Understrength Ballinacourty too strong for depleted The Nire

Ballinacourty produced a very strong second half showing at Fraher Field on Friday evening last to overcome the challenge of The Nire in the fourth round of games in this years County Senior Football Championship.

Both of these sides were without players that would normally have played in this game. The eventual winners were short up to four players while The Nire were short the services of seven players that they normally would have started.

Early in the game despite The Nire missing the greater number of first choice players started the brighter of the two sides and with seventeen minutes played, things were looking good for them as they held a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage on the scoreboard.

The Ballymacarbry based club opened the scoring on three minutes with a Shane Walsh point and the same player followed up two minutes later with another from a free.

Patrick Hurney registered Ballinacourty’s first score of the game on seven minutes but in the next ten minutes, The Nire hit a brace of Darren Guiry scores and another from a Shane Walsh free to give his side a four point lead.

The games first goal came quickly after Shane Walsh’s second score of the game. Ballinacourty attacked The Nire goal from the kick out and when Michael O’Halloran found Gary Hurney in front of the Nire goal, the former Inter county duel player made no mistake in beating stand in keeper Stephen Ryan. And when Richie Foley pointed two minutes later the sides were locked together on the score board.

Points from John and Patrick Hurney on twenty two and twenty three points edged Ballinacourty in front for the first time which was followed with Dylan Guiry and Patrick Hurney swapping scores to keep two between the sides.

In first half added time The Nire proved to be the stronger of the two sides as two of their more experienced players on the night, firstly Shane Walsh from a free and then Jamie Barron from play put the ball between the uprights to send the sides to the dressing rooms locked 1-5 to 0-8.

If the first half was an even affair, the same could not be said of the second half as Ballinacourty proved to be the better of the two sides, and in the course of the thirty plus minutes played held The Nire to just three points.

Gary Hurney and Richie Foley pointed in the opening two minutes of the half to give their side a two point lead which was halved soon afterwards when Ciaran Looney pointed for The Nire on thirty five.

The Nire looked as if they were going to go back in front on thirty six minutes as Kenny Brazil tried to beat Stephen Enright in the Ballinacourty goalkeeper but the established number one keeper in the county did brilliant to keep the size five from hitting the net behind him.

Shane Walsh did level matters a minute later when he put over another free for his side but this was as good as it got for them.

Within a minute of Shane Walsh’s score Ballinacourty opened a good lead on their opponents. Shane Briggs attempted to put over the cross bar but his effort came crashing high off the upright and fell to James McGrath who as he was about to catch the ball, slipped allowing Neil Montgomery to slip in and beat Stephen Ryan from close range.

Points from Richie Foley and Gary Hurney helped establish a 2-9 to 0-10 lead for Ballinacourty with forty six minutes played, and a minute later it looked curtains for The Nire as Shane Donovan attempted his luck for a third Ballinacourty goal but his shot flashed across the face of the goal and went wide.

A brace of Patrick Hurney scores and one from Michael O’Halloran had Ballinacourty well in front (2-12 to 0-11) by the time James McGrath hit his sides last score of the game with five minutes remaining.

Michael O’Halloran hit the last score of the game on sixty one minutes to record a comfortable eight point win but on another day The Nire will feel that it could well be their day even without the seven regulars they did not start with as either side of Michael O’Halloran’s point, Thomas O’Gorman blasted across the face of the Ballinacourty goal when he was played through and just before the full time whistle Stephen Enright again did well to keep a Keith Guiry effort out.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Conor McCarty, Brian Looby, David Collins; John Elstead, Shane Briggs, John Hurney; Seán O’Hare, James O’Mahony; Richie Foley, Patrick Hurney, Neil Montgomery; Shane Donovan, Gary Hurney, Michael O’Halloran. Subs: Michael Maher for Neil Montgomery (51), Mark Fives for John Hurney (53), Evan Collins for Richie Foley (58), Patrick Lynch for Brian Looby (60).

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-5 (2f), Gary Hurney 1-2, Richie Foley 0-3, Neil Mountgomery 1-0, Michael O’Halloran 0-2, John Hurney 0-1.

The Nire: Stephen Ryan; James McGrath, Thomas O’Gorman, Jake Mulcahy; Seamus Lawlor, Maurice O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney; Ciaran Looney, Shane Walsh; Dylan Guiry, Craig Guiry, Jamie Barron; Keith Guiry, Darren Guiry, Kenny Brazil. Subs: Diarmuid Murphy for Kenny Brazil (52), Justin Walsh for Tommy Cooney (52), Conal Mulcahy for James McGrath (57).

Scorers: Shane Walsh 0-5 (4f), Darren Guiry 0-2, Dylan Guiry, Jamie Barron, Ciaran Looney, James McGrath 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane

Passage Late Late Show helps secure Silverware

As the signature tune to the Late, Late Show was starting on RTE1 last Friday evening, a Late, Late Show of a different sorts was unfolding at Fraher Field in Dungarvan.

Passage East Hurling Club are no strangers to late fightbacks coming from behind to pull off a victory that few if any could have seen as the game neared its closing minutes.

Who will ever forget the way they won their first and so far only County Senior Hurling Championship back in 2013. Seven points down with as many minutes to play against their near neighbours Ballygunner, they staged a remarkable fightback at Walsh Park and won the game by three points hitting some crucial goals near the end of the game.

On Friday evening they did it again.

This time the setting and the competition was different but the outcome was the same, and just as in 2013 their fightback was reward with silverware going back to the club on the banks of the River Suir just before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean down river at Dunmore East.

Dungarvan in this game played without three players that were due to be part of the Waterford Under 21 panel on the following day while Passage were as near to full strength as you could imagine.

When the sides clashed in the championship earlier this year it was the Old Boro side that ran out winners and without their three under 21 inter county players many were wondering how much they would affected.

Early in the game it looked as if Dungarvan were going to be up against it in this game, as they went under by four points within ten minutes of the game starting.

Killian Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a brace of frees on two and three minutes, before Adam Roche put over from play which Killian Fitzgerald followed up with another pointed free on nine minutes.

Dungarvan however were soon into their stride and on thirteen minutes Cormac Curran on free taking duty in the absence of younger brother Patrick put over a free which was followed with a Ryan Donnelly effort from play.

Cormac Curran landed another free on sixteen minutes and when Liam Ryan followed up with a score from play to level matters with twenty minutes played.

Ryan Donnelly edged Dungarvan in front for the first time on twenty two minutes before Killian Fitzgerald levelled matters once more. Cormac Curran and Killian Fitzgerald swapped scores inside a minute of each other before Dungarvan went in front once more with a brace of Cormac Curran frees which meant that his side went to the dressing rooms at the break leading 0-8 to 0-6.

By the end of the third quarter of this game the Old Boro side had edged five points in front on the scoreboard.

Killian Fitzgerald with another free and Eoin Healy traded early scores in the second half which was followed by a Hat-trick of scores from Cormac Curran between the thirty fourth and thirty seventh minutes, two of which were from frees and one from play to give Dungarvan a 0-12 to 0-7 lead.

In the following seven minutes things proved to be a tight affair as Liam Ryan and Sean Hogan swapped scores which was followed by Cormac Curran and Patrick Flynn doing likewise after the latter was only on the field a few seconds.

Richard Hurley pointed for Passage on forty six minutes which was quickly followed with another Cormac Curran score and with eight minutes remaining Liam Flynn pointed for the eventual winners.

There was questions been asked would this game go to extra time if the game was to end in a draw or would there be a replay. With an 8-30pm start on what was a wet day few if any would have wanted the game to go to Extra time and it would have been interesting to see how many would have stuck around if the game did end in a draw and the sides had to play extra time.

The possibility of the game ending in stalemate grew even closer six minutes from time.

Those that are regular attenders of games at Fraher Field when played under lights would have you wondering was their some sort of curse in defending the country goal.

A few weeks back we saw Tallow and Abbeyside play at the same venue. During the course of the game a high cross field ball from under the stand was dropped in around the Abbeyside goal that evening and as the ball fell at the far post it appeared that the Abbeyside defending players lost sight of the flight of the ball while looking up at the lights and the ball went into the back of the Abbeyside net.

There is some that says that history does not repeat itself but it did here. From under the stand around the middle of the field Killian Fitzgerald sent in a high dropping ball around the Dungarvan goal and with the Dungarvan defence trying to keep and eye on the ball as it dropped while looking into the lights somehow if went straight to the net.

In soccer, the colour of the ball is often changed when games are played under lights and maybe the same could happen in hurling as looking up into the lights in hurling at times the white sliotar is hard to see. Maybe we could see a red, pink or orange sliotar used for night games soon but that is for another day to decide.

With just one point between the sides in Dungarvan’s favour, Passage drew level on fifty six minutes when Patrick Flynn hit his second score of the game which was followed with an Eoin Kelly point which game his side the lead for the first time since Ryan Donnelly edged Dungarvan in front on twenty two minutes.

Another former inter county player Jamie Nagle pulled the sides level again on fifty seven minutes and now people were defiantly asking would the game go to extra time or a replay if needed.

However there was no need for such questions to be asked as Callum O’Neill blasted low and hard for Passage past Daren Duggan on the hour mark to give his side a three point advantage and in added time Killian Fitzgerald from play secured victory was going to go to Passage when he put over his final score of the game.

Passage: Eddie Lynch; Darragh Lynch, Jason Flood, Gary Cullinane; Adam Roche, Stephen Mason, Richard Hurney; Noel Connors, Pa Walsh; Mitchell Baldwin, Sean Hogan, Killian Fitzgerald; Liam Flynn, Eoin Kelly, Owen Connors. Subs: Patrick Flynn for Stephen Mason (44), Callum O’Neill for Richard Hurley (54).

Scorers: Killian Fitzgerald 1-7 (4f), Callum O’Neill 1-0, Patrick Flynn 0-2. Adam Roche, Sean Hogan, Richard Hurley, Liam Flynn, Eoin Kelly 0-1 each.

Dungarvan: Darren Duggan; Luke Egan, Michael Kiely, Joe Allen; John Curran, Kieran Power, Eoin Healy; Gavin Crotty, Conor Sheridan; Jamie Nagle, Colm Curran, Liam Ryan; Sean Ryan, Cormac Curran, Ryan Donnelly. Subs: Aaron Donnelly for Gavin Crotty (Blood sub 27-half time), Aaron Donnelly for John Curran (Half Time), John Curran for Ryan Donnelly (41).

Scorers: Cormac Curran 0-10 (8f), Ryan Donnell Liam Ryan 0-2 each, Eoin Healy, Jamie Nagle 0-1 each.

Referee: Noel Kelly.

Stradbally remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship

Stradbally had to fight hard to ensure they remained unbeaten in this years County Senior Football Championship on Sunday afternoon last at Fraher Field against Clashmore, where they had a three point win.

The all important score of the game came five minutes from time. Clashmore were playing their best football of the game at this time but they lost corner back Kieran Connery on a black card for a foul on Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh in the middle of the field.

And while they prepared Mark Nugent to come on, as his replacement, the resulting free was taken fast and sent in to Robert Ahearne in front of the Clashmore goal and the towering forward made no mistake in beating Darragh Curran from Close range.

It was Clashmore that were first out of the traps in this game when Brian O’Halloran put over a free after three minutes.

The reigning champions however came storming back and hit points through Jack Mullaney, Shane Ahearne and a brace from Eoin O’Brien to go 0-4 to 0-1 up after ten minutrs.

Edmund O’Halloran cut the Stradbally lead to two before Declan Allen hit Clashmore’s final score of the opening half on twelve minutes.

The Cove Men however would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Robert Ahearne with a fisted effort on seventeen minutes followed with efforts from Tommy Connors and another from Robert Ahearne ensured that Stradbally went to the dressing rooms leading 0-7 to 0-3.

The standard of football played in the third quarter by both sides was very poor, but the sizeable attendance would have to ask how much of this was down to the very strong wind which blew throughout making it difficult for two sides who can play good football at times to do so.

Just two points were shared in the third quarter of the game. Eoin O’Brien was first to score on thirty-nine minutes and four minutes later Brian O’Halloran put over a free to keep four between the sides.

For ten minutes of the final quarter the best football of this game was played by both sides.

Edmund O’Halloran pointed on forty-five minutes which was followed by a Tadhg De Búrca effort to leave two between the sides.

Shane Ahearne made it a three point game when he pointed on forty-seven minutes, but when Fintan Breathnach, Tadhg De Búrca and Brian O’Halloran pointed between forty eight and fifty one minutes the sides were level for the first time since the fifth minute.

Robert Ahearne followed up with a point a minute later and when the same player finished to the net five minutes from time it was looking good for Stradbally.

Brian O’Halloran put over a free three minutes from time which gave The Still Men some hope but it was quickly followed with another Shane Ahearne free.

Clashmore brought the scoring to a close a minute into added time when Brian O’Halloran put over another free, but it proved to be but a mere consolation score.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Luke Casey, Kevin Lawlor, Cathal Cusack; Paddy Kiely, Shane Lannon, Tony Grey; Michael Walsh, Tommy Connors; Daniel Weldon, Robert Ahearne, Jack Mullaney; Paul Tobin, Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Subs: Christopher Casey for Eoin Cunningham (45).

Scorers: Robert Ahearne 1-3; Shane Ahearne (1f), Eoin O’Brien 0-3 each, Jack Mullaney, Tommy Connors 0-1 each.

Clashmore: Darragh Curran; Shane Russell, Ciaran Burke, Kieran Connery; Aidan Trihy, Tadhg De Búrca, Seán O’Connor; Seán Bourke, Jason Seaward; Edmund O’Halloran, Brian O’Halloran, Declan Allen; Paul O’Connor, Sean Fleming, Paddy Fitzgerald. Subs: Fintan Breathnach for Paul O’Connor (42), Phil Dee for Seán O’Connor (43), Gavin Dower for Paddy Prendergast (51), Mark Nugent for Kieran Connery (55 Black Card).

Scorers: Brian O’Halloran 0-5 (4f), Edmund O’Halloran, Tadhg De Búrca 0-2 each, Declan Allen, Fintan Breathnach 0-1 each.

Referee: John Condon.

Déise Blitz Galway to Win Under 21 Hurling Title

A new generation of hurlers were inspired when Waterford won the All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Final in 1992 to go on bigger and better days in the next two decades and expectations are that the same will happen in the coming years after Waterford blitzed Galway to win this years Under 21 Final at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.

From the first puck to the last the side managed by Sean Power proved to be the better of the two sides.

When the two counties clashed in the Minor All-Ireland Final in 2013, it needed a point from Tom Devine late in the game to inspire Waterford to victory.

Expectations this time around that this meeting of the two sides would be even tighter and there was even some that were not happy that Waterford went into the game as the clear favourites, a title that seldom if ever sits well on the shoulders of any Waterford side.

Both sides made changes to the sides that had beaten Dublin and Antrim in the semi finals at the same venue a few weeks back.

Tony Ward brought Vincent Doyle and Sean Linnane into the team after impressing in their sides win over Dublin after coming on as subs, with Fintan and Cian Burke the players to miss out.

The Tribesmen also were able to start with Conor Whelan who was reported to be a doubt for the game after sustaining an injury over Dublin while Sean Power was able to restore Jordan Henley between the posts after he missed out in the semi final where he was replaced by Gavin Power. Team manager Sean Power was also able to start with Tom Devine who underwent a pre match fitness test following reported concerns that he was carrying an ankle injury.

Waterford qualified for the All-Ireland Final with a series of impressive results over Clare, Tipperary and Antrim and again impressed in this one.

Those expecting a closely fought contest (myself included) would be left disappointed as Waterford proved the old adage that goals win games was true as they hit five past the Tribesmen, three in the first and two in the second half, Stephen Bennett hitting two, while younger brother Shane as well as DJ Foran and Patrick Curran all hit one each.

Waterford had a dream start to this game as DJ Foran hit the first goal of the game inside forty seconds of the start, after some good work by William Hahessey in clearing out of defence.

Brian Molloy opened Galway’s account with pointed free on four minutes, and followed up with another point this time from play two minutes later.

Patrick Curran edged Waterford two in front on seven minutes when he put over his first score of the game from a free, before the same player put Waterford three in front this time with an effort from play which was followed with another Brian Molloy free after Austin Gleeson was booked for a high challenge on Sean Linnane.

Patrick Curran put over another free on eleven minutes, and when the same player followed up with 1-1, the goal coming on twelve minutes after he was picked out by DJ Foran, Waterford were in cruise control.

Stephen Bennett hit the first of his goals on fourteen minutes, after some good work by Patrick Curran, which was followed by another point from the impressive Dungarvan club man which gave Waterford a 3-5 to 0-3 lead with sixteen minutes showing on the clock.

Kevin McHugo and Mickey Kearney swapped points for their respective sides, before the Ballyduff Upper Club man hit his second of the game to give Waterford an impressive twelve point lead with seven minutes of the first half still to play.

Tom Devine and Brian Molloy swapped points before Austin Gleeson gave Waterford a thirteen point lead with a pointed free on twenty eight minutes.

Brian Molloy with another free cut Waterford’s lead to twelve on the stroke of half time, and in added time Waterford restored a thirteen point advantage, going to the dressing rooms 3-10 to 0-6 in front when Austin Gleeson put over his second of the game following a good pass from Darragh Lyons.

Galway needed a good start in the second half if they were going to get back into this game.

They hit points from Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan, Brian Molloy, another from Linnane and Eanna Burke to cut Waterford’s lead eight seven minutes after the restart, but it was goals that the Tribesmen needed if they were to get back into contention in this game.

Patrick Curran hit Waterford’s first score of the second half with a free, before Eanna Burke hit his second of the game to leave his side trailing 3-11 to 0-12 with forty-eight minutes played.

Waterford hit a fourth goal a minute later when Stephen Bennett sent the ball across the face of the Galway goal and younger brother Shane flicked to the Galway net from close range to effectively kill off any chance that Galway had of getting back into this game.

Patrick Curran who was brilliant throughout for Dungarvan pointed with eight minutes remaining to give Waterford a clear Four goal advantage (4-12 to 0-12) on the score board.

Eanna Burke and Patrick Curran swapped scores to keep twelve between the sides with four minutes of the hour remaining, and a minute later Waterford rattled the Galway net for a fifth time when Stephen Bennett, pulled an Austin Gleeson sideline cut out of the sky and finished to the net from a tight angle, giving Waterford a fifteen point lead.

While Galway did pull a point back through Conor Whelan, it was Waterford that closed the scoring with a Shane Bennett point on the hour mark, and three minutes into added time Man of the Match Patrick Curran put over a free from the half way line to give Waterford a sixteen point victory.

Waterford: Jordan Henley; William Hahessy, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Mark O’Brien, Shane Bennett; Colm Roche, Tom Devine, DJ Foran; Michael Kearney, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran. Subs: Adam Farrell for Tom Devine (56), Dermot Ryan for Darragh Lyons (57), Billy O’Keeffe, for Micheal Harney (60), Barry Whelan for William Hahessy (61), Peter Hogan for Shane Bennett (61).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 1-9 (0-6f), Stephen Bennett 2-0, Shane Bennett 1-1, DJ Foran 1-0, Michael Kearney, Austin Gleeson (0-1f) 0-2 each, Tom Devine 0-1.

Galway: Cathal Tuohy; Conor Jennings, Darragh O’Donoghue, Declan Cronin; Vincent Doyle, Shane Cooney, Sean Loftus; Darragh Dolan, Dan Nevin; Kevin McHugo, Brian Molloy, Sean Linnane; Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Eanna Burke. Subs: Eamon Brannigan for Thomas Monaghan (half-time), Jack Grealish for Kevin McHugo (42), Fintan Burke for Dan Nevin (55), Cian Burke for Sean Linnane (60), Adrian Morrissey for Darragh Dolan (60).

Scorers: Brian Molloy 0-6 (0-3f), Eanna Burke 0-3, Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan 0-2 each, Kevin McHugo 0-1.

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)

Stradbally remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship with win over Kilrossanty

Stradbally made it three wins from three games in this years senior football championship at rain lashed Fraher Field on Sunday evening and in the process secured their place in the knockout stages of this competition possibly as the top seeded team in group A after a win over Kilrossanty who went into the game themselves with a one hundred per cent win record from their three games played prior to this game.

Not for the first time, Shane Ahearne finished the game as the top scorer for the reigning champions, kicking ten points, half of which came from placed balls.

For Kilrossanty, the depended on Paul Whyte to provide much of the inspiration in front of the Stradbally goal hitting 1-7, of which like Shane Ahearne for the Cove Men, half came from placed balls.

At the break in this game the winners held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage on the score board and when they kicked a goal at the midway point in the second half to go five points in front it looked as if they were going to record a comfortable win over their near neighbours.

It was Stradbally that had the best start to this game as Robert Ahearne hit the first score after just twenty seconds and while Paul Whyte would level before the second minute had passed on the stopwatch, Stradbally would soon go three in front as Shane Ahearne put over a hat trick of points, the first two from frees and then a fisted effort with nine minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne swapped scores before Pa Cunningham blasted across the face of the Stradbally goal with twenty minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne again traded scores before Tommy Pender and Shane Ahearne did likewise. The towering Stradbally man it could be argued with his chance could have seen the size five go under the bar rather than over.

Kilrossanty however would go to the dressing rooms just three behind when Alan Quinn put over the Stradbally crossbar in the second added minute at the end of normal time in the half.

The Rossies began the second half the better of the two sides as Paul Whyte landed a brace of frees in the space of sixty seconds, before Shane Ahearne increased his sides lead to two on thirty six minutes with a good score.

Paul Whyte was causing Stradbally all sorts of trouble and it was only when the Cove Men moved Tony Grey on him after Whyte and Kevin Lawlor had swapped points that the influence of the Kilrossanty man was somewhat curbed.

Ger Power blasted to the Kilrossanty net on forty five minutes after the ball was cleverly worked into him from the middle of the field and when he found himself one on one with Darren Mulhearne he made no mistake.

Shane Ahearne from a free kicked Stradbally six in from putting over a free on forty seven minutes, but within a minute, the Cove Men’s lead was halved when David Power soccer style finished to the net from close ranged after Eoin Cunningham fumbled what looked to be a harmless delivery.

Three minutes later the sides were level after the ball was played into the Stradbally goalmouth and Paul Whyte was able to get in front of Tony Grey to catch and plant the ball past Eoin Cunningham from close range.

Kilrossanty however never led in this game. Just as had happened in the opening half when Kilrossanty drew level, Shane Ahearne upped the anti and hit a brace of points on fifty five and fifty seven minutes, the first from play the latter from a free to give his side a two point cushion.

In the first minute of added time Paul Whyte put over another free to leave just the minimum between the sides. His side needed to win the kick out and work it back in quickly from the Cunningham’s restart, but typically Stradbally in the time that remained, they did not allow their neighbours any chance of note to get something from this game.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Paddy Kiely, Shane Lannon, Kevin Lawlor; Tommy Connors, Tony Grey,  Cathal Cusack; Michael Walsh, Jack Mullaney; Robert Ahearne, Ger Power, Paul Tobin; Daniel Weldon, Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Sub: John Coffey for Eoin O’Brien (H.T).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-10 (5f), Ger Power 1-0, Robert Ahearne, Paul Tobin, Kevin Lawlor 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Barry Prendergast, Mark Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Paul Keating, Stephen Prendergast, Pa Whyte; Tommy Prendergast, Niall Walsh; Joey Veale, David Power, Alan Quinn; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte, Pa Cunningham. Sub: James Whyte for Mark Prendergast (10).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-7 (0-4f), David Power 1-0, Tommy Prendergast, Alan Quinn 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Affane).

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).