First silverware for Waterford Senior Footballers in 34 years

Waterford Senior Footballers ended a 12,270 day famine for silverware to an end on Saturday evening last when they beat University College Cork in the final of the McGrath Cup Final at Fraher Field.

The first final of the competition was played on the longest day of the year in 1981 when Waterford beat Clare 5-2 to 2-7 at Limerick.

On that occasion Jim ‘Bimbo’ McGrath and Tom Casey were the Waterford hero’s sharing the five goals between them, the Brickey Rangers Club man who would later be involved in the Waterford Management set up under John Owens hitting three of the Déise men’s goals on the day.

Waterford went into the game at Fraher Field on a high having beaten Cork in Senior Football for the first time in over five decades at the semi final stages of the competition at Clashmore. However had Waterford not won this game all the hard work in beating the Rebels would have been for nothing.

Played in front of just over 900 spectators which was about three times the number that saw the game at Clashmore, Waterford in the first half were made work very hard by the students who rested some of their players ahead of a Fitzgibbon Cup game against CIT this week.

Waterford on the night had ten different scorers, but needed goals from Joey Veale and Maurice O’Gorman in the first 26 minutes of the game to turn around at the break with a 2-6 to 1-7 advantage on the score board after some good work by Michael Curry and Tadhg O hUallachain in the build up.

Waterford had a dream start to this game when after just three minutes Joey Veale pounced for a goal from a long range effort from Liam Lawlor.

However, the students would come storming back hitting the next four scores through Conor Horgan, Adrian Spillane, David Harrington and Kevin Davis to go 0-4 to 1-0 in front with 11 minutes on the clock.

Waterford regained the lead with points from Shane Ahearne and Michael Curry but the students would retake the lead on 18 minutes when Tom Hickey was played through by Alan O’Donovan and when Castleisland Desmonds man effort was saved by Stephen Enright in the Waterford goal, Conor Horgan was in the right place to finish to the net giving the students a 1-4 to 1-2 lead.

Points from Patrick Hurney and Liam Lawlor levelled matters on 22 minutes, but the students went ahead again two minutes later when David Harrington split the Waterford posts.

Nine minutes from the break Waterford struck for a second goal, the Nire’s Maurice O’Gorman the player to send the umpire reaching for a green flag.

Liam Lawlor and Patrick Hurney kicked points to extend Waterford’s lead to four with six minutes of the half remaining, but the Students would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Tom Hickey hit a brace of points to leave his side trailing by two (2-6 to 1-7) at the break.

The students at the start of the second half reduced Waterford’s lead to just one when David Harrington split the posts with a delightful effort on 37 minutes, but this was as close the students go to winning the competition for the first time.

Shane Ahearne restored Waterford’s two point advantage before Waterford took control of the game.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Padraig McCarthy failed to deal properly with a Michael O’Halloran high delivery which was dropping short and an alert Gavin Nugent was in the right place to slot past the Rathmore man to give Waterford a 3-7 to 1-8 advantage.

On a high, Waterford went on to add points from Tommy Prendergast, David Grey, Shane Ahearne and Conor Phelan to go 3-11 to 1-8 in front with seven minutes to play.

The Students in the second half were a much different side to what they were in the opening 35 minutes kicking just two points, the last of which came three minutes from time when top scorer put over from a free.

Waterford ended a fine evening’s work for Waterford on 70 minutes when Shane Ahearne pointed to give Waterford a 3-12 to 1-9 victory.

Both sides involved in this game have big games coming up. For UCC they face local rivals CIT at the Mardyke in the first round of the Siggerson Cup while Waterford’s next outing is against Wicklow in the first round of the National Football League in Fraher Field on Saturday evening next.

WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Dean Crowley, Niall Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Maurice O’Gorman, Ray Ó Ceallaigh; Shane Ahearne, Tommy Prendergast; Michael Curry, Michael O’Halloran, Patrick Hurney; Liam Lawlor, Gavin Nugent, Joey Veale. Subs: Conor Phelan for Niall Walsh (21), David Grey for Joey Veale (52), Jason Curry for Patrick Hurney (61), Billy Power for Dean Crowley (66), Oran Keevers for Tommy Prendergast (66), Mark Ferncombe for Michael Curry (69).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-4 (3 frees); Joey Veale, Maurice O’Gorman, Gavin Nugent 1-0 each; Patrick Hurney, Liam Lawlor 0-2 each; Michael Curry, Tommy Prendergast, David Grey, Conor Phelan 0-1 each.

UCC: Padraig McCarthy (Kerry); Jamie Davis (Cork), Kevin Fulignati (Cork), Kieran Histon (Cork); Kevin O’Sullivan (Kerry), Sean White (Cork), Enda Dennehy (Cork); Alan O’Donovan (Cork), Adrian Spillane (Kerry); Fintan O’Connor (Cork), Kevin Davis (Cork), Shaun Keane (Kerry); Thomas Hickey (Kerry), David Harrington (Cork), Conor Horgan (Cork). Subs: Francis Courtney (Kerry) for Thomas Hickey (H-T), Kevin Hayes-Curtin (Cork) for Jamie Davis (42), Colm Hyde (Cork) for Sean White (43), Padraig Scanlon (Kerry) for Alan O’Donovan (44), Padraig Lohan (Tipperary) for David Harrington (51), Shane Power (Tipperary) for Shaun Keane (61).

Scorers: Conor Horgan 1-2 (2 frees); David Harrington 0-3; Tom Hickey 0-2 (1 free); Kevin Davis, Adrian Spillane 0-1 each.

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)

Waterford seek Second McGrath Cup Title, UCC seek a first.

When it comes to football, it must be said that although from time to time Waterford have produced some good teams down the years, there has been little to shout about.

To win a Munster Senior Football Final is always going to be a big ask for Waterford, as Cork and Kerry have dominated the Championship since its inception. Since 1935 when Tipperary won the last of their nine championships, only one county other than Cork or Kerry have won the championship, Clare winning it in 1992. For the other two Munster counties you have to go back even further for their last Championship success. Waterford won it in 1898, while Limerick’s last success came two years earlier.

In 1981, the four often referred to as ‘weaker counties’ were given the chance to win some silverware when the (Joe) McGrath Cup was presented to the Munster Council on the longest day of the year.

Waterford were the first winners of the competition. The Waterford captain on the day was Michael Coffey.

In the mid 90’s Cork and Kerry began to play in the competition. Kerry were the first of the big two to win the competition in 1996. Cork won it for the first time two years later. Since their admission to the competition, they have dominated it, just as they have in the championship, winning it 11 times between them since 1996. Prior to their admission to the competition, Clare ruled the competition winning it 8 times. Since the admission of the big two they have won it four times.

After the turn of the Millennium the major third level football sides in the province were admitted to the competition to help them prepare for the Siggerson Cup. Their admission made it even harder for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford to win the competition as they now had first call on all players from the counties as they had from Cork and Kerry for the competition.

In 2014 the four counties that competed in the competition back in 1981 did not take part in the competition as the players from the four counties opted not to participate in the competition as Munster Council chiefs voted to keep Cork and Kerry apart in the Championship till the final.

Since the turn of the Millennium both sides in this year’s final have records that they would like to have been better.

The students of UCC have played 17 games winning seven. For Waterford they have played 20 games winning just 6 of them.

UCC entered this year’s competition at the quarter final stages where they beat Limerick 4-16 to 3-9.

Heading into the final quarter of the game a hat-trick from Seanie Buckley separated the sides as Limerick held a 3-7 to 0-8 advantage, but goals from Thomas Hickey (2) as well as Adrian Spillane and Tomás Clancy in the last quarter turned the game around.

In the semi finals last weekend, the students recorded a 0-18 to 0-6 win over IT Tralee.

Played on a heavy sod coached by former All-Ireland winner and manager Billy Morgan UCC’s all-round strength, particularly their that of their full-forward line of Thomas Hickey, Conor Cox and Paul Geaney did most damage sharing 11 points between them.

Their defence restricted the Tralee college to one point from play in the 63rd minute.

UCC raced 0-10 to 0-2 clear at half-time with Conor Cox, Luke Connolly, Sean Kiely and Brian O’Driscoll impressing.

Waterford for their part played an extra game to reach the final, having to play University of Limerick in the first round.

All of Waterford’s games in the competition this year have been played on home soil.

The opener was played at the WIT Campus in Carriganore and resulted in a 1-16 to 2-7 win.

Waterford were always on top in this game held a 1-8 to 0-2 lead at the break. At one stage in the second half that lead was stretched to 11 points, but two Gearoid Hegarty goals in the second half made life a little more uncomfortable for the home side.

Waterford under new manager Tom McGlinchey for the first time on the day however managed to hold out putting in a good afternoons work, hitting 1-15 from play through nine different scorers won out 1-16 to 2-7.

In the quarter finals Waterford took on another college side CIT at Clashmore and won 1-11 to 0-9.

Waterford played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and after 25 minutes they lead 0-6 to 0-1.

However, the students in the last ten minutes of the half found their feet and turned around trailing by just two points 0– 0-7 to 0-5.

The students in the second half began well kicking four points in succession to help them into the lead.

The introduction of Liam Lawlor proved to be a master stoke for Tom McGlinchey as he helped keep the students at bay playing in defence.

Points from Gavin Nugent and Ray Ó Ceallaigh helped Waterford draw level and with eight minutes to play a high ball in front of Sean Barron unsettled the Ardmore man in the CIT goal and Lorcan Ó Curraoin finished to the net for the games only goal.

For the semi final it was back to the Clashmore venue for a meeting with a hotly fancied Cork side.

Played in front of 337 paying spectators, Waterford recorded a first win over Cork in senior football since 1957.

Cork had the advantage of playing with what advantage the wind was on the day but missed four early chances. Shane Ahearne opened the scoring for Waterford with a brace of frees, but Cork drew level with a brace of Dan McEoin frees.

Waterford however would go to the break leading 0-4 to 0-2 after Patrick Hurney and Michael O’Halloran landed points for the home side.

Five minutes into the second half, Waterford stretched their lead to four after Rathgormack’s Gavin Nugent kicked a brace of points.

Cork brought on some of their big guns during the second half of the game and points from Donnacha O’Connor and Colm O’Neill quickly had them within one of Waterford.

Further points from Michael O’Halloran and Shane Ahearne followed for Waterford but Cork were not able to overtake Waterford on the score board as much as they tried.

Waterford won 0-8 to 0-7. It may be “only the McGrath Cup”, but a win is a win and a win over Cork in senior football is a rarity. This one will be remembered for some time.

Win loose or draw this weekend, reaching the final of the competition is an achievement. For Waterford to win would be nice, but to loose would not be the end of the world.

For Waterford the pain aim this year is to get out of the bottom division of the league which starts the weekend after this final. If Waterford were not involved in the McGrath Cup up to the final weekend of the competition, they would be playing challenge games, but while challenge games can be useful, nothing beats a competitive game.

No college side has won this competition in its history. As a Waterford support, I for one will be hoping that this statistic does not chance for another while.

With the Siggerson Cup set to begin shortly, the students will be out to stake a place in the team for the competition and will want to impress Billy Morgan in this game.

A win for Waterford is possible this weekend, but it wont be easily achieved. It may be still January, but strides are being made with football in the county and it would be nice to see the team receive the support they deserve for the game.

Waterford Scorers to date: Shane Ahearne 0-9 (4f), Patrick Hurney 1-4, Paul Whyte (2f), Gavin Nugent 0-6 each, Michael O’Halloran 0-4, Lorcan O Curraoin 1-0, Tommy Prendergast 0-2, David Grey, Joey Veale, Michael Curry, Ray Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 each.

Gavin Nugent, Shane Ahearne and Michael O’Halloran have scored in all three games to date.

Waterford players used to day: (In brackets is the amount of times they have started and being used as a sub). Stephen Enright (3), Dean Crowley (3), Niall Walsh (3), Thomas O’Gorman (3), Tadhg Ó hUallachain (3), Tommy Prendergast (3), Shane Ahearne (3), Michael Curry (3), Michael O’Halloran (3), Patrick Hurney (3), Gavin Nugent (3), Maurice O’Gorman (2), Ray Ó Ceallaigh (2 +1 sub), Joey Veale (2), Paul Whyte (2), Liam Lawlor (1 +1 sub), Conor Phelan (1 +1 sub), David Grey (1 +1 sub), Oran Keevers (1), Loran Ó Curraoin (0 +3 sub), David Hallahan (0 + 3 sub), Stephen Prendergast (0 + 2 sub).

Cappoquin and O’Donovan Rossa set for Titanic battle

Waterford’s last chance to win a male All-Ireland Club final lies in the hands of Cappoquin, who this Sunday take on Antrim Side O’Donovan Rossa at Mullingar where the prize on offer for the winners is an All-Ireland Final Kilburn Gaels from London or Galway side Cappataggle in the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park next month.

Confidence within the Cornerstone Club heading to Mullingar this weekend is high, with all in Cappoquin rowing in behind the club, as was evident when the club held a fund raising quiz at the Central Bar where there was standing room only.

However while Cappoquin will travel in a confident mood, supporters and players will have to guard against complacency.

Clubs from Antrim have to be underestimated at your pearl.

The North east county have always produced some good hurlers, in fact some great hurlers but they have not always got the rewards that they deserve, a little like Waterford in a way.

Club hurling in Antrim is very strong, and you don’t have to go back too far to remember that Dunloy beat a Mount Sion side that in the eyes of many were odds on favourites in the club championship.

It’s also worth noting that Cusack Park in Mullingar is not a happy hunting ground for Waterford clubs. The above mentioned Mount Sion and Dunloy game was played there and there was a similar outcome as in that game for Ballysaggart just over twelve months ago when they lost an All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Final replay against another Antrim side Creggan Kickhams.

O’Donovan Rossa are one of the stronger clubs in Antrim. They are the third most successful club in the county when it comes to winning senior hurling championships. They played in the senior championship until relatively recently. They have returned to what they regard is their rightful position having blood some young players playing in the Intermediate Championship, some of whom have played on different underage Antrim inter county sides.

2014 was a good year for the Belfast based club.

They played in a ten team division two league and won it without having to play second placed Clooney Gaels a second time.

The championship proved to be even more profitable for the Belfast Club.

They entered a knockout championship at the quarter final stages of the championship, where they had a good 0-20 to 0-9 win over Naomh Eanna.

In the Semi finals they had a 1-19 to 2-8 win over Carey Faughs, who had beaten Creggan Kickhams 2-8 to 1-10 in the first round of the championship.

Glen Rovers provided the opposition for O’Donovan Rossa in the County Final and again the Belfast Club had another good win, winning 2-16 to 0-10.

In the Ulster Club Championship, O’Donovan Rossa beat the Donegal Senior Champions Burt 1-17 to 3-7. The Donegal Club prior to this game won a fifth championship in Donegal in six years.

It was another senior club side for O’Donovan Rossa in the semi finals where they Armagh side Keady and in the Ulster Final they had a comprehensive 1-15 to 0-6 win over Eoghan Rua from Derry.

In that game however, Stephen Beatty was sent off early in the second half on a straight red card and will miss the game with Cappoquin as a result. Prior to his dismissal he was showing his worth to the team having hit 1-2.

However while Stephen Beatty will be a big loss to his sides chances this weekend, they will feel that in the likes of Seaghan Shannon, Kevin McDonnell, Christopher McGuinness, Michael Armstrong and Conor McClelland they have the players that can end Cappoquin’s dream of a Croke Final appearance.

If O’Donovan’s Rossa’s run to this weekends All-Ireland semi final is impressive, so too is Cappoquin’s.

Along the way they may have rode their luck, but they won’t mind too much. In their Western semi final win over An Rinn, the Western Final win over Ballinameela, the Munster Semi Final win over Feakle and the Munster Final win over Bruff just one puck of the ball separated the sides. The game against Saint Saviours was also hard won, only hitting the scores that secured the win in the closing minutes of the game.

After beating Bruff in the Munster Final before Christmas, Cappoquin have quietly worked away getting ready for this weekend. A small break was taken from the game after the Bruff game, but in recent weeks they have played challenge games against the Cork Minors, Modeligo and Waterford and Cork Institute of Technology sides who are at this point getting ready for their Fitzgibbon Cup Campaign.

Reports coming out of these games suggest that things are going well for the Cornerstone Club. However there are reports that some niggling injuries have been picked up along the way, but Cappoquin are expected to deal with a full deck for the game.

Donal O’Rourke will again start in goals. The Looby brothers could well make up the full back line with Paul Murray, Conor Murray and either David Cahillane or Shane Murray forming the half back line.

Keith Landers and one from Shane Murray or David Cahillane could well be in the middle of the field while Shane O’Rourke, Finan Murray, Andy Molumby, Shane Coughlan, PJ Curran and Killian O’Sullivan in attack, but don’t be too surprised to see Pat Morrissey, Aaron O’Sullivan Damien McCarthy, Colin Landers and Paudie Landers be also considered for selection from the start.

O’Donovan Rossa have been winning their games over the past while by bigger margins that what Cappoquin are winning their games but it should be pointed out that while O’Donovan Rossa are playing against sides with some good hurlers, Cappoquin may have played against better hurling teams more than individuals who can win you games.  

Both will feel that they can win this game and very little is likely to separate the sides.

As pointed out already Waterford sides have lost to Antrim opposition in the past and the Mullingar venue has not always been a happy hunting ground for Waterford sides.

Can Cappoquin turn the tide? It has to happen sometime, so why not this weekend, but it won’t be easy for them.

Mixed results for Waterford players in Munster Colleges Ladies Football Finals

Three Munster Senior Ladies Football Colleges Final’s were played last weekend at Clonmel and Glanworth, where there was plenty of Waterford involvement in all three games.

In the ‘A’ Final it was an all South Tipperary affair as Coláiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir took in Scoil Mhuire from Carrick-on-Suir who in their team contained a number of players that play their club football and live south of the River Suir which flows through the town.

The Cahir side had a strong spine to their team and it looked at the break it looked as victory was going to be theirs with some ease after goals from Aishling Moloney, Caoimhe Condon and Rachel Moloney gave then a healthy lead at the interval, and when Róisín Howard added a fourth after the restart it certainty looked good for the eventual winners as it gave them a twelve point lead.

However, the side down river in the staged a marvelous come back.

Aoife Murray scored a goal for the Carrick-on-Suir College side from close range and with ten minutes to go they pulled closer to the Cahir College when Áine Power beat the impressive Lauren Fitzpatrick from the penalty spot after Kelly-Anne Doyle was fouled which was followed with a Aoife Doyle point to leave four between the sides.  

The Carrick side continues to pile on the pressure in the closing minutes but were unable to tag on the scores that would have got them something from the game.

Coláiste Dun Iascaigh went on to win 4-8 to 2-9 with Lauren Fitzpatrick, Rachel Moloney and Róisín Howard having big performances for the winners, while for the Carrick College side goal scorers Geraldine Power, Emma Murray, Áine Power, Katie Murray, Aoife Doyle, Shauna Power, Aoife Murray, Keeley Cortbett-Barry and Heather Phelan impressed.

The ‘B’ Final also played at Clonmel saw St. Augustine’s College from Abbeyside overcame the challenge of Loreto School Clonmel.

Playing to the final whistle is important for any team and the Abbeyside College side containing a number of players who have won Munster Intermediate Medals with Waterford in 2014 showed why in this game at they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was the South Tipperary side that opened the scoring with a point from Megan Shanahan but the Abbeyside college came storming back on five minutes when Bronagh Condon rose highest following a long high ball in and around the Loreto goal and the Na Déise played fisted to the net.

The South Tipperary side hit back with the next five scores on of which was a goal from Lauren Guiry from the Ballymacarbry Club is one of a number of rising stars in Ladies Football within the county to give her side a four point lead.

Three points in a row from Molly Curran cut the Loreto lead to one with seven minutes to play in the first half and with both sides swapping scores in the time that remained in a closely fought game, it was no surprise to see the sides finish the half locked at 1-6 a piece.

The second half proved to be a goal fest as Lauren Guiry hit a second goal for the side looking out onto the River Suir while Sarah Ryan also hit a brace of goals.

For Saint Augustine’s Liz Devine a sister for All-Ireland Minor Hurling and Dr. Harty and Dr. Croke Cup winner Tom put was outstanding throughout and when the pressure was on she produced the goods.

She opened the second half scoring with a point, and in the five minutes to go, she showed why she was called up to the Waterford Intermediate team in 2014 with the South Tipperary side holding a five point lead on the score board she played a part in helping her side reeling off three points in a row to cut the lead to two, and then with the game in injury time she drove forward to find Molly Curran who in a crowded goal was able to hit the Loreto net adding to a goal scored earlier by Kaeisha Tobin.

Loreto School for fifty minutes proved to be the better of the two sides, but St. Augustine’s never say die attitude saw them reap the benefits of their heroics.

The South Tipperary side in the time that remained  attempted to get something from the game attempting to break into the St. Augustine’s half of the field, but while playing the ball out of defence they took the wrong options and St. Augustine’s held on for a 3-13 to 4-9 victory.

For Loreto in addition to goal scorers Lauren Guiry and Sarah Ryan, Niamh Brennan, and Megan Shanahan impressed, while for Saint Augustine’s goal scorers Molly Curran, Kaeisha Tobin, Bronagh Condon all had big parts to play as had Player of the Match – Liz Devine will not go on to contest the All-Ireland semi final against the Leinster Champions in the coming weeks where with the likes of Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan O’Connor, Katie Duggan-Sullivan and Abbie Dalton they have the players to bring them to the next stage of the competition.

The Munster ‘D’ Final was played at Glanworth in North Cork where Hazelwood College from Dromcollogher in Limerick prove too strong for Méanscoil San Nicolas from Ring.

Hazelwood opened the scoring through Laura Stack but the An Rinn side responded with a point from the impressive Dawn de Paor. 

The Limerick side’s half forward line through the game caused the An Rinn defence a lot of problems throughout the game and the pressure they were exerting paid off when Cliona O’Callaghan struck for a goal and Katie McCarthy hit a brace of points to give their side a 1-3 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

While under pressure at the back, Mean Scoil San Nicolas continued to try hard and were rewarded with points from Katie Ní Urmholtaigh and Dawn de Paor.

The Limerick side would a further 1-1 before the break the goal coming from Alana Mulcahy and a point from Laura Stack to go in 2-4 to 0-3 in front, but Mean Scoil San Nicolas were unlucky not to be closer and maybe in front at this stage. Hazelwood goalkeeper Rebecca McGuinness made at least two great saves in the first half to deny the An Rinn girls goals while full back Ciara McCarthy also had to show some resolute defending to keep Mean Scoil San Nicolas at bay.

Mean Scoil San Nicolas began the second half brightly as Dawn de Paor kicked 1-1 to edge her side closer to the Co. Limerick side, but they would hit back with points from Katie McCarthy and Laura Stack to leave five between the sides with nine minutes to play.

A brace of missed frees and a great save from Rebecca McGuinness kept the Limerick side five points to the good with just seven minutes to go.

These missed chances spurred on the Limerick side for the closing minutes of the game.

Laura Stack kicked a brace of late goals and one from Katie McCarthy meant the title was heading to Limerick as Hazelwood held out for a 5-8 to 1-4 win.

Morale boosting win for Waterford footballers against Cork

Depend on what area of Waterford you live in there is different views on who are Waterford’s greatest rivals when it comes to the GAA.

If you live in the Dunmore East, Passage and Cheekpoint areas and you look across the River Suir, many would love nothing more than beat their cross river neighbours Wexford.

If you live in the city area then there is no doubting you want to beat Kilkenny.

If you live in Portlaw and down into Carrickbeg, Ballymacarbry, The Nire, and Ballinamult, then Tipperary is the side you love to beat. From Cappoquin, up around Lismore, Ballyduff, Tallow and down to Clashmore then the side you want to beat is Cork.

In truth, Cork are the side that most would like to beat, and when you beat them then great joy is taken from it. To beat Cork no matter the code or the grade gives many in Waterford great satisfaction. Why, its hard to know, but maybe when it comes to the GAA the Cork supporters are amongst the most jolly you will meet and when they are beaten they are the first to admit that they lost to a better team. Like many other counties when Cork loose some like to find fault as to why they lost. Usually in the GAA the referee is to blame or the lads on the line were slow to make the changes or made changes too quick, but with Cork to their credit, for many of their supporters when they loose it are to the better team.

Football in Waterford is often criticised from both within and outside the county. There is some in the county who would puncture every football in the county, or kick them into the Blackwater, Suir or Atlantic Ocean which ever is closer to them. There is some outside the county who when grading the counties footballers at the end of the year who like to keep the side down near the bottom, not and in their piece as to why they are so low down they like to find plenty of negative reasons.

But they fail to pick out the plusses. Seldom to have they told us that in recent years Stradbally, Ballinacourty and The Nire have all gone very close to winning the Munster Senior Club Football Championship. They don’t tell us that in the last two years, Waterford have served up good performances against both Cork and Kerry in the championship, running Kerry in particular very close in their own back yard in Killarney.  

Many often forget that in recent years we have produced some good minor teams in the last number of years but they have failed to get the recognition they deserve. In 2002 and 2003 I was involved with the Minor Football back room team and in the two years, some excellent footballers were involved, the likes of Thomas O’Gorman, Liam Ó Lonáin, Liam Lawlor, Patrick Hurney, Tony Grey, Joey Veale etc. who all could prove to be crucial to Waterford’s hope of winning some silverware in football this year.

At Clashmore on Sunday afternoon last heading into the game few gave Waterford any chance of beating Cork. Waterford had not beaten the Rebels in Senior Football in five and a half decades, but you always have to believe that you can win.

You can flip a coin 50 times and 50 times it might land on heads, but if you keep going eventually it will land harp side up. And it’s the same with football or hurling. You may not beat certain teams all that often, but if you keep going, you will have that day when the result goes your way, and when it does it is sweet.

There is going to be some that will point out that Cork did not have a full strength side out. But let’s ignore these people. Club football in Cork is supposed to be stronger than it is in Waterford, with some of their junior clubs said to be better than some of the senior clubs in Waterford. But whatever team Cork had out in Clashmore, like Waterford they started with 15 players on the field, the same as Waterford, and even when they called on some of their big guns including Colm O’Neill, Donnacha O’Connor and Paul Kerrigan, Cork could not shoot down Waterford.

Played on what was a heavy pitch, it was Waterford through a brace of Shane Ahearne frees that were first off the mark.

The Visiting team missed several chances to hit their first score of the game before Dan McEoin levelled matters by the 20^th minute with a brace of frees.

Waterford however hit back with points from the Ballinacourty pair Patrick Hurney and Michael O’Halloran to give Waterford a deserved 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Waterford in the second half began as they had finished the first half, kicking two points through Rathgormack’s Gavin Nugent to extend Waterford’s lead to four.

Cork however would strike back kicking the next four points of the game, two from Donnacha O’Connor and the other from Colm O’Neill to leave one between the sides.

For some time now Michael O’Halloran is one of the most exciting prospects in the county and he showed why he is thought of so highly on fifty-seven minutes when he kicked a fabulous free from distance.

Mark Collins cancelled it out on the hour mark to leave one between the sides once more and while Shane Ahearne and O’Neill would trade scores from frees in the closing ten minutes Cork despite having chances failed to land any further score to force the game to extra time or to even win a place in next weekends final against UCC.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Dean Crowley, Niall Walsh, Thomas O'Gorman; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Maurice O'Gorman, Ray Ó Ceallaigh; Shane Ahearne, Tommy Prendergast; Michael Curry, Michael O'Halloran, Patrick Hurney; Liam Lawlor, Gavin Nugent, Joey Veale. Subs: Conor Phelan for Michael Curry (51), Lorcan Ó Corraoin for Joey Veale (59), David Hallahan for Ray Ó Ceallaigh (64).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-3 (3fs), Michael O'Halloran, Gavin Nugent 0-2 each, Patrick Hurney 0-1.

Cork: Ken O'Halloran; Liam Jennings, Tom Clancy, Stephen O'Donoghue; Padraig Hodnett, Eoin Cadogan Jamie O'Sullivan; Michael Cussen, Mark Collins; Kevin O'Driscoll, Barry O'Driscoll, George Durrant; Dan McEoin, Fiachra Ó Deasunaigh, John Hayes. Subs: Donnacha O'Connor for Dan McEoin (h-t), Colm O'Driscoll for Fiachra Ó Deasunaigh (h-t), Colm O'Neill for George Durrant (h-t), Paul Kerrigan for John Hayes (43), John O'Rourke for Jamie O'Sullivan (61).

Scorers: Colm O'Neill (2fs), Dan McEoin (2fs), Donnacha O'Connor (2fs) 0-2 each, Mark Collins 0-1

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)

First blood to Limerick, but a bigger days are ahead

In the first of two meetings between the sides in a month, it was first blood to Limerick on Saturday afternoon last when they beat Waterford 2-15 to 1-15 in Kilmallock at the quarter final stages of this year’s Waterford Crystal Cup.

TJ Ryan’s Limerick side will now meet UCC at the same venue in the semi final stages of the competition on Saturday afternoon next while for Waterford the side will be fulfilling a number of fixtures against the likes of Kilkenny, Tipperary and Clare in a bid to be prepared for a repeat clash between the two counties in the opening round of the National League at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on St Valentine’s Night.

Derek McGrath and his selectors opted to make four changes to the team that had beaten Limerick Institute of Technology at Carriganore a week earlier in the preliminary round of games, bringing in Stephen O’Keeffe, Mark McNulty, Donie Breathnach and Jake Dillon for Ian O’Regan, Barry Coughlan, Pauric Mahony and Michael Walsh.

Limerick manager TJ Ryan fielded just seven of the side that lost out to Kilkenny in last years All-Ireland semi final at Croke Park, with two of the starting fifteen Cian Lynch and Patrick Begley making their first start in a competitive fixture. Tom Morrissey who started with the Limerick Minors also made his debut in this game, coming on as a sub at the break.

It was Waterford that had the better of the early exchanges in this game going two points up with points from Martin O’Neill and Tommy Connors inside the opening three minutes of the game.

With twenty minutes played Waterford were still two points to the good holding a 0-5 to 0-3 lead, and it was son extended when Brian O’Halloran who has impressed in the Waterford colours over the past few games delivered a perfectly weighted ball over to Jake Dillon who make no mistake in dispatching to the bet after which Martin O’Neill and Dillon knocked over points to give Waterford a 1-7 to 0-3 lead with nine minutes of normal time to go till the break.

Limerick however would finish the half the stronger of the two sides, hitting five of the next six scores, one of which was a goal from Adrian Breen who capitalised on a dropping ball around the Waterford goal to send his side in at the break trailing 1-8 to 1-7.

Waterford began the second half with Jake Dillon putting over an early point but by the mid way point of the second half Waterford were behind as Shane Fives had the misfortune to put the ball past his own goal keeper when contesting with Patrick Begley after Donal O’Grady delivered the ball in around the Waterford goal mouth for a score that gave Limerick a 2-9 to 1-9 advantage.

Waterford for the remainder of the game stayed in touch with a series of frees from Martin O’Neill, but they never looked like getting anything from the game, even after the entry of Michael Walsh, Shane Bennett and Cormac Curran who scored a quality point from a difficult angle with eight minutes to go.

Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Conor Allis, Richie McCarthy, Seamus Hickey; Dan Morrissey, Wayne McNamara, Tom Condon; James Ryan, Cathal King; David Breen, Niall Moran, Cian Lynch; Thomas O'Brien, Patrick Begley, Adrian Breen. Subs: Donal O'Grady for David Breen (10), Tom Morrissey for Thomas O'Brien, Paul Browne for Niall Moran (55), Shane Dowling for Adrian Breen (60).

Scorers: Adrian Breen 1-3; Cian Lynch 0-3, Shane Fives 1-0 (OG); Donal O’Grady, Thomas O’Brien (1f) 0-2; Cathal King, Dan Morrissey, Tom Morrissey, Niall Moran, Shane Dowling (f) 0-1.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keefe; Shane McNulty, Shane Fives, Noel Connors; Gavin O’Brien, Austin Gleeson, Pa Walsh; Martin O’Neill, Shane O’Sullivan; Kevin Moran, Tommy Connors, Donie Breathnach; Brian O’Halloran, Jake Dillon, Michael Kearney. Subs: Cormac Curran for Donie Breathnach (39mins), Michael Walsh for Brian O’Halloran (50mins), Shane Bennett for Thomas Connors (56mins), Barry Coughlan for Jake Dillon (66mins).

Scorers: M O’Neill 0-8 (7fs); J Dillon 1-3 (3fs); T Connors 0-2; S O’Sullivan, C Curran 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Damien Fox (Clare).

Tom Goulding and the post deny Modeligo an All-Ireland Semi final spot.

Modeligo’s dream of becoming the first Waterford Club to win the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship ended last weekend when they went under to a strong Fullen Gael’s team from Manchester at Pairc na hEireann in Birmingham.

Modeligo knew heading into the game to win would not be an easy task. They will have been disappointed with the final result, but they will be far more disappointed with other factors that happened over the weekend.

I must point out that I was not at the game. I must also say that I am not one to give out about referees and their performances. I am one that usually says that a referee goes out to do his best, but like players and coaches, he and his officials make mistakes and that in general these mistakes should be accepted.

However, there can be no disputing from talking and reading about this game from those at the game, Modeligo can feel very hard done by, by the referee and to a lesser degree by the organisers of the game, which I am taking to be a sub-committee within Croke Park.

For a referee to show up at a game of this standard without his full quota of officials is simply not good enough.

It is important that all that play a part in a game of this standard that everyone is used to playing as a team. The players on both sides were more than used of playing together as a team and so too should be the officials.

For the best part of a decade in the late 90’s and into the last decade many will be aware I was involved with Bord na nÓg at Divisional and County level.

In that time I and others tried to and improve ways things were done. Some of what was tried work, others might not have worked.

I would love to be able to make claim to one of the best things that happened in Bord na nÓg while I was involved but cant.

During my term involved in Bord na nÓg a suggestion was made that on days three county finals were to be played, three referee’s would be appointed to work on the day. Each referee would referee one game and for the other two games they would run the line. It was suggested that between the three referees’s they would have four umpires to work on the three games. Sometimes it was not always possible to have four umpires present and from time to time to ensure there was a full quota of officials present, one of the officers who would pull on the white coat and stand behind one of the goalposts.

Every effort was made to ensure that games were played at county grounds (Walsh Park or Fraher Field) and that at the ground, the public relations system was in working order and was used.

For an All-Ireland final to be played where the referee did not have a full quota of officials, where there was no fourth official to indicate what players were to be substituted and to let the sizeable attendance know what time would be added at the end of each half is not good enough. For no Public Address System to be working at the ground on the day is not acceptable. A large amount of people from Modeligo made their way to Birmingham for the game. Many more because of the weather could not make it on the day. Many Waterford people living in different parts of the UK made their way to Birmingham on the day to support the team. They deserved better than what they got. If the organisers came out of this game with any saving grace, admission to the game was free, so well done on that.

And so to the on field action.

There is an old adage that goals win games and that was never truer than in this game, where Modeligo despite hitting more scores over the course of the hour still ended up on the wrong end of the final result.

Vincent Morrissey proved to be the hero of the afternoon for the exiles as he stuck both of their goals, one in each half.

It was the exiles that were quickest off the mark in this game with a point from Colm O’Callaghan on two minutes, but Modeligo responded with points from Patrick O’Donovan after he was set up by younger brother Seanie, and Patrick then went from scorer to provider when he helped set up Kieran McCarthy on ten minutes to give his side a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.

Colm O’Callaghan levelled matters once more on the quarter of an hour mark, but points from Kieran McCarthy and Tom Devine quickly followed to give Modeligo a two point lead.

On eighteen minutes the first of two major scores in this game arrived. A James Garry free found its way to Vincent Morrissey who beat Donal O’Keeffe with a ground strike to give his side a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Four minutes from the break, disaster struck for Modeligo.

Before the game they were forced to line out without Jamie Troy who was instrumental throughout 2014 because of Injury.

Pa Walsh was another key players to Modeligo’s hopes. After Tom Devine was struck, he got involved in an incident and was dismissed by the Wexford referee on a straight red card as was Nathan Unwin, but from talking to those at the game, it appears that there was a case of mistaken identity as it should be a different player was ordered off. Maybe working with officials he was used to, maybe the referee may with their assistance could have picked out the correct player.

Colm O’Callaghan and Paddy Duggan followed up with points for the exiles by the 29^th minute to give them a three point lead on a none existing functioning score board.

However there was time for further scores to be registered as Colm O’Callaghan either side of efforts from Kieran McCarthy and Tom Devine helped the exiles to a 1-5 to 0-6 lead at the break.

The second half started well for Modeligo.

Pat Fitzgerald and Reamonn McEnetee traded early scores after which Tom Devine converted a free to leave just one between the sides.

Eighteen minutes from time, Fullen Gaels hit their last score of the game, but it was a crucial one.

Liam Knocker picked out Vincent Morrissey who was free in front of goal who made no mistake hitting his second score of the game to give his side a 2-6 to 0-8 lead.

In the build-up to the goal being scored the linesman brought to the attention of the referee that Shane Troy had been fouled but the Wexford official failed to take account of what he was told and allowed the goal to stand.

Kieran McCarthy pulled a point back to Modeligo to leave three between the sides with seven minutes to play.

Three minutes later Seanie O’Donovan decided to test Tom Goulding in the Fullen Gael’s goal, but the Knockanore native pulled off an excellent save to deny the young Modeligo man.

Modeligo continued to go in search of the score that would get them something from the game.

With time almost up, a roar went up from the assembled Modeligo supporters when it appeared the ball crossed the Fullen Gaels goal line, but the game was called up and Modeligo were awarded a twenty metre free which Patrick Donovan put between the uprights.

With two between the sides, Modeligo continued to pile on the pressure. Jamie Troy sent on for the closing minutes despite his injury struck the crossbar from a free and when Patrick O’Donovan latched onto the resulting rebound he hit the post.

The final whistle followed soon afterwards. Modeligo lost out by two points. The dream of becoming the first Waterford club to win the title was over. No doubt after the game, a lot of what ifs were flowing through the Modeligo players and supporters.

While Modeligo will be disappointed with the result, they will be the first to admit that the side that took their chances on the day were the deserved winners.

The Modeligo players however can take great pride in what they achieved in 2014, winning the Western, County and Munster Finals, repeating what Ballysaggart did twelve months earlier.

The pressure now must surely be on whoever wins the junior hurling county final to repeat what Ballysaggart and Modeligo did.

Modeligo: Donal O’Keeffe; Robbie Buckley, Brian McCarthy, Sean O’ Donovan; John McGrath, Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy; Pa Walsh, Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’ Donovan, Pa O’ Donovan, Kieran McCarthy; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Rian Reddy. Subs: Louis Queally for Nicky O’ Donovan (halftime), Jamie Troy for Rian Reddy (54 mins), JP Ryan for Michael Troy (57 mins).

Scorers: Kieran McCarthy 0-4 (1f), Tom Devine 0-3 (2f), Pa O’Donovan 0-2, Pat Fitzgerald 0-1.

Fullen Gaels: Tom Goulding; Simon Wallace, Liam Knocker, Conall Maskey; Alan Morrissey, Shane Garry, Nathan Unwin; James O’Shaugnessy, Reamonn McEntee; Vincent Faherty, Greg Jacob, Alan O’ Neill; Colm O’ Callaghan, Paddy Duggan, Vincent Morrissey. Sub: Damien O’ Grady for Paddy Duggan (40 mins).

Scorers: Vincent Morrissey 2-0, Colm O’Callaghan 0-4 (3F), Reamonn McEntee, Paddy Duggan 0-1 each.

Referee: Gearoid McGrath (Wexford).