Title contenders claim routine wins - SFC Round 2 in brief

In the second round of the Waterford SFC, the main championship contenders Stradbally, The Nire and Ballinacourty all showed a strong hand as they recorded comfortable wins over the weekend. Once again, the fare lacked cut and thrust. Three games were settled by double figures and many of the contests were low on intensity and quality. The tie of round was at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon where Clashmore earned a narrow win over Kilrossanty

Title favourites Stradbally, who are chasing their fourth championship crown in five years, gave a strong first half showing to see off St Saviours by 3-17 to 1-10 on Saturday night. Two goals from Robert Ahearne set them on their way and then Ahearne turned provider for Ger Power to fist to the net which put them 3-9 to 0-7 clear at the midway mark. Saviours gave a spirited display and Shaun Corcoran slotted a late penalty to give the scoreboard a measure of respectability.

Ballinacourty also collected their second win of the campaign as they easily accounted for Rathgormack by 2-15 to 0-7. Mark Ferncombe’s first half penalty gave them a 1-5 to 0-5 cushion at the break. Courty ran riot in the second period and Ferncombe bagged his second major ten minutes from time as he finished with 2-3 to his credit.

On Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field, The Nire dispatched Ballinameela by 1-16 to 0-6. Liam Lawlor stood out at full forward with five points and he set up Brian Wall for a goal with ten minutes remaining to make it two wins from two. In the second game of the double bill, Clashmore’s first half efforts swatted away Kilrossanty. Sean Fleming blasted home a brace of goals as they raced into a 2-5 to 0-3 interval lead. Joey Veale kicked seven points to keep Kilrossanty in contention and Paul Whyte walloped home an unstoppable shot on 55 minutes to leave them only two adrift. Clashmore clung on however to claim a 2-9 to 1-8 win.

It finished honours even between Gaultier and Ardmore in Stradbally. Gaultier slumped to a seventeen point defeat in round one but two goals from JJ Hutchinson and one from Rory Walsh propelled them into a four point lead with four minutes left. Ardmore reeled them in down the stretch and Seamus Keating snatched an equaliser with a brilliant free. In the concluding game of the weekend, An Rinn took care of Brickey Rangers by 0-11 to 1-6 in a dour struggle at Fraher Field. Conor McGrath’s goal gave the Brickeys hope late on but a Donie Breathnach inspired Gaeltacht side squirmed out of trouble.