Farney Men Prove Too Strong For Waterford in Dungarvan Sunshine

            The gulf between Division’s One and Four in the National Football League was clear for all to see at Fraher Field today as Monaghan who narrowly missed out on reaching the League Final earlier this year proved too strong for a Waterford side playing its third championship game this year and who were denied the chance of playing out their National League campaign by those holding power in the corridors of Croke Park who earlier this year declared Waterford’s game with Leitrim null and void when it was twice called off owing to weather conditions on the weekend the game was to be played.

            Over 3,000 people made their way to Fraher Field for this game, easily the biggest attendance at the venue in some years, many travelling down from Ulster for the weekend spending time in Dungarvan, Waterford City or Clonmel generating unexpected funds to the local community.

            Many turned up at the venue to see Conor McManus, Monaghan’s best player in the last number of years at close hand, but they would be left somewhat disappointed on the day as he was gunned down by Waterford’s Thomas O’Gorman easily one of the best man markers in the county, as he held the Monaghan man scoreless from play and was withdrawn from the action with a quarter of an hour to play, but it must be said that at this stage the game was well and truly over from a Waterford perspective.

This game in fact was over for Waterford well before Derek O’Mahony who made the short journey from Ardfinnan to take charge of this game blew his half time whistle.

The visiting side had fifteen different scorers in this game had six points on the scoreboard before Kieran Power opened Waterford’s account on the quarter of an hour mark.

 Colin Walshe opened the visitors account in the first minute and they added further scores from Vinny Corey, Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus and Darren Hughes before the talent Dungarvan Club footballer scored.

Gavin Crotty and Jack McCarron swapped scores for their respective sides before the visitors hit the first of their goals on 21 minutes when Conor McManus beat Stephen Enright from the penalty spot after Ryan McAnespie was fouled inside the Waterford box.

Ryan McAnespie, Rory Beggan, Conor Murray and Jason Curry all swapped scores by the twenty-ninth minute keeping the visitors well in front (1-9 to 0-4), but they would finish without easing up and conserving energy in the scorching heat.

Karl O’Connell took on three defenders before blasting for a second Monaghan goal three minutes from time. Niall Kearns and Darren Hughes kicked points before Fintan Kelly finished to the net for a third Monaghan goal just before the break at which point his side held a 3-13 to 0-4 lead.

The third quarter proved to be an even contest. Conor Boyle and Jason Curry swapped early scores before Jack McCarron gave his side a 3-13 to 0-4 lead.

Jason Curry put over a brace of frees to eat slightly into the Monaghan lead, but sadly for Waterford this was as good as it got.

Conor McCarthy and Dessie Mone before the latter player finished to the net on fifty two minutes for a fourth goal for the visitors but not before Michael Curry had twice bravely blocked down the ball in the build up.

Niall Kearns, Conor McCarthy and David Garland added points for the side playing in a changed blue strip before Shane Carey who entered the game at the break palmed the ball to the net for a fifth goal for the visitors from a Conor McCarthy pass.

Jack McCarron, David Garland and Rory Beggan hit late scores for the visiting side, with Stephen Prendergast and Jack Mullaney hitting consolation scores for the home side before the final whistle in this game.

While it has to be accepted that the present day inter county players are not in favour of a two or even three tier All-Ireland Football Championship one has to wonder what seeing the county suffer a twenty seven point loss to Monaghan today and last night’s mauling by Kerry of the Counties under twenty side will do for the county going forward when it comes to football, as surely some of the talent young footballers coming through from the under 14, 16 and minor ranks will be asking questions of themselves as to whether it’s worth donning the White and Blue shirt in the years to come.

We have different tiers in hurling and it works and we also have different tiers in the ladies codes. In Ladies football for example there is just twelve teams competing this year for the Brendan Martin Cup and in truth on a given day any of the twelve sides are capable of beating the other, or at least give each other a game. Can we say the same about the men’s game of football right now.

Surely someone will have to decide to push for the hard decisions to be made. Maybe if counties don’t want to play in a Tommy Murphy style competition for the so called weaker counties, they could as in Camogie and Ladies Football grade teams in accordance to how they fared over the last number of years and play off a championship as Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams and make counties earn the right to play in the top flight against the stronger sides and the better players, by winning their way through different competitions.

It should not always be what is best for the players right now, but for the game going into the future. I know many will not agree with my line of thought, but maybe it is worth debating where we as a county and indeed other counties are going in the meeting rooms up and down the county with the associations members.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Barry Kerr, Conor Boyle, Drew Wylie; Fintan Kelly, Colin Walshe, Vinny Corey; Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes; Conor McManus, Dermot Malone, Karl O’Connell; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Ryan McAnespie.

Subs: Shane Carey for Drew Wylie (H-T), Ryan Wylie for Vinny Corey (H-T), Dessie Mone for Colin Walshe (44), Neil McAdam for Darren Hughes (44), Kieran Duffy for Barry Kerr (44, BC), David Garland for Conor McManus (55).

Scorers: Conor McManus (1-0 pen, 1f), Dessie Mone 1-1 each, Jack McCarron 0-4 (3fs), Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly, Shane Carey 1-0 each, Conor McCarthy 0-3, David Garland (1f), Rory Beggan (2fs), Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes 0-2 each, Vinny Corey, Ryan McAnespie, Barry Kerr, Colin Walshe 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, James McGrath, Aidan Trihy; Shane Ryan, Michael Curry, Thomas O’Gorman; Tommy Prendergast, Kieran Power; Gavin Crotty, Dylan Guiry, Conor Murray; Jack Mullaney, JJ Hutchinson, Jason Curry.

Subs: Stephen Prendergast for James McGrath (42), Joe Allen for Dylan Guiry (42), Mark Cummins, for Brian Looby (54), Joey Veale for Jason Curry (57), Eoin O’Brien for JJ Hutchinson (65), Michael Kiely for Aidan Trihy (70)

Scorers: Jason Curry 0-4 (4fs), Jack Mullaney, Stephen Prendergast, Kieran Power, Gavin Crotty, Conor Murray 0-1 each.

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).