Ardmore Crowned Munster Champions

Ardmore became the third West Waterford Club following on from Ballysaggart and Modeligo in 2013 and 2014 to win a Munster Junior Club Hurling title at Mallow on Sunday when they overcame Ballybacon/Grange from South Tipperary having six points to spare at the end of the hour.

Ardmore went into the game as favourites to win the title but they had to do it the hard way as Cork Referee Nathan Wall issued the Round Tower side with three red cards over the course of the hour, the first two being straight red cards in the first half of the game, and had a second player sent off in the second half as a result of picking up two yellow cards, while the Tipperary side also had a man sent off two minutes from time.

The Waterford Champions at the end of the first half had a 1-7 to 1-6 advantage showing on the scoreboard despite heading to the dressing rooms with just 13 players on the field.

Former inter county footballer Wayne Hennessey was the first to he issued with a red card by the Cork referee following a challenge on Michael O’Sullivan on 23 minutes and he was followed to the line on the stroke of half time by goalkeeper Jack Walsh after he struck full forward Declan Walsh in a scramble for the ball in around the Ardmore goal line as he netted his sides first goal of the game, after he was picked out by Billy Hewitt after Brendan Cummins had landed a free in around the danger zone for Ardmore.

Former Waterford inter county player Seamus Prendergast netted the first goal of the game on five minutes for the winners following up on a loose ball in the Ballybacon/Grange square after former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Landers had brought off a good save from James Flavin and it was Prendergast who was quickest to react to follow up on the rebound, and when he pointed a free a minute later to give his side 1-3 to 0-1 lead things were looking extremely good for the side who have clocked up some very impressive finishing results since beating Saint Mary’s in the Western Final a few weeks back.

To the credit of the South Tipperary side they refused to throw in the towel despite Ardmore’s early dominance, and three frees from Aaron Lonergan and a point from Daniel O’Regan brought them to within touching distance of Ardmore, and when Declan Walsh netted deep in added time at the end of the opening thirty, there was just one point between the sides.

On the resumption the South Tipperary side seemed unclear as to what to do with their numerical advantage and needed just over five minutes of the half to register the halves first score when Brendan Cummins who finished as top scorer for his side put over a free.

However the South Tipperary Champions failed to build on this score and it was in fact the side with a numerical disadvantage that proved to be the better of the two sides over the rest of the game.

Ardmore’s response to Ballybacon/Grange levelling matters was quick and decisive.

Seamus Prendergast netted a second goal less than two minutes after Cummins had levelled matters and when David Gartland struck for a third Ardmore goal sixty four seconds later the writing was on the wall for the South Tipperary side if they did not respond in similar action in just as quick as time.

But the Tipperary Champions even with a two man advantage had no response and it was Seamus Prendergast and James Flavin that landed the next two scores which gave them a 3-9 to 1-7 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Seamus Prendergast was sent off with four minutes of normal time in the game still to play after he was issued with a second yellow card by the Cork Referee who favoured giving out Red and Yellow cards in the month of December than Christmas Cards and he was soon followed to the line by Eoin Walsh.

Ballybacon/Grange did manage a late goal courtesy of a late Brendan Cummins free, beating a seven man Ardmore line guarding their net, but that score put a mere gloss on the final score.

Seamus Prendergast was best for Ardmore in this game finishing with 2-5 behind his name on the score sheet while there was also impressive performances from David Gartland, James Flavin, Kenny Murphy, Seamus Keating and team Captain Declan Prendergast, while for the South Tipperary side despite three goals going past them and playing with a numerical advantage for most of this game Brendan Cummins was most impressive with Colin O’Gorman, Craig Carrigan, Michael O’Sullivan, Brian Dillon, Daniel O’Regan, Declan Walsh and Billy Hewitt impressed most.

Ardmore: Jack Walsh; Niall Hennessy, Declan Prendergast, Daniel Power; Gavin Williams, Seamus Keating, Richie Hennessy; Kenny Murphy, Wayne Hennessy; James Flavin, David Gartland, John Gartland; James Kennedy, Seamus Prendergast, Kieran Conway. Subs: Eoghan O'Shea for James Kennedy (half-time), James O'Donnell for Kieran Conway (half time), Eoin Conway for John Gartland (60).

Scorers: Seamus Prendergast (2-5, 0-2 frees); David Gartland (1-1); James Kennedy, James Flavin (0-2 each); Eoin O’Shea (0-1).

Ballybacon/Grange: Brendan Cummins; Philip Walsh, Eoin Walsh, Craig Carrigan; Michael Barlow, Colin O'Gorman, Sean Nagle; Michael O'Sullivan, Brian Dillon; Daniel O'Regan, Billy Hewitt, Gerry Cronin; Aidan Savage, Declan Walsh Aaron Lonergan. Subs: Stephen Lambert for Philip Walsh (15), Gavin Whelan for Gerry Cronin (half time), Johnny English for Aidan Savage (50), Colm O'Shaughnessy for Craig Carrigan (55) and James O'Mahoney for Michael O'Sullivan (59).

Scorers: Brendan Cummins (1-2, 1-1 frees, 0-1 65); Declan Walsh (1-0), Aaron Lonergan (0-3, frees); Daniel O’Regan (0-2); Aidan Savage (0-1).

Referee: Nathan Wall (Cork).

Record Equalling Win for Stradbally in Classic County Final

Stradbally are County Senior Football Champions for a record equalling 19 time after they came from behind to beat holders The Nire in a brilliant County Senior Football Final at Fraher Field this afternoon.

Sadly, the senior county football final is often an instantly forgettable occasion, often played in lashing rain or freezing cold conditions, but this game was so much different to many that have come before it.

When these two sides clashed back in September in the second round of the championship, the two sides battled out a very entertaining contest, and this game proved to be every bit as entertaining and it could be argued even better, watched by an attendance in the region of 2,000 people.

The sides clashed eight times in previous contests at this stage of the competition and half of these required a replay to find a winner so it was no real surprise that these two terrific sides at the end of sixty minutes were locked together on the score board.

Many in the stand on amongst the sizeable amount of fans on the bank side of the field were about to make their way to the exits after referee Anthony Fitzgerald who played a role in making this game so entertaining blew his full time whistle, but an announcement over the speakers informed all that the two sides were to play extra time, something that appeared to be agreed between the sides late on in the day should the game end in a draw as it was obvious that not all officers of the rd were informed of such a decision, and no note was noted in the programme indicating that there would be extra time played on the day.

Nobody objected to staying at the Shandon Road venue for about another half an hour to see these two sides battle it out over another twenty minutes to try and find a winner, but had there being no extra time played on the day, even fewer would have minded returning to the same venue next weekend for another battle between these two terrific sides.

It was The Nire who won last year’s final with a comfortable win over Ballinacourty that proved to be the better of the two sides for much of the game and at the interval they held a 1-8 to 1-5 advantage on the scoreboard.

Stradbally over the course of the initial hour played in this game never lead the 2016 champions and they only drew level with a minute of the hour to spare when Daniel Weldon put the size five over the head of Diarmuid Murphy.

A minute into extra time corner back Jack Mullaney proving that traditional positions on the field of play means very little in the modern game where all players are expected to be able to both defend as well as attack, broke forward and edged his side in front for the first time and as anyone that has been watching football games in the Déise County since the turn of the Millennium knows, the Cove Men seldom if ever give away an advantage in a tight game and this one was no different.

Early in this game it looked as if it was going to be very much a one way battle as The Nire raced into a very comfortable lead.

Conor Gleeson opened his sides account on four minutes when he put over a free. Shane Walsh extended that lead four minutes later and when Conor Gleeson pointed again on ten and eleven minutes things were looking very good for the reigning champions.

Although Daniel Weldon pulled a point back for Stradbally on twelve minutes, things got even better for The Nire a minute later when Tom Barron a brother of Inter County star Jamie ran at the Stradbally defence and brilliantly finished past Eoin Cunningham in the Stradbally goal.

It was now that we were going to see how good this Stradbally side were and they did not disappoint.

Robert Ahearne put the ball over the head of Diarmuid Murphy on fourteen minutes and when his side won the kick out after that score Daniel Weldon played in Ger Crowley and the youngster brilliantly finished past Diarmuid Murphy.

Tom Barron pointed for The Nire a minute into the second quarter but points from Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien and Robert Ahearne followed for Stradbally to level matters with six minutes of the half remaining.

Now it was The Nire’s turn to show what they were made off and just like Stradbally they did not disappoint as points from Shane Walsh and Conor Gleeson who was causing the Stradbally defence a lot of problems were added before Gleeson three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the opening half split the posts once more to give his side a 1-8 to 1-5 lead at the break.

Stradbally brought Tommy Connors on at the break and he made a big impact straight away.

Eoin O’Brien who has impressed this year for the new county champions made it a two point game when he put over a free in the first minute after the restart after which Tommy Connors split the posts less than sixty seconds later.

Conor Gleeson put over one of the scores of the championship off the outside of his right boot kicking a 20 metre free five metres from the sideline on thirty three minutes and the 2016 champions were somewhat unlucky not to have added a second goal five minutes later but veteran net minder Eoin Cunningham did well to keep Shane Walsh’s effort out.

Diarmuid Murphy landed a free for The Nire on forty one minutes which was cancelled out with an effort from play by Michael Sweeney just before the end of the third quarter.

Conor Gleeson was again unlucky not to strike a second Nire goal at the start of the final quarter, as he saw his effort go just over the Stradbally crossbar.

Two minutes later Stradbally lost Luke Casey to a black card which he could have no arguing about and from a quickly taken free from the resulting incident Dermot Ryan edged The Nire further in front.

However points from Eoin O’Brien with a brace inside a minute of each other and one from the boot of Shane Ahearne made it squeaky bum time for The Nire.

Shane Walsh put his side two up with four minutes to play but Stradbally were not going to give up without a fight and they were rewarded when Michael Walsh and Daniel Weldon had white flags waved before the hour was complete.

Had referee Anthony Walsh blown up at this stage nobody would have complained, but there was still time to be played.

When Stradbally won a late free and with Shane Ahearne standing over it, many especially the neutrals inside the ground would have felt it would be an injustice to The Nire if it went between The Nire uprights, but he saw his effort drop short and Diarmuid Murphy was able to get a touch on the ball and put it to safety.

When the full time whistle blew soon afterwards with the sides locked at 1-13 each no doubt many were already looking forward to the venue next weekend hoping that the two sides could serve up a third terrific battle this year between these two great sides.

In the extra twenty minutes played over two ten minute periods no player showed any side of tiredness as each and every one of the thirty players on the field of play gave it their all for their side.

Stradbally took the lead in the first minute of extra time and never went behind after doing so.

It was his point that was the difference between the sides at the short break, but The Nire will be cursing their luck as they did have chances through Conor Gleeson and Shane Walsh to be in front but neither player took the chances presented to them.

Three minutes after the restart Robert Ahearne extended his sides lead when he put over from play, but that score was cancelled out two minutes from the end when the hugely impressive Conor Gleeson split the posts for the eight times.

It was the side that showed the greater hunger and who had what luck may be going that would win, while many were looking for The Nire to land one more score to ensure that there would be need for a replay.

In the first minute of stoppage time it looked as if that was going to happen when Dermot Ryan sent in a ball but he saw the size five clip the outside of the right hand post as he looked on and deep in stoppage time it looked as if they might get another chance when a free was awarded inside the Stradbally 45 metre line and when Diarmuid Murphy came up to kick off the ground, many were willing it to go over but he saw his effort to the left hand upright as he looked on.

That proved to be the last chance of the game. Stradbally had come from behind to win a record equalling 19 title, and take the Conway Cup home with them, but in truth it was football that was the real winner in this game.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Ciaran Cusack, Kevin Lawlor, Jack Mullaney; Tony Grey, Shane Lannon, Luke Casey; Michael Walsh, Shane Ahearne; Daniel Weldon, Nicky Connors, Eoin O’Brien; Michael Sweeney, Robert Ahearne, Ger Crowley. Subs: Tommy Connors for Nicky Connors (HT), Andy Doyle for Luke Casey (47 BC), Ger Power for Get Crowley (49), Stephen Keane for Michael Crowley (56), Cathal Cusack for Daniel Weldon (68), Ger Crowley for Eoin O’Brien (73), Kevin Coffey for Jack Mullaney (80+2).

Scorers: Eoin O’Brien 0-4 (1F), Robert Ahearne 0-3 (1F), Ger Crowley 1-0, Daniel Weldon, Shane Ahearne 0-2 each, Tommy Connors, Michael Sweeney, Michael Walsh, Jack Mullaney 0-1 each.

The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy; Justin Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; Dermot Ryan, Shane Ryan, Darren Guiry; James McGrath, Tholom Guiry; Seamus Lawlor, Conor Gleeson, Dylan Guiry; Tom Barron, Craig Guiry, Shane Walsh. Subs: Jake Mulcahy for Seamus Lawlor (44), Michael O’Gorman for James McGrath (49), Shane O’Meara for Tholom Guiry (55), Stephen Ryan for Craig Guiry (60+1), James McGrath for Stephen Ryan (E.T.), Seamus Lawlor for Michael O’Gorman (76), Kenny Brazil for Tom Barron (79).

Scorers: Conor Gleeson 0-8 (4F), Tom Barron 1-1, Shane Walsh 0-3, Diarmuid Murphy (F), Dermot Ryan 0-1 each.

Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald

Ardmore Good Enough To Win Munster Crown

A short few years ago, if a person were to write about a Waterford side appearing in a Munster Junior or Intermediate Club Hurling Final, the obvious thing to say while hoping that the Waterford side would win would be that Waterford’s overall record in the competition was not the best.

Thankfully heading into the latter days of 2017 we can no longer say something like this.

Ballysaggart and Modeligo in the Junior grades as well as Cappoquin in the Intermediate grade have all returned from Mallow in recent years with a Munster Club Championship added to their Roll of Honour, and have brought great pride to the county in doing so after they had earlier collected Divisional and County honours, and this weekend another club from the Western Division in Waterford will be hoping to capture another Provincial Crown.

12 months ago Ardmore were relegated from the Intermediate ranks, and straight away the side who had played in the senior grade just a few years earlier were tipped to go straight back up to the intermediate grade at the first time of asking.

But nobody in Ardmore would have said that this was a foregone conclusion and neither would anyone that follows the G.A.A. scene in Waterford.

The bookies would have made the Round Tower Club side favourites, but the reason why so many would have said they were a certainty to go back up at the first time of asking was that the Junior and Intermediate grades in the west of the county in recent years have become ultra competitive, with any side able to beat any other side on a given day, and even in the Division Hurling League where the Junior sides are given a chance to play against the Intermediate sides, they are more than able to hold their own.

The Junior grade in West Waterford in addition to Ardmore had sides like Tourin who were relegated to this grade 12 months before Ardmore and who appeared in the 2016 divisional final, Saint Mary’s who had won the divisional finals in 2015 and 2016 but lost out in the county final on both occasions and Colligan who were also challenging in recent years, while Kilrossanty and the Geraldines were also expected to be there or there about ready to pounce on any slip ups by those perceived to be somewhat stronger.

As expected Ardmore were pushed hard in the west of the county this year. It is possibly fair to say that their toughest games this year were while playing in the divisional competition. They were pushed all the way by Saint Mary’s in the Western Final but things a little too easy in the County Final against Ballydurn, and then in the Munster Championship against first Bodyke from Clare who they beat 5-22 to 1-8 and then against Saint Patrick’s from Limerick in the semi final who they beat 4-20 to 0-11.

Their opponents for this game Ballybacon/Grange from South Tipperary are new to this level of hurling, having won their first ever Adult County Final recently beating Toomevara in the Premier County Championship decider.

Since then they have beaten Kenmare from Kerry all to easily on a 5-24 to 1-4 score line, but were pushed hard in their recent semi final win over Cork side Saint Catherine’s who they beat 1-11 to 0-9.

While this year’s Junior Hurling County Final win was the first for Ballybacon/Grange they are still an experienced outfit reaching last year’s County Final but lost out to Kiladangan.

Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is their best known player and the Ardmore player’s goals might be hard to get past him than they scored so far this year so will be more than happy if the sliotar goes over the head of Brendan Cummins on a regular basis over the hour.

They are by no means a one man team however and will be looking to the likes of Donal O’Regan the scorer of a goal against Saint Catherine’s last time out, Michael O’Sullivan, Aaron Lonergan, Colin O’Gorman, Michael Barlow and Craig Carrigan.

The South Tipperary side will know all about Ardmore’s former inter county players Declan and Seamus Prendergast and won’t need telling what damage they can do at either end of the field.

They will also know that Ardmore are not reliant on the Prendergast brothers as there is a nice blend of youth and experience throughout the side, in the like of the Hennessey’s, the Garland’s, the Keating’s, the Power’s, James Kennedy, Eoin Conway and Kenny Murphy.

This is a game that supporters of both clubs and indeed supporters in both counties will not want to see the other side winning and the game can be won or lost on something small.

Both sides will know that if they can play to their full potential that victories could well be theirs.

However there can only be one winner, and Ardmore having playing in the Munster Intermediate Championship a few years back and with them getting better and better since they won their divisional title, clocking up very impressive results along the way get the nod to return from Mallow with the Laurels on Sunday evening.