Good Start for Deise Hurlers

It may just be two weeks into the new year but the Senior Hurlers were quickly back into competitive action in their Waterford Crystal Cup Preliminary Round clash against LIT. Waterford lined out with two new faces in the starting fifteen, upcoming stars Pa Walsh from Passage and Michael Kearney from Ballyduff Upper.

The visitor’s got the game going with Paul Flaherty opening the scoring with a point. Waterford’s Paraic Mahony levelled up the game with a well struck free, followed up with a long range effort from Gavin O’Brien and Shane O’Sullivan. The student’s main scoring threat, David Reidy then credited his account with his first of nine points of the afternoon. It was Pauric Mahony’s accuracy from the dead ball that pushed the Deise on to a three point advantage. Sean O’Brien from Patrickswell pointed but again the Deise had an answer in the form of an excellent Brian O’Halloran point from the sideline under pressure from the LIT defence. The students stormed back to level up the game with David Reidy, Barry O’Connell and Patrick Fitzgerald all finding their range. Martin O’Neill and Pauric Mahony both raised white flags with the Deise heading in at half time winning by two points.

Mahony continued where he left off just after the restart with two points. But the well drilled students under the guidance of ex Waterford Manager Davy Fitzgerald came storming back with three scores in a row. Points traded between Michael “Brick” Walsh and Reidy from the stick left little between the sides. Pa Walsh got in on the scoring action and shot over from long range. Brian O’Halloran was in flying form and ran riot just nine minutes into the half, screaming the ball to the net! The Deise now with the upper hand! A short trading of points between the Deise’s Mahony and O’Halloran and LIT’s star David Reidy still left Waterford 5 points ahead with sixteen minutes still left to play. Waterford finished the game strong with both substitutes coming in getting in on the scoring action, Donie Breathnach and Shane Bennett. (Shane’s brother Kieran lined out at wing-back for LIT!) Final score Waterford 1-22 to LIT 0-18. Next up is Limerick at an away venue next weekend!

Waterford Team: Ian O’Regan, Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors, Gavin O’Brien, Austin Gleeson, Pa Walsh, Martin O’Neill, Shane O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran, Thomas Connors, Pauric Mahony, Brian O’Halloran, Michael Walsh, Michael Kearney. Subs used: Jake Dillon for T. Connors, Shane Bennett for M. O’Neill, Donie Breathnach for M. Kearney, Cormac Curran for M. Walsh and Tommy Waring for P. Mahony.

Limerick Team: Aaron Murphy, Alan Dempsey, Cian Nolan, David Gough, Kieran Bennett, Barry O’Donnell, Willie Ryan, Stephen O’Halloran, Martin Fitzgerald, Mark Gennery, Paul Flaherty, Sean O’Brien, David Reidy, Shane McGrath, Patrick Fitzgerald. Subs used: David Dempsey for S. O’Brien and Shane Gleeson for S. McGrath.

Waterford Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-10, Brian O’Halloran 1-4, Martin O’Neill, Michael Walsh, Michael Kearney, Thomas Connors, Kevin Moran, Shane O’Sullivan, Pa Walsh and Gavin O’Brien 1 point each.

Limerick Scorers: David Reidy 0-9, Sean O’Brien 0-3, Paul Flaherty 0-2, Barry O’Connell, Alan Dempsey, Patrick Fitzgerald and David Dempsey 1 point each.