Clashmore comeback stuns The Nire - Waterford SFC Round 1

Clashmore pulled off a surprise one point win over reigning county champions and beaten provincial finalists The Nire in the opening round of the Waterford SFC on Friday night.

The 9/2 underdogs trailed by six points after 19 minutes but two goals in three minutes from Jason Seward and Cillian O’Keeffe helped them into a 2-5 to 0-9 half time lead. Clashmore pushed four ahead by the end of the third quarter with Tadhg De Burca, Brian O’Halloran and Paul O’Connor all on target. Their defence held up in a nervy finale as two Brian Wall frees and Conor Gleeson’s third point from play brought The Nire within a single. Clashmore clung on by 2-8 to 0-13.

2013 winners Ballinacourty obliterated Rathgormack by 4-12 to 0-9 on Sunday afternoon. Shane O’Donovan blasted 3-1 and Gary Hurney contributed 1-3 as Courty outmuscled a youthful Rathgormack selection. The joint title favourites led by 2-5 to 0-7 at the break and rattled off 2-3 during a ruthless third quarter. In the curtain raiser at Fraher Field, Clinton Hennessy fired 1-5 as Ardmore retrieved a six point half time deficit to sneak past De La Salle (1-10 to 1-9). Lee Hayes punched to the net on 20 minutes as Salle established a 1-7 to 0-4 advantage at midway. Hennessy's goal three minutes into the second period started the Ardmore recovery.

Fourteen man Stradbally survived a second half fightback from Gaultier to prevail by 3-8 to 2-6 in Kill. David Grey touched home a Ger Power cross to send last year’s runners-up 1-5 to 0-3 clear at half time. Power supplied Stradbally’s second on 36 minutes but the Reds were under pressure when Shane Ahearne was dismissed on two yellow cards. Two goals by JJ Hutchinson brought Gaultier back into contention before John Coffey’s injury time strike settled the outcome. An Rinn grinded out a 1-12 to 1-7 win over St Saviours as Liam Ó Lonáin bagged a second half goal. Donie Breathnach finished as top scorer with eight points.

In the concluding game of the first round, inter county pair Paul Whyte and Joey Veale combined for ten points as Kilrossanty posted a 0-15 to 0-9 success against Brickey Rangers. The green and gold edged the opening half hour by 0-7 to 0-6 and a purple patch of four unanswered points on the restart gave them breathing space.