmed. In hurling for the Munster Championship it is to be confirmed that Walsh Park will be the venue for the games against Tipperary and Cork.

In both the Munster League and the McGrath Cup the two group winners will contest the finals of the competition. In the National Hurling league the top three teams in each group advance to the knockout stages. The second placed team in one group will play the third team in the opposite group in the quarter finals. The two group winners advance to the semi finals.

The Munster Hurling Championship the top two teams contest the Munster Final. The winner advance to the All-Ireland semi finals, the runners up and the third placed team enter the All-Ireland qualifiers at an earlier stage. In football the winner of the Waterford and Limerick game will contest the semi final against the winner of the Tipperary and Clare game. If Waterford fails to reach the Munster Final they will contest the new All-Ireland ‘B’ Championship.

 

Waterford’s 2020 Senior Hurling Fixtures:

20 December 2019	Munster League	Waterford	Cork	Fraher Field	7-30pm
5 January	Munster League	Waterford	Kerry	Austin Stack Park	2pm
26 January	National League	Waterford	Cork	Walsh Park	2pm
2 February	National League	Waterford	Westmeath	Mullingar	2pm
15 February	National League	Waterford	Limerick	Gaelic Grounds	7pm
23 February	National League	Waterford	Galway	Walsh Park	2pm
1 March	National League	Waterford	Tipperary	Thurles	2pm
10 May	Munster Championship	Waterford	Tipperary	Walsh Park	2pm
17 May	Munster Championship	Waterford	Limerick	Gaelic Grounds	2pm
31 May	Munster Championship	Waterford	Cork	Walsh Park	2pm
14 June	Munster Championship	Waterford	Clare	Ennis	2pm

 

Waterford’s 2020 Senior Football Fixtures:

2 January	McGrath Cup	Waterford	Limerick	Fraher Field	7-30pm
5 January	McGrath Cup	Waterford	Clare	Ennis	2pm
25 January	National League	Waterford	Limerick	Fraher Field	7pm
2 February	National League	Waterford	Wicklow	Aughrim	2pm
8 February	National League	Waterford	Wexford	Fraher Field	7pm
22 February	National League	Waterford	Sligo	Markievicz Park	2pm
29 February	National League	Waterford	Carlow	Fraher Field	7pm
14 March	National League	Waterford	London	Fraher Field	5pm
22 March	National League	Waterford	Antrim	Glenavy	1pm
9 May	Munster Championship	Waterford	Limerick	Fraher Field	7pm

 

Borris-Ileigh Quash Ballygunner’s hopes of Back to Back Munster Titles

There was heartbreak for Ballygunner at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday afternoon as they lost out to a strong Borris-Ileigh side who joined Ballygunner on two provincial championship wins on the Roll of Honour and the North Tipperary Club now go on to play Galway Champions St Thomas’ in the All-Ireland Semi Final on January 5.

Played out before an attendance of 2,663 this game was a thriller from start to finish and from very early it looked like whichever side emerged as the victors on the day would be worthy winners.

It was Ballygunner that were looking to be in the driving seat at the break as they turned around with a 0-9 to 0-6 lead, but the Tipperary Champions recovered well in the second half and when they opened up a two point lead it must have looked as if victory would be theirs but this is an experienced Ballygunner side and when Barry O’Sullivan netted a goal to put them back in front the hopes of the huge Borris-Ileigh support inside the ground must have been asking themselves had their hopes for a second Munster Title in 33 years evaporated.

However the Borris-Ileigh support saw their hero’s dig very deep and came up with the scores that secured them a deserved victory at the end of a thrilling encounter.

The weather conditions on the day dictated that this was never going to be a high scoring game. It was the Tipperary Club that opened the scoring with a point on 26 seconds but as we have seen many times over the years, Ballygunner were in front within three minutes when Pauric Mahony split the Borris-Ileigh posts at the city end of the ground with a brace of frees.

Brendan Maher who was outstanding throughout for the Tipperary side levelled matters when he put over a ’65, Ballygunner were back in front when Billy O’Keeffe fired over, but Brendan Maher levelled matters once more when he put over another placed ball.

Dessie Hutchinson who has shown fine form all year for Ballygunner once more showed why he is so highly regarded when he got away from the experienced Paddy Stapleton to edge Ballygunner back in front.

While Borris-Ileigh would score next through Jerry Kelly, it was Ballygunner that proved to be the better of the two sides when it came to scoring in the remainder of the half as Pauric Mahony and Dessie Hutchinson added a brace of scores to their tally and Paddy Leavy chipped in with one, while the North Tipperary side had single responses from Kevin and Brendan Maher, both from frees and Conor Kenny hit one from play to leave then trailing by three at the break.

Borris-Ileigh started the second half smartly and an early converted free from Brendan Maher meant that Ballygunner’s advantage on the scoreboard was much more manageable for them.

On 38 minutes Ballygunner carved out a good goal scoring chance as Dessie Hutchinson picked out Peter Hogan who was through on goal. The Borris-Ileigh defence took a gamble and fouled Hogan rather than allow him to have a shot at James McCormack in the Borris-Ileigh goal, resulting in referee Johnny Murphy whistling for a free from which Pauric Mahony put over the Borris-Ileigh crossbar to once more open up a three point lead.

Those that may have underestimated the challenge that Borris-Ileigh would pose to the 2018 Champions were told to ignore what the bookies were telling them elsewhere on this blog at the weekend, and at the end of the third quarter the Tipperary outfit netter the first goal of the game.

The North Tipperary Club won a ruck inside their own 65 metre line and when Ray McCormack took off with the ball he raced at the Ballygunner defence, laying the ball off to Kieran Maher who kept a cool head and finished off his left beating Stephen O’Keeffe in the Ballygunner goal and in doing so levelled matters 1-7 to 0-10.

The atmosphere was electric inside the ground after this and when Brendan Maher followed up with a brace of scores the first of which coming from play, Borris-Ileigh found themselves two points up with 12 minutes left to play.

The sign of a good team is how they bounce back after a period in which they conceded five points in a four minute spell, and Ballygunner bounced back in fine fashion as Dessie Hutchinson from out near the sideline picked out Barry O’Sullivan who was unmarked and he raced at the Borris-Ileigh goal and he made no mistake in sending his side back in front by one with ten minutes remaining.

Jerry Kelly and Conor Sheahan swapped scores to keep Ballygunner in front, but the sides were level again with just over four minutes to play when Brendan Maher put over a free after Paddy Leavy was deemed to have over carried the ball.

The game was now up for the side that showed the greater hunger and it was the North Tipperary side that showed this. Conor Kenny picked out Niall Kenny with a pass with just over a minute of normal time to play. The Borris-Ileigh centre forward was fouled as he attempted to get the better of Stephen O’Keeffe who saved the Borris-Ileigh man’s effort, but the Limerick referee was indicating that he was allowing an advantage to happen after the foul was committed and when it amounted to nothing he called the play back and awarded the side in Maroon and White a free, which Brendan Maher already a hero to the people of Borris-Ileigh elevated his status even further when he converted what was to prove to be the winner with his seventh point of the game.

With extra time to be played on the day if required the North Tipperary side proved to be ultra disciplined making sure that they gave away no scoreable free which Pauric Mahony would have been expected to convert.

The North Tipperary side held on to win in what a close game throughout. Just one point separated the sides at the end of the sixty plus minutes and to further show how close things were both sides shot seven points each, which Borris-Ileigh saw seven efforts fall short of the target, two more than which Ballygunner missed.

Borris-Ileigh: James McCormack; Séamus Burke, Paddy Stapleton, Liam Ryan; Seán McCormack, Brendan Maher, Ray McCormack; Tommy Ryan, Dan McCormack; Conor Kenny, Niall Kenny, Kieran Maher; Kevin Maher, Jerry Kelly, James Devaney.

Sub: Jack Hogan for Tommy Ryan (25),

Scorers: Brendan Maher 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Kieran Maher 1-0, Jerry Kelly 0-2 (0-1 s/l), Niall Kenny, Conor Kenny, Kevin Maher 0-1 each.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Eddie Hayden, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Billy O’Keeffe, Philip Mahony, Shane O’Sullivan; Michael Mahony, Conor Sheahan; Paddy Leavy, Pauric Mahony, Barry O’Sullivan, Tim O’Sullivan , Peter Hogan, Dessie Hutchison.

Subs: Conor Power for Peter Hogan (43), JJ Hutchison for Tim O’Sullivan (54)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-5 (0-4 frees), Dessie Hutchinson 0-3, Barry O’Sullivan 1-0, Paddy Leavy, Conor Sheahan, Billy O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

Heartbreak for Ballysaggart in Munster Final

Ballysaggart’s hopes of winning a Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship to go with the Munster Junior Hurling Championship in 2013 were ended at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon where they fell just short of the target set by Cork Champions Fr. O’Neill’s who had Lismore man James O’Connor wearing the Bainisteoir bib for the Cork side.

If the East Cork side had inside knowledge of the threat that Ballysaggart posed in this game the same could well be said of the West Waterford side as Ballysaggart man Pat Bennett was in charge of the East Cork outfit out fit with the past while.

The old adage that goals win games once more proved to be true in this game as it was the ability of the Cork side to hit one in each half that proved to be the difference between the side with the shooting of Declan Dalton from placed balls also a telling factor, hitting two frees from inside his own sixty-five metre line, scores worthy of winning any game.

While Ballysaggart will be disappointed with the final outcome of this game, they can be very proud of what they have achieved in the last couple of years. Hurling supporters in the West of the County in particular will remember a time when Ballysaggart were playing Junior ‘B’ Hurling and now next year they will be competing in the senior grade for the very first time in their history.

The Cork side won the toss of the coin before this game an opted to play with the aid of the slight breeze at their backs into the country goal and turned around at the break with a 1-8 to 0-09 advantage showing on the scoreboard over the heads of the players as they headed to the dressing rooms.

Ballysaggart had an excellent start to this game and by the midway point of first half it looked as if they would join neighbouring clubs Lismore and Cappoquin as the only Waterford winners of the competition since it came into existence in 2004, but a strong second quarter by the East Cork side made this a little more difficult for them.

It was the West Waterford outfit that opened the scoring in this game with a Stephen Bennett free in the first minute, but it was quickly cancelled out with a similar effort by Declan Dalton. Kenneth Cashel and Dalton swapped scores by the sixth minute before the West Waterford side got on top.

Brothers Stephen and Shane Bennett added points for Ballysaggart before Joe Millerick pulled one back for the Cork side. Chris O’Gorman however cancelled out Millerick’s score and when the impressive Christy Murphy pointed for Ballysaggart on 11 minutes to give his side a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage, things were looking very good for them.

But Fr. O’Neill’s hit back. Two points from Paudie McMahon meant that there was just a single puck between the sides in Ballysaggart’s favour, but soon that lead would be wiped out.

On the quarter of an hour mark, Mark O’Keeffe picked out Billy Dunne who fired past Michael Ryan for the game’s first goal. Stephen Bennett and Christy Murphy followed up with responses for Ballysaggart to draw level, but the East Cork side would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Rob Cullinane, Declan Dalton and Eoin Conway all landed points for the side in green and red shirts, but with the breeze at their backs for the second half Ballysaggart put themselves in a good position going into the second half when Chris O’Gorman put over the final score of the half.

The Cork side however should have been further in front at the break as they won a late 20 metre free which Declan Dalton, the holder of three Cork Senior Hurling Medals while playing with group side Imokilly opted to strike for a goal rather than to take the safer option, but Ballysaggart packed their goal line and Steven Mangan was able to block and then clear the danger.

Leading 1-8 to 0-9 at the break the Cork side had a fantastic start to the second half as Paudie McMahon played in Declan Dalton who finished past Michael Ryan to put his side in the driving seat.

However Ballysaggart refused to lie down and brothers Stephen and Shane Bennett split the posts before Dalton pointed once more for the Cork side just short of the midway point in the second half.

A brace of scores by Stephen Bennett, both from frees left two between the sides. Declan Dalton and Christy Murphy swapped scores before the cork side hit four scores in a row, substitute Liam O’Driscoll, Billy Dunne, Declan Dalton and another substitute Jason Hankard all finding the range to extend their sides lead.

Christy Murphy and Stephen Bennett with a brace hit back for Ballysaggart before the fourth official indicated that there would be four added minutes. In those added minutes Stephen Bennett took a quick free picking out younger brother Shane who with his back to goal doubled on the ball in flight and while many felt it had gone into the net the big local support amongst the 2,422 attendance were disappointed that the umpire indicated that the sliotar had gone to the right hand side of Colin Sloane’s upright.

Even with a three point lead with time ticking down fast, Fr. O’Neill’s could never say that victory would be theirs until the impressive Declan Dalton hit a free in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the hour.

Fr O’Neill’s: Colin Sloane; Podge Butler, Ger Millerick, Mike Millerick; John Barry, Dan Harrington, Tomás Millerick; Joe Millerick, Kevin O’Sullivan; Mark O’Keeffe, Rob Cullinane, Paudie McMahon; Eoin Conway, Declan Dalton, Billy Dunne.

Subs: Liam O’Driscoll for Eoin Conway (40), Jason Hankard for Joe Millerick (48), Cillian Broderick for John Barry (59).

Scorers: Declan Dalton (1-7, 0-7 frees), Billy Dunne (1-1), Paudie McMahon (0-2), Joe Millerick, Rob Cullinane, Eoin Conway, Jason Hankard and Liam O’Driscoll (0-1 each).

Ballysaggart: Michael Ryan; Cailean O’Gorman, Kieran Fennessy, Eugene O’Brien; Steven, Stephen Bennett, Darren Meagher; Kieran Bennett, Christy Murphy; Ronan Walsh, Shane Bennett, Chris O’Gorman; Liam O’Gorman, Kenneth Cashel, Kyle Bennett.

Sub: Sam Ryan for Liam O’Gorman (half time).

Scorers: Stephen Bennett (0-8, 0-5 frees), Christy Murphy (0-4), Shane Bennett (0-2 frees), Chris O’Gorman (0-2), Kenneth Cashel (0-1).

Referee: John McCormack (Tipperary).