Waterford's Conor McGrath, scorer of three points, gets in his kick under pressure from Wicklow's Brian McGrath. | Photos: Michael Kiely
Waterford 2-17; Wicklow 1-11
With six games played in this year’s National Football League, John Owen’s Waterford are still unbeaten and after this nine-point win over Mick O’Dwyer’s Wicklow at Fraher Field last Sunday the Déise men now look like live promotion contenders.
Two goals, both scored by An Rinn clubman Liam Ó Lionáin in a three-minute spell just before the break were the catalyst to a memorable victory and one of the finest performances seen from a Waterford senior football team.
Wicklow started brightly and raced into a four points to one lead inside the opening 11 minutes. Tony Hannon kicked three of the Garden County’s opening scores, with Brian Wall and Patrick McWalter also getting on the scoresheet for their respective sides.
Further points from Brian Wall and a superb score from Wayne Hennessy followed to cut Wicklow’s lead to the minimum with 19 minutes played.
Seanie Furlong extended Wicklow’s lead to two points before Waterford found the net. Ardmore wing-back Niall Hennessy worked his way into the opposite end of the field and found Ó Lionáin free 21 metres from goal. The Munster player, in typical fashion, eluded the visiting defenders and lashed a thunderous shot past Mervyn Travers to put the hosts in front.
A second Waterford goal soon followed. This time it was towering full-forward Robert Ahearne who found himself in possession of the ball to the right of the Wicklow goal. The Stradbally man flicked a pass to the lurking Ó Lionáin and he in turn clinically dispatched the ball past Travers.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report and photos.
