Five Star Waterford into All-Ireland Final

Three years ago when Sean Power was named as Manager of the Waterford Minor Hurling team for the 2013 season, his name was an unknown to many within the county let outside the county.

Often at underage level, County Boards go for a big name or an established name to look after its underage teams to try and get the best out of their sides.

But while Sean Power was a relatively unknown, he along with his management team were able to guide their side to a Munster Final appearance where they lost out to Limerick and to bounce back from that defeat to go on an capture the biggest prize available to sides competing at that level, winning the All-Ireland Final with a very strong display at Croke Park on the first Sunday of September.

Sean Power however while still a relatively unknown in some quarters is quickly gaining a reputation for himself, having helped a second team he has managed Waterford to this years All-Ireland Under 21 Final against Galway after a massive win over Antrim in the first of this years All-Ireland semi finals played at Thurles today.

Nobody will need telling anyone in Waterford that a win in the All-Ireland Final will not happen easy as Galway, while they find it difficult to make the big break through in the senior grade, for the past few decades they have put together some excellent under age teams and this years under 21 team is no different.

If and it is a very big If at this stage, Waterford do win what would be a first All-Ireland at this level since 1992 then in such time that Derek McGrath indicates that he does not want to stand for the position of Senior Hurling Manager, the name of Sean Power will be amongst those that should take over from him.

This was Waterford’s third game in this years Championship, and after scoring 3-23 against Clare in the Munster Semi Final and 2-19 against Tipperary in the Munster Final, Waterford were expected to put up another big score in this game and they did not fail to deliver, but few if any expected Waterford to win here as easily as they did.

This game was in fact over at a very early stage, as Waterford were in control from start to finish and at the break they were 3-10 to 0-6 in front.

Antrim made one change to their named team earlier in the week ahead of the game as Ryan Elliott from the Dunloy Club replaced Colin Heyden between the posts.

Waterford began this game in fine fashion as the inspirational Austin Gleeson made a surging run at the Antrim defence and split the posts with just two minutes played.

Patrick Curran added a second Waterford point two minutes later and by the ninth minute when brothers Stephen and Shane Bennett also had the umpire reaching for a white flag, the writing was on the wall for Antrim.

On eleven minutes, Waterford hit the first of five goals, as Modeligo club man Tom Devine was on the right place to benefit from a mishit Patrick Curran free. The Dungarvan Club man failed to pick the sliotar properly and whipped it along the ground to Devine who once in control of the ball got inside a couple of Antrim chances and them with a trademark bullet like shot he blasted to the Antrim net to give Waterford a 1-4 to 0-0 lead.

Minutes later Waterford had a second goal, this time an own goal from Eoin McManus after a DJ Foran effort hit of him.

Points from Tom Devine and Mikey Kearney followed for the Déise as they opened up a twelve point lead which was followed with Antrim’s first scores of the game, firstly from a Saul McCaughan free and then a Domhnail Nugent effort.

With Waterford well in control, Sean Power and his selectors withdrew Shane Bennett on 21 minutes possibly as a precaution and with an All-Ireland Final to look forward to in three weeks time after he looked to pick up an injury in the warm up before the game and was replaced by Peter Hogan who scored a wonder goal after some brilliant work by Stephen Bennett in the Munster Final win over Clare recently.

Points from Maoi Connolly for Antrim and a response from Austin Gleeson had Waterford cruising 2-7 to 0-3 with twenty four minutes played.

Further scores from McCaughan and Patrick Curran followed before the brilliant Dungarvan Club man hit Waterford’s third goal of the game on the half hour mark as he batted to the net after an initial effort from Stephen Bennett was kept out.

In added time at the end of the first half Damon McMullen and DJ Foran swapped points before Patrick Curran pointed just before the whistle to give Waterford a 3-10 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Waterford began the second half with a point from Mikey Kearney, but Antrim hit back almost straight away with a Saul McCaughan goal but Waterford replied with a point from Mark O’Brien to give Waterford a 3-12 to 1-6 lead with just two minutes of the second half played.

Well in front at this stage, Waterford refused to let up in front of the Antrim goal as Mikey Kearney, Tom Devine and Patrick Curran gave Waterford a fourteen point lead with the third quarter not yet having reached its conclusion.

Waterford hit a fourth goal at the three quarter stage mark of the game as Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett linked up before the latter finished to the Antrim net.

Peter Hogan after a good showing after coming off the bench against Tipperary in the Munster Final did his chances of staking a place in the team for the upcoming All-Ireland Final against Galway no harm with another good display here and he got on the score sheet eleven minutes from time with a fine point.

Waterford added a fifth goal when Patrick Curran finished to the net.

Waterford continued to dominate in all sectors of the field for the remainder of the game and ended up winning with twenty-nine points to spare.

This win sets up Waterford for a first All-Ireland Final appearance at this level since the side beat Offaly after a replay at Nowlan Park in 1992.

That win coupled with the All-Ireland Minor Final defeat to Galway in the same year was the catalyst to great things over the coming years, in which so much was achieved under the likes of Gerald McCarthy, Justin McCarthy and Davy Fitzgerald over a decade and a bit.

Should Waterford beat Galway in the All-Ireland Final in three weeks time, coupled with the All-Ireland Minor Win of 2013 and the League Final win in 2015, we could be about to see a new glorious chapter in the history of Waterford hurling be opened sooner rather than later, as a new generation of young hurlers will be inspired by what they will see as those that have come before them were when they saw Waterford reach levels that many had not seen before and older hurling supporters had to go back to the 50’s and 60’s to see such successes.

Waterford; Gavin Power; William Hahessy, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Colm Roche, Shane Bennett; Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine; Mark O’Brien; Mikey Kearney, DJ Foran, Patrick Curran. Subs: Peter Hogan for Shane Bennett (17 mins), Adam Farrell for Colm Roche (39 mins), Billy O’Keeffe for Darragh Lyons (42 mins), Jack Fagan for Tom Devine (44 mins), Dermot Ryan for Austin Gleeson (50 mins).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 2-7 (0-4f), Tom Devine 1-2, Stephen Bennett 1-1, DJ Foran, Mikey Kearney (0-1 sideline) 0-4 each, E McManus 1-0 (OG), Austin Gleeson 0-2, Shane Bennett, Mark O’Brien, Adam Farrell, Peter Hogan, Jack Fagan 0-1 each.

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Gerard Walsh, Tomás Burns, Eoin McManus; Damon McMullan, Paddy Burke, Ryan McCambridge; Cormac Ross, Alec Delargy; Maoi Connolly, Domhnail Nugent, James O’Connell; Saul McCaughan, T Butler, Ryan McKee. Subs: James Connolly for Cormac Ross (25 mins), Ryan Gillan for Gerard Walsh (40 mins), Christy McNaughton for Domhnail Nugent (43 mins), Cormac McAllister for James O’Connell (47 mins), Ryan Delargy for Eoin McManus (52 mins)

Scorers: Saul McCaughan 1-4 (0-3f), Maoi Connolly 0-2 (1f), Domhnall Nugent, D McMullan (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)

Brave Déise Fall Just Short

A week on from playing out the game of the year in this year’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship, Waterford and Kilkenny played out another pulsating battle at Thurles on Saturday evening.

Like the game played at Croke Park on the previous Sunday afternoon, this game right to the wire.

Two All-Ireland Senior Camogie Semi Final’s were played before this game at the home of hurling and both went to extra time before Cork and Kilkenny advanced to next months All-Ireland Final and had this game needed another two ten minute periods to find a winner, nobody would have complained about having to hang around Thurles for another half hour or so.

In fact the game could have ended in a draw. Going into the closing moments of the game, Waterford trailed by a point when they won a free under the shadow of the New Stand with Waterford playing into the two end of the ground.

But alas for Waterford it was not to be as Pauric Mahony’s fine long distance effort fell just short and Kilkenny net minder Eoin Murphy was able to pluck the ball from going over the crossbar and in doing so he prevented the game from going to extra time as the full time whistle would surly have followed on the resumption. Moments later Kilkenny secured their place in next months decider against either Tipperary or Galway when Richie Hogan shot over from distance to give his side a two point win and also give Brian Cody’s side the chance of winning a three in a row of titles.

This game had a rip roaring start.

Debutant Liam Blanchfield opened the scoring in the first minute of the game with a point. The Bennetsbridge Club Man had a Championship Debut to remember for Brian Cody’s side hitting three points and will have done his chances of winning a place in the side from the start next time out hitting three points, and with Michael Fennelly expected to miss the September 4 date, maybe with the team being reshaped to fill his expected void, Blanchfield could well be again included from the start.

But Kilkenny were not long in front after Blanchfield’s early was cancelled out four minutes later when Austin Gleeson who again impressed in the White and Blue shirt shot past Eoin Murphy for the first of four first half goals shared by the two sides in this game. In the built up to the goal Waterford’s oldest player Michael Walsh played a huge part showing his many years of experience, something that is hugely important in what is a young Waterford side.

Kilkenny however were not too long behind and in a three minute spell they hit a brace of goals, both from Colin Fennelly, both set up by Walter Walsh to give Kilkenny a 2-1 to 1-1 lead with just over ten minutes played.

In the next ten minutes of the game Waterford showed some great character and out scored the Cat’s 1-4 to 0-1.

Pauric Mahony hit the first of his nine points before TJ Reid got his first of the evening a minute later.

Pauric Mahony from a free and Jamie Barron landed further scores, before Jake Dillon hit his sides second goal of the game and the fourth of the game by the two sides on twenty minutes, and when Shane Bennett pointed soon afterwards things were looking good for Waterford, and only a second ever championship win over Kilkenny looked to be on the cards for the side south of the River Suir divide between the two counties.

But you right of Kilkenny at your pearl and Brian Cody’s men put in a strong finish to the first half to go in at the break leading 2-10 to 2-7 as Blanchfield (2), Hogan, Reid (2) Walsh and Michael Fennelly landed points for the eventual winners with Waterford’s sole response in this time coming from Pauric Mahony.

Kilkenny often do much of their damage to win games early in the second half and while they played well in the opening minutes of the third quarter of this game, Waterford refused to let them pull away as often other sides do.

TJ Reid, Padraig Walsh and Richie Hogan hit points for Kilkenny in the third quarter but Pauric Mahony kept Waterford in touch with some impressive shooting.

Nine minutes into the second half it did look as it was going to be Kilkenny’s day as they held a 2-14 to 2-9 lead and you could not feel that the next score should it fall to Kilkenny would he the final nail in the Waterford coffin, but it was Waterford who would score next and a further nine minutes later they had the Kilkenny lead down to three (2-16 to 2-13).

Waterford proved to be the better of the two sides in the final quarter and after Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan split the posts late in the game it left just one between the sides and extra time loomed.

And when Waterford won a late free it looked as if those inside Semple Stadium from early in the day would see a third game go to extra time, but it was not to be.

Kilkenny marched on to another first Sunday of September date in Croke Park, and while Waterford’s senior team will end the year without silverware, reaching a National League Final which went to a replay, a Munster Final and an All-Ireland Semi Final which like in the National League needed a replay to find a winner, things appear to be going in the right direction for Waterford and surly it wont be too long when Waterford will be in Croke Park again in September and where hopefully the hoodoo Kilkenny have over Waterford will be broken.

Scorers: TJ Reid 0-7 (0-6f), Colin Fennelly 2-0, Richie Hogan 0-4, Liam Blanchfield 0-3, Padraig Walsh 0-2, Michael Fennelly, Walter Walsh, Eoin Larkin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-7f), Austin Gleeson 1-2, Jake Dillon 1-0, Jamie Barron, Shane Bennett, Maurice Shanahan 0-2 each.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Shane Prendergast; Padraig Walsh, Conor Fogarty, Cillian Buckley; Michael Fennelly, Richie Hogan; Walter Walsh, TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin; Mark Bergin, Colin Fennelly, Liam Blanchfield. Subs: Lester Ryan for Michael Fennelly (inj) (59), Jonjo Farrell for Mark Bergin (60), John Power for Walter Walsh (blood) (61-66), Kevin Kelly for Liam Blanchfield (72).

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives; Philip Mahony, Tadhg de Búrca, Conor Gleeson; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony; Stephen Bennett, Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon. Subs: Maurice Shanahan for Stephen Bennett (47), Patrick Curran for Shane Bennett (54), Tom Devine for Jake Dillon (61)

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)

Gutsy Waterford Ladies Bow Out To Kerry

Beaten Munster Finalists Kerry produced a strong third quarter performance to beat a gutsy Waterford side in the first round proper of this years All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship at Birr on Saturday afternoon last.

This was a game that had it all. Six goals split equally between the two sides, both sides between the created 56 scoring chances, Kerry taking 22 of their 32 chances, Waterford taking 13 of their 23, and some football of the highest quality.

Kerry corner forward Sarah Houlihan produced a player of the match performance in which she hit nine of her side’s point’s tally, seven of which came from open play, following up on the 1-6 she hit in the most recent clash between the two sides in the Munster Championship.

Waterford played without the services of Michelle, Louise and Sinead Ryan who were attending a family wedding and evening without the services of the three sisters, Waterford were still a match for the eventual winners for much of the game.

Waterford had a tonic start to this game.

Caoimhe McGrath won the thrown in from the start and found Hannah Power. The teenager who has won under 14 and 16 All-Ireland Medals in recent years in turn found Lauren McGregor. The Dungarvan club player laid the ball off to Caoimhe McGrath who in turn found Aileen Wall who played the ball into Grainne Kenneally in front of the Kerry goal. The Ballyduff Upper player turned Kate O’Sullivan and then beat Edel Murphy for a goal with less than thirty seconds played.

Kerry however were to be behind long as Laura Rogers hit a brace of points and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh hit one to draw the sides level. Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before Houlihan pointed again to give Kerry the lead for the first time, and never fell behind again.

Midway through the half Kerry hit the first of their goals. An attempt for a point by Roisin Tobin fell short and was cleared by Edel Murphy. Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan, Caroline Kelly, Lorraine Scanlon, Bernie Breen, Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Laura Rogers and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh all were involved in a movement that saw the latter fist pass the ball across the Waterford goal to Bernie Breen who scored from close range.

Straight away Waterford attacked the Kerry goal and Murphy was forced to make good saves from Caoimhe McGrath and Grainne Kenneally.

A brace of Maria Delahunty scores was followed with efforts from Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch and Sarah Houlihan after which Waterford followed up with points from Roisin Tobin and Lauren McGregor to trail 1-9 to 1-7 at the break.

Kerry were well on top in the third quarter.

Sarah Houlihan opened the second half scoring in the first minute after the restart and quickly followed it up with an effort from Bernie Breen and then a hat-trick of points from Sarah Houlihan gave Kerry a 1-14 to 1-7 lead with eight minutes of the second half played.

A minute later Kerry held a double score lead.

From the kick out after Sarah Houlihan’s third point in a row, Bernie Breen won the ball and played it to Jane Lynch, who linked up with Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Laura Rogers who found Emma Sherwood who blasted past Katie Hannon.

Further points from Lorraine Scanlon and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh extended the Kerry lead to twelve, but in between these efforts Katie Hannon did brilliantly to keep two efforts from Lorraine Scanlon from hitting her net.

With 18 minutes of the game remaining, Waterford started a good movement starting with a Katie Hannon kick out. The Ballyduff Upper player found Aileen Wall who brought Shauna Dunphy, Karen McGrath, Mairead Wall, Maria Delahunty and Grainne Kenneally into the move and as the Ballyduff Upper player was about to pull the trigger she was fouled by Denise Hallissey who was issued with a yellow card by referee Mel Kenny who also awarded the Déise girls a penalty. Katie Hannon was brought up field to shoot at her opposite number and the Ballyduff Upper player who captained the side on the day in the absence of Sinead Ryan, made no mistake hitting low and hard past Edel Murphy.

A point from Laura Rogers gave Kerry a nine point cushion and moments later they went twelve in front after a Waterford attack broke down and Kerry were able to clear their lines with Bernie Breen, Eilis Lynch, Kate O’Sullivan, Laura Rogers and Sarah Houlihan were involved. The latter attempted to beat Katie Hannon but her effort was well saved but the rebound fell kindly to Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh who was unmarked and was able to finish to the net.

The sign of a good team is how they respond to conceding a goal and Waterford showed that they are a good team by hitting a third goal of their own moments after Kerry hit their third.

The ball broke between Mairead Wall and Caoimhe McGrath. Falling kinder to the Ballymacarbry player she brought Karen McGrath, Roisin Tobin and Katie Murray into the move and when Roisin Tobin was brought back into the move she saw her effort come off the upright by Grainne Kenneally was in the right place to collect the ball and slot past Edel Murphy for a third Waterford goal.

After this the game proved to be an evenly balanced game as both sides shared the next five scores with Waterford just edging it.

Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before used subs on their respective sides, Andrea Murphy and Nicola Fennell did like wise.

Despite trailing Waterford never gave up and they hit a consolation score from a Maria Delahunty free two minutes from time.

There may be no trip to Croke Park for the Waterford ladies footballers in 2016, but it was a year that has proved to be a good one for Pat Sullivan and his charges.

The winning of the National League Division Three final after loosing the last two finals will be the highlight of the year, but on the championship front, having moved up from intermediate last year, Waterford have shown in both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships, even if they won just one of their four games played that they are more than capable of holding their own against more seasoned players playing at this grade of football.

KERRY: Edel Murphy; Aisling O’Connell, Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan; Denise Hallissey, Caroline Kelly, Eilis Lynch; Bernie Breen, Emma Sherwood; Laura Rogers, Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch; Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: Anna Galvin for Amanda Brosnan (39), Aisling Leonard for Eilis Lynch (48), Casandra Buckley for Jane Lynch (54), Andrea Murphy for Laura Rogers (54), Caoimhe O’Sullivan for Sarah Houlihan (54).

Scorers: Sarah Houlihan 0-9 (2f), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-2, Bernie Breen 1-1, Emma Sherwood 1-0, Laura Rogers 0-3, Lorraine Scanlon 0-2, Jane Lynch, Andrea Murphy 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Megan Dunford; Aisling Mullaney, Mairead Wall, Hannah Power; Karen McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath; Emma Murray, Maria Delahunty, Roisin Tobin; Lauren McGregor, Grainne Kenneally, Aileen Wall. Subs: Katie Murray for Lauren McGregor (39), Shauna Dunphy for Aisling Mullaney (42), Nicola Fennell for Karen McGrath (50), Ciara Hurley for Linda Wall (54), Chloe Fennell for Hannah Power (60).

Scorers: Grainne Kenneally 2-0, Maria Delahunty 0-6 (3f, 1 45), Roisin Tobin 0-2, Lauren McGregor, Nicola Fennell 0-1 each.

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo).

Waterford and Kerry Renew Ladies Football Rivalry

Rivals from the mid 80’s and into the 90’s when both sides dominated the game of Ladies Football, Kerry and Waterford renew rivalry on Saturday afternoon when they clash in the first round of this years TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship with Birr the unusual setting for the staging of the game.

These two sides have met already in this year’s championship meeting in the third round of the round robin part of the Munster Championship when Kerry ran out winners. The ladies from the Kingdom will go into the game as favourites but they will have seen from the earlier game between the two sides, Waterford are more than capable of causing a major shock in this game.

The ladies from the Kingdom lost their Munster Championship Crown to All-Ireland Champions Cork a few weeks back, something that they will not like to have seen happening, but they will know that on that day they were in fact the second best team in a two horse race and will look to get back to winning ways in this game.

Waterford will need no telling as to how strong this Kerry side are. Aislinn Desmond and Caroline Kelly are set to fill the central spots in the Kerry defence and with Denise Hallissey and Eilis Lynch set to flank Caroline Kelly the Waterford attackers will have to be at their very best to get something from these players.

Bernie Breen will be in the middle of the field and is another player that will need no introduction to supporters of Ladies Football while in attack Sarah Houlihan and Louise Ni Mhuicheartaigh are ream match winners when given the opportunity.

Waterford are back in the Senior Ranks after seven years playing in the Intermediate Grade. In those seven years, the Déise Ladies won seven provincial titles in the grade and played in three All-Ireland Finals in that time, winning at the third attempt last September beating Kildare at Croke Park.

Waterford in this time have also had some successful underage sides in the ‘B’ Championships and in many of these successes current senior manager Pat Sullivan was involved and knowing the calibre of players he worked with in the underage competitions he has had no hesitation giving the players their chance in the Intermediate team last year and with the senior team this year and they have so far not let him down for the confidence shown in them.

Waterford are having a good year in 2016. They won nine of the ten games played in the National League, drawing the one that they did not win.

In the Munster championship, while they lost to both Cork and Kerry on away soil in both, Pat Sullivan’s charges in both games gave very good accounts of themselves.

Their recent preliminary round win in this years championship two weeks ago was described by some as a surprise but how much of a surprise was it. In truth a well organised Waterford side were two strong for a fancied Armagh side who had beaten Waterford in the two previous big clashes between the two, the 2012 All-Ireland Intermediate Final and the 2014 Division three National League final.

Waterford will know that they will have to be at their very best to get something from this game. But this is something that this side is more than capable of.

Pat Sullivan has a fantastic team which includes youth and experience.

Waterford’s most crucial line in this game could well be the full back line and it is no coincident that this is also possibly Waterford strongest line with Michelle McGrath playing in the middle of the two oldest Wall sisters Linda and Mairead.

Waterford’s named half back line of Megan Dunford flanked by Aisling Mullaney and Hannah Power is a very young line. All three have come off successful underage teams with the Abbeyside club player the most experienced of the three. Against what could be a very experienced Kerry forward outfit some might say that we could see changes in this line before the throw in.

Karen McGrath and Emma Murray form what is a strong centre field pairing. And if the Waterford full back line is important, the same could well be said of their half forward line as Maria Delahunty playing in between Gráinne Kenneally and Katie Murray form a line that could prove the Kerry defence lots of problems.

Aileen Wall is named at full forward. The Ballymacarbry player was judged to be the best player in the Intermediate Championship last year and this year in the higher grade she is showing that she is equally as good having put in a number of very impressive performances.

She is named to start between Caoimhe McGrath and Lauren McGregor, two rising starts of the game.  

In the last few games, supporters of Ladies Football have seen some good games fought out and this could well prove to be another one.

Recent tradition would suggest that Kerry should prove too strong for Waterford and therefore advance to a quarter final meeting with Monaghan, but tradition has never won a game. The better side on the day and they team that makes the most of the breaks they get win most games.

Waterford’s recent win over Armagh will have made Kerry sit up and take note as to how strong and hungry side this Waterford side are.

Few if any gave them a chance against Armagh and the same will happen here with the neutrals. A quarter final spot against Monaghan await the winners. Don’t be surprised if Like Waterford and Kerry renewing rivalry in this game as they did in the 80’s and 90’s, if Waterford were to renew rivalry with another of their rivals from the 90’s next time out.

Brilliant Deise Prove Too Strong In Munster Final

For the second time in this years Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship, Waterford produced a brilliant second half performance to beat Tipperary at Walsh Park last night and in doing so won a first Munster Final at this grade since 1994 and only a fourth title in the competition overall.

Austin Gleeson on the night produced a Man of the Match performance playing at centre back.

The performance of the Mount Sion man had people saying it was the greatest individual performance by any player at the Keane’s Road venue by any player in a long number of years.

In fact it was possibly the best performance by any player in a white and blue shirt in almost two decades at any grade and rivalled that of Ken McGrath while playing against Clare in the Minor Championship at Bansha in the mid 90’s as a performance that will be remembered for many years to come.

The question has been asked many times in recent years as to whether the Mount Sion man is a better back or a forward. The same was often asked of Ken McGrath, another Mount Sion player while he played for Waterford, and is one which is still asked to this day.

It was always my view that McGrath was always a better defender than a forward even if he was a very good forward and of what I have seen of Austin Gleeson I would hold the same opinion of him.

The Mount Sion man on the night hit five points on the night, four of which came from play, including two at the start of the second half which were as well struck as anyone could imagine which doubled the two point advantage that Sean Power’s side had on the scoreboard which they went to the dressing rooms with at the break.

In front of just short of 8,850 of an attendance, Waterford had a dream start to this game going 0-4 to 0-0 up inside the opening minutes of the game as Patrick Curran put over three points and DJ Foran hit one, but by the mid way point of the half, Tipperary pulled the scores level with four unanswered points in a four minute spell.

Tipperary continued their purple patch in the early part of the second quarter and by the twenty first minute they were 0-6 to 0-5 in front.

Three minutes from the break Waterford hit the first of two crucial goals.

The home side won a free under the stand as they attacked the city end of the ground. It was expected that Dungarvan’s Patrick Curran would split the posts but his effort fell just short of the target but Stephen Bennett who has produced some big performances at Walsh Park before in the white and blue shirt of Waterford was in the right place and he had no problems in hitting low and hard past Brian Hogan in the Tipperary goal for a score that helped Waterford to a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage on the score board at the break.

Waterford began the second half as they did with Austin Gleeson firing over two long range points to increase their advantage. Ronan Teehan who replaced Jason Ryan at the break pulled one back for Tipperary before Tom Devine and Patrick Curran gave Waterford a five point advantage.

Andrew Coffey pulled a point back for Tipperary before Stephen Quirke and Josh Keane landed efforts to leave just one between the sides.

In a tit for tat third quarter Colm Roche further extended the Déise lead but a brace of Josh Keane points levelled the game 1-11 to 0-14 with the game about to enter its final quarter.

In the final quarter however it was Waterford all the way as they outscored their opponents 1-8 to 0-1.

The home side added a second goal on 50 minutes and what a goal it was as Stephen Bennett released Peter Hogan with a sublime over the head pass into space and when the Ballygunner man got one on one with Brian Hogan there was only going to be one winner.

Waterford added late scores from Tom Devine, Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett and Austin Gleeson to secure a ten point victory and an All-Ireland semi final appearance against Antrim where the winners will play either Dublin or Galway in mid September.

With many of this panel already the owners of All-Ireland medals from three years ago in the minor grade and with the secondary schools that they played for in the last few years, few if any at this point would not be surprised if they were to add another one this year to their collection.

But lets get past next months semi final game with Antrim first.

Waterford: Jordan Henley; Darragh Lyons, Conor Gleeson, William Hahessy; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Colm Roche, Shane Bennett; Mark O’Brien, Tom Devine, DJ Foran; Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Mikey Kearney. Subs: Peter Hogan for Colm Roche (42), Jack Fagan for Mikey Kearney, Dermot Ryan for Darragh Lyons (60), Niall Fives for DJ Foran (61), Barry Whelan for William Hahessy (61).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Austin Gleeson 0-5 (0-1f), Stephen Bennett 1-1, Peter Hogan 1-0, Tom Devine 0-2, DJ Foran, Colm Roche 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Paul Maher, Tom Fox, David Sweeney; Sean Ryan, Ronan Maher, Barry Heffernan; Jason Ryan, Willie Connors; Billy McCarthy, Stephen Quirke, Andrew Coffey; Conor Lanigan, Mark Russell, Josh Keane. Subs: Ronan Teehan for Jason Ryan (half-time), Pa Ryan for Conor Lanigan (53), Mark McCarthy for Andrew Coffey (58), Tommy Nolan for Billy McCarthy (60).

Scorers: Josh Keane 0-6 (0-5f), Andrew Coffey 0-4, Stephen Quirke 0-3, Conor Lanigan, Ronan Teehan 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

Waterford Ladies Prove Too Strong For Armagh

Waterford Senior Ladies Footballers caused a major shock on Saturday afternoon when they recorded a six point win over a fancied Armagh side in the preliminary round of games in this year’s TG4 All Ireland Championship at Clane in County Kildare.

The Ulster side went into this game on the back of a few great years. An All-Ireland Intermediate title and successive league promotions, made the Orchard County side favourites for this game.

Waterford did not go into this game without hope however, as since 2010 the Déise County have reached three Intermediate All-Ireland Finals, loosing out in two of them before winning last year against Kildare and also reached the last three division three league finals, winning the most recent one against Tipperary after a replay and also Waterford manager Pat Sullivan has not been afraid to introduce into the set up some of the best young players that he would have worked with on different underage teams with success prior to taking over the managers position of the Intermediate team last year.

The two sides in recent years have had plenty of history between the sides.

The two clashed in the 2012 Intermediate All-Ireland at Croke Park where Armagh won out on the day and two years later the sides again met in a big game, this time in the League final at Parnell Park in Dublin where the Ulster side again won out.

There are some old sayings such as third time lucky and perseverance counts, and for Waterford both proved to be true on Saturday afternoon.

Waterford travelled to the County Kildare venue confident that this could be their chance to beat the Orchard County side.

Armagh were one of a number sides in Division one of the league that finished on 12 points but failed to make the semi finals. They lost out to Monaghan in the Ulster Semi Final some weeks back in a game which some described as a surprise result as when the two met in the league it was Armagh that won the clash of the two sides.

For this game they were without the injured Sinead Kernan and Lauren McConville who was unavailable for selection but still had plenty of experience available to them in the likes of Mairead Tennyson, Fionnuala McKenna, Caroline O’Hanlon and Kelly Mallon.

Waterford started the game without team captain Sinead Ryan but the Ballymacarbry player who has made a huge impact to the team since she returned to the set up did come on for the final quarter of this game replacing Lauren McGregor.

Like Armagh, Waterford came into this game on the back of a sting off good results in 2016 which saw the side win nine of the ten games they played in the league, drawing the game which they did not win, and in the Munster Championship played in recent weeks, while Waterford lost out to strong Cork and Kerry outfits both of whom have played in Senior All-Ireland’s in recent years, Pat Sullivan’s charges in both games gave very good accounts of themselves.

Aileen Wall not for the first time produced a Player of the Match performance in this game bagging 2-4 all from play to help Waterford to a richly deserved six point win.

At the break Waterford held a double score (3-5 to 0-7) lead and in truth could have been further ahead as they ran at every chance at an Armagh defence who found the going tough against a Waterford team with a nice mix of youth and experience.

Waterford had 1-2 on the scoreboard before Armagh hit their first score of the game through Aimee Mackin, the Waterford goal coming from the sides longest serving player Michelle Ryan who palmed home a Maria Delahunty free which unusually dropped short of its intended target.

Waterford’s second goal came on ten minutes as Caoimhe McGrath one of the most exciting young versatile players within the game intercepted a poor kick out and when through on goal she shot low and hard against Anna Carr.

Waterford could have added a third goal seconds later but Lauren McGregor saw her shot well saved by Anna Carr in the Armagh goal.

Armagh came back into contention with a succession of white flags but they were rocked once more eight minutes short of the break as Lauren McGregor and Aileen Wall played a brilliant one-two for the latter to shoot her first major score of the game.

Not even the sin binning of Karen McGrath two minutes after Waterford scored a third goal upset the side, as they defended with a player less for final minutes of the half and the opening minutes of the second half with a player less.

Just before the break Waterford had a let off when Kelly Mallon smashed the Déise crossbar and they know it could also have been a much different game had the Ulster side not kicked nine first half wides.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Waterford kicked four unanswered points and were unlucky not to have hit another goal as Maria Delahunty saw an effort come crashing off the Armagh crossbar.

The Ulster side hit back with 1-4 without replay the goal coming at the start of the third quarter from Aimee Mackin, but once Player of the Match Aileen Wall hit her second goal of the game in added time, even though Caroline O’Hanlon scored a late goal for the Ulster side there was going to be no disputing the final outcome of this game.

Armagh are the first side to crash out off this years Senior Championship and could be one of a number of sides that will drop out of the senior grade if a proposal to cut the numbers playing senior to twelve in the coming weeks is successful.

For Waterford they now go on to play Kerry in the first round of the All-Ireland Championship. The sides have met already in the Munster Championship and while the Kingdom won that game, Waterford gave a very good account of themselves on the day and this win will give the side even more confidence for that game.

The price for the winners of the Waterford and Kerry game will be another tricky encounter against Monaghan.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall; Louise Ryan, Megan Dunford, Hannah Power, Karen McGrath, Emma Murray; Grainne Kenneally, Maria Delahunty, Caoimhe McGrath; Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Katie Murray for Caoimhe McGrath (44), Sinead Ryan for Lauren McGregor (48), Aisling Mullaney for Louise Ryan (49), Nicola Fennell for Grainne Kenneally (56), Roisin Tobin for Michelle Ryan (60).

Scorers: Aileen Wall 2-4, Maria Delahunty 0-6 (4f), Michelle Ryan 1-2, Caoimhe McGrath 1-0, Sinead Ryan 0-1.

ARMAGH: Anna Carr; Caoimhe Morgan, Clodagh McCambridge, Mairead Tennyson; Sharon Reel, Finnuala McKenna, Megan Sheridan; Niamh Marley, Caroline O’Hanlon; Blaithin Mackin, Kelly Mallon, Niamh Coleman; Caoimhe Marley, Sinead Finnegan, Aimee Mackin. Subs: Sarah Marley for Caoimhe Morgan (36), Aoibhinn Henderson for Blaithin Mackin (39).

Scorers: Aimee Mackin 1-6 (0-2f), Caroline O’Hanlon 1-2, Sharon Reel, Blaithin Mackin, Kelly Mallon (f), Aoibhinn Henderson & Caoimhe Marley 0-1 each.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois)

Deise sides kept apart in Dr. Harty Cup

The two Waterford sides taking part in this year’s Dr. Harty Cup Competition were kept apart in the draws for the group stages of the competition which were made recently.

This season sees a change in the structure of the competition.

When the competing sides met recently there was a strong feeling for change in the way the competition is run off.

In the last number of years the competition was played off with up to 20 teams taking part in groups of five with each team playing each other with the top two sides in each group advancing to the knockout stages of the competition.

From this year the competition will be played in a similar fashion to the way the Munster Senior B and C Colleges competition were run off.

The eight sides that qualified for the quarter finals of last seasons competition which were played in January were each seeded into eight different groups, with the remaining twelve sides competing in groups of two or three teams with the top two teams in each group advancing to the second round of the competition with the eight winners of these games advancing to the quarter finals of the competition in early January.

The change in structure for the 2016/2017 competition means that each of the competing teams are guaranteed two meaningful games in the new look competition.

This year’s group for the Dr. Harty cup are

Group A

SNTN Doon

Colaiste Iosaef Kilmallock

CBC Cork

Group B

Gaelcolaiste Mhuire AG (Cork)

De La Salle (Waterford)

Thurles CBS

Group C

Castletroy Community College

HS Clonmel

Blackwater Community School

Group D

Hamilton High School Bandon

Ard Scoil Ris

Group E

Midleton CBS

St Colmans Fermoy

Group F

Our Lady’s Templemore

St Flannan’s Ennis

Group G

St Francis College Rochestown

Charleville CBS

Group H

Abbey CBS (Tipperary)

Nenagh CBS

A Munster Final Win For Waterford Could Be The Launch Pad To Bigger And Better Days.

The second biggest hurling day on the G.A.A. calendar and the third biggest day on the Association’s calendar is upon us. This year’s Munster Senior Hurling Final is just days away.

Near neighbours Waterford and Tipperary clash in this year’s final, a repeat of the final won twelve months ago by the Premier County side on a 0-21 to 0-16 score line.

In total the two counties have clashed in ten previous finals, the first coming in 1925 when Waterford lost 6-6 to 1-2, and this weekend’s clash of the two counties is the sixth in a provincial final since Waterford famously won a first Munster Senior Hurling crown in 2002 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh for the first time in almost forty years.

While Waterford’s record against our four rivals in Munster has improved considerably in the last twenty years, when it comes to provincial finals against our neighbours on the Northern side of the River Suir against Tipperary our record does not make for pretty reading, winning just once in a Munster Final in the last five meetings of the two sides and over all, in the other final’s between the two sides, Waterford have won on just one other occasion winning 0-11 to 0-8 in 1963 when Waterford went on to contest the All-Ireland Final but loosing out to Kilkenny at Croke Park.

The sides have already played each other once in a competitive game this year, when Waterford won 1-18 to 1-17 at Thurles in Round Three of this year’s National League.

On the day Waterford were without the services of the influential Maurice Shanahan who was suspended after his sending off against Cork while the home side lost Seamus Callanan, a player who is equally important to Tipperary as is Shanahan to Waterford. The Drom and Inch man was a late withdrawal with a hamstring strain.

John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer who misses this weekend’s game for Tipperary after he was sent off in their semi final win over Limerick was his sides scorer in chief in the league clash between the two sides back in March.

He accounted for 0-11 of his sides eighteen scores, all but two of which came from frees. John McGrath who is one of the leading lights in the game also produced the goods for his side hitting 1-2 while older brother Noel as well as Michael Breen and Brendan Maher also got on the score sheet for the home side.

For Waterford Patrick Curran finished as top scorer finishing with eight points behind his name, half a dozen of which came from frees.  Tom Devine who came on in the third quarter for Mikey Kearney hit Waterford’s all important goal. Shane Bennett chipped in with three points while Kevin Moran and Austin Gleeson hit a brace a piece while Jamie Barron and Colin Dunford also had white flags waved.

The home side looked as if they had the points on offer bagged in that game after John McGrath struck for a late goal, but Waterford dug deep and points from Shane Bennett and Patrick Curran helped to bring the sides level with the game deep in stoppage time.

The sign of a good team is one that never gives up and this is what Waterford did. The side could have settled for a draw and sit on top of the league table with five points after beating Kilkenny and Cork in the earlier rounds of the league, but Waterford pressed hard for the score that would give them the full amount of points to play for. And they were rewarded when Cork referee Colm Lyons awarded Waterford a free deep inside their own half the field and brought Austin Gleeson back to take it and the Mount Sion man made no mistake in dissecting the posts to give Waterford the perfect start to the league, three wins from three games.

Both sides will feel they go into this weekend’s clash well prepared. Tipperary have had two games in the championship beating Cork 0-22 to 0-13 in the quarter finals and last time out they had another excellent 3-21 to 1-16 win over Limerick who many were expecting to be a better outfit.

Waterford in recent weeks would have had a tough battle with Clare in the League Final a game that ended in a 0-22 each draw before loosing the replay 1-23 to 2-19 and in the semi finals last time out they beat Davy Fitzgerald’s charges 1-21 to 0-17.

Tipperary with John O’Dwyer’s sending off against Limerick will have to make changes to their starting line up, but they would be expected to be kept to the minimum.

Darren Gleeson will be expected to start between the posts with Cathal Barrett, James Barry and Michael Cahill in the full back line with Seamus Kennedy as well as Ronan and Padraic Maher playing in front of them.

In the middle of the field Brendan Maher and Michael Breen would be expected to continue while Noel McGrath, Patrick Maher and Dan McCormack could well prove to be the sides starting half forward line.

Seamus Callanan will start on the edge of the Waterford square with John McGrath in the left corner forward position. Who comes in for John O’Dwyer remains to be seen. The smart money could well rest on either Niall O’Meara or Jason Forde who have played in a lot of Tipperary’s games this year.

Waterford have a very settled looking side heading into this Sunday’s Final and it is expected that Manager Derek McGrath and his selectors will give the side that started against Clare last time out a vote of confidence to continue.

That will mean Stephen O’Keeffe in goal once more with Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors and Shane Fives playing in front of him.

The half back line is proving to be key to Waterford’s run of fine results in the last eighteen months and it is expected that if Darragh Fives shakes off the injury he is reported to be carrying into the game he will continue along side Tadhg the Búrca and Philip Mahony. If the Tourin Club man misses the game this weekend, it would be expected that maybe Austin Gleeson will fall back and play in defence.

Jamie Barron and Kevin Moran will start in the middle of the field, while in attack Michael Walsh, Pauric Mahony and Shane Bennett will start in the half forward line with Maurice Shanahan flanked by Patrick Curran and Austin Gleeson for the throw in.

If Austin Gleeson is needed to play in his own half of the field and a vacancy needs filling in attack expect it to be between Colin Dunford who has missed out on starting since been omitted for the league final replay loss to Clare and Tom Devine. Of the two many would expect the Colligan man to get the start as the Modeligo club man often plays his best in the county shirt when he comes off the bench in the second half. But Jake Dillon who has started eight of Waterford’s ten competitive games and coming on in the two games he did not start in, scoring 1-5 could well come into the reckoning.

This is a game that could prove to be too tight to call with any degree of certainty.

One thing is for sure. Goals are going to prove important. In their ten games to date, Waterford on average have hit less than a goal a game hitting seven goals, in the league and championship to date. At the other end of the field Waterford are doing somewhat better conceding six goals in their ten games which is a considerable improvement from what we saw just two years ago.

Tipperary have played eight games so far this year in the league and championship, hitting on average of a goal a game while at the opposite end of the field it must give Waterford hope that the Premier County side have been leaving in goals, conceding ten so far in their eight games.

On the law of averages, when it comes to scoring, Tipperary are fairing a little better than Waterford scoring on average of 24 points a game in their league and championship games while Waterford in their ten games have averaged 21.2 points a game.

At the other end of the field Tipperary are working out slightly the better of the two sides as well conceding 19.125 points a game in their eight competitive games to now while Waterford in their ten games have conceded an average of 19.2 points a game.

Games are not won on averages however and by the time that the two of these sides next play, be it an All-Ireland Quarter Final or and All-Ireland Semi Final and we cannot rule out a Munster Final replay, these statistics will have changed again.

And just as the game will not be won on statistics it will not be won either just by the fifteen men that start for the two respective sides. The game as we are told with a long number of years now is no longer a fifteen man game.

The use of the bench is going to prove crucial for both sides, be it with the use of full time subs or temporary blood subs.

Waterford might look as if they have to stronger bench of the two sides. Of the side that is expected to start in reserve for Waterford on Sunday or be outside those named on the programme eight players have accounted for 4-28 for Waterford with the likes of Colin Dunford, Jake Dillon, Tom Devine, Brian O’Halloran and Thomas Ryan hitting the highest tallies for Waterford.

The timing of the subs could also play a role for Waterford. Tom Devine, Mikey Kearney and Brian O’Halloran have all come on in the 47 or 48 minutes for Waterford and hit 1-3 between then. Tom Devine, Maurice Shanahan, Brian O’Halloran and Jake Dillon have all come on in the 57 minute and have hit 1-4 between them after coming on. Could any sub coming on this Sunday at the same point in the game make the same impact?

Five points separated the sides last year when they played at Thurles. This year it could be argued that Waterford are a more experienced side and will call on much the same players that started twelve months ago.

For Tipperary up to five players that started twelve months ago, (Shane McGrath, Kieran Bergin, James Woodlock, John O’Dwyer and possibly one from Niall O’Meara or Jason Forde) will or may not start for different reasons. The loss of John Bubbles O’Dwyer who hit 0-7 against Cork is going to be a big one for Tipperary.  

Discipline is going to be the key. Seamus Callanan will be expected to be Tipperary’s number one free taker from scoring difference and he won’t miss too many chances of putting scores on the scoreboard when given the chance. For the challengers in this year’s final, they are spoilt for choice as Pauric Mahony, Maurice Shanahan, Patrick Curran, Shane Bennett and Austin Gleeson are all quality strikers of a placed ball.

Who pays closest attention to Seamus Callanan is going to prove key. If he is given quality ball in the full forward line he is likely to punish Waterford. But to pay too much attention to him could well allow others players to play the roll that the Drom and Inch man often does for Tipperary.

Since Waterford have began to play Knockout hurling this year they have hit six of their seven goals scored so far this year with Patrick Curran rattling the net twice and Maurice Shanahan, Jake Dillon, Shane Bennett and Tom Devine hitting the net once each.

Goals are going to win this game. Both sides are strong at the back. Waterford with their sweeper system whether we agree with the system or not, we have to agree that the side has profited from it. Tipperary could well find it hard to break down.

Those of us on the South Side of the River Suir as it heads towards the Atlantic Ocean have to feel confident that a win in this game in a realistic possibility.

To keep Seamus Callanan quiet is a must for Waterford and if this is managed and the likes of Patrick Curran, Maurice Shanahan, Tom Devine or Shane Bennett can crack a goal or two as we know they can, then Waterford could well be celebrating another Munster Final win.

Beating Tipperary in 2002 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh began a great few years for Waterford hurling. The prize that the county however so much craves for still has to come. Surly it is only a matter of time before it does happen. Maybe another Munster Final win over Tipperary might be the launch pad to bigger and better things that was achieved after beating them last time out in a Munster Final.