A ferocious modern rivalry is renewed on Sunday. The last ten county final meetings between these two have produced five wins for Stradbally, four draws and a single win for The Nire in 2006.
2002
Stradbally 3-8 The Nire 2-11
This drawn encounter was described in the Waterford News & Star “as an epic, pulsating battle from first exhilarating minute to last.” Connie Power with 2-5 emerged as the Nire’s outstanding performer on the day levelling the game with a late free.
2002 Replay
Stradbally 0-12 The Nire 0-10
The replay resulted in a much tighter affair. The Reds trailed by two at halfway but hit the front on 41 minutes through John Hearne. Niall Curran, as so often happened, came up with the vital scores shooting eight points (five frees, two from play and one sideline ball).
2004
Stradbally 1-5 The Nire 0-8
A dour contest ended in another stalemate. Alan Lawlor remarkably contributed all eight Nire points. Stradbally moved five points up entering the last quarter with Ger Power finding the net.
2004 Replay
Stradbally 2-8 The Nire 1-4
Niall Curran kicked 1-5 as Stradbally overturned a three point half time deficit. Brian Wall’s goal put The Nire 1-3 to 0-3 in the clear by the midway point. Curran’s goal on the resumption flipped the contest around and Denis Doyle netted five minutes from time.
2005
The Nire 0-6 Stradbally 0-6
In a poor final, Stradbally led at half time by five points to four. It took 27 minutes of the second half for Niall Curran to widen the margin. The Nire nabbed late points through Shane and Martin Walsh to force a replay.
2005 Replay
Stradbally 1-8 The Nire 1-4
The Reds snatched the replay with a late point by Niall Curran swiftly followed by a John Hearne goal. Curran finished on six points for the afternoon. Stradbally had two points to spare at the break but white flags from Alan Lawlor and Shane Walsh wiped that out. 18 minutes followed without a score before Curran and Hearne wrapped up the five in a row.
2006
The Nire 1-5 Stradbally 0-3
By 2006, the Nire had built up a degree of exasperation and returned to meet the challenge head on. That final saw the Reds ultimately run out of steam in a fiery encounter. The Nire, masterminded by Sean Guiry, earned a 1-5 to 0-3 win with Diarmuid Wall grabbing a late goal. Maurice O'Gorman was voted man of the match.
2009
Stradbally 2-5 The Nire 0-9
The Nire registered the first three points but the pre-match favourites were dealt a severe blow when Shane Walsh trudged off after 13 minutes with a shoulder injury. Goals in either half from Eddie Rockett and Robert Ahearne settled it in Stradbally’s favour.
2012
Stradbally 2-2 The Nire 0-8
Seamus Lawlor sent over the equalising point for The Nire with five minutes to go to set up a replay. Both teams served up a hard fought contest played in driving wind and rain throughout. Michael Walsh produced a dominant display at midfield for Stradbally and goals from Robert and Shane Ahearne put them in the driving seat before Lawlor had the last word.
2012 Replay
Stradbally 1-8 The Nire 0-10
David Grey’s injury time point saw Stradbally claim their eighth title in twelve years under the Saturday night lights at Fraher Field. The Nire dominated large parts of the game and held a four point advantage at one stage. Ger Power’s goal with twelve minutes remaining sneaked Stradbally ahead for the first time and even though The Nire equalised, substitute Grey settled a pulsating contest. Michael Walsh was named man of the match after again dictating matters at midfield.
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