Bennett Brothers Excel in Waterford Win

Waterford got their National Hurling League campaign off to the best possible start earlier this afternoon when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Cork side at Walsh Park winning by the smallest possible margin.

In recent years I am one of many who have hit out at the way Waterford played. In the last number of years sometimes watching the Waterford team was like watching paint dry. There was something not right. We all know what it was of course, but most took their lives in their hands to say so. Maybe it was a case that we were spoilt for choice when it came to watching hurling as it should be played under Justin McCarthy and Gerald McCarthy before that. In fairness Michael Ryan tried to play in a similar fashion but for whatever reason it was not to be and his tenure in charge of the Waterford side was a relatively short one despite the fact that many felt that he was moving the team in the right direction.

Cork got off to a flying start in this game hitting two very early goals from the sticks of Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston, but in the end they will have cursed their luck shooting 17 wides over the course of this game.

Played in front of an attendance of 4, 235 which is a very healthy one for a game played at the end of January, Waterford came storming back into this game after the nightmare start when those two goals went past Stephen O’Keeffe.

Neil Montgomery put over a sideline cut for Waterford’s first score of the game on four minutes. This is one of the most beautiful skills in the games to see executed and you can’t but wonder should it be rewarded in the same way it was a few years back in Camogie with the awarding of a double score when it goes cleanly over the crossbar.

Patrick Horgan cancelled out the Abbeyside mans score but it was after this that Waterford began to show how good a side this present panel could be. Stephen Bennett split the posts with a free followed with a brace from older brother Kieran to leave Waterford trailing 2-1 to 0-4 with nine minutes on the clock.

Darragh Fitzgibbon extended the Rebels lead before it was dramatically cut on 11 minutes when Calum Lyons and Neil Montgomery combined to set up Patrick Curran for Waterford’s only goal in this game which left just one between the sides in favour of the visiting rebel’s side.

Stephen Bennett levelled matters when he put over a free before Waterford went in front with a point from Jack Fagan on 13 minutes and seconds later that lead was extended when Stephen Bennett once more split the Cork uprights.

Seamus Harnedy pulled a point back for the visitors but his effort was cancelled out by Kieran Bennett who rivalled his brother for the official Man of the Match award. I have to admit that I find these awards funny at times as they all too often goes to the player which scores the most in the game. In my Bord na nÓg days on County Final Day and I was asked to pick the player that impressed from both sides to be invited to the annual awards night, I often strayed away from the attacking players for the award instead keeping a closer eye on players that played in goal, defence or the middle of the field.

Patrick Horgan and Kieran Bennett swapped scores from placed balls, the Ballysaggart mans effort coming from a sideline cut which had Waterford 1-9 to 2-4 in front with 24 minutes played.

Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan pulled the sides level by the 26 minutes. Stephen Bennett and Shane Kingston swapped scores after which Damien Cahalane pointed with four minutes of the opening 35 remaining to give Cork the lead by one.

But Waterford would finish the half strong as Stephen Bennett put over a brace of frees to put the home side back in front with the game gone into added time and Patrick Curran doubled Waterford’s advantage on the stroke of half time sending Waterford to the dressing rooms with a 1-13 to 2-8 advantage showing on the Walsh Park score board.

Waterford began the second half as they ended the first as Stephen Bennett put over an early brace of scores to put Waterford four in front. Patrick Horgan and Damien Cahalane however would cancel out these scores before the third minute of the second half had elapsed.

Kieran Bennett and Shane Kingston swapped scores before Stephen Bennett put over a massive ’65 struck inches from the sideline on the stand side of the field as Waterford attacked the country end of the ground.

Mark Colman hit a brace of points for the visitors with Patrick Horgan hitting one in between to tie the scoring 1-17 to 2-14 mid way through the second half.

Stephen Bennett, Jack Prendergast and Iarlaith Daly on his League Debut hit points for the home side to put them three points up with twelve minutes of normal time to play in this game.

Darragh Fitzgibbon and Patrick Curran swapped scores before Mikey Kearney five minutes after he replaced Jake Dillon and another from Patrick Curran put Waterford 1-23 to 2-16 up with 66 minutes on the stopwatch.

Patrick Horgan and Stephen Bennett swapped scores with the seventy minutes up. Cork tried hard in the time added for stoppages in the second half. Shane Kingston netted a third Cork goal in added time and Damien Cahalane pointed for the visitors to draw them to within one of the home side, but time ran out for the visitors as Liam Cahill’s side held out for what was a richly deserved win.

Next up for Waterford is an away game against Westmeath next Sunday in Mullingar a game that Waterford should win, but should not underestimate the midlander’s while Cork play Tipperary in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday evening, a game that will see Cork and Waterford clash in the first round of the National Camogie League before it.

WATERFORD: Stephen O'Keeffe; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Shane McNulty; Calum Lyons, Darragh Fives, Iarlaith Daly; Jack Prendergast, Jake Dillon; Neil Montgomery, Jack Fagan, Kieran Bennett; Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran.

Subs: Shane Fives for Conor Gleeson (30m), Mikey Kearney for Jake Dillon (49m), Peter Hogan for Dessie Hutchinson (52m), Darragh Lyons for Neil Montgomery (58m), Tom Barron for Jack Fagan (62m),

Scorers: Stephen Bennett 0-11 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), Patrick Curran 1-3, Kieran Bennett 0-5, Mikey Kearney, Iarlaith Daly, Jack Fagan, Neil Montgomery (sl), Jack Prendergast 0-1 each.

CORK: Anthony Nash; Niall O'Leary, Robert Downey, Sean O'Donoghue; Chris O'Leary, Tim O'Mahony, Damien Cahalane; Bill Cooper, Mark Coleman; Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Aidan Walsh; Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Patrick Horgan.

Subs: Luke Meade for Aidan Walsh (49m), Sean O'Leary Hayes for Niall O'Leary (52m), Sean Twomey for Conor Lehane (60m), Robbie O'Flynn for Seamus Harnedy (67m),

Scorers: Shane Kingston 2-2, Patrick Horgan 0-6 f, Conor Lehane 1-0, Damien Cahalane 0-3, Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Mark Coleman 0-2 each,

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).