Déise Blitz Galway to Win Under 21 Hurling Title

A new generation of hurlers were inspired when Waterford won the All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Final in 1992 to go on bigger and better days in the next two decades and expectations are that the same will happen in the coming years after Waterford blitzed Galway to win this years Under 21 Final at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.

From the first puck to the last the side managed by Sean Power proved to be the better of the two sides.

When the two counties clashed in the Minor All-Ireland Final in 2013, it needed a point from Tom Devine late in the game to inspire Waterford to victory.

Expectations this time around that this meeting of the two sides would be even tighter and there was even some that were not happy that Waterford went into the game as the clear favourites, a title that seldom if ever sits well on the shoulders of any Waterford side.

Both sides made changes to the sides that had beaten Dublin and Antrim in the semi finals at the same venue a few weeks back.

Tony Ward brought Vincent Doyle and Sean Linnane into the team after impressing in their sides win over Dublin after coming on as subs, with Fintan and Cian Burke the players to miss out.

The Tribesmen also were able to start with Conor Whelan who was reported to be a doubt for the game after sustaining an injury over Dublin while Sean Power was able to restore Jordan Henley between the posts after he missed out in the semi final where he was replaced by Gavin Power. Team manager Sean Power was also able to start with Tom Devine who underwent a pre match fitness test following reported concerns that he was carrying an ankle injury.

Waterford qualified for the All-Ireland Final with a series of impressive results over Clare, Tipperary and Antrim and again impressed in this one.

Those expecting a closely fought contest (myself included) would be left disappointed as Waterford proved the old adage that goals win games was true as they hit five past the Tribesmen, three in the first and two in the second half, Stephen Bennett hitting two, while younger brother Shane as well as DJ Foran and Patrick Curran all hit one each.

Waterford had a dream start to this game as DJ Foran hit the first goal of the game inside forty seconds of the start, after some good work by William Hahessey in clearing out of defence.

Brian Molloy opened Galway’s account with pointed free on four minutes, and followed up with another point this time from play two minutes later.

Patrick Curran edged Waterford two in front on seven minutes when he put over his first score of the game from a free, before the same player put Waterford three in front this time with an effort from play which was followed with another Brian Molloy free after Austin Gleeson was booked for a high challenge on Sean Linnane.

Patrick Curran put over another free on eleven minutes, and when the same player followed up with 1-1, the goal coming on twelve minutes after he was picked out by DJ Foran, Waterford were in cruise control.

Stephen Bennett hit the first of his goals on fourteen minutes, after some good work by Patrick Curran, which was followed by another point from the impressive Dungarvan club man which gave Waterford a 3-5 to 0-3 lead with sixteen minutes showing on the clock.

Kevin McHugo and Mickey Kearney swapped points for their respective sides, before the Ballyduff Upper Club man hit his second of the game to give Waterford an impressive twelve point lead with seven minutes of the first half still to play.

Tom Devine and Brian Molloy swapped points before Austin Gleeson gave Waterford a thirteen point lead with a pointed free on twenty eight minutes.

Brian Molloy with another free cut Waterford’s lead to twelve on the stroke of half time, and in added time Waterford restored a thirteen point advantage, going to the dressing rooms 3-10 to 0-6 in front when Austin Gleeson put over his second of the game following a good pass from Darragh Lyons.

Galway needed a good start in the second half if they were going to get back into this game.

They hit points from Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan, Brian Molloy, another from Linnane and Eanna Burke to cut Waterford’s lead eight seven minutes after the restart, but it was goals that the Tribesmen needed if they were to get back into contention in this game.

Patrick Curran hit Waterford’s first score of the second half with a free, before Eanna Burke hit his second of the game to leave his side trailing 3-11 to 0-12 with forty-eight minutes played.

Waterford hit a fourth goal a minute later when Stephen Bennett sent the ball across the face of the Galway goal and younger brother Shane flicked to the Galway net from close range to effectively kill off any chance that Galway had of getting back into this game.

Patrick Curran who was brilliant throughout for Dungarvan pointed with eight minutes remaining to give Waterford a clear Four goal advantage (4-12 to 0-12) on the score board.

Eanna Burke and Patrick Curran swapped scores to keep twelve between the sides with four minutes of the hour remaining, and a minute later Waterford rattled the Galway net for a fifth time when Stephen Bennett, pulled an Austin Gleeson sideline cut out of the sky and finished to the net from a tight angle, giving Waterford a fifteen point lead.

While Galway did pull a point back through Conor Whelan, it was Waterford that closed the scoring with a Shane Bennett point on the hour mark, and three minutes into added time Man of the Match Patrick Curran put over a free from the half way line to give Waterford a sixteen point victory.

Waterford: Jordan Henley; William Hahessy, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Mark O’Brien, Shane Bennett; Colm Roche, Tom Devine, DJ Foran; Michael Kearney, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran. Subs: Adam Farrell for Tom Devine (56), Dermot Ryan for Darragh Lyons (57), Billy O’Keeffe, for Micheal Harney (60), Barry Whelan for William Hahessy (61), Peter Hogan for Shane Bennett (61).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 1-9 (0-6f), Stephen Bennett 2-0, Shane Bennett 1-1, DJ Foran 1-0, Michael Kearney, Austin Gleeson (0-1f) 0-2 each, Tom Devine 0-1.

Galway: Cathal Tuohy; Conor Jennings, Darragh O’Donoghue, Declan Cronin; Vincent Doyle, Shane Cooney, Sean Loftus; Darragh Dolan, Dan Nevin; Kevin McHugo, Brian Molloy, Sean Linnane; Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Eanna Burke. Subs: Eamon Brannigan for Thomas Monaghan (half-time), Jack Grealish for Kevin McHugo (42), Fintan Burke for Dan Nevin (55), Cian Burke for Sean Linnane (60), Adrian Morrissey for Darragh Dolan (60).

Scorers: Brian Molloy 0-6 (0-3f), Eanna Burke 0-3, Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan 0-2 each, Kevin McHugo 0-1.

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)