WATERFORD RECLAIM MC GRATH CUP
After an absence of some thirty four years the Waterford Senior Footballers captured the McGrath Cup after defeating UCC following a thrilling seventy minutes in Fraher Field Dungarvan on Saturday evening last. Winners of the inaugural trophy in 1981 the Deise had been in the final on just one occasion in the intervening years (2002) where they went down to Clare 2-13 to 2-11. That was the Banner's eleventh win in the competition and they have annexed the Cup once more since that victory. The trophy which was by Corkman Joe McGrath who led Blackrock to All-Ireland success in 1973. History was very much against Waterford going into the competition. However record are made to be broken and this Waterford side under the guidance of Kerryman Tom McGlinchy and his fellow selectors Tony Cporcoran and Ger Power have been making steady progress since the turn of the year. It may be a confined competition for counties and third level colleges in Munster but with the latter in the middle of their Sigerson campaign and counties like Cork and Kerry with enviable record at National level, winning was always going to task a huge effort. Opponents University College Cork are the reigning Sigerson Cup holders and include within their ranks a number of players on the wider panel of both the Cork and Kerry Senior teams. Th majority of ther players are also playing at the highest level with their clubs. That was the challenge facing the Deise.
Pitch conditions in the Old Boro were superb for football and nice to see a huge crowd turn up at the venue in support of both teams.
Direct from throw-in Waterford were on the attack and in less than three minutes they had breached the college defence as corner forward Joey Veale was on hand to snap up a chance and goal. That stirred the college outfit into life and two points from Conor Horgan along with one each from Adrian Spillane and Kevin Davis had the visitors ahead. A foul on Podge Hurney saw the magnificent Shane Ahearne point and this was follolwed by another from Ray O'Ceallaigh 1-2 to 0-4. Adrian Spillane began a move for the college which saw an instant transfer of the ball through to Tom Hickey. The Castleisland Desminds clubman was fouled and as the resultant free was dropped in Con Horgan was on hand to goal. UCC ahead 1-4 to 1-2.
The home side were creating openings but the final pass was not being collected. Podge Hurney added a point for Waterford in the 19th minute and Gavin Nugent levelled a minute later. Waterford fullback Niall Walsh was forced off and was replaced by Conor Phelan. UCC corner forward David Harrington added a point and was just wide with another effort before the college defence was breached once again. Superb attacking play by centreback Maurice O'Gorman saw him make a lungbursting run right through the heart of the college defence and he calmly slipped the ball to the net 2-4 to 1-5. A magnificent point from Nire clubman Liam lawlor having been setup by Conor Phelan was followed by a point from Podge Hurney saw a Waterford advantage of four points 2-6 to 1-5. However in the final miutes Tom Hickey added a brace for UCC to leave the just two between the sides 2-6 to 1-7 as referee Seamus Mulvihill called for the break.
The opening half had been a really good game of football. No doubt Waterford management would have to be delighted with the workrate and skill shown by their charges. The supporters began to believe that maybe we could avange all the years of frustration and bring home some silverware.
Waterford forward Michael Curry was yellow carded right at the start of the secondhalfas Tom Hickey converted to leave the minimum betwenn the sides 2-6 to 1-8. The college went into this game as favourites following some excellent results earlier in the tournament. Would this be the incentive to go on and win. Not on the Waterford hymnsheet. Shane Ahearne converted a free in the 39th minute following a foul on Podge Hurney. The latter delivered a long ball into the UCC goalmouth ten minutes later and Gavin Nugent finished. In the 50th minute Joey Veale rounded his marker and Tommy Prendergast pointed. There was a real enthusiasm in the home attacks. Conor Phelan added a point on 51 minutes. Shane Ahearne added a point from a free and Phelan added another point. Waterford ahead 3-10 to 1-8.. This was stirring stuff from the Deise lads. Unbelieveable as it may sound thirty one minutes after their previous score UCC got their second point of the half from an Adriaqn Spillane free. The final play of a most enjoyable game saw Shane Ahearne point in the dying minute. A most deserved finish from a player who had been absolutely superb throughout. Waterford with a final winning tally of 3-12 to 1-9 had finally reclaimed the McGrath Cup and it will surely bring a huge confidence into the squad as they open their National League account against Wicklow on Saturday next in Fraher Field.
GARDEN COUNTY VISIT
Waterford face Wicklow in their opening round of the National League on Saturday next and it is expected that Tom McGlinchy and his backroom team will keep the same opening fifteen -barring injury- as started last Saturday. Wicklow on the other hand can be a formidable proposition. Their O'Byrne Cup campaign may not have gone as well as some expected although their final outing against Wexford saw the Garden County go down by just four points 2-15 to 2-11 having created a number of chances which went abegging. Under manager Johnny McGee they have put together a nice combination of youth and experience. Not havin the lineout as yet it is expected that Paul Cunningham will man the edge of the square with Stephen Kelly in the pivotal centre back spot. Up front Wicklow possess a number of ever dangerous forwards most notable Darren Hayden, Thomas Kelly, John McGrath and dual player Leighton Glynn. Any semblance of lost concentration and Waterford will be punished. That said the deise in all their games since the turn of the year have seemed a well drilled outfit. No doubt with the same intensity as they have shown in their McGrath Cup games the points are there to be won and I would be most disappointed if it is not a winning start for captain Thomas O'Gorman and his teammates.
CAPPOQUIN BOW OUT
It was bitter disappointment for Waterford Intermediate Hurling champions Cappoquin as they exited the All-Ireland series on Sunday last in Cusack Park Mullingar. Their march to this stage has seen them annex both a domestic and Provincial crown so hopes were high that they would come through against Belfast representatives O'Donovan Rossa. The Cornerstone lads got off to the worst possible start as O'Donovans goaled through Thomas Morgan within ten seconds. A second goal from the same player had the Shaws Road club 2-1 to 0-1 ahead after eight minutes. The Cappoquin point from Shane O'Rourke. The Cappoquin freetaker added a second point midway through the half but it seemed that Cappoquin were playing catchup right up to the break where the Belfast led 2-5 to 0-2. Indeed it could have been worse as goalkeeper gerard Walsh was called upon to make a penalty savew in that opening half. A brace of points from Shane O'Rourke and Stephen Shannon along with a goal from Aaron O'Sullivan early in the second half whittled the lead back to five points 2-7 to 1-5 but they had been dealt a huge blow when Andy Molumby was ordered off for a second bookable offence. Try as they might Cappoquin just could not bridge the lead although Paul Murray added a point O'Donovan Rossa finished stronger with points from Johnny McGuinness and Michael Armstrong. Final score 2-12 to 1-8.
The lads from the Cornerstone will be hugely disappointed this evening and over the next week but they can look back with pride on their achievements of 2014 and will surely make an impact on the senior championship this year.
