UL OUST WIT IN HIGH SCORING GAME
What a difference a week makes. On Sunday week last it was torrential rain and high winds for the opening encounter of the Waterford Crystal Cup between Ul and Waterford. On Sunday last it was a lovely mild January afternoon for the competition quarter final and both UL and WIT availed of the conditions to put on an excellent fare. The Waterford outfit under the guidance of former Tipperary star Colm Bonner were forced to field without a number of established stars but that in no way lessened the determination and effort put in by those on view. On the other hand UL now managed by former Clare full back Brian Lohan showed the benefit of their opening outing and also maintained the impression that they will be a force when Fitzgibbon Cup time comes around.
The home team were first on the scoreboard in this high scoring game as Thomas Hamill pointed in the opening minute. Clare intercounty player Conor Ryan replied almost immediately as he converted a 65 metre free following confusion in the WIT defence when a misplaced lineball pass was needlessly put over the endline. Lima McGrath and Tommy Heffernan exchanged points but Conor Ryan had the Treatystone lads ahead as he pointed in the 5th minute. A superb effort from Cathal Malone had UL ahead 0-4 to 0-2 a minute later. Harry Kehoe had a point for Waterford in the 7th minute to edge the local college to within a point. Indeed Wexford lad Kehoe was remarkably accurate all afternoon for WIT and he had the sides level in the 8th minute following good work from full forward Michael Gaffney. The game was open and expansive with little or no breeze, condusive to hurling. A terrific point from midfielder Cathal Kenny saw WIT ahead but Clare man Cathal Malone levelled almost immediately. Waterford got the run on their opponents in the following five minutes as they scored three points through Martin Gaffney, Andrew Kenny and Harry Kehoe to lead 0-8 to 0-5 through the midpoint of the half. Clare forward Podge Collins was wide with an effort for UL before Bill Maher and Conor Ryan brought the deficit back to a point. Indeed Ryan was beginning a major influence on affairs from centre back. A foul on Liam McGrath saw Harry Kehoe point and McGrath added another to leave WIT ahead 0-10 to 0-7 after 23 minutes. Podge Collins set up Cathal Malone for a point but Liam McGrath grabbed one fro WIT 0-11 to 0-8. The game was remarkably open and very enjoyable for the paltry attendance. Padraig Walsh and Brian Stapleton added two points for UL but again Harry Kehoe had a point for WIT. In the 31st minute Tommy Heffernan had a UL point to leave one score between the sides. However the WIT defence was breached in the 34th minute as Martin Boran put Heffernan through for a terrific goal. Brian Stapleton pointed as WIT began to miss a few chances. In the final minute Bill Maher had a UL point and the teams went to the dressing rooms with the visitors 1-13 to 0-12 ahead.
Both teams had shown flashes of really good hurling in the opening half and WIT could feel disappointed being four points adrift. However a number of things contributed to this not least the fact that the short puck outs were simply not working in their favour. On quite a number of occasions the ball ended up with the opposition. That said if this is something they are working on perhaps, much like Cork, it will be all come together later in the season.
WIT brought in county player Cormac Heffernan for the second half but it was UL who struck first as Padraig Walsh and Tommy Heffernan added points. In the 38th minute Martin Power had a WIT point but a UL goal from Podge Collins saw them eight points aheads as the clock passed the forty minute mark. A mountain for WIT to climb. We'll see. Thirty seconds later Cormac Heffernan placed Johnny Hayes with a through ball and the wing forward crashed home. Could WIT press home. Padraig Walsh and Cathal Kenny had points for their respective outfits. It was still possible at 2-16 to 1-14. Padraig Walsh, Thomas Ryan and Tommy Heffernan had UL points 2-19 to 1-14. Brian Lohan brought in Jason Forde for UL. Johnny Hayes had a WIT point but UL extended the lead through points from Tommy Heffernan and Brian Stapleton. Aidan McGrath replaced Jack Langton in the Waterford midfield. Thomas Ryan had a point for UL as both Mikey O'Neill and Mikey Ryan came on.Harry Kehoe had a brace of Waterford points as Johnny Hayes added another. Tommy Heffernan had one for Limerick 2-23 to 1-18. The final ten minutes however saw Limerick push on for victory. Podge Collins, Jason Forde, Mikey Ryan, Thomas Ryan and Tommy Heffernan added points in a devastating five minute spell 2-28 to 1-18. Harry Kehoe and Cathal Kenny had Waterford points but Limerick also finished with two points from Tommy Heffernan and man of the match Conor Ryan to leave them thirteen points 2-30 to 1-20 ahead as referee John Sexton sounded the final whistle. No doubt Colm Bonner and his WIT players will be disappointed with the result but thirteen points probably does not reflect the effort by the home outfit. The have a little time to sort out problems thrown up in this game. UL and their manager will be happy to continue on their winning ways and will now face Tipperary, who had a fourteen point win over Kerry, on the 26th January in the semi-final.
Athletics by the All Rounder
23rd ANNUAL JOHN TREACY DUNGARVAN 10 mile road race
There is little doubt that the big road racing attraction this coming weekend is the 23rd annual John Treacy Dungarvan 10 mile road race up in the West of the county. A massive field of 2.000 runners are registered for the race since last October and an elite field of male and female runners who include the who's who of road runner's have been assembled for the event. The race gets under way for the Youghal road in the town at 1pm sharp. Villierstown's favourite son and the man who's name the race honours John Treacy will be among the participants and will lead out the large field along with Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport Leo Varadkar TD who will also be taking on the 10 mile challenge. Current national marathon champions and Dungarvan 10 course record holders Sean Hehir Rathfarnham AC 49.25 and Marie Mc Cambridge Letterkenny AC 55.58 are also in the field. There is a big Waterford entry in the race with all waterford clubs involved, we hope the weather man plays his part now and brings the event the weather it deserves.
INDOORS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND UP-SATURDAY
Last week saw a was a very busy weekend for Waterford athletes at the various indoor championships held. On Saturday Kelly Proper won the long jump 6.26 at the Scottish open in Glasgow and finished 2nd in a mixed 2000 meters event. Ferrybank had athletes in action Saturday in Nengah at the Munster juvenile relays and combined events. There were gold medals for Sinead O Regan under 16 Praise Owoeye took bronze under 12 girls, in the relays there was gold for under 12 and 19 girls and under 19 boys, while the under 9 boys took silver.
Waterford AC were also in action here and they saw success with Jack Cocoran under 11 boys Grace Furlong girls under 16 and bronze Jack Deegan under 12 and Cathal Scanlon boys under 13.Waterford AC also took silver under 12 boys and bronze girls under 15 relays
SUNDAY INDOORS.
The following Ferrybank athletes were successful Sunday at the Munster senior, masters under 23 and junior indoor championships in Nenagh
There were Gold medal performances from Paul Murphy junior men's 200,
Neasa Murphy junior high jump, Niamh Whelan senior 200, Sean Archer u 23 triple jump, Shane O'Dwyer took a Double gold in the under 23 high jump and long jump. Silver medals were won by Niamh Whelan senior 60 meters,Sean Whittle junior men's triple jump, Stephen Walsh junior men's 200 meters
Aisling Quinn junior ladies 1500 meters and Tom Boucher senior men in both the shot and triple jump. Bronze medals were won by Siobhan Whelan junior triple jump, Paul Murphy junior men's 400 meters, Pat Kennedy over 55 56lb distance, Stephen Walsh junior men's 60 meters And again Tom Boucher in the senior men's high jump and triple jump Richard Lucas under 23 800 and 1500 meters.
THE GOUGH'S SHOW THE WAY .
It was a great day for the West Waterford AC Gough's at last Sundays Munster indoors at Nenagh stadium. Despite not being related the name Gough certainly was to the fore on the day when Joe Gough set a new Munster record for over 60 800 meters with a time of 2.18.41 and this time was faster that the times recorded on the day for the over 45 and 50 . His namesake Terri Gough took a treble gold in the over 65 200 and 800 meters and shot and added silver in the 60 meters.
WATERFORD AC ELECT COMMITTEE FOR 2014.
At the recent annual general meeting of Waterford AC the following members were elected to the committee for 2014. John Nolan, Frank Quinlan, Keith O'Driscoll, Trevor Walsh, Dave Foley, Brian Cuddihy, Joe Cawley, Pat Giles, Diane Behan, Nichola Hayes, Kieran Leahy, Tony T Keogh, David Murphy and Kieran O Mahony. We wish the committee well for the year ahead. Also presented on the night were awards to the Male athlete of the year who was Tom O'Brien and the female athlete of the year award went to Suzanne Dulligan and a presentation was also made to Trevor Power for the outstanding year that he had, well done to all.
ST.PAULS PARISH 5 MILES.
Another upcoming road race is on Sunday February 2nd with the holding of the Frank Leahy Memorial 5 miles in Waterford City. The race will start at the Park Inn, Lismore Park Waterford at 1 pm and entries will be taken there from 11.30 am.All proceeds from the run will go to St Paul's Parish.
ANNE VALLEY 5.
The Annual Anne Valley 5 miles is fixed for Saturday February 15th at 12 noon in Dunhill.
MUNSTER STAR AWARDS BANQUET SET FOR THE TOWER HOTEL.
The Munster athletics sports star awards banquet will be held this year in the Tower Hotel Waterford on next Saturday January 25th 2014 starting at 8pm. Tickets at 35 euro each can be booked from Deirdre Chapman on 0879983782 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The ticket price includes meal and band plus disco after.
The following from Waterford will be receiving awards on the night
Juvenile Track and Field Siobhan Whelan and Paul Murphy Ferrybank AC,
Senior Tom Boucher Ferrybank AC ,
Juvenile Cross Country Micheal Power West Waterford AC ,
Masters Track and Field Club Waterford AC,
Hall of Fame John Treacy.
MUNSTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS CHANGED.
The dates for the Munster Road Racing championships have been amended. The Masters Road Race will take place on Sunday 16th March in Kilnaboy, Co. Clare.The Munster Novice and Senior Road Race is fixed for Sunday 30th March at a Waterford venue. All athletes taking part need to contact your relevant club secretary's for each of the championships, it's 2 miles for the women and 4 for the men .Please note that no entries will be taken on day of championships events.
INDOORS-UPCOMING FIXTURES.
25th January Saturday AAI Masters AIT Arena Athlone.
26th January Sunday AAI Junior U/23 Indoors. AIT Athlone
15-16th Febuary AAI Saturday and Sunday Senior Indoors. AIT Athlone .
Entries for the above through club secretary's.
EAST MUNSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY.
The East Munster Schools Cross Country will be held in W.I.T. Sports Campus, Carriganore on Thurs Jan 30th with a 12.30 start. The entry forms have been sent to the schools. Competition is always keen in this event as athletes have to qualify for the Munster schools cross country. The first 15 and the first three teams in each race will qualify for the Munster Schools Cross Country which will be held in C.I.T. on Thursday February 13th and the All Ireland will also be Held in C.I.T. on Saturday March 8th.
