JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford SFC Draw 2015

Group 1

 

Round 1 Week Ending April 12
Clashmore v The Nire
Ballinacourty v Rathgormack
De La Salle v Ardmore

Round 2 Week Ending April 19
The Nire v Ardmore
Clashmore v Rathgormack
De La Salle v Ballinacourty

Round 3 Week Ending June 28
The Nire v Ballinacourty
Clashmore v Ardmore
De La Salle v Rathgormack

Round 4 Late July/Early August
Rathgormack v The Nire
Ardmore v Ballinacourty
De La Salle v Clashmore

Round 5 Week Ending August 30
The Nire v De La Salle
Ballinacourty v Clashmore
Rathgormack v Ardmore

 

Group 2

 

Round 1 Week Ending April 12
Gaultier v Stradbally
An Rinn v St Saviours
Kilrossanty v Brickey Rangers

Round 2 Week Ending April 19
Stradbally v Brickey Rangers
Gaultier v St Saviours
Kilrossanty v An Rinn

Round 3 Week Ending June 28
Stradbally v An Rinn
Gaultier v Brickey Rangers
Kilrossanty v St Saviours

Round 4 Late July/Early August
St Saviours v Stradbally
Brickey Rangers v An Rinn
Kilrossanty v Gaultier

Round 5 Week Ending August 30
Stradbally v Kilrossanty
An Rinn v Gaultier
St Saviours v Brickey Rangers

Quarter Finals - Mid September

Semi Finals - Week Ending September 27

Final - October 18

1981 McGrath Cup Final - Waterford 5-2 Clare 2-7

Dungarvan Leader June 26 1981

Second half spurt sinks the students – Waterford 2-21 WIT 1-14

On a chilly Tuesday night at Carriganore, Waterford overwhelmed WIT with a second half push and maintained their winning momentum. Goals in either half from Thomas Connors and Shane Bennett helped the county team to an easy win.

Derek McGrath offered an opportunity to those who didn’t feature in the win against LIT. Only Pa Walsh and Thomas Connors remained from the chosen fifteen last Sunday. 27 players appeared in white and blue. Add in Austin Gleeson, Martin O’Neill, Pauric Mahony, Gavin O’Brien and Jake Dillon who togged out for WIT and management had a look at 32 panel members in total. Tadhg De Burca, Jamie Barron and Thomas Connors were best of the first half selection while Donie Breathnach (seven points), Shane Bennett (1-1) and Michael Kearney (three points) caused danger on their introductions. Waterford carved up the opposition defence in the second half but, similar to Sunday’s game against LIT, the end product was lacking. Bennett and Kearney should have added to the goal column. For WIT, Pauric Mahony (six points) and Liam McGrath (1-2) proved difficult to handle.

It was so cold that many of the thirty or so spectators vacated their spots before the game finished up. With no umpires present, scores were determined by whether referee Tommy O’Sullivan scribbled in his notebook. The Cappoquin/Affane official kept a close eye on proceedings and correctly produced a yellow card for a WIT defender in the second half.

WIT held a 1-10 to 1-9 halfway advantage. On 11 minutes, Pa Walsh’s long distance point attempt landed around the goalmouth and Thomas Connors scrambled home (1-2 to 0-2). The students responded with three points in a row from Harry Kehoe, Pauric Mahony and Martin O’Neill. Tadhg De Burca steered the play from number six and set up Jamie Barron before Mahony equalised for the fourth time. Points through Barron, Tommy Waring and Eamonn Power opened up a 1-6 to 0-6 lead for Waterford. On 21 minutes, the alert Liam McGrath blocked down De Burca and Stephen O’Keeffe could only look on as the sliotar hit the top corner of the net. O’Keeffe stopped Jake Dillon a minute later with an excellent near post save. WIT’s two man full forward line exposed alarming gaps in the Déise defence. Pauric Mahony added three points along with one from Johnny Hayes before the break.

Both camps turned to their substitutes for the second half. Liam McGrath and Harry Kehoe swiftly widened WIT’s margin to three. Colm Bonnar gradually removed their main men from the action however and Waterford capitalised. They struck for eight points on the spin. Shane Bennett almost set up Donie Breathnach for a goal but Richie Walsh tipped his fierce drive over the bar. Eoin Madigan’s turnover allowed Michael Kearney to nose Waterford ahead (1-13 to 1-12). A Breathnach brace and one apiece from Kearney and corner back Shane McNulty established a five point breakaway. Jake Dillon pulled one back for WIT but Waterford threatened a goal at the other. Bennett ran a direct line and took a nasty blow before Walsh diverted Michael Kearney’s shot away for a 65.

With seven minutes left, Michael Walsh unselfishly hand passed to Bennett and he rifled in. A slick hand passing move nearly led to another for the Ballysaggart man but he fumbled Michael Kearney’s pass. Donie Breathnach pinned down a ten point win with two frees and two 65s. After the final whistle, the Waterford players held an extensive warm down behind the goal.

Management will again be happy with how the new members are fitting in. The team also worked the ball smartly throughout. Their finishing still needs a bit of polishing but plenty of goal chances are coming their way. The back line seemed a little uncomfortable when WIT pulled their men out the field and left just two attackers inside.

Scorers for Waterford: D Breathnach 0-7 (3fs, 2 65s); J Barron 0-5 (4fs); S Bennett (1f), T Connors 1-1 each; M Kearney 0-3 (1f); T Waring, S McNulty, DJ Foran, E Power 0-1 each.

Scorers for WIT: P Mahony 0-6 (3fs, 1 65’); L McGrath 1-2; H Kehoe 0-2; J Hayes, R Cunningham, J Dillon, M O’Neill 0-1 each.

Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S McNulty, M Flynn, S Roche; M Harney, T De Burca, M O’Brien; P Walsh, J Barron; T Devine, C Curran, E Power; T Waring, DJ Foran, T Connors.

Subs used: I O’Regan, S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors, K Moran, M Walsh, S O’Sullivan, D Breathnach, S Bennett, M Kearney, E Madigan, B O’Halloran.

WIT: R Walsh; G Teehan, J O’Dwyer, J Maher; T Fox, A Gleeson, P Gahan; M O’Neill, J Langton; H Kehoe, P Mahony, G O’Brien; L McGrath, J Dillon, J Hayes.

Subs used: K O’Brien, E Ryan, D Murphy, T Kavanagh, P Campion, P O’Flynn, R Cunningham, S O’Neill, B Byrne, S Ryan, P Maher, B Whelan.

Referee: T O’Sullivan

Waterford's Crystal Cup Record 2006-2014

2006 Preliminary Round
Limerick 1-18 Waterford 1-9

2007 Quarter Final
Waterford 2-14 LIT 1-16

2007 Semi Final
Cork 0-16 Waterford 2-9

2008 Semi Final
Waterford 3-12 LIT 2-13

2008 Final
Tipperary 3-13 Waterford 0-13

2009 Quarter Final
Tipperary 0-14 Waterford 1-9

2010 Preliminary Round
Waterford 1-26 CIT 1-11

2010 Quarter Final
Waterford 2-13 IT Tralee 3-5

2010 Semi Final
Waterford 1-17 Clare 0-8

2010 Final
Waterford 1-9 UCC 0-11

2011 Quarter Final
Waterford 1-12 CIT 0-11

2011 Semi Final
Waterford 2-19 Clare 2-18

2011 Final
Waterford 0-21 Cork 0-16

2012 Quarter Final
Waterford 3-19 UCC 1-19

2012 Semi Final
Clare 3-17 Waterford 4-9

2013 Preliminary Round
UL 1-20 Waterford 0-18

2014 Preliminary Round
UL 1-11 Waterford 0-10

Modeligo assigned to unique overseas mission

On Saturday afternoon at Páirc na hÉireann in Birmingham, Modeligo will encounter an obstacle that no Waterford side has faced before according to club treasurer John Fitzgerald. “As far as I know, we are the first Waterford club ever to play a championship match outside the country. I have no memory of any other team ever doing that.”

A unique set of circumstances requires plenty of planning. An early throw in time means that the team will be flying out to Birmingham the night before. “We are travelling by coach to Dublin and we are flying at six o’clock on Friday evening. We will get into Birmingham around seven and we are staying overnight in a hotel.”

The travel and the break from the regular pre-match rhythm worries him slightly. “It’s going to be a big one particularly when you are breaking routine, going into a new environment, travelling by coach, flying and staying in a hotel. Our concern is that may impact on the lads in terms of breaking their routine. In terms of how they are playing and preparations, they are doing fine.”

A thirteen point trouncing of Castlemartyr dragged them into the conversation for All Ireland honours. They didn’t sit back over the Christmas period. After the Munster final win sank in, it was back down to business as Fitzgerald explains. “The lads took two weeks after the Munster final and then started to ease themselves back into it. They did a couple of sessions and they will have three challenge matches under their belt as well.”

Manchester opponents Fullen Gaels have won five All Britain championships in a row and have been close to making an All Ireland breakthrough over recent seasons, troubling Thomastown and Creggan Kickhams. “They were over here playing a challenge match over the Christmas but to be honest we know very little about them. They reached the All Ireland final in 2013 and they ran Thomastown to three points so they are going to be a serious opposition.”
The green and white supporters took over Mallow last month and they will follow their side across the water on Saturday. “There is a lot of supporters going but the club has focussed on getting the squad and the backroom team in and out of the UK. Everyone else is looking after themselves. There is a lot of interest locally and there is a lot of people travelling.”

Founded in 1977, games hardly come any bigger for the tiny west Waterford club. “We are a fifty member club. The reality of how small the place is, there is only 87 children in the national school. It is a very small catchment area. We have just got a once in a lifetime group of lads together who are hurling together at the right time and they are all of a good age. It’s just happened for us and it may never happen again.”

A win of any description will make for a relaxed return journey.

Déise trialists stand out in cosy win - Waterford 2-23 UL 1-17

At a freezing and windswept Mallow on Tuesday night, a barely recognisable Waterford adjusted to the conditions and kicked on in the second half to win comfortably against Brian Lohan’s UL.

It took a little time and a little help to identify the fifteen in white and blue. The selection included a mere six players with previous championship experience but they bedded down straight away. Despite facing a furious breeze, they made a good fist of the first half. John Morrissey, Mark O’Brien, Cormac Curran, DJ Foran and Tommy Waring did their chances no harm here. Donie Breathnach provided energy from midfield during the first half in particular.

Derek McGrath looked at 26 players across the sixty minutes and fourteen of them scored. He brought on the big names for the second half. The contributions of Austin Gleeson, Brian O’Halloran, Kevin Moran and Jake Dillon allowed Waterford move well clear by the finish. Michael Kearney and Pauric Mahony tucked away their goals but it could have been more as Foran and Dillon were denied at point blank range by UL goalkeeper Paul Maher. The number one had a fine game for the students with Jason Forde, John McGrath and Tommy Heffernan also keeping the inter county team occupied.

Waterford fizzed the ball around in the warm-up which was steered by Fintan O’Connor and Fergal O’Brien. The students arrived in dribs and drabs and were just about able to cobble together a starting fifteen. A dozen or so spectators dotted across the top of the stand were well wrapped up. Some even brought a cup of coffee with them for warmth. The mood seemed relaxed. Two umpires were persuaded to provide signals at either end. A heavy shower swept in prior to throw in but the rain eased as the game started. The Waterford subs jogged away to do some work on another pitch behind one of the goals.

Donie Breathnach was very prominent during the first half and he could have made more of an impact on the scoreboard. Shooting proved tricky into the wind however and Maher was kept busy collecting sliotars underneath his crossbar. They hit an infuriating six shots short into the netminder. Add in four wides and a Cormac Curran close in free which was blocked. Against the elements, Darragh Fives was used as an extra defender in front of the full back line leaving Waring and Foran to forage up front. UL opened up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes. Tipperary’s John McGrath shot accurately given any slither of space and he managed three first half points. Waterford settled down and a positive move involving Breathnach and Eoin Madigan from Roanmore was finished off by Waring for his second point. Two singles by lively corner forward Tommy Heffernan restored UL’s four point advantage (0-9 to 0-5) but Waterford finished the opening half hour on top. After a frustrating start, DJ Foran made the ball stick and he hit a late double into the wind to leave them trailing by 0-11 to 0-8.

Waterford chose to turn towards the dressing rooms at the break while UL stayed out in the cold. The Déise were quickly on level terms through two Breathnach frees and one each from Cormac Curran and Shane O’Sullivan. The impact subs arrived on the field. Tommy Heffernan and Gavin O’Brien (65) swapped points (13 points all). Cormac Curran’s free nudged Waterford ahead for the first time and it was followed by a Michael Kearney goal on 43 minutes as he pierced the defence with his pace and finished low to the net past Maher. Kevin Moran appeared determined to inflict damage on his introduction and cut through on goal with regularity. He teed up DJ Foran but Maher denied the Portlaw full forward. Jason Forde and Mark Carmody kept UL interested (1-14 to 0-15). As the game entered the last quarter, Brian O’Halloran turned sharply and split the posts. Austin Gleeson announced his arrival with a spectacular point from inside his own half.

UL midfielder PJ Scully rounded off a well worked move on 51 minutes that pulled the defence out of shape (1-18 to 1-15). O’Halloran reacted with his second single as Waterford continued to create goal chances. Moran, Michael Walsh and Pauric Mahony all sprayed the ball around to allow Jake Dillon a one on one against Maher but again the goalkeeper sprawled across and saved. That move merited a green flag. Dillon instead assisted the clincher for Mahony with seven minutes left. The game concluded with two Dillon frees and Gleeson continued to look busy. He scored one and laid on another for Thomas Connors. Stephen Bennett, Maurice Shanahan, Ryan Donnelly, Colin Dunford and Shane McNulty were also present but didn’t take any part in the action. There will be more opportunities to stand out from the crowd in the Waterford Crystal Cup versus LIT on Sunday and challenge matches against WIT, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Clare are also planned over a packed pre-season.

Scorers for Waterford: M Kearney, P Mahony 1-0 each; DJ Foran, C Curran (1f), D Breathnach (2fs), J Dillon (3fs) 0-3 each; T Waring, A Gleeson, B O’Halloran 0-2 each; E Power, T Connors, S O’Sullivan, M O’Brien, M O’Neill 0-1 each.

Scorers for UL: C Martin (3fs), T Heffernan 0-4 each; PJ Scully 1-0; J McGrath, J Forde (1f) 0-3 each; D Quinn, K O’Brien, M Carmody 0-1 each.

Waterford: I O’Regan; M Flynn, J Morrissey, P Walsh; P Prendergast, N Connors, M O’Brien; S O’Sullivan, D Breathnach; E Power, C Curran, E Madigan; D Fives, DJ Foran, T Waring.

Subs used: J Dillon, K Moran, M Walsh, G O’Brien, B O’Halloran, T Connors, A Gleeson, S Fives, P Mahony, M Kearney, M O’Neill.

UL: P Maher; G Ryan, K Walsh, E Moriarty; D Quinn, B Troy, B Stapleton; J Forde, PJ Scully; J McGrath, C Martin, M Carmody; K O’Brien, T Cleary, T Heffernan.

Referee: C McAllister

Waterford's McGrath Cup Record 2002-2014

2002 Semi Final
Waterford 2-9 Tipperary 0-9

2002 Final
Clare 2-13 Waterford 2-11

2003 Semi Final
Tipperary 1-8 Waterford 2-4

2004 Semi Final
Limerick 1-9 Waterford 2-5

2005 Quarter Final
IT Tralee 2-8 Waterford 0-9

2006 Quarter Final
Kerry 2-10 Waterford 2-2

2007 Preliminary Round
UCC 0-12 Waterford 2-4
 

2008 Preliminary Round
UL 1-15 Waterford 2-9 (AET)

2009 Preliminary Round
Waterford 3-11 IT Tralee 3-9

2009 Quarter Final
Waterford 1-15 LIT 0-5

2009 Semi Final
UL 0-13 Waterford 0-8

2010 Semi Final
Kerry 2-12 Waterford 3-5

2011 Quarter Final
Waterford 0-11 Tipperary 0-9

2011 Semi Final
Clare 1-10 Waterford 0-10

2012 Preliminary Round
IT Tralee 2-14 Waterford 0-14

2013 Quarter Final
Waterford 0-16 UL 0-12 (AET)

2013 Semi Final
Tipperary 1-12 Waterford 2-8 (AET)

2014
Did not enter competition