Five Star Waterford into All-Ireland Final

Three years ago when Sean Power was named as Manager of the Waterford Minor Hurling team for the 2013 season, his name was an unknown to many within the county let outside the county.

Often at underage level, County Boards go for a big name or an established name to look after its underage teams to try and get the best out of their sides.

But while Sean Power was a relatively unknown, he along with his management team were able to guide their side to a Munster Final appearance where they lost out to Limerick and to bounce back from that defeat to go on an capture the biggest prize available to sides competing at that level, winning the All-Ireland Final with a very strong display at Croke Park on the first Sunday of September.

Sean Power however while still a relatively unknown in some quarters is quickly gaining a reputation for himself, having helped a second team he has managed Waterford to this years All-Ireland Under 21 Final against Galway after a massive win over Antrim in the first of this years All-Ireland semi finals played at Thurles today.

Nobody will need telling anyone in Waterford that a win in the All-Ireland Final will not happen easy as Galway, while they find it difficult to make the big break through in the senior grade, for the past few decades they have put together some excellent under age teams and this years under 21 team is no different.

If and it is a very big If at this stage, Waterford do win what would be a first All-Ireland at this level since 1992 then in such time that Derek McGrath indicates that he does not want to stand for the position of Senior Hurling Manager, the name of Sean Power will be amongst those that should take over from him.

This was Waterford’s third game in this years Championship, and after scoring 3-23 against Clare in the Munster Semi Final and 2-19 against Tipperary in the Munster Final, Waterford were expected to put up another big score in this game and they did not fail to deliver, but few if any expected Waterford to win here as easily as they did.

This game was in fact over at a very early stage, as Waterford were in control from start to finish and at the break they were 3-10 to 0-6 in front.

Antrim made one change to their named team earlier in the week ahead of the game as Ryan Elliott from the Dunloy Club replaced Colin Heyden between the posts.

Waterford began this game in fine fashion as the inspirational Austin Gleeson made a surging run at the Antrim defence and split the posts with just two minutes played.

Patrick Curran added a second Waterford point two minutes later and by the ninth minute when brothers Stephen and Shane Bennett also had the umpire reaching for a white flag, the writing was on the wall for Antrim.

On eleven minutes, Waterford hit the first of five goals, as Modeligo club man Tom Devine was on the right place to benefit from a mishit Patrick Curran free. The Dungarvan Club man failed to pick the sliotar properly and whipped it along the ground to Devine who once in control of the ball got inside a couple of Antrim chances and them with a trademark bullet like shot he blasted to the Antrim net to give Waterford a 1-4 to 0-0 lead.

Minutes later Waterford had a second goal, this time an own goal from Eoin McManus after a DJ Foran effort hit of him.

Points from Tom Devine and Mikey Kearney followed for the Déise as they opened up a twelve point lead which was followed with Antrim’s first scores of the game, firstly from a Saul McCaughan free and then a Domhnail Nugent effort.

With Waterford well in control, Sean Power and his selectors withdrew Shane Bennett on 21 minutes possibly as a precaution and with an All-Ireland Final to look forward to in three weeks time after he looked to pick up an injury in the warm up before the game and was replaced by Peter Hogan who scored a wonder goal after some brilliant work by Stephen Bennett in the Munster Final win over Clare recently.

Points from Maoi Connolly for Antrim and a response from Austin Gleeson had Waterford cruising 2-7 to 0-3 with twenty four minutes played.

Further scores from McCaughan and Patrick Curran followed before the brilliant Dungarvan Club man hit Waterford’s third goal of the game on the half hour mark as he batted to the net after an initial effort from Stephen Bennett was kept out.

In added time at the end of the first half Damon McMullen and DJ Foran swapped points before Patrick Curran pointed just before the whistle to give Waterford a 3-10 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Waterford began the second half with a point from Mikey Kearney, but Antrim hit back almost straight away with a Saul McCaughan goal but Waterford replied with a point from Mark O’Brien to give Waterford a 3-12 to 1-6 lead with just two minutes of the second half played.

Well in front at this stage, Waterford refused to let up in front of the Antrim goal as Mikey Kearney, Tom Devine and Patrick Curran gave Waterford a fourteen point lead with the third quarter not yet having reached its conclusion.

Waterford hit a fourth goal at the three quarter stage mark of the game as Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett linked up before the latter finished to the Antrim net.

Peter Hogan after a good showing after coming off the bench against Tipperary in the Munster Final did his chances of staking a place in the team for the upcoming All-Ireland Final against Galway no harm with another good display here and he got on the score sheet eleven minutes from time with a fine point.

Waterford added a fifth goal when Patrick Curran finished to the net.

Waterford continued to dominate in all sectors of the field for the remainder of the game and ended up winning with twenty-nine points to spare.

This win sets up Waterford for a first All-Ireland Final appearance at this level since the side beat Offaly after a replay at Nowlan Park in 1992.

That win coupled with the All-Ireland Minor Final defeat to Galway in the same year was the catalyst to great things over the coming years, in which so much was achieved under the likes of Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy and Davy Fitzgerald over a decade and a bit.

Should Waterford beat Galway in the All-Ireland Final in three weeks time, coupled with the All-Ireland Minor Win of 2013 and the League Final win in 2015, we could be about to see a new glorious chapter in the history of Waterford hurling be opened sooner rather than later, as a new generation of young hurlers will be inspired by what they will see as those that have come before them were when they saw Waterford reach levels that many had not seen before and older hurling supporters had to go back to the 50’s and 60’s to see such successes.

Waterford; Gavin Power; William Hahessy, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Colm Roche, Shane Bennett; Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine; Mark O’Brien; Mikey Kearney, DJ Foran, Patrick Curran. Subs: Peter Hogan for Shane Bennett (17 mins), Adam Farrell for Colm Roche (39 mins), Billy O’Keeffe for Darragh Lyons (42 mins), Jack Fagan for Tom Devine (44 mins), Dermot Ryan for Austin Gleeson (50 mins).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 2-7 (0-4f), Tom Devine 1-2, Stephen Bennett 1-1, DJ Foran, Mikey Kearney (0-1 sideline) 0-4 each, E McManus 1-0 (OG), Austin Gleeson 0-2, Shane Bennett, Mark O’Brien, Adam Farrell, Peter Hogan, Jack Fagan 0-1 each.

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Gerard Walsh, Tomás Burns, Eoin McManus; Damon McMullan, Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge; Cormac Ross, Alec Delargy; Maoi Connolly, Domhnail Nugent, James O’Connell; Saul McCaughan, T Butler, Ryan McKee. Subs: James Connolly for Cormac Ross (25 mins), Ryan Gillan for Gerard Walsh (40 mins), Christy McNaughton for Domhnail Nugent (43 mins), Cormac McAllister for James O’Connell (47 mins), Ryan Delargy for Eoin McManus (52 mins)

Scorers: Saul McCaughan 1-4 (0-3f), Maoi Connolly 0-2 (1f), Domhnall Nugent, D McMullan (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)

Brave Déise Fall Just Short

A week on from playing out the game of the year in this year’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship, Waterford and Kilkenny played out another pulsating battle at Thurles on Saturday evening.

Like the game played at Croke Park on the previous Sunday afternoon, this game right to the wire.

Two All-Ireland Senior Camogie Semi Final’s were played before this game at the home of hurling and both went to extra time before Cork and Kilkenny advanced to next months All-Ireland Final and had this game needed another two ten minute periods to find a winner, nobody would have complained about having to hang around Thurles for another half hour or so.

In fact the game could have ended in a draw. Going into the closing moments of the game, Waterford trailed by a point when they won a free under the shadow of the New Stand with Waterford playing into the two end of the ground.

But alas for Waterford it was not to be as Pauric Mahony’s fine long distance effort fell just short and Kilkenny net minder Eoin Murphy was able to pluck the ball from going over the crossbar and in doing so he prevented the game from going to extra time as the full time whistle would surly have followed on the resumption. Moments later Kilkenny secured their place in next months decider against either Tipperary or Galway when Richie Hogan shot over from distance to give his side a two point win and also give Brian Cody’s side the chance of winning a three in a row of titles.

This game had a rip roaring start.

Debutant Liam Blanchfield opened the scoring in the first minute of the game with a point. The Bennetsbridge Club Man had a Championship Debut to remember for Brian Cody’s side hitting three points and will have done his chances of winning a place in the side from the start next time out hitting three points, and with Michael Fennelly expected to miss the September 4 date, maybe with the team being reshaped to fill his expected void, Blanchfield could well be again included from the start.

But Kilkenny were not long in front after Blanchfield’s early was cancelled out four minutes later when Austin Gleeson who again impressed in the White and Blue shirt shot past Eoin Murphy for the first of four first half goals shared by the two sides in this game. In the built up to the goal Waterford’s oldest player Michael Walsh played a huge part showing his many years of experience, something that is hugely important in what is a young Waterford side.

Kilkenny however were not too long behind and in a three minute spell they hit a brace of goals, both from Colin Fennelly, both set up by Walter Walsh to give Kilkenny a 2-1 to 1-1 lead with just over ten minutes played.

In the next ten minutes of the game Waterford showed some great character and out scored the Cat’s 1-4 to 0-1.

Pauric Mahony hit the first of his nine points before TJ Reid got his first of the evening a minute later.

Pauric Mahony from a free and Jamie Barron landed further scores, before Jake Dillon hit his sides second goal of the game and the fourth of the game by the two sides on twenty minutes, and when Shane Bennett pointed soon afterwards things were looking good for Waterford, and only a second ever championship win over Kilkenny looked to be on the cards for the side south of the River Suir divide between the two counties.

But you right of Kilkenny at your pearl and Brian Cody’s men put in a strong finish to the first half to go in at the break leading 2-10 to 2-7 as Blanchfield (2), Hogan, Reid (2) Walsh and Michael Fennelly landed points for the eventual winners with Waterford’s sole response in this time coming from Pauric Mahony.

Kilkenny often do much of their damage to win games early in the second half and while they played well in the opening minutes of the third quarter of this game, Waterford refused to let them pull away as often other sides do.

TJ Reid, Padraig Walsh and Richie Hogan hit points for Kilkenny in the third quarter but Pauric Mahony kept Waterford in touch with some impressive shooting.

Nine minutes into the second half it did look as it was going to be Kilkenny’s day as they held a 2-14 to 2-9 lead and you could not feel that the next score should it fall to Kilkenny would he the final nail in the Waterford coffin, but it was Waterford who would score next and a further nine minutes later they had the Kilkenny lead down to three (2-16 to 2-13).

Waterford proved to be the better of the two sides in the final quarter and after Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan split the posts late in the game it left just one between the sides and extra time loomed.

And when Waterford won a late free it looked as if those inside Semple Stadium from early in the day would see a third game go to extra time, but it was not to be.

Kilkenny marched on to another first Sunday of September date in Croke Park, and while Waterford’s senior team will end the year without silverware, reaching a National League Final which went to a replay, a Munster Final and an All-Ireland Semi Final which like in the National League needed a replay to find a winner, things appear to be going in the right direction for Waterford and surly it wont be too long when Waterford will be in Croke Park again in September and where hopefully the hoodoo Kilkenny have over Waterford will be broken.

Scorers: TJ Reid 0-7 (0-6f), Colin Fennelly 2-0, Richie Hogan 0-4, Liam Blanchfield 0-3, Padraig Walsh 0-2, Michael Fennelly, Walter Walsh, Eoin Larkin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-7f), Austin Gleeson 1-2, Jake Dillon 1-0, Jamie Barron, Shane Bennett, Maurice Shanahan 0-2 each.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Shane Prendergast; Padraig Walsh, Conor Fogarty, Cillian Buckley; Michael Fennelly, Richie Hogan; Walter Walsh, TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin; Mark Bergin, Colin Fennelly, Liam Blanchfield. Subs: Lester Ryan for Michael Fennelly (inj) (59), Jonjo Farrell for Mark Bergin (60), John Power for Walter Walsh (blood) (61-66), Kevin Kelly for Liam Blanchfield (72).

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives; Philip Mahony, Tadhg de Búrca, Conor Gleeson; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony; Stephen Bennett, Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon. Subs: Maurice Shanahan for Stephen Bennett (47), Patrick Curran for Shane Bennett (54), Tom Devine for Jake Dillon (61)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)

Gutsy Waterford Ladies Bow Out To Kerry

Beaten Munster Finalists Kerry produced a strong third quarter performance to beat a gutsy Waterford side in the first round proper of this years All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship at Birr on Saturday afternoon last.

This was a game that had it all. Six goals split equally between the two sides, both sides between the created 56 scoring chances, Kerry taking 22 of their 32 chances, Waterford taking 13 of their 23, and some football of the highest quality.

Kerry corner forward Sarah Houlihan produced a player of the match performance in which she hit nine of her side’s point’s tally, seven of which came from open play, following up on the 1-6 she hit in the most recent clash between the two sides in the Munster Championship.

Waterford played without the services of Michelle, Louise and Sinead Ryan who were attending a family wedding and evening without the services of the three sisters, Waterford were still a match for the eventual winners for much of the game.

Waterford had a tonic start to this game.

Caoimhe McGrath won the thrown in from the start and found Hannah Power. The teenager who has won under 14 and 16 All-Ireland Medals in recent years in turn found Lauren McGregor. The Dungarvan club player laid the ball off to Caoimhe McGrath who in turn found Aileen Wall who played the ball into Grainne Kenneally in front of the Kerry goal. The Ballyduff Upper player turned Kate O’Sullivan and then beat Edel Murphy for a goal with less than thirty seconds played.

Kerry however were to be behind long as Laura Rogers hit a brace of points and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh hit one to draw the sides level. Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before Houlihan pointed again to give Kerry the lead for the first time, and never fell behind again.

Midway through the half Kerry hit the first of their goals. An attempt for a point by Roisin Tobin fell short and was cleared by Edel Murphy. Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan, Caroline Kelly, Lorraine Scanlon, Bernie Breen, Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Laura Rogers and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh all were involved in a movement that saw the latter fist pass the ball across the Waterford goal to Bernie Breen who scored from close range.

Straight away Waterford attacked the Kerry goal and Murphy was forced to make good saves from Caoimhe McGrath and Grainne Kenneally.

A brace of Maria Delahunty scores was followed with efforts from Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch and Sarah Houlihan after which Waterford followed up with points from Roisin Tobin and Lauren McGregor to trail 1-9 to 1-7 at the break.

Kerry were well on top in the third quarter.

Sarah Houlihan opened the second half scoring in the first minute after the restart and quickly followed it up with an effort from Bernie Breen and then a hat-trick of points from Sarah Houlihan gave Kerry a 1-14 to 1-7 lead with eight minutes of the second half played.

A minute later Kerry held a double score lead.

From the kick out after Sarah Houlihan’s third point in a row, Bernie Breen won the ball and played it to Jane Lynch, who linked up with Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Laura Rogers who found Emma Sherwood who blasted past Katie Hannon.

Further points from Lorraine Scanlon and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh extended the Kerry lead to twelve, but in between these efforts Katie Hannon did brilliantly to keep two efforts from Lorraine Scanlon from hitting her net.

With 18 minutes of the game remaining, Waterford started a good movement starting with a Katie Hannon kick out. The Ballyduff Upper player found Aileen Wall who brought Shauna Dunphy, Karen McGrath, Mairead Wall, Maria Delahunty and Grainne Kenneally into the move and as the Ballyduff Upper player was about to pull the trigger she was fouled by Denise Hallissey who was issued with a yellow card by referee Mel Kenny who also awarded the Déise girls a penalty. Katie Hannon was brought up field to shoot at her opposite number and the Ballyduff Upper player who captained the side on the day in the absence of Sinead Ryan, made no mistake hitting low and hard past Edel Murphy.

A point from Laura Rogers gave Kerry a nine point cushion and moments later they went twelve in front after a Waterford attack broke down and Kerry were able to clear their lines with Bernie Breen, Eilis Lynch, Kate O’Sullivan, Laura Rogers and Sarah Houlihan were involved. The latter attempted to beat Katie Hannon but her effort was well saved but the rebound fell kindly to Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh who was unmarked and was able to finish to the net.

The sign of a good team is how they respond to conceding a goal and Waterford showed that they are a good team by hitting a third goal of their own moments after Kerry hit their third.

The ball broke between Mairead Wall and Caoimhe McGrath. Falling kinder to the Ballymacarbry player she brought Karen McGrath, Roisin Tobin and Katie Murray into the move and when Roisin Tobin was brought back into the move she saw her effort come off the upright by Grainne Kenneally was in the right place to collect the ball and slot past Edel Murphy for a third Waterford goal.

After this the game proved to be an evenly balanced game as both sides shared the next five scores with Waterford just edging it.

Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before used subs on their respective sides, Andrea Murphy and Nicola Fennell did like wise.

Despite trailing Waterford never gave up and they hit a consolation score from a Maria Delahunty free two minutes from time.

There may be no trip to Croke Park for the Waterford ladies footballers in 2016, but it was a year that has proved to be a good one for Pat Sullivan and his charges.

The winning of the National League Division Three final after loosing the last two finals will be the highlight of the year, but on the championship front, having moved up from intermediate last year, Waterford have shown in both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships, even if they won just one of their four games played that they are more than capable of holding their own against more seasoned players playing at this grade of football.

KERRY: Edel Murphy; Aisling O’Connell, Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan; Denise Hallissey, Caroline Kelly, Eilis Lynch; Bernie Breen, Emma Sherwood; Laura Rogers, Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch; Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: Anna Galvin for Amanda Brosnan (39), Aisling Leonard for Eilis Lynch (48), Casandra Buckley for Jane Lynch (54), Andrea Murphy for Laura Rogers (54), Caoimhe O’Sullivan for Sarah Houlihan (54).

Scorers: Sarah Houlihan 0-9 (2f), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-2, Bernie Breen 1-1, Emma Sherwood 1-0, Laura Rogers 0-3, Lorraine Scanlon 0-2, Jane Lynch, Andrea Murphy 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Megan Dunford; Aisling Mullaney, Mairead Wall, Hannah Power; Karen McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath; Emma Murray, Maria Delahunty, Roisin Tobin; Lauren McGregor, Grainne Kenneally, Aileen Wall. Subs: Katie Murray for Lauren McGregor (39), Shauna Dunphy for Aisling Mullaney (42), Nicola Fennell for Karen McGrath (50), Ciara Hurley for Linda Wall (54), Chloe Fennell for Hannah Power (60).

Scorers: Grainne Kenneally 2-0, Maria Delahunty 0-6 (3f, 1 45), Roisin Tobin 0-2, Lauren McGregor, Nicola Fennell 0-1 each.

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo).

Waterford and Kerry Renew Ladies Football Rivalry

Rivals from the mid 80’s and into the 90’s when both sides dominated the game of Ladies Football, Kerry and Waterford renew rivalry on Saturday afternoon when they clash in the first round of this years TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship with Birr the unusual setting for the staging of the game.

These two sides have met already in this year’s championship meeting in the third round of the round robin part of the Munster Championship when Kerry ran out winners. The ladies from the Kingdom will go into the game as favourites but they will have seen from the earlier game between the two sides, Waterford are more than capable of causing a major shock in this game.

The ladies from the Kingdom lost their Munster Championship Crown to All-Ireland Champions Cork a few weeks back, something that they will not like to have seen happening, but they will know that on that day they were in fact the second best team in a two horse race and will look to get back to winning ways in this game.

Waterford will need no telling as to how strong this Kerry side are. Aislinn Desmond and Caroline Kelly are set to fill the central spots in the Kerry defence and with Denise Hallissey and Eilis Lynch set to flank Caroline Kelly the Waterford attackers will have to be at their very best to get something from these players.

Bernie Breen will be in the middle of the field and is another player that will need no introduction to supporters of Ladies Football while in attack Sarah Houlihan and Louise Ni Mhuicheartaigh are ream match winners when given the opportunity.

Waterford are back in the Senior Ranks after seven years playing in the Intermediate Grade. In those seven years, the Déise Ladies won seven provincial titles in the grade and played in three All-Ireland Finals in that time, winning at the third attempt last September beating Kildare at Croke Park.

Waterford in this time have also had some successful underage sides in the ‘B’ Championships and in many of these successes current senior manager Pat Sullivan was involved and knowing the calibre of players he worked with in the underage competitions he has had no hesitation giving the players their chance in the Intermediate team last year and with the senior team this year and they have so far not let him down for the confidence shown in them.

Waterford are having a good year in 2016. They won nine of the ten games played in the National League, drawing the one that they did not win.

In the Munster championship, while they lost to both Cork and Kerry on away soil in both, Pat Sullivan’s charges in both games gave very good accounts of themselves.

Their recent preliminary round win in this years championship two weeks ago was described by some as a surprise but how much of a surprise was it. In truth a well organised Waterford side were two strong for a fancied Armagh side who had beaten Waterford in the two previous big clashes between the two, the 2012 All-Ireland Intermediate Final and the 2014 Division three National League final.

Waterford will know that they will have to be at their very best to get something from this game. But this is something that this side is more than capable of.

Pat Sullivan has a fantastic team which includes youth and experience.

Waterford’s most crucial line in this game could well be the full back line and it is no coincident that this is also possibly Waterford strongest line with Michelle McGrath playing in the middle of the two oldest Wall sisters Linda and Mairead.

Waterford’s named half back line of Megan Dunford flanked by Aisling Mullaney and Hannah Power is a very young line. All three have come off successful underage teams with the Abbeyside club player the most experienced of the three. Against what could be a very experienced Kerry forward outfit some might say that we could see changes in this line before the throw in.

Karen McGrath and Emma Murray form what is a strong centre field pairing. And if the Waterford full back line is important, the same could well be said of their half forward line as Maria Delahunty playing in between Gráinne Kenneally and Katie Murray form a line that could prove the Kerry defence lots of problems.

Aileen Wall is named at full forward. The Ballymacarbry player was judged to be the best player in the Intermediate Championship last year and this year in the higher grade she is showing that she is equally as good having put in a number of very impressive performances.

She is named to start between Caoimhe McGrath and Lauren McGregor, two rising starts of the game.  

In the last few games, supporters of Ladies Football have seen some good games fought out and this could well prove to be another one.

Recent tradition would suggest that Kerry should prove too strong for Waterford and therefore advance to a quarter final meeting with Monaghan, but tradition has never won a game. The better side on the day and they team that makes the most of the breaks they get win most games.

Waterford’s recent win over Armagh will have made Kerry sit up and take note as to how strong and hungry side this Waterford side are.

Few if any gave them a chance against Armagh and the same will happen here with the neutrals. A quarter final spot against Monaghan await the winners. Don’t be surprised if Like Waterford and Kerry renewing rivalry in this game as they did in the 80’s and 90’s, if Waterford were to renew rivalry with another of their rivals from the 90’s next time out.