Remaining round two games in Senior Football Championship to take place this Saturday and Sunday

Two games in the second round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Football Championship were played last weekend in the second round of the championship. This weekend, the remaining four games in the second series of games will be played in Double Headers at Fraher Field on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Clashmore V Rathgormack - (8pm on Saturday in Fraher Field)

Both of these sides had contrasting results in the first round of games two weeks ago.

Clashmore beat 2014 champions The Nire in the first game of the championship.

First half goals from Jason Seward and Cillian O’Keeffe proved crucial as Clashmore ran out winners on a 2-8 to 0-13 score line.

Rathgormack went into their opening round game with Ballinacourty with many expecting them to serve up a strong challenge for the 2013 champions, but they proved to be no match as Ballinacourty ran out very comfortable 4-10 to 0-9 winners.

Clashmore will go into this game on a high after their opening round win. Rathgormack after their first round defeat will not want to fall further behind the leaders as the half way point in the league section of the competition nears.

Clashmore will be favourites to win here, but if Rathgormack up their game on what they served up against Ballinacourty, they could push very hard for a win.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Nire V Ardmore - (3-30pm on Sunday in Fraher Field)

The Nire went all the way to the Munster Final last year without loosing a game a championship game. Having lost out to Clashmore last time out, they are already playing catch up. They will not want to fall any further behind and will know that if they were to win their remaining four games they could top the group or at least finish second and get what is often perceived to be an easier quarter final.

Ardmore last time out did well to beat De La Salle. For 45 minutes of the game they were the better team but found themselves trailing 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Clinton Hennessy was their best player last time out hitting 1-5 of his sides tally of 1-10. They will have to get more players firing on all cylinders in front of goal in this one if they are to win.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Kilrossanty V An Rinn - (2pm on Sunday in Fraher Field)

Both of these sides had opening round wins so a win for either side here will go a long way towards securing their place in the quarter finals of the championship.

On paper both sides have some very good players and this could well prove to be the best game in this weekend’s programme of games.

An Rinn against Saint Saviours were best served by Donie Breathnach who hit 0-8 of his sides 1-12 with Liam Ó Lonáin hitting 1-3. They will be looking for big performances again from them this weekend and will also be hoping to get one or two others on the score sheet with two or three points each.

Kilrossanty in beating Brickeys 0-15 to 0-9 had good performances from Paul Whyte who hit half a dozen points, two more than Joey Veale while Tommy Prendergast also impressed.

This is a game that could well go to the wire. If there is to be a draw this weekend it could be in this game.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Stradbally V Brickeys - (6-30pm on Saturday in Fraher Field)

Stradbally have proven to be the best team in the county since the turn of the millennium and while many of the players that have helped them to win so much in this time are no longer part of the panel they have still some experienced players in the likes of Kevin Coffey, Shane Lannon, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, John Hearne, Tony Grey, Shane Ahearne and Ger Power to pick from, plus some up and coming players like Jack Mullaney and Michael Sweeney.

Brickeys last year as expected bounced straight back up to the senior grade one year after dropping down to Intermediate.

They have some good players within their ranks like Conor Phelan, Shane McGrath, David Ryan, Mark Cummins, Conor McGrath, Cormac Curran and Carthach Shalloe but despite this it is hard to see them get anything from this game.

 

 J J Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship - Group 1

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Ballinacourty	2	2	0	0	48	11	37	4
Clashmore Kinsalebeg	1	1	0	0	14	13	1	2
Ardmore	1	1	0	0	13	12	1	2
The Nire	1	0	0	1	13	14	-1	0
Rathgormack	1	0	0	1	9	22	-13	0
De La Salle	2	0	0	2	14	39	-25	0

 

J J Kavanagh& Sons Senior Football Championship - Group 2

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Stradbally	1	1	0	0	18	12	6	2
Kilrossanty	1	1	0	0	15	9	6	2
An Rinn	1	1	0	0	15	10	5	2
St Saviour's	2	0	1	1	20	25	-5	1
Gaultier	2	0	1	1	22	28	-6	1
Brickey Rangers	1	0	0	1	9	15	-6	0

 

Waterford are 60 minutes from another league final

Last weekend Waterford’s Senior Hurling team and the Counties Intermediate Camogie Team both qualified for National League Finals next weekend, and this coming weekend Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Footballers have the opportunity of making it three sides from the county contesting ‘Spring’ finals as they take on Roscommon in the first of this years Division three Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football League semi finals at Nenagh on Sunday.

Roscommon are the surprise package of this years competition. They won the Division four final twelve months ago and they have reached this years semi final ahead of the likes of Tipperary who were in the Intermediate All-Ireland Final in 2013, Fermanagh who were in last years Intermediate decider and Wexford who won last years Junior All-Ireland Final.

Waterford has proven to be the side to beat in this years league.

Yes along the way there was some scares for Waterford but they ended the league section of the competition with twenty one points from a possible twenty one and they also were able to blood in some exciting new players into the panel which is under the guidance of Pat Sullivan who has helped win honours with some excellent underage panels in the past few years.

An added plus for Waterford is that some of these players have shown up to be very capable players and have made more experienced players settle for a place on the sub bench at the start of many games.

Twelve months ago Waterford reached the final against a hugely fancied Armagh side at Parnell Park and made the Orchard County girls fight right to the end before they won the game. Had Waterford a little more lady luck on the day the outcome could have been much more different.

Waterford no doubt will be looking to get past this game and have another stab at winning a final. A win in a league decider would mean that Waterford would enter the Munster Championship where they would be looking for a seventh Intermediate title in a row in a confident mood and then set out on the All-Ireland series on an even bigger high.

Another plus for Waterford this year is the way Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan have settled back into the set up after a period away.

All throughout the campaign they have proven a thorn in the side of many defences and will look for the same to happen here.

The inclusion of these two players has also helped take some of the pressure of Michelle Ryan when it comes to the scoring stakes.

The elder of the three Ryan Sisters has in the last few years proven to be the sides leading scorer.

While she has not scored as much this year as she has in the last few years the experienced player who was a mascot for the great Waterford senior side under the guidance of her Father Michael back in the 1990’s, she has proven to be a key player in attack this year leading herself as the experienced head in what at times was a very youthful attack.

And another plus for Waterford this year has being the way that the side has been set out.

For many years Elaine Power and Michelle McGrath proved to be one of the best centre field pairings in the country. The pair has moved into the half back line this year and have settled into their new positions like ducks to water. Another player to settle into a new position well is Karen McGrath who has played directly in front of new regular goal keeper Katie Hannon this year.

This will be the second meeting of the sides this year.

On March 15 the sides met at Fraher Field.

The Rossies travelled to Dungarvan in a confident mood. They had lost their first game of the campaign against a strong Leitrim team but followed it up with good wins over Longford, Tipperary and Sligo ahead of the Fraher Field clash.

In was after this game that Waterford booked their place in this weekend’s game.

It was the visitors to Dungarvan’s historic venue that made the better start to the game.

Jenny Downey was without question Roscommon’s best player on the day. She kicked the first point of the game and then set up Sheila Brady for a goal that gave Roscommon an early four point lead.

Aoife Dunne and Sinead Ryan kicked Waterford’s first score’s of the game but at this point it was not looking good for Waterford as they trailed 2-4 to 0-2, Siobhán Tully kicking the visitors second goal.

Waterford in the second half proved to be a different side as Emma Murray, Elaine Power, Megan Dunford, Mairead Wall, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan and Aoife Murray were all introduced.

The changes made an immediate impact.

Sinead Ryan hit two early second half points and then levelled matters by the 39^th minute.

Aileen Wall hit a third Waterford goal on 44 minutes and Aoife Murray struck a fourth less than 60 seconds later.

The Comeragh Rangers player would hit a point followed by one from Maria Delahunty after which Aoife Murray struck a fifth Waterford goal five minutes from time.

The visitors however would finish the game the stronger of the two sides as Jenny Downey, Laura McLone and Rachel Ryan all kicked late points, but they proved to be mere consolation scores as Waterford ran out 5-6 to 2-9 winners.

Both sides have made changes from the previous game between the two sides. Roscommon start with 13 of the side that started in Dungarvan. Waterford has just seven of the side that started in Fraher Field selected to start in Nenagh.

Waterford will start this Sunday as the favourites to advance to the final where they will play the winner of the second semi final between Leitrim and Sligo. However nobody within the Waterford camp will be listening to what the bookies will be saying. Roscommon will make it difficult for Waterford, but with Pat Sullivan putting out a much stronger starting fifteen to which he put out in Fraher Field from the top, it would be a surprise to many if Waterford did not advance.

Paths to the Semi finals:

Roscommon:

1 February   Roscommon            3-8      Leitrim           4-11

8 February   Roscommon            3-14   Longford       0-6

22 February Roscommon            0-13   Tipperary      1-4

1 March        Roscommon            2-9      Sligo               1-7

15 March      Roscommon            2-9      Waterford    5-6

29 March      Roscommon            3-15   Fermanagh  1-10

12 April         Roscommon            2-16   Wexford       2-5

19 April         Roscommon            3-11   Leitrim         5-10 (Playoff game)

Waterford:

1 February   Waterford    0-9      Wexford       2-2

8 February   Waterford    5-12   Fermanagh  0-3

22 February Waterford    5-13   Sligo               0-6

1 March        Waterford    2-12   Tipperary      3-5

15 March      Waterford    5-6      Roscommon            2-9

29 March      Waterford received a walkover from Longford

12 April         Waterford    5-11   Leitrim                       3-9

Waterford and Roscommon have named their starting teams ahead of their Tesco Homegrown Division 3 National Ladies Football League Semi Final at Nenagh on Sunday. The game has a 12-15pm thrown in.

Waterford: 1. Katie Hannon; 2. Megan Dunford, 3. Karen McGrath, 4. Linda Wall; 5.  Michelle McGrath, 6. Elaine Power, 7. Emma Murray; 8. Nicola Fennell, 9. Mairead Wall; 10.  Grainne Kenneally, 11. Maria Delahunty, 12. Aileen Wall; 13.  Michelle Ryan, 14. Sinead Ryan, 15. Aoife Murray.
Roscommon: 1. Sheila Brady; 2. Feena Beirne, 3. Gillian Dufficey, 4. Ruth Finlass; 5.  Joanne Craig, 6. Louise Tully, 7. Aisling McAuliffe; 8. Jenny Higgins, 9. Caitriona Regan; 10.  Deidre Regan, 11. Rachael Ryan, 12.Laura Fleming; 13. Siobhan Tully, 14. Martia Freyne, 15. Jenny Downey.

T'was a great day to beat Tipp.

 

Any day you beat Tipperary is a Great Day.

When you beat them in a major game, a Munster Final, a League or All-Ireland semi final or a final it’s even better.

Waterford beating our rivals from across the River Suir has become a bit of a habit in the last decade or so.

Waterford beat Tipperary in the Munster Final of 2002, the first Waterford won since 1963. Five years later Waterford beat them in Croke Park in an All-Ireland Quarter Final and twelve months later Waterford beat Tipperary in an All-Ireland semi final to qualify Waterford for a first All-Ireland Final since 1963. And on Sunday afternoon last Waterford beat them again, this time in a League semi final. One point separated the sides. But when you win it does not matter how much is in it at the end, a win is a win.

And in the interest of balance, I know Tipperary had a win a Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 2011 plus another one or two along the way, but we here in Waterford like to put these days to the back of our minds as often as possible.

Tipperary went into Sunday’s game as the favourites. They had come out of a tough Division 1A as group winners, a group where Clare and Kilkenny the All-Ireland Champions of 2013 and 2014 failed to make the quarter finals.

Waterford on the other hand had come through what in all honesty was a weak enough Division 1B. Everyone could have named three of the four sides that reached the quarter finals and the fact that Offaly who were in a relegation/promotion play off last year with Kerry made the quarter finals ahead of Antrim and Laois was also not a major surprise.  

The fact that Waterford beat Galway in the Quarter Finals was not a surprise. Galway are at the best of times ‘Good’, are often a ‘Poor enough side’ and seldom outstanding despite the fact that they have put together some outstanding minor and under 21 teams in the last two decades.

When Waterford play Tipperary there is always a belief within players and supporters that a win is achievable. It does not always happen, but you have to believe it will happen. The same happens against Cork. And following yesterdays win over Tipperary, Waterford have to believe without hyping up the occasion that they can beat Cork in the final.

Against Tipperary the sides were there from an early stage that it was going to be Waterford’s day, even if there was a spell in the first quarter it could well have gone against Waterford.

With two minutes played Paddy Stapleton for some reason played the ball over his own end-line when there was no real reason to do so. From the resulting ’65 Pauric Mahony made no mistake in splitting the posts for the opening score of the game.

The Ballygunner sharp-shooter followed up with another point from a placed ball but by the fifth minute Waterford were behind as Patrick Bonner Maher fired past for the games first goal.

Pauric Mahony pointed again for Waterford for his third point of the game to level matters, but within three minutes Tipperary hit a purple patch as first Niall O’Meara and then Seamus Callanan from a free landed points before Jason Forde and Brendan Maher linked up with John O’Dwyer and the Killenaule man finished to the net to give his side a five point lead.

Things would get better for Tipperary as Seamus Callanan put over a brace of points to give Tipperary a 2-4 to 0-3 lead with just sixteen minutes played and it was not looking good for Waterford.

After this Waterford settled down and thanks to some unerring shooting by Pauric Mahony Waterford soon began to come back into contention.

Pauric Mahony fired over a free on nineteen minutes. Maurice Shanahan who was superb throughout followed up with Waterford’s first score from open play a minute later and soon afterwards he was unlucky not to repeat the act as his shot at the target went wide of the uprights.

Seamus Callanan steadied the ship somewhat for Tipperary by putting over a ’65 and twelve minutes from the break Austin Gleeson danced through the Tipperary but Darren Gleeson was able to keep the Mount Sion’s man effort from hitting the net out.

With the half entering its final ten minutes, James Woodlock and Pauric Mahony traded scores to keep the early brace of goals between the sides, before Colin Dunford and Pauric Mahony landed points for Waterford to leave just four between the sides with just over five minutes of the first half remaining.

Pauric Mahony made it a three point game on the half hour mark and Waterford were unlucky moments later not to make it a two point game when Jamie Barron’s effort fell just short.

Niall O’Meara and John O’Dwyer put Tipperary put Tipperary back in front by five but Waterford before the break added two more points, the first coming from play off the stick of Pauric Mahony and the same player just before the break and the same player added one from a free following a foul on Colin Dunford to leave just three between the sides at the break.

Waterford opened the scoring in the second half with a Pauric Mahony free only for it to be cancelled out by a Seamus Callanan point from a placed ball but Waterford moved to within two again when Jake Dillon found the range seven minutes after the restart.

Seamus Callanan put Tipperary 2-10 to 0-13 in front nine minutes into the second half but Waterford were within one of the Premier County two minutes later when Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan put over scores.

Jason Forde and Maurice Shanahan swapped scores to leave one between the sides in Tipperary’s favour, but Waterford would end the third quarter in front after Colin Dunford finished to the net to give Waterford an advantage heading into the all important final quarter.

A brace of Pauric Mahony points gave Waterford a 1-18 to 2-11 advantage heading into the final quarter of an hour, but Waterford would go another fifteen minutes without scouring, which on another day could well have cost the side, but not in this game.

Thirteen minutes fro time Seamus Callanan saw an effort fall into the hand of Stephen O’Keeffe and two minutes later substitute Conor Kenny pointed to leave three between the sides to set up a ‘Grand-Stand Finish’.

A Seamus Callanan free nine minutes from time left two between the sides and when the same player put over another free two minutes later it was ‘squeaky bum time’.

Tipperary began to put pressure on the Waterford backs who defended like a pack of hounds and from the efforts that did go past them, the sliotar often went wide of the uprights.

Four minutes from time Padraic Maher pointed to level matters (2-15 to 1-18) and while neutrals in for the first game may have been leaving Nolan Park early to try and beat the traffic, nobody from Tipperary or Waterford were leaving as Extra time looked to see who would play Cork in the final on May 3.

On Seventy minutes Kevin Moran won a free for Waterford after he was fouled by Gearoid Ryan and from the resulting stroke Pauric Mahony edged Waterford 1-19 to 2-15 in front.

To win big games at times you need a degree of luck and in this game in the closing seconds Waterford had it in bucket loads.

Shane Fives attempted to clear the sliotar towards the corner of the field to kill time in added time at the end of the seventy. The ball struck the corner flag showing the end-line and side line. The Umpire on that side of the field ran to the corner to indicate a ’65 but referee Barry Buckley overruled the call of the umpire and awarded a sideline instead.

Had the flags been placed an inch or two outside the lines (which is allowed), the umpires call would be a correct one, and Seamus Callanan would be brought out to the sixty five metre line and on the sideline to strike from a difficult angle to level the matters. The Drom and Inch player like his Waterford counterpart Pauric Mahony is a fine striker of a placed ball and even though he would be shooting under pressure from a tight angle you would have to think the ball would have gone between the uprights and the game would have gone to extra time.

However, all Waterford supporters will for now not argue with Barry Kelly and the call he made. The full time whistle followed soon after the sideline was struck. Waterford advanced to the League Final where they will be looking for a third final win on May 3

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Tadhg De Búrca, Austin Gleeson, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Stephen Bennett; Kevin Moran, Pauric Mahony, Jake Dillon; Maurice Shanahan, Michael Walsh, Colin Dunford. Subs: Brian O’Halloran for Stephen Bennett (50), Tom Devine for Jake Dillon (56), Shane O’Sullivan for Michael Walsh (63), Eddie Barrett for Kevin Moran (70+1).

Scorers: Pauric Mahoney 0-13 (11f, 1 65), Colin Dunford 1-1, Maurice Shanahan 0-3, Jamie Barron, Jake Dillon 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darren Gleeson; Paddy Stapleton, Conor O’Mahony, Paul Curran; Michael Breen, Padraic Maher, Ronan Maher; James Woodlock, Shane McGrath; John O’Dwyer, Brendan Maher, Jason Forde; Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher, Niall O’Meara. Subs: James Barry for Paddy Stapleton (43), Shane Bourke for John O’Dwyer (45), Conor Kenny for Jason Forde (53), Gearóid Ryan for Shane McGrath (58), John Meagher for Paul Curran (66).

Scorers: Seamus Callanan 0-8 (3f, 1 65), John O’Dwyer 1-1, Patrick Maher 1-0, Niall O’Meara 0-2, James Woodlock, Jason Forde, Conor Kenny, Padraic Maher 0-1 each.

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

May 3 could be a 'Super Sunday' in Thurles with a little joined up thinking

Here’s an idea. Some will say it’s a mad one. Some will say its beyond mad, but to me and I am sure a large number of GAA Supporters, it is one that should be given some consideration tomorrow morning at G.A.A. Headquarters and Croke Park.

How often have we heard in recent years when there is a number of big soccer games to be played on the one day have it referred to as ‘Super Sunday’.

How about a G.A.A. Super Sunday and have it on May 3.

Today the Division One Semi Finals of the Allianz National Hurling League were played at Kilkenny. Also today the semi finals of the Irish Daily Star National Camogie Leagues were held at different venues.

Both the G.A.A. and the Camogie Association have their finals penciled in for May 3, and results today mean that it is possible that we can have a Super Sunday and Geography allows it to happen as well.

While it happens a few times each year, we do not get to see Inter County Camogie or Ladies Football be played on the same programme of games as major hurling or football games be at a local level or a national level.

There is some that tell us that it can’t happen, but can it. Of course it can and the G.A.A. and the Camogie Association have an opportunity to make it happen.

Results in the Hurling today means that Cork and Waterford will meet in this years league final, the first time it has happen since 1998 when Cork won at Thurles.

In Camogie Galway beat Kilkenny 5-7 to 2-9 in one of today’s Division One semi finals. Cork beat Limerick 1-12 to 0-10 in the other semi final.

In Division Two, Laois beat Kilkenny 1-10 to 0-9 in the first of today’s semi finals and in the second semi final Waterford proved too strong for Kildare winning 1-15 to 1-7 at Nenagh.

Would it not be great to see the two camogie semi finals played as a curtain raiser to this years League semi final at Thurles.

The Division two final between Waterford and Laois could be first up, say having a 12 Noon or a 12-15pm start. The Division one final between Cork and Kilkenny could follow at 2pm with the hurling final taking centre stage at 4pm.

Their may be some that will say that it’s not possible because of gate receipts etc. But would that be a real issue. It is surely something that could be sorted rather easily.

The game is likely to be an all ticket affair. The G.A.A. could prove that G.A.A. that it does not stand for Grab All Association. The Camogie Association could argue that they would loose out on a gate but would they.

It could be agreed before hand that the Camogie Association would get between ten and fifteen percent of every ticket sold for the game. Maybe such a figure from each person going to the games would be less than what would be charged if the two camogie games were played as a double header at say Limerick or Nenagh, but with the greater number of people going to Thurles for a treble header would be greater than what would go to a camogie double header, so the Camogie Association would be “quid’s in” as ticket prices would be the same if you went to one game or all three.

Playing the game as a treble header would also get more people watching the camogie and maybe back to more games, which in itself would be worth taking a gamble on receiving between €2 and €3 for every ticket sold presuming that tickets would be sold for somewhere between €20 and €30.

As pointed out, some may think playing a treble header at Thurles on May 3 might come across as a mad idea, but it has to be at least given some consideration by both associations.