JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford SFC Round 3 Predictions

After waiting patiently all summer long, the green light flashes for senior clubs across Waterford to start up their engines once again. For the eight teams that tog out this weekend, it has been three and a half months since their last championship game. May, June and July lay idle but there will be no rest period for the remainder of the season. Four back games in the football championship will be followed by round four next weekend. Round five will be played in mid September following the completion of the group stages in the hurling championship. Kilrossanty are already through to the last eight and Ballinacourty, Stradbally and Clashmore can join them if they collect two more points.

14 August

Stradbally v An Rinn (7.30 at Fraher Field) Group 2
An Rinn won't need any reminding about their last championship encounter with the Reds, a 3-18 to 1-3 hiding in the 2013 semi final. Shorn of several key figures for this third round tie, they may struggle once more. Stradbally laboured to wins against Gaultier and Brickey Rangers but they tend to reserve their energy for this stage of the season. They also hold all the aces around the middle where An Rinn find it difficult to gain primary possession.

Odds: Stradbally 3/10 Draw 15/2 An Rinn 3/1
Prediction: Stradbally

15 August

Clashmore v Ardmore (4.00 at Fraher Field) Group 1
Clashmore are one win away from the quarters but can they recreate a magical April that featured a shock win over reigning champions The Nire? They seem well balanced and are not reliant on one particular individual for scores. Ardmore's midfield pairing of Seamus Keating and David Gartland will put it up to them. After escaping the drop via the relegation play-off in 2014, Ardmore appeared re-energised in their comeback win against De La Salle and the narrow four point loss to The Nire.

Odds: Clashmore 4/11 Draw 15/2 Ardmore 5/2
Prediction: Clashmore

Ballinacourty v The Nire (5.30 at Fraher Field) Group 1
The current holders against the favourites to take their crown. This could be tasty. The Nire need the points more following their first round slip-up yet this is an ideal opportunity for Ballinacourty to set out their stall. They pumped in 8-24 over the opening two rounds with Shane O'Donovan contributing 4-3 from play. Courty possess the strongest squad on paper of all the Conway Cup candidates with a minor Division 1 already secured along with an appearance in the under 21 final. The champions should look sharper than they did during the spring. They relied heavily on the point taking of Conor Gleeson to dispatch Ardmore in round two. This game also doubles up as the Phelan Cup final.

Odds: Ballinacourty 4/5 Draw 13/2 The Nire 5/4
Prediction: Ballinacourty

Rathgormack v De La Salle (7.30 at St Mollerans) Group 1
Two teams with no points on the board and plenty to work on over the lengthy break. Rathgormack submitted tamely to Ballinacourty and Clashmore and will expect more from their under 21 stars for the rest of the championship. De La Salle lost their way in the second half against Ardmore and folded completely a week later to Ballinacourty. With Gavin Nugent, Conor Murray, Jason Gleeson and the Currys on board, Rathgormack's superior firepower gets the vote.

Odds: Rathgormack 2/5 Draw 15/2 De La Salle 9/4
Prediction: Rathgormack

Caught in a cat trap - Waterford v Kilkenny championship ties

Kilkenny 4-10 Waterford 3-12 All Ireland final (1957)
After emerging from Munster for only the third time, Kilkenny stood in Waterford’s path on All Ireland final day. In their first championship meeting, it went to the wire before 70,594 fans. Captain Phil Grimes shot home from a 21 metre free to establish a 1-6 to 1-5 lead at the halfway stage. A pair of goals from Donal Whelan widened the gap to six in the second half. Kilkenny reeled them in during the final quarter however with Mickey Kelly and Billy Dwyer striking two goals each.

Waterford 1-17 Kilkenny 5-5 All Ireland final (1959)
A deflected shot from Seamus Power sent this All Ireland final to a replay. The unerring Frankie Walsh gave Waterford a five point cushion at the interval (0-9 to 1-1). The pendulum swung wildly one way and the other during the second half. Walsh and Tom Cheasty kept tagging on the points but four Kilkenny goals handed them the initiative and a three point lead. Power’s late intervention served up an encore.

Waterford 3-12 Kilkenny 1-10 All Ireland final replay (1959) 
On the first Sunday in October, 77,285 witnessed Waterford’s march to ultimate glory for the second time. It didn’t start so smoothly however. A Denis Heaslip goal put Kilkenny 1-4 to 0-1 in the clear early on. Waterford issued an emphatic response and the damage was repaired by half time. Mick Flannelly’s goal was timely and a Tom Cheasty strike followed swiftly. A second from Flannelly left them 3-5 to 1-8 ahead at the break. Kilkenny’s confidence took a hit and they didn’t register for the last fifteen minutes of the contest. Waterford kicked on and captain Frankie Walsh claimed eight points in all to close out a resounding victory.

Kilkenny 4-17 Waterford 6-8 All Ireland final (1963)
Six goals in an All Ireland final and no Liam McCarthy cup to show up for it. It never happened before or since. A Seamus Power hat trick, two from Mick Flannelly and one from Phil Grimes wasn’t enough for the Déise. They trailed by seven at the midway point (3-6 to 1-5) but five second half majors narrowed the arrears to two in the closing stages. Fourteen points off the stick of Eddie Keher along with two goals apiece by Tom Walsh and Tom Murphy got Kilkenny across the line

Kilkenny 1-11 Waterford 1-10 All Ireland semi final (1998)
Another one point defeat to the Cats and another bitter pill to swallow. “It was a huge missed opportunity,” reflected selector Shane Ahearne. “It’s only as the years go on that you realise, more so than at the time, how much of an opportunity it was to get Waterford on the road to All Ireland finals and maybe winning them even.” The name of Niall Moloney will remain forever engrained in Déise minds as his fortuitous goal tipped an uninspiring All Ireland semi final. On 40 minutes, DJ Carey mishit his free and it broke nicely for the substitute who pulled first time. The sliotar dribbled low into the corner beyond the dive of Brendan Landers. Tony Browne followed up Paul Flynn’s close in free to give Waterford a glimmer. They battered down the door but the Black and Amber advanced from a low scoring tussle in unconvincing fashion. A fiery performance from corner back Willie O’Connor was one of the few highlights.

Kilkenny 3-12 Waterford 0-18 All Ireland semi final (2004)
For this All Ireland semi final, Kilkenny were in action for the third week running while Waterford had stayed in cold storage for six weeks. “It was a massive display of guts and character,” commented Brian Cody after they withstood a late Waterford charge. Justin McCarthy shook things up after the Munster final as Ian O’Regan and Shane O’Sullivan were called into the championship cauldron. On a damp afternoon at GAA HQ, three first half goals sustained the Cats. Henry Shefflin nipped in for two and Eddie Brennan grabbed the other as the slippy conditions unsettled the Déise defence. In the absence of the suspended John Mullane and with four of the starting forwards held scoreless, Paul Flynn blasted a whopping thirteen point total. He confirmed his All Star status with four from play and punished any indiscretions over the dead ball. The Cats tired visibly towards the finish and Flynn drove Waterford forward. Jack Kennedy nabbed three points on his arrival but crucially, Kilkenny kept a clean sheet and survived.

Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13 All Ireland final (2008)
On September 7, a Kilkenny earthquake struck at Croke Park. “It was the complete display,” stated Cody. “They were totally focused and hurled at a very serious level from the first to the final whistle. I couldn’t ask for more from them.” After repairing their reputation and winning four bouts through the backdoor, Davy Fitzgerald's men were floored by the three in a row chasing Cats and cast seventeen adrift by the break. Eddie Brennan belted 2-4 and hurler of the year Eoin Larkin lashed in the third goal. It took Waterford 46 minutes to score from play through John Mullane. The Sunday Game bizarrely decided to mark Kilkenny’s achievement by awarding Brian Cody the man of the match award.

Kilkenny 2-23 Waterford 3-15 All Ireland semi final (2009)
Another heavy defeat loomed large beforehand but Waterford played their part in a high scoring semi final. Full forward Shane Walsh scored two goals on his Croke Park debut against JJ Delaney and Eoin Kelly netted one. Kilkenny absorbed those blows and kept a comfortable distance. The Waterford full back line leaked scores and Henry Shefflin mopped up with 1-14, including 1-6 from play. A spectacular stop from PJ Ryan near the end also helped them towards the decider. Davy Fitzgerald wasn’t best pleased with referee Barry Kelly in the aftermath. “I’m not going to criticise the ref but I’m not happy with him. He wasn’t the reason we lost. I’m not blaming him. But they have to ref the game. That’s important. I’ll probably get lacerated but I don’t give a s***. Can I make a point to the referee? If I tried, I’d probably get three months but you’d like to ask questions.”

Kilkenny 2-19 Waterford 1-16 All Ireland semi final (2011)
After 18 championship games at the helm, this was Davy Fitzgerald’s last stand as Waterford boss. The Déise regrouped after the Munster final debacle to reach the final four and they battled to the death, spearheaded by John Mullane, “A lot of people were expecting maybe another massacre today," Fitzgerald said. “It didn’t happen. We’re sorry to disappoint some people. I’m very proud of the guys. Where we were four weeks ago wasn’t easy when I had to face all ye guys and for the lads to pick themselves up the way they did, it showed unbelievable character.” Kilkenny threatened to steam ahead at different points but another annihilation never materialised. Richie Hogan’s goal three minutes in spelt trouble and, with a couple of tidy touches, he flicked home a second before the break. They led by six at half time and that stretched to ten during the second period. Alternating between centre forward and corner forward, Mullane went in hot pursuit. He chased it right to the finish and scored 1-6 from play in the process.

Kilkenny 1-22 Waterford 2-16 All Ireland qualifier (2013)
“It was like the Colosseum out there with the way Waterford came back into it. That’s what championship is all about.” The reaction of Tommy Walsh following this ninety minute marathon that finished up close to ten o'clock. Richie Power's goal split the sides at half time (1-6 to 0-6) before captain Kevin Moran rescued his team with two superhuman efforts from wing back. “It was an unbelievably hot evening,” Moran recalled. “A lot of lads just ran out of steam on the day. We really came on as a team in the last ten or fifteen minutes. It was just unfortunate that we didn’t get over the line.” The sides were deadlocked at 1-12 to 0-15 by the end of normal time. Richie Hogan carried the Cats through with four singles over the additional twenty minutes . Goals by Ray Barry (1-3) and Jake Dillon (1-2) levelled the tie with two minutes remaining but Colin Fennelly, Matthew Ruth and Aidan Fogarty delivered late, late points. Waterford ran out of bodies by the end and Michael Ryan made eight substitutions on the night.

JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford SHC Round 3 Predictions

23 May

Ballygunner v De La Salle (7.30 at Walsh Park)
After collecting one point from two games, De La Salle have very little wriggle room. Fourteen wides cost them in a thriller with Abbeyside last time out. Kevin Moran started up front in the early rounds and moving him back to midfield may prove a worthwhile adjustment. Ballygunner haven't been extended so far yet sit comfortably on top of the table. Stephen Power filled the void left by Pauric Mahony as he struck 1-7 against Fourmilewater. In this first meeting since the 2013 quarter final, Salle's greater need may make the difference.

Odds: Ballygunner 4/6 Draw 8/1 De La Salle 11/8
Prediction: De La Salle

Fourmilewater v Ballyduff Upper (7.30 at Fraher Field)
A season-defining game for these two winless teams. Soft goals have done the damage for Ballyduff Upper so far. They competed well against Tallow until their neighbours pulled clear in the final quarter. Fourmile's encouraging start against Ballygunner fizzled out as they missed twelve scoring chances. Conor Gleeson scored 1-2 off  Barry Coughlan and will test the Ballyduff full back line for pace. If Fourmile can find the optimum position for Jamie Barron, they can get their campaign back on track.

Odds: Fourmilewater 2/5 Draw 10/1 Ballyduff Upper 2/1
Prediction: Fourmilewater

Abbeyside v Tallow (7.30 at Lismore)
Another win will be sufficient for either side to progress to the quarters following unbeaten starts to the championship. Tallow will stand up to Abbeyside's physical power but the Villagers may possess greater scoring potential. The 2-17 to 0-20 win over De La Salle proved that the 2008 runners-up can be regarded as legitimate candidates for the News & Star trophy. Sean Daly, Conor Prunty and Stephen Cliffe have all been huge additions to Seanie O'Brien's side.

Odds:  Abbeyside 4/11 Draw 10/1 Tallow 9/4

Prediction: Abbeyside

Waterford’s All Ireland football qualifier woes 2001-2014

2001 at Fraher Field
Carlow 3-11 Waterford 1-10

2002 at Fraher Field
Roscommon 3-19 Waterford 3-11

2003 at Walsh Park
Armagh 2-21 Waterford 0-8

2004 at Pearse Park
Longford 1-14 Waterford 1-5

2005 at Drogheda
Louth 1-12 Waterford 1-8

2006 at Walsh Park
Longford 1-16 Waterford 1-9

2009 at Pairc Tailteann
Meath 1-20 Waterford 0-8

2010 at O’Connor Park
Offaly 0-15 Waterford 0-10

2011 at Ruislip
Waterford 1-17 London 0-13

2011 at Gaelic Grounds
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-9

2012 at Aughrim
Wicklow 1-17 Waterford 0-15 (AET)

2013 at Pearse Stadium
Galway 1-12 Waterford 0-14

2014 at Dr Cullen Park
Carlow 0-17 Waterford 1-13

JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford SHC Round 3 Predictions

19 May

Lismore v Passage (8.00 at Fraher Field)
Lismore lost out in two one-score games last month and another defeat would plunge them into relegation difficulty. They led by eight points against Cappoquin but that early confidence waned when Maurice Shanahan left the field. John Prendergast has been a real find at wing forward and scored 0-5 from play over the two games. A rejuvenated Passage side can progress to the quarters following earlier wins over Roanmore and Dungarvan. In contrast to their opponents, they always fancy themselves in tight finishes. This promises to be an open contest but Lismore should be highly motivated and the Maurice factor may drag them across the line.

Odds: Passage 4/6 Draw 8/1 Lismore 11/8
Prediction: Lismore

21 May

Roanmore v Cappoquin (2.00 at Fraher Field)
Boosted by a first win over rivals Mount Sion since 1990, Roanmore have a quarter final berth in their sights. Billy Nolan is top scorer in this year’s championship with 1-16 and Cappoquin cannot afford to concede unnecessary frees. Ger Manley’s side made a miraculous recovery from their 23 point mauling against Mount Sion to pip neighbours Lismore in round two. They will aim to use the speed of Aaron O’Sullivan and Andy Molumby up front to unlock a stubborn Roanmore back line. The Sky Blues are an organised outfit and if this turns into a low scoring contest, they can move a step nearer to their goal.

Odds: Roanmore 1/4 Draw 11/1 Cappoquin 3/1
Prediction: Roanmore

Dungarvan v Mount Sion (3.30 at Fraher Field)
Two teams looking to rebound following second round setbacks. Ryan Donnelly’s return will boost Dungarvan and he showed well during the first half of Wednesday’s under 21 win. Mount Sion decided to change their attacking configuration for the Roanmore game as Austin Gleeson reverted to centre back. It seemed to upset their fluency and they only returned five points from play. They must also improve their discipline as Billy Nolan banged over ten frees. James O'Connor's Blues play a slick possession game and their formidable forward division should allow them to bounce back.

Odds: Dungarvan 4/5 Draw 8/1 Mount Sion 6/5

Prediction: Dungarvan

Waterford Under 21 hurling away trips to Cork

Waterford have never beaten Cork in their own backyard at under 21 level. Cork have recorded eight straight wins including a 25 point thumping in 1998 when Joe Deane scored 3-4. In 1992, Tony Mansfield, Joey Carton and Peter Power masterminded Waterford's one and only win over the Rebels at Walsh Park. With thirteen senior panelists selected on the starting fifteen for this latest meeting, the away side are rated as 2/9 favourites to end that particular hoodoo.

2010 Quarter Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 1-16 Waterford 1-3

2006 Semi Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 3-17 Waterford 2-12

2004 Semi Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 0-17 Waterford 1-8

1998 Semi Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 6-16 Waterford 0-9

1991 Semi Final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 3-12 Waterford 0-13

1983 Quarter Final Replay at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 1-14 Waterford 1-10

1982 Semi Final at Youghal
Cork 3-12 Waterford 1-13

1966 Semi Final at Fermoy
Cork 6-10 Waterford 1-2

Waterford v Cork classic selection (2002-2010)

Between 2002 and 2010, Waterford and Cork engaged in championship combat on eleven occasions. Five wins for Waterford, four to Cork, two draws, 42 goals and over a half a million spectators.

1. Donal Óg Cusack
Appearances: 10
Goals conceded: 19
Unforgettably stretched a stick to deny Ken McGrath in the 2006 semi final but his overall handling and control of the square on that slippy Sunday earned the man of the match prize. He sat out the 2007 provincial semi final after pre-match altercations with Clare led to the Semplegate suspensions. He won’t reflect too fondly on the goals that Tony Browne (Munster semi final 2002) and Dan Shanahan (Munster final 2010) managed to slip past him.

2. Eoin Murphy
Appearances: 11
An understated member of the wonder years and his duel with Joe Deane always proved a well-matched pairing. The battle of the gold helmets. On his way to winning an All Star in 2006, he held Deane scoreless from play during the All Ireland semi final. His clearance two minutes from time in 2004 found the paw of Seamus Prendergast to score and grant the fourteen men breathing space.

3. Diarmuid O’Sullivan
Appearances: 8
A 6 foot 1 inch obstacle known as ‘the Rock’ always stood loud and proud to guard the gates in front of Cusack’s castle. He danced with Dan Shanahan, Seamus Prendergast and Paul Flynn in dust-ups at the perimeter of the square. Subdued days also arrived. He only lasted 15 minutes in 2003 due to illness and an early roasting from John Mullane. The four time All Star claimed back to back awards in 2004 and 2005. He handled Flynn in the Croker quarter final of 2005 and his man was substituted.

4. Brian Murphy
Appearances: 9
Scores: 0-1
His tangles with John Mullane bubbled over in 2004. “It had been building. Brian wouldn’t be the quietest of characters and John wouldn’t be the quietest of characters,” is how Diarmuid O’Sullivan described the dispute. The number four from Bride Rovers tied up his marker in 2005 and gained an edge. Mullane only mustered one point in two meetings that year. He scored his solitary championship point from 65 metres with seven minutes remaining of the drawn 2010 Munster final.

5. Tony Browne
Appearances: 11
Scores: 2-4
Timmy McCarthy, Neil Ronan and Pa Cronin all crossed his path but with little success. An ever present over the eleven games, he interjected with scores on five occasions from half back. In 2010, he turned up at opportune moments. “It’s a long time, eight years, to wait to score a goal,” he said after forcing the draw. “When Eoin’s drive was stopped the ball hopped up nicely for me and I just took a swipe.” A calming free and head first block during extra time of the replay added another layer of drama to that tension-filled Saturday night.

6. Ken McGrath
Appearances: 11
Scores: 0-10
The last leap to fetch above Diarmuid O’Sullivan and the hundred yard point are engraved in the Munster final story of 2004. While backpedalling in 2007, he also picked the sliotar out of the tree. A spectacular playlist but Ken also performed the mundane duties of a centre back. He kept Niall McCarthy scoreless on three huge championship Sundays. Ken always stayed at the hub of the action. He got every last iota out of the free on 73 minutes to earn a semi final rerun. Injuries also encouraged pre-match debate. After damaging his shoulder against Dublin, he was listed at the bottom of the substitutes’ list for the 2002 Munster semi final. He was summoned after 25 minutes and swung over two points in the rain, including an injury time clincher. Three years later, Justin McCarthy named two An Others on the programme but McGrath (wearing number 17) lined out.

7. Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
Appearances: 9
Scores: 0-4
Seán Óg quietened Dan Shanahan in the 2004 Munster final after switching with John Gardiner. He rifled over his first point in championship hurling during the second half of the 2005 All Ireland quarter final. It levelled that particular match and he enjoyed a destructive afternoon on Eoin Kelly. Scoring was a secondary concern but he amazingly added three more in subsequent meetings.

8. Eoin Kelly
Appearances: 11
Scores: 4-44
Kelly averaged five points per game as he tended to rise for championship collisions with Cork. As captain, he received man of the match for six fireworks in 37 minutes during the 2005 Munster semi final. He eluded Seán Óg Ó hAilpín to strike five by half time. He motored down the wing in 2004, stabbed home from close range in the 2006 All Ireland semi and clinched the 2007 provincial semi final by lofting the sliotar past Anthony Nash in an eight goal epic. He outwrestled Shane O’Neill and launched a rocket to revive Waterford’s ailing challenge in 2010.

9. Jerry O’Connor

Appearances: 10
Scores: 0-12
A toss between Tom and Jerry for the second midfield slot. Their engines rarely died. In 2005, the Newtownshandrum speedster got his hands on the Hurler of Year award. They tackled Waterford twice that summer. In the Munster semi final, he scored two points and raised the temperature for the second half to overturn an interval deficit. For the quarter final rematch, he managed one and launched the delivery for Brian Corcoran’s famous drop shot.

10. Ben O’Connor
Appearances: 11
Scores: 2-51
Like Eoin Kelly, Ben O’Connor also scored consistently in this fixture. If a game got stuffy, the black helmet was discarded. He minded long range matters. The 2006 semi final marked a rare blank Sunday for Ben. He saved some of his best work for lost causes. He nailed nine points when Waterford finally knocked Cork out of the ball park in 2007. 2-10 split evenly over both Munster finals in 2010, including that low flying, Paul Flynn influenced free, couldn’t deliver provincial silverware.

11. Seamus Prendergast
Appearances: 11
Scores: 0-11
Arguably, his finest seventy in a Déise jersey arrived when he skinned Ronan Curran for four points (all from awkward angles with a high degree of difficulty) during the 2005 quarter final at Headquarters. John Allen withdrew his centre back before the end. Arriving from the bench with number nineteen on his back, he supplied John Mullane’s hat trick strike in 2003. He also rounded off that game turning move in the 2004 Munster final when the ball was worked up the field to give Waterford a two point gap.

12. Dan Shanahan
Appearances: 10
Scores: 9-9
In seven of his ten appearances against the red shirt, Dan defied Donal Óg. He did the bulk of the damage in 2007 with five in three games including his fantastic first in the drawn quarter final that he took confidently in his stride and angled across Cusack to the far corner. An often forgotten offering of 1-3 during the first half of the 2004 final kept tabs on a Cork train that threatened to run away. He also won the famous free off Seán Óg which still appears rather dubious! Add the swansong in 2010 which Ger Loughnane labelled in the makeshift studio. “If there is ever a film made about this, it could well be entitled ‘The Legend of Dan the Man.’”

13. John Mullane
Appearances: 11
Scores: 4-24
Another constant character to this eleven part boxset. An extraordinary hat trick off his left side in 2003 followed by an early shower 38 minutes into the 2004 episode marked a couple of early blockbuster offerings. He was tied up to just the bare minimum by Brian Murphy in the two 2005 games. He made up for that shortfall with four points in the 2006 semi final and a man of the match return of 1-4 a year later in the craziest of Munster matches. He hit seven of jaw dropping quality from the flanks over the 2010 draw and replay. He nearly had to be restrained from re-entering the fray during extra time.

14. Paul Flynn
Appearances: 9
Scores: 4-40
Flynn’s daredevil act is just over ten years old. “It was a chance to nothing. If I didn’t hit it and it didn’t dip, it would go over and if it did dip, it might have a chance of going in.” That much celebrated 1-7 casts a shadow over other significant inputs against the Rebels. He shot a dozen in that important leap at the semi final fence two years previous. He scored goals in both the Munster semi final and drawn quarter final of 2007. When he lost Diarmuid O’Sullivan in 2005, a perfect connection whipped the sliotar over Donal Óg Cusack. In 2003, he teed up Mullane’s second with a piece of quick thinking that caught Cork cold.

15. Joe Deane
Appearances: 9
Scores: 2-41
In the 2003 Munster final, he escaped from Brian Greene when a ball was floated over which he collected, shortened and finished. “The Deano has got it!” exclaimed Cyril Farrell in commentary. He did his bit the following year to stop the force of fourteen men. The 5 foot 7 inch Killeagh stickman weaved three from play. Eoin Murphy managed to silence him on a couple of occasions but he let loose on others. He snapped a goal in the 2005 Munster final to instantly punish a defensive slip. The following year, he flicked the hand pass for Cathal Naughton to strike.