Munster Express Online » GAA Hurling

“Hutchy” Relishing Glory with Gunners

The Munster Express — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:45:43 +0000

Wayne Hutchinson celebrates Ballygunner's SHC win with brother JJ at Walsh Park.

Ballygunner’s players embraced on the Walsh Park sod following Sunday’s full-time whistle with the enthusiasm of a team that hadn’t lifted the News & Star Cup for decades.
Their reaction to victory spoke volumes for their drive, their hunger and their application, as they negotiated their way past De La Salle by eight points for the second time this season. They may well have dodged a Lismore coloured bullet in that marvellous semi-final at Fraher Field, but, as Fergal Hartley pointed out again on Sunday, that match said as much about Lismore’s quality as it did for Ballygunner’s bottle.
Wayne Hutchinson is well familiar with the Championship winning waltz. And had he managed to scoop a late goal chance beyond De La Salle’s Shaun O’Brien, the Fraher Field roof might have had a similarly damaged first cousin on the Slievekeale Road.

“What was flashing through my mind,” the half-back wistfully mused on his missed goalscoring opportunity in the wake of the Gunners’ fourth successive title. “I probably had more time on the ball, to be honest with you. It kinda hopped, then it kinda got stuck and then I hit it, and I didn’t hit it well and sure I’m already after getting a wicked slagging over it!”
The former Deise senior panellist, who has been in magnificent form for the Gunners all season long, as have his half-back colleagues Shane Walsh and Philip Mahony, could afford to grin about his miss.
“I’d seen the overlap, I was on the outside and I decided to make the run; Billy (O’Keeffe) played it over and I was screaming for the ball but he had a shot, the keeper made a great save and I just kinda went for it, and, let’s face it, I didn’t hit it well!”

Putting that offensive cameo to one side, there was no concealing how impressive Ballygunner were, particularly in the second half when, playing into the wind, they produced the better quality of hurling.
“When we went in at half-time, I think the free count was well in De La Salle’s favour and that worried us,” said Wayne.
“We said at half-time that if we didn’t give away frees, and not give young Shane Ryan a chance in front of goal and if we kept standing up to De La Salle – we knew we had the backs to stand up to the De La Salle forwards – and yeah, we did produce a commanding performance in the second half in the end. But it was a solid test as well and we’re just happy to be County champions now; we’ll analyse it during the week and get ready for Thurles Sarsfields next weekend.”

It was impossible not to re-reference that Lismore semi-final, and its significance may well grow should the Gunners overcome Thurles next Sunday and advance in Munster.
“We’re after playing eight games to win a Championship and there’s no question about it, even though today was the County Final, last week was without doubt the toughest test we had all year,” Wayne Hutchinson stated.
“They’re a formidable outfit and they need to really push on because there’s great potential in that team. Last week was a solid test and we needed that. The week before, we’d beaten Mount Sion well so the Lismore match definitely stood to us today alright.”

Defensively, Ballygunner have been incredibly impressive this season, conceding only two goals in eight hours of Championship hurling. And it’s been pleasing to see the quality of their backline efforts being as widely hailed as their pacy offensive line.
“Myself, Philip and Walshy in the half-back line, we’re three reasonably strong men but the thing about it is, is that we’re not really minding anyone. When I look around and I see Barry Coughlan, Eddie Hayden and Ian Kenny, there’s no reason to be sitting back, looking for handy ball. You know you can push up, because that’s what De La Salle tried to do today: they tried to play a lot of the hurling in around the middle third. Jack Fagan was going out into the mid third, Jake (Dillon) was going out, trying to pick up a lot of ball, so we pushed up on those boys because we knew how confident we were with the three boys behind us to look after the house, and then you’ve Sokky as a last line so we’ll pretty well served back there, in fairness.”
To be part of the first Ballygunner side to lift four successive News & Star cups must be a fantastic feeling, one not recorded in Waterford since Mount Sion were in their pomp back in the 1950s.

“Sure it’s massive. It’s a huge thrill. As I said after the Lismore match, this hasn’t just happened this year. Denis (Walsh), Darragh (O’Sullivan), Gary O’Keeffe, over the last two years we’re after putting in savage work into this team and they can’t be forgotten about on as day like today because Denis put in a savage amount of work into the development of the club and in the development of the short game which we sometimes play, but we mix it as well, between long and short, and they need to take great credit for that.”
Wayne Hutchinson added: “But this year, Fergal (Hartley) came in, it was good to get a fresh voice and a different opinion. He’s so well respected within the club; he’s a savage businessman and he brings that standard from business into sport and he’s been brilliant for us. He’s a great man.”
A Munster Championship-sized box needs ticking. The club has won the title only once, back in 2001, and it’s a competition they’ll feel they should have performed better in over the years.

“First of all, it’s great to be back there, but yeah, we’ve only gone all the way in Munster that one time and we’ve been back to Thurles for a couple of big days since and we’ve probably underperformed. And yeah, we probably haven’t done ourselves justice in the Munster Championship, but we’re getting there and we’ll keep working hard. Thurles will probably come down as hot favourites, and they’re probably quite similar to us in that they’ve won four in a row but they’ve probably underachieved in Munster too – that’s my personal opinion – and they’ll come down here next Sunday and it’s going to be a titanic battle.”
One suspects it’s a challenge Wayne Hutchinson & co will warm readily to once the ball is thrown in come Sunday afternoon.

Ballygunner land maiden four-in-a-row SHC glory

The Munster Express — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:42:49 +0000

Brothers in arms: Ballygunner’s JJ and Wayne Hutchinson embrace after the Gunners made history at Walsh Park

So Ballygunner made history in recording a record fourth successive Senior Hurling title success in defeating De La Salle at Walsh Park on Sunday last.
The history makers will now put their Munster Club ambitions on the line this Sunday when they host Thurles Sarsfields in the opening round, also at Walsh Park.
There is really is no substitute for talent. Without question, Ballygunner currently have the best panel players, and by a distance, of any club in this county.

This is effectively the same or substantially the same Ballygunner side over the last four seasons.
In reviewing this Sunday’s game it was noticeable that the only change in personnel from the County Final programme to that of last year’s Munster club tie is Billy O’Keeffe replacing Tim O’Sullivan. Indeed, Billy O’Keeffe was a second half substitute in the one-point defeat to Thurles 12 months ago. Definitely a settled Ballygunner team then.

If you have a good team there is little need to change it. Because of this familiarity Ballygunner have developed a style of play and type of fluent hurling that only comes when everyone exactly knows what is expected of them and what to expect from each of their teammates.
It is clear that Owen Dunphy and his De La Salle management team had planned and plotted aplenty but there just weren’t sufficient solutions available to the questions that Ballygunner posed.

De la Salle 2017 Waterford Senior Hurling Championship Finalists

Drop an extra defender to augment your defence and your attack is hopelessly outnumbered with the accuracy and stick-work of the men in Black n’ Red out manoeuvring your defensive shield.
Ballygunner’s half-back line of Philip Mahony flanked by Wayne Hutchinson and Shane Walsh with assistance from Harley Barnes and Shane O’Sullivan create a five-man wall that is almost impossible to breach.
It would be careless too to not to acknowledge the stranglehold provided by Barry Coughlan and his able lieutenants Eddie Hayden and Ian Kenny.

Pauric Mahony, with a 100 per cent success rate from placed balls is simply worth his weight in gold to any side, and few teams have forwards with the ability of David and Brian O’Sullivan. I’d be expecting more than a single phone call to the O’Sullivan homestead from Waterford manager Derek McGrath to negotiate a return to the fold for both these Ballygunner match winners. There are no club players in the county that could make a greater impact to Derek McGrath’s senior squad for 2018.
Billy O’Keeffe is a great utility player that is comfortable on the ball and an injury-free Peter Hogan is another vying for promotion.

Amongst this immense talent is two-goal hero Conor Power. It’s somewhat unusual that a player scoring two goals in a county final doesn’t get a mention in the man-of-the-match discussion, such is the way for a multi-talented team.
De La Salle really failed to impact in attack and rarely threatened Stephen O’Keeffe’s goal. The Gracedieu faithful need not fret too much as De La Salle does have a number of young players in line to make the grade in the near future.

Players like Thomas Douglas, Cormac McCann, Dylan Foley and Mikey Costigan all appear to have the necessary attributes to become successful senior players. Others like Shane McNulty, Tom Moran, Adam Farrell, Jack Fagan, Eoin Madigan and Shane Ryan will likely backbone their team in coming seasons alongside All-Star and county captain Kevin Moran.

Home the Heroes

Dermot Keyes — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 13:19:57 +0000

Derrick McGragh left bare after the defeat against Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final

Derek McGrath lauded praise on his Waterford players in the wake of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final defeat to Galway at Croke Park, but has remained tight-lipped about his managerial future.
Speaking prior to the group’s homecoming to Waterford on Monday evening (as we were going to press), McGrath said his own future was something he would arrive at in due course. But now, he stressed, was the time for any announcement about his own future.
“I haven’t really put a huge amount of thought into that,” the Deise boss admitted at Croke Park on Sunday evening.
“The lads have invested some time into it, they’ve invested a huge amount of time over the last three to four years. We’ve been on a rollercoaster. They actually just spoke about the now; Kevin (Moran) spoke about the now, Dan (Shanahan) spoke about the now, and we just said in any of the post match analysis that will come in terms of, you know, will they stick together, won’t they, we’ll kinda leave it, there’ll be no speculation about it, we wouldn’t even consider it. We’re just in the now, completely disappointed but yet proud as well. The nucleus of a good team is there going forward but there’s just no guarantees.”
The clamour for the retention of the current management team of Derek McGrath, Dan Shanahan and Eoin Murphy was made loud and clear on local airwaves on Monday morning,. with ex-Deise player and former Under-21 boss Shane Ahearme among those leading such calls. County Board Chairman Paddy Joe Ryan also expressed his hope that on WLR that McGrath and his colleagues might commit to another season or more at the helm.
Meanwhile, corner-back Noel Connors sounded an uplifting note, which will delight and enthuse the thousands who travelled to Croke Park, along with those who tuned in all around the city, county and beyond.
“We’ll step back, have a look at it and see what we need to develop in the coming weeks and months. But I suppose, fundamentally, we have to develop, we have to move on, we have to try and change a few things here and there but our aspiration won’t be any different in 2018: to lift Liam MacCarthy.”
See full edition, Sport 1-19 for more

‘Up The Deise’ from The Golden Gate

Michelle Clancy — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 11:53:09 +0000

A group of Waterford ex-pats gather underneath the mist-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge to show their support for the Deise!

by Justine Dwyer
No one could accuse Christopher Lane of being a fair-weather supporter of the Waterford hurling team!
As soon as Waterford reached the All-Ireland Final a few weeks ago, Christy, as he is known to his friends, from Glenville on the Dunmore Road , booked his flight home from San Francisco where he has lived for the past 24 years.
“It was a beautiful moment, I thought I was seeing things when I looked at the scoreboard and saw 4-19 to Cork’s 20 points,” Christy says, laughing.
This will be a flying visit back to his hometown, just four days, enough time to see his mother Vera, catch up with friends but most importantly get to the match in Croke Park.
And this isn’t the first time, he’s dropped everything. Christy who works as an electrician in San Francisco came home for the All-Ireland Final between Waterford and Kilkenny back in 2008 with his two-year-old son, Declan.
“That was a tough one. But look, we got over it. There’s a bunch of us over here who have supported the lads through thick and thin. We’ve had good years and bad years but this is definitely a good year.”
A large group of ex-pats, all friends of Christy’s met near the Golden Gate bridge at the weekend, complete with specially made signs, banners, flags and bunting, to put on record their support for the team.
“All of us are coming home for the game. There was no question about it. Most of us can only manage a couple of days but we’re all coming.” And although none of them have tickets yet they remain optimistic.
“I’m working on it,” says Christy. “Put it this way, if I have to dress up as a referee to get into Croke Park I will! Not getting in, doesn’t even come into the equation. Determination is the name of the game.”
Meanwhile, Christy admits that he had undergo “brutal negotiations” with his wife Beth to get the green light to come home. “I got the free pass by promising to bring back Tayto and new Waterford jerseys for the kids!”

DEISE’S GLORY DAY

Dermot Keyes — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:20:37 +0000

Austin Gleeson celebrates Waterford’s win at Croke Park. Photo: Noel Browne.

Break out the bunting, dust off the novelty teddy and re-thread that straw hat that’s been in the attic since Féile: because the mighty men of Waterford have made it through to hurling’s greatest day!
A stunning second half salvo, spearheaded by Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson, propelled a ruthless Deise side into only their second All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final since 1963, when defeating Cork by 12 points at Croke Park on Sunday.
And while Conor Gleeson’s sending off and a first half incident involving Austin Gleeson caught by TV cameras may provide some unhelpful distractions between now and September 3rd’s Final, let’s park both for now.
Because this is a result worth marking. Because there’s joy, beauty and relief in this type of rare event. Because it’ll be great for the town. Savage for the county.
This was the first time ever in which Waterford defeated Cork at this stage of the Championship, and only the second win in the past 12 semi-finals for the men in white and blue, tracing the records back to 1998.
This is also the furthest Waterford have advanced in the Hurling Championship since 1948 in terms of a campaign in which both Tipperary and Kilkenny were already out of the reckoning. That also happened to be the first year in which Port Láirge lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup, and the big one has only crossed Rice Bridge once since. Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Nine.
A famine will end for either Waterford or Galway come the first Sunday in September: while Galway have been waiting some 29 years for a senior All-Ireland crown, Waterford have had exactly double the wait for glory.
Either way, hurling history will be made, and our great game will all the richer when a fourth different All-Ireland champion in five editions is crowned a fortnight on Sunday.

“I think we’re going to try and get the balance right between embracing it and cocooning ourselves away,” said an elated yet even-tempered Deise boss Derek McGrath at Croke Park, in advance of the hype machine cranking up across the city and county.
“I think if we go the route of locking ourselves (away) for two or three weeks, I’m not sure if that will work for this group…
“But in terms of controlling hype or otherwise, these fellas will be grand. If we don’t perform here in three weeks, it’ll just be because Galway will be better than us…the narrative won’t be that this Waterford team has gotten carried away in the run-up to the game, because they want to try and perform in the final and give themselves every chance…
“But it’s going to be brilliant. The general theme in Waterford is that we’ve suffered – not politically – but just in general, that the town needed a lift, and that the county needed some sort of uplift or surge be it pursuit of the Cath Lab or different things that are central to Waterford people’s emotions, so I think that this will absolutely give everyone a pep in their step. We just have to concentrate on getting the balance right – and there’ll probably be a different song on ‘Up For the Match’, which is a bonus!”
The biggest bonus of all is within Waterford’s reach. But a Maroon barrier stands in their way. A great build-up awaits, so let’s savour every moment. Déise Abú!

Davy praises Wexford and buries a few pundits

Dermot Keyes — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:18:07 +0000

Davy Fitzgerald running the eye over his Wexford players during Sunday’s pre-match warm-up at the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. | Photos: Noel Browne

In a career that’s had its fare share of compelling exchanges with the media over the years, be it as manager of Waterford, Clare or Wexford, Davy Fitzgerald has rarely been more quotable than he was in Cork last Sunday.
Praising his Wexford charges, before heaping offering a firm thumbs up to both Derek McGrath and his Deisemen, Fitzgerald was having no truck with the assessments being proffered by both Henry Shefflin and Michael Duignan in the wake of Sunday’s Quarter-Final. “I think Michael Duignan and Henry have had a go. Let me say this straight out: Michael Duignan and Henry have never managed any team at a high level: the people need to wake up, so they do,” he said in response to Vincent Hogan’s question.
“If they want the same one or two teams to play hurling and be successful, that’s fine. Myself and Derek are trying to bring teams to the fore that haven’t been to the fore in a long time and I’m very strong about this. It’s great for the likes of Michael Duignan – he should have had an opinion on something recently and he didn’t have it – when he should have stood up. It’s time now Michael Duignan stopped this messing; the (good) job Derek McGrath has done and the stick he has taken is totally unwarranted. What he has done for Waterford and bringing them back up to the top is incredible and I am backing him one hundred and ten per cent. You’re telling me that’s a bad game of hurling after some of the scores, short and long ball, every sort of ball, or do we just play the long ball and hit and that’s it? I don’t agree with that and I think that they are totally out of order; I think RTE should go have a look at themselves and get analysts who have been on the sideline and who know what the story is about, and that’s how I feel strongly about. It’s easy, easy to knock people. I’d like to see their track records when it comes to management because it’s a lot different to playing, I can promise you that.”
He continued: “But this messing has to stop. It’s nothing but negativity and negativity all the time. This Championship has been great: Waterford have played a part in it, we’ve played a part in it, Galway are still playing a part in it and Cork have brought a game where they’re using short and long ball all the time. They’re moving like anything. They’re hitting spaces. I heard one analyst, I think, last week, describe Cork as going out and playing with freedom. Cork are thinking their way around, Cork know what they’re about, they’re working hard so I respect the likes of other teams who are trying stuff and fair play to them, so I do, and I love that about the GAA.
“Will I get slammed for saying what I said? I will. But do you know what? I don’t care. I don’t care. I want to see change. I’m a hurling man. And I don’t buy into just because Henry or Michael Duignan said something that it’s gospel. It’s not.”
When suggested that he was referring to Michael Duignan’s analysis of Brian Cody’s altercation with a sideline official during the Waterford/Kilkenny Qualifier, Fitzgerald refused to be drawn out on the specifics of his comments on the former Offaly player.
“I’m not going there…yet when something had to be said a few weeks ago, they bottled it, one or two of them. It’s easy to jump on a bandwagon. When I got my suspension; when I got my suspension, there were five or six of them who jumped on the bandwagon. It’s easy to jump on one side for an easy target. That’s how I feel and that’s the story…
“But do you know what, guys. I want ye to do tomorrow: to celebrate what Waterford did outside there, 1-23, they won an All-Ireland Quarter-Final, they’re in a Semi-Final and do you know what, there’s going to be more surprises in this Championship yet. This isn’t a done deal because I think for the first time in a long time, you can’t tell me who’s going to win that All-Ireland. I think it’s going to be tight…and I’m actually so excited and that I’ll now be a spectator and I’ll actually get to look at it and I’m excited to think any one of four teams could win this Championship – and I believe that.”
So how has Davy evaluated Year One of his Wexford project? “I don’t think it’s (been) too bad,” he replied, as a grin broke across his face. “If you asked Wexford if they’d be happy being promoted, I’d say yeah. I was told I was crazy going down there, that I must be off my head! For me, personally, it’s a long drive; we’ll see what lies ahead for me from now on. I have to say the way I’ve been treated down there, by the County Board, by everybody, has been incredible. The players, not once did they question anything I did. If I asked them to train four nights in a row, they never questioned it. It was a breath of fresh air. It was lovely. And I enjoyed it.
“And to see the way they’re hurt in there – they’re hurt – they believe they had a chance to win today and they’re hurt inside there. I couldn’t be more proud and I see it as a good year for Wexford and I think they need to grow and over the next two or three years – I think Derek is at it four years, he’s won a National League and he wants to take that next step. And don’t we need Wexford back? We don’t need to lose them out of hurling, and that’s without a shadow of a doubt.”
Citing the five and a half hour round trip from Sixmilebridge to Wexford, Fitzgerald said he was going to “reflect” in the next few weeks about committing to the job for another year. But it would be a huge surprise if the All-Ireland, Munster and League winning manager didn’t return to the south east again next season.
“My heart really loves this but I don’t know what’s going to happen but I absolutely could not speak highly enough of everyone; to a person they were brilliant down there…but I’m going to take a bit of time to think about.”
The wider hurling world will surely hope that Davy Fitzgerald will stick with the Model County for another tilt at League and Championship come 2018. It’s great to see Wexford mixing it again and one hopes they’ll continue to improve – and continuity in management would go a long, long way in ticking that particular box.

Moran leads Deise back to Croke Park

The Munster Express — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:12:25 +0000

Waterford's Maurice Shanahan tussles with Wexford's Jack O'Connor.

By Brian Flannery
This weekend saw the dawning of a new era on Leeside with the re-opening of the newly developed Páirc Ui Chaoimh.
On Saturday last it was reigning champions Tipperary, pushing past the challenge of Clare while on Sunday, Waterford were too good for neighbours Wexford to qualify for the senior All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals for the third successive year.
Waterford never trailed at any stage in this game and in truth never looked like losing either. A goal just before half-time from captain Kevin Moran sent Derek McGrath’s charges to the dressing rooms leading by five points.
A bright spell early in the second half saw Wexford reduce the margin to just two points but Waterford responded superbly and had increased their advantage to eight points by end of the scheduled 70 minutes play.
But a pointed free from Jack Guiney and a goal from Jack O’Connor deep in injury-time put a better look on the scoreboard without Wexford ever threatening the result.
However despite this convincing victory much of the post-game discussion centred on the 65th minute dismissal of Tadhg De Búrca by referee Fergal Horgan for an apparent facemask infringement by the Clashmore/Kinsalbeg man. Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan was alerted to the incident by his linesman Sean Cleere.
De Búrca, at the time of writing, seems certain to miss the All-Ireland Semi-Final with the ensuing automatic one match ban for a straight red card offense.
As anticipated both sides set-up similarly with Tadhg De Búrca and Shaun Murphy operating in sweeping roles for their respective sides. This lead to a cagey, tactical game with both De Búrca and Murphy calmly dealing with a lot of aimless deliveries into their defensive zone.
Waterford began the game with the same starting 15 as from their previous round victory over Kilkenny while Wexford showed four changes to the side that started the Leinster Final against Galway. Eoin Moore, Podge Doran, David Redmond and leaving cert student Rory O’Connor all selected from the start here.
Waterford began well with former All-Star Michael Walsh dominating the opening exchanges. The Stradbally was involved in four out of five of Waterford’s opening points, being fouled for two, providing an assist for Kevin Moran and shooting a sublime point over the shoulder from the shadows underneath the North Stand. Waterford led 0-5 to 0-2 after seven minutes.
Goal chances were a rarity although Jamie Barron had a half-chance after 10 minutes but his weak effort was comfortably dealt with by Wexford custodian Mark Fanning.
Wexford deployed Podge Doran and Jack Guiney in front of goal to provide at ‘twin-tower’ threat but Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Tadhg de Búrca and Noel Connors dealt ably with this challenge.
Scores were coming just a little easier for the Déise with Kevin Moran pilfering two points from snap shots while Austin Gleeson, as is his want, produced another outstanding moment when he bisected the posts after a low catch and shooting without the necessity to view the whereabouts of the uprights at the City end of the New stadium.
Aidan Nolan and Jack Guiney importantly hit a point apiece as the clock into first half injury time and the Yellow Bellies would have been pleased enough to take a two point deficit (0-12 to 0-10) to the break.
However, an error from Eoin Moore in failing to clear his lines allowed Shane Bennett, so often a forlorn and solitary presence in the full-forward line, dispossessed the Wexford defender and sent Kevin Moran through on goal.
The De La Salle clubman and team Captain showed immense composure to whip the ball past the advancing Mark Fanning into the net and put some distance between the sides, 1-12 to 0-10 at the half-time break.
Given the nature of this game with the scarcity of scoring opportunities a five-point advantage appeared pivotal, and so it proved.
Wexford were quickest out of the blocks after half-time and hit three quick points from Liam Ryan, Rory O’Connor and Lee Chin to bring the margin back to two points (1-12 to 0-13) after 42 minutes. Pauric Mahony converted two and Austin Gleeson another free from inside his own half to extend the lead back out to five points with 20 minutes remaining.
Substitutes Maurice Shanahan and Brian O’Halloran both impacted and scored two points apiece as Waterford now led by eight points (1-23 to 0-18) at the end of normal time despite De Búrca’s departure after 65 minutes.
A Jack Guiney pointed free and a goal from Jack O’Connor ensured that Wexford beat the spread bet but it is Waterford who progress to another Championship Semi-Final at headquarters.
Waterford had outstanding displays from skipper Kevin Moran with veteran Michael Walsh again giving a towering display.
A rock solid defence were rarely troubled while substitutes Maurice Shanahan and Brian O’Halloran both made valuable contributions when introduced.
Wexford have made considerable progress this season with Shaun Murphy, Liam Ryan, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Lee Chin to the fore in this game.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Darragh Fives, Tadhg De Búrca, Philip Mahony; Conor Gleeson, Jamie Barron; Kevin Moran, Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson; Pauric Mahony, Jake Dillon, Shane Bennett.

Substitutes: Maurice Shanahan for Shane Bennett (45mins), Stephen Bennett for Michael Walsh (53), Colin Dunford for Jamie Barron (61) and Tommy Ryan for Pauric Mahony (70).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony (0-9f), Kevin Moran (1-3), Austin Gleeson (0-2; 0-1f), Maurice Shanahan
and Brian O’Halloran (0-1 each), Michael Walsh, Jake Dillon, Darragh Fives and Conor Gleeson (0-1 each).

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Willie Devereux, Liam Ryan, James Breen; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Matthew O’Hanlon, Eoin Moore; Shaun Murphy, Lee Chin; David Redmond, Conor McDonald, Rory O’Connor; Paul Morris, Podge Doran, Jack Guiney.

Substitutes: Aidan Nolan for David Redmond (28 mins), Jack O’Connor for Paul Morris (40s), Harry Kehoe for Conor McDonald (58) and Shane Tomkins for Podge Doran (63).

Scorers: Jack Guiney (0-6; 0-5f), Jack O’Connor (1-2), Lee Chin (0-3; 0-2f), Diarmuid O’Keeffe (0-2), Liam Ryan, Eoin Moore, Conor McDonald, Paul Morris, Rory O’Connor and Aidan Nolan (0-1 each).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).

DEISE GET JOB DONE

Dermot Keyes — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:03:06 +0000

Waterford's Conor Gleeson going head to head with Wexford's Conor McDonald at Páirc Uí Chaoimh during last Sunday’s All-Ireland Quarter-Final. See Sport 2-9 for more from Leeside. | Photo: Noel Browne

“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” – Rocky Balboa

When the great book of our national game is written, one can safely assume that Waterford’s four-point win over Wexford at this sparkling new stadium won’t overtly figure in the author’s notes.
For this was 70 minutes of hurling in which rhythm was made near impossible to establish given the approaches of both sides, but that it transpired in the manner it did was of no great surprise to this observer.
Nor should it be to anyone with a greater knowledge of the game and a lengthier lifetime of inter-county match-going experience than what this reporter possesses.
Would it have been preferable to see both teams playing a slightly more conventional game and it would it have pleased me to see Waterford open up Wexford’s full-back line? Yes on both counts.
But take where the collective mood of the city and county was at full-time following the defeat to Cork, and look at where the team is now: safely through to an All-Ireland semi-final, with Kilkenny toppled en route – and all while the hay was saved.
Now tell me, hand on heart, that we’d not have taken that as our Championship fate amidst the over-reaction to losing to the eventual Munster champions at Semple Stadium?
Most would have gladly sacrificed a full limb, let alone a hand, to see Waterford within 70 minutes of an All-Ireland Final, in what’s been the most open Championship, 2013 aside, in two decades.
“You’re too close to the team,” someone intoned to me on social media a few weeks ago; i.e. that I couldn’t see the woods from the trees when it came to how the team was playing.
Well, I’ve never been a cheerleader and I’ve done my best to never reduce this to fan with pen reportage: that’d do the team, the trade and the trusted readers we’ve held onto a disservice.
Sure, I’d love to see Waterford playing with the level of wristy flair that made them the neutral’s favourites a decade or more ago. I’d love to see goals flying in during every match. I’ve never hidden those sentiments, nor shall I ever.
But I’m conscious that I offer such expressions in the context that my only management experience has been co-coaching an Under-11 soccer team in my early 20s, and occasionally selecting a seconds rugby team which I captained in my late 20s.
I’m also conscious that the team I’ve most frequently written about these past 18 years hasn’t won the biggest prize in the sport for 58 years. But that shouldn’t preclude me from offering my view based on those years of press box experience – and I don’t feel it has.
Waterford is a traditional hurling county without a tradition of winning a bevvy of hurling titles. And sometimes, as a manager, taking our ‘what might have been’ narrative into account means you’ve got to try and do something different to make something happen.
And sometimes, as supporters and observers of such a team, we need to retain faith in what managers nowadays increasingly describe as the process. And if the process leads us to victory, then how can one quibble with that?
I need little reminder about all the wonderful Championship clashes down through the years in which the Deisemen have, too often, come out the wrong side of a result. Heroism in defeat is like being the ‘sweet’ guy who never gets the girl. Sure where’s the fun in that?
Old Blue Eyes nailed it about having his fill and share of losing. We’ve had enough tough days and long trips home. This Waterford squad has been hit hard when things haven’t gone to plan, but they’ve kept moving forward. And while they shouldn’t be exempt from criticism, the least they’re entitled to is the faith of their supporters. We move on. Cork await once more on August 13th.

DEVASATED DEISE PAY THE PENALTY

Dermot Keyes — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:55:47 +0000

A thousand words, eh? The contrasting emotions at full-time at Walsh Park on Thursday last.

Stephen Dalton struck a controversial match-winning penalty in the fifth minute of additional time to keep the Cork hurling wave rolling, thus ending Waterford’s reign as Munster and All-Ireland Under-21 champions at Walsh Park.
Before a 4,127 gate on Thursday last, John Meyler’s side edged out the Deisemen in a pulsating encounter, a tremendous contest which tilted in one direction and then the other.
While it will be of scant consolation to Sean Power’s charges, the hosts certainly died with their boots on, and appeared to have just cause in citing what went against them in the closing seconds of a breezy, dry evening’s hurling.
And it’ll probably mean even less to them that this was an absolutely riveting hour’s hurling (and then some), featuring some outstanding talent in each camp, several of whom will probably leave us slack jawed at senior level of many summers to come.
A gripping conclusion, which included a straight red card for Cork midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon (outstanding prior to his dismissal) saw the clinical Dalton punish the apparent indiscretion of Waterford’s Darragh Lyons, who pulled the jersey of the advancing Cork substitute Jack O’Connor.
Well, that was how it appeared on naked eye viewing from the press box in real time last Thursday evening, as the sun faded beyond Tycor and Cleaboy.
“I have to admit, and I said as much to you after the full-time whistle, that I initially felt it was a penalty, but, hand on heart, I’m after watching the incident back at least 50 times since and a free should have been awarded to Cork rather than a penalty,” Sean Power told me on Sunday evening.
“I thought it was a penalty, that was my first instinct, and I know decisions made in split seconds are always tough ones to make for a referee, but having looked at it again, and seeing that, in my view, that the footage proves that it wasn’t a penalty, I’m just totally, totally gutted for the lads. It’s an even tougher one to take now, having looked back on it.”
One suspects that Fergal Horgan’s officiating of next Sunday’s Senior Quarter Final will be scrupulously monitored by Waterford management at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the wake of this match-turning decision.
But despite this unsatisfactory element to proceedings, nothing should be taken from the quality and resilience which Cork, managed by John Meyler, commendably demonstrated over the course of an absorbing encounter. The Rebels are well and truly back, and now on the brink of a clean sweep of all provincial hurling titles.
At the break, and playing with a significant wind advantage, Cork led by 0-10 to 0-8. Waterford opened the scoring after just 18 seconds through centre-forward Cormac Curran, with the Rebels drawing level less than 50 seconds later thanks to a Declan Dalton free. Dalton latched onto Darragh Fitzgibbon’s sideline to send Cork ahead in the fifth minute, before Patrick Curran’s free restored parity two minutes later.
The impressive Dalton landed the first of two converted sidelines after eight minutes, only for the superb Colm Roche to reply immediately from the hosts’ next attack.
Dalton sent over another free in the 10th minute before Cork corner-forward Michael O’Halloran increased their lead. Shane Bennett, who roamed deep to gain possession on several occasions, pointed well for Waterford in the 12th minute, with Cork midfielder Paul Leopold next to point after 16.
The energetic Sean O’Donoghue, somewhat fortunate to escape with a yellow card late in the first half following a heavy challenge on Shane Bennett, assisted Dalton who converted Cork’s seventh.
But Waterford remained well in the contest thanks to a fine Colm Roche point in the 20th minute. Patrick Curran converted frees in the 23rd and 25th minutes to bring the sides level, before Declan Dalton converted another superb sideline after 26.
Darragh Fitzgibbon landed a fine point from halfway before Roche struck his third from play as half-time approached. Dalton’s injury-time free, moments after O’Donoghue’s carding, completed the opening half’s scoring.
Waterford had inched their way back into the contest having trailed by four points after 37 minutes following Robbie O’Flynn’s well-taken goal for Cork, expertly crafted by substitute Tom O’Mahony.
Roche’s heroics from midfield hauled Waterford back into contention, and Andrew Casey sent Shane Bennett through to bat home a 51st minute goal to send the hosts a point clear.
The end to end battle sustained itself all the way through this semi-final’s dramatic conclusion, as Curran and Dalton continued to pepper the board.
But at the end, to the agony and subsequent grievance of the Deisemen, Cork remain standing and have advanced to a Munster Final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday, July 26th.
“We’re heartbroken,” said Sean Power just moments after Fergal Horgan’s final shrill blast of a riveting evening’s hurling.
“We fought so hard to get on top, and then we got on top and they came at us – these things happen. We thought we had it in the bag, but it’s never in the bag until it’s over and I’m very proud of the lads; they really showed great intensity and effort and that’s what we want from guys wearing the Waterford jersey and we can’t fault them on that front. But look, sometimes games go like that – and that’s the glory of sport. These things happen…but of course it’s very hard to take.”

Waterford: Billy Nolan; David Prendergast, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Jordan Henley, Conor Prunty, Callum Lyons; Andy Molumby, Colm Roche; Jack Prendergast, Cormac Curran, Shane Ryan; Patrick Curran, Shane Bennett, Peter Hogan.

Substitutes: Edmund O’Halloran for Andy Molumby and Darragh Lynch for Callum Lyons (both 42 mins), Andrew Casey for Cormac Curran (49) and John Paul Lacey for Shane Ryan (58).

Scorers: Patrick Curran (0-10; 0-7f, 0-1 65), Colm Roche (0-5), Shane Bennett (1-1), Cormac Curran (0-2) and Jack Prendergast (0-1).

Cork: Patrick Collins; Sean O’Donoghue, Eoghan Murphy, David Griffin; Billy Hennessy, Darren Browne, Mark Coleman; Paul Leopold, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Chris O’Leary, Declan Dalton, Aaron Myers; Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Kingston, Michael O’Halloran.

Substitutes: Tim O’Mahony for Aaron Myers (30 mins), Eoghan Healy for Sean O’Donoghue (32), Jack O’Connor for Shane Kingston (50) and David Lowney for Chris O’Leary (55).

Scorers: Declan Dalton (1-12; 0-8f, 0-2Sl), Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-3), Robbie O’Flynn (1-0), Paul Leopold and Michael O’Halloran (0-1 each).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

Return to ‘De Park’

The Munster Express — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:31:22 +0000

Maurice Shanahan has done more than enough to earn a starting berth this Sunday. | Photo: Noel Browne

By Brian Flannery
This weekend sees the long awaited reopening of Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-Finals. Tipperary and Clare are first up this Saturday, with the South East derby reserved for top billing on Sunday.
There is no doubt that the old relic of a stadium was well past its sell by date but I will always retain a fondness for the ‘Old lady’. Many great days and great games were witnessed at the Rebel headquarters.
I was involved in Munster minor finals in 1991 and 1992, the 1992 final went to a Friday night replay in which a Waterford team led by the likes of Paul Flynn, Anthony Kirwan, Paul Foley, Tom Feeney and a 16-year-old kid called Derek McGrath triumphed and went on to compete unsuccessfully with Galway in that year’s All-Ireland Minor Final.
This Páirc Ui Chaoimh was full of character and 1970s charm and its bowl structure made it a thrilling amphitheater to play in.
The crowd always felt that bit closer to you with the cheers from the stands echoing around the spherical arena.
But it had other idiosyncrasies as well. The players had to cross through the tunnel under the stand to enter the pitch. The elevated sense of excitement and anticipation as stewards held back the supporters who provided an impromptu guard of honour for the players skating across the concrete.
The metal barrier in front of the tunnel which was frequently hurdled by pumped up players ready to go to war. The pitch itself was also perfect for summer hurling. Even in the warmest of stretches, the sod retained a little bit of give and bounce which transferred to soft or yielding for a spring league game.
Being Cork headquarters you had the posts uniquely coloured red and white which, in front of a Cork inhabited terrace, can be disorienting.
The 2002 Munster title, Waterford’s first senior crown since 1963, will forever be etched in history as captain Fergal Hartley raised the Cup aloft to signal the arrival of a new successful era for the white and blue.
But of course a 1970s stadium built from a soccer template had its limitations too. Cock-ups in ticketing had supporters lined along the sideline and behind the goals too frequently. The dressing rooms were sized to cater for eleven soccer players and not a hurling panel of 26-plus.
No doubt the new structure will be more in tune with the needs of modern players and supporters. Early photographs indicate that the corporate world will also be well catered for with the availability of plenty of prawn sandwiches for those in need of such delicacies.
The one thing that hasn’t changed is its location. Villages like Killeagh (note the current and continuing roadworks) and Castlemartyr are likely to be the same bottlenecks as previous and I’ll be surprised if WLR’s ‘Deise Today’ isn’t knee deep with complaints next Monday morning about traffic problems emanating from what looks certain to be a sell-out event.
Many will also question the necessity for another large stadium in Munster that is likely to remain idle for most of the year save for the occasional Munster Hurling Final and the Cork/Kerry football tie every second season.
But I’ll travel this Sunday with an open mind and let’s hope the new stadium proves to be money well spent as opposed to some sort of white elephant.
Let’s hope for some entertainment too. Both Waterford and Wexford currently operate with a ’sweeper’ in defence reducing their number of attackers by at least one.
I’m certain Davy Fitzgerald will be telling the media how far Waterford are ahead in terms of development and he hopes to emulate this team development over the coming years.
Davy has managed to ‘chill the beans’ sufficiently meaning that promotion to Division 1A of the hurling league and a Leinster final appearance seems to have sated ‘Yellowbelly’ expectations.
Waterford supporters have become used to All-Ireland semi-final appearances and another trip to Croke Park looks on the cards.
Wexford have displayed great endeavour to date and there’s no doubting the threat they pose but I think they lack a couple of deadeye strikers to convert their possession to enough scores to win games against the top teams.
Conor McDonald is a good player but if you needed someone to convert a last minute free to earn a replay I’m not sure I’d be calling on McDonald who has shown jitters when the pressure is on. And I’m not convinced that either Harry Kehoe or Jack Guiney are capable of securing match winning scores.
Wexford have impressive players like Lee Chin, Matthew O’Hanlon and Diarmuid O’Keeffe but Davy is correct: they need more time and developing before they can achieve a final four standing.
Maurice Shanahan, for me, has done more than enough to earn a starting berth this Sunday and is best suited to that ‘Lone Ranger’ role that Derek McGrath frequently operates.
With the likes of Patrick Curran, Tommy Ryan and Stephen Bennett also waiting for their manager’s call, it’s difficult to see how Wexford can possibly outscore their neighbours.
It may not be pretty but a return to headquarters in August for Waterford is the anticipated outcome.