Nire beat Dungarvan comprehensively in the Under 19 C Western football final in Colligan last Saturday afternoon. The winners led by 5-8 to 0-3 at half time and eventually ran out winners by 5-13 to 0-6.

Scorers : Nire : Larry Walsh 2-5(1f), Chris Ryan 1-2, Aaron Ryan 1-1,Niall Walsh 1-0, Kyle Cuddy 0-2, Sean Walsh, Jordan Ryan and Oisin Looney 0-1 each.

Dungarvan : Daniel Kiely 0-2f, Tadhg Murray, David Flynn, Conor Coward and Joe Duggan(f) 0-1 each.

Teams : Nire : David Morrissey, Cody Peters, Oisin Walsh, Jody Beckers, Aaron Ryan, Seamus O Gorman, Sean Walsh, Kyle Cuddy, Jordan Ryan, Larry Walsh, Oisin Looney, Niall Walsh, Chris Ryan. Subs : Michael Desmond, Myles Amos, Carlos Grace.

Dungarvan : Toby Taylor; Sam Dalton, James O Callaghan, Johnathon Houlihan, Johnny Burke, Cameron Maguire, Tristan Loftus, Oisin Morrissey, David Hayes, Tadhg Murray, Joe Duggan, Seanie McGrath, Daniel Kiely. Subs : David Flynn, Conor Coward, Lorcan McGovern, Conor Keoghan.

Referee : Tommy Sullivan(Affane/ Cappoquin).

RADLEY ENGINEERING WESTERN INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL

Champions Return to Western Final

Modeligo 2-10 Dungarvan 1-9

Western intermediate football champions Modeligo are back in the divisional final where they will play Colligan Emmets after this deserving 0-4 win over the 2017 champions Dungarvan at the Fraher Field last Saturday evening. Once Gavin Dalton finished the ball into the town end goal as early as the second minute, Modeligo were never led in the remainder of the hour’s plus activity that they won by 1-10 to 1-9.

Preparing for this semi final for the past month, Modeligo have been trained by the County team manager Benji Whelan and the Kilmacthomas’s man’s type of play was in evidence here and it produced the scores that won this hard fought encounter. Especially in the first half, Modeligo’s tactic of men behind the ball, holding on to it and then driving forward for scores worked a treat but when Dungarvan closed them down in a second half that the Blues won by 1-5 to 1-3, it was clear that the winners’ have some work to do in perfecting this style of play.

Six days after putting their hurleys away following their defeat to Ballygunner in the SHC semi final, Dungarvan showed great spirit despite this defeat and led by Gavin Crotty, who scored all of his team’s first half scores, they were in this contest up to the final minutes. Crotty replied to Gavin Dalton’s early goal with a point of either variety by the 4th minute before the accurate Shane Troy consolidated Modeligo’s lead with valuable scores from placed balls. Troy pointed either side of a third Gavin Crotty score and at the end of the first quarter, Modeligo were ahead by 1-2 to 0-3.

There were only two scores from play in a free ridden second quarter and they came early from Michael Troy and John Devine before Gavin Crotty (f) left a goal the difference in the 20th minute at 1-4 to 0-4. The final ten minutes of the first half proved crucial overall as Dungarvan did not score again while Modeligo stretched their lead to 0-6 via three pointed frees by Shane Troy, 1-7 to 0-4

. Dungarvan restarted brightly with Ryan Donnolly pointing in the 32nd minute, a score that was replied to by Sean Hennessy after a brilliant team move out of defence. Modeligo spurned a very good goal chance in the 37th minute before Joe Allen threw the cat among the pigeons when his long delivery went all the way into the town end goal. This score left just 0-3 the difference at 1-8 to 1-5 but Modeligo replied with a major themselves by John Devine to restore their 0-6 advantage at the earliest opportunity.

Undaunted, the local side played their best football in the final quarter when they took the game to the champions. Gavin Crotty scored three times by the 53rd minute, including one from play, and a grand stand finish looked in store with the scoreboard reading 2-8 to 1-8.

Credit Modeligo, they raised the siege momentarily and Keith Hickey’s hard work out of defence ensured a two score differential with his 56th minute point. It was back to a goal the difference in the 57th minute with a point from play by Jack Lacey for the Blues before Gavin Dalton ended the scoring on the call of normal time with his second score of the match. Dungarvan piled on the pressure and Modeligo’s Sean Hennessy was blackcarded in the first of the four minutes of added time to be replaced by Bernard Wright. The game ended on a sour note when Gavin Crotty had the legs taken from under him as he headed towards goal in the 62nd minute with a green flag on his mind. All hell broke loose and John Devine received a yellow and black card for the foul and Gavin Crotty picked up a second yellow for retaliating.

It’s Modeligo who drive on to another final and it will take Emmetts all of their time to deny them a second consecutive title this weekend.

Modeligo’s Top Three : Shane Troy, Sean O Donovan, Sean Hennessy.

Dungarvan’s Top Three : Gavin Crotty, Kieran Power, Jamie Nagle.

Observer’s Man of the Match : Gavin Crotty

. Number of Scorers : Modeligo : 6. Dungarvan : 4.

Scores From Play : Modeligo : 2-5. Dungarvan : 1-4.

Frees For : Modeligo : 13. Dungarvan : 8.

Wides : Modeligo : 4. Dungarvan : 4.

Score of the Match : Sean Hennessy’s 33rd minute point out of defence for Modeligo.

Scorers :

Modeligo : Gavin Dalton and John Devine 1-2 each, Shane Troy 0-5f, Michael Troy, Sean Hennessy and Keith Hickey 0-1 each.

Dungarvan : Gavin Crotty 0-7(5f), Joe Allen 1-0, Ryan Donnolly and Jack Lacey  0-1 each.

Teams :

Modeligo : Thomas Walsh; Nicky O Donovan, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean Hennessy, Sean O Donovan, Keith Hickey; Mick Devine, Rian Reddy; John Devine, Pa O Donovan, Cian O Byrne; Michael Troy, Shane Troy, Gavin Dalton. Subs : Niall Browne for Cian O Byrne, Jamie Troy for Shane Troy(inj.),Bernard Wright for Sean Hennessy(b/c), John McGrath for Nicky O Donovan.

Dungarvan : Mark Boland; Aaron Donnolly, Derek Barry, Jack Lacey; Darragh Lyons, John Curran, Jamie Nagle; Kieran Power, Joe Allen; Mchael Kiely, Gavin Crotty, Luke O Callaghan; Patrick Curran, Ryan Donnolly, Joe Duggan. Subs : Kealan Daly for Michael Kiely(inj.), Brendan Cullinan for Luke O Callaghan (inj.), Darren Duggan for Joe Duggan.

Referee : Paddy Smith (Shamrocks).

JJ KAVANAGH AND SONS COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL Champions Ease into another County Hurling Final Ballygunner 2-22 Dungarvan 1-13

Reigning County and Munster senior hurling champions, Ballygunner, are just one hour away from a record breaking six in a row Waterford title wins for their club after this comprehensive 0-12 win over Dungarvan in the Fraher Field last Sunday afternoon. The Gunners showed the large attendance that paid £15,790 in why they are Provincial champions with a gun to tape win against an opposition that just could not cope with their open and fast running style of play.

Dungarvan won the toss and unexpectedly decided to play against the wind when every advantage minnows in an expected tough assignment must take. It was always going to be tough to take on the Gunners and giving them the advantage of the wind early was making a hard task even more difficult. Ballygunner led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter with an on fire Dessie Hutchinson contributing three points, Pauric Mahony 0-3(1f) and Peter Hogan a point being answered by a continually under sieged Dungarvan per Ryan Donnolly (f) and Cathal Curran from play.

A goal was always going to put this game beyond the Blues and after an earlier Dessie Hutchinson opportunity it arrived in the 16th minute via a trade mark Peter Hogan strike. The champions were now rampant and on their way to the final with Pauric Mahony pointing three more frees and midfielder Conor Sheahan finding plenty room to loft over two scores from play, 1-12 to 0-2. Dungarvan tried to get into the game with points by Ryan Donnolly(f) and Colm Curran before Billy O Keeffe and Michael Kiely exchanged scores and then Pauric Mahony fired over yet another pointfrom a free, 1-14 to 0-5.

When Colm Curran was fouled in front of the country end goal in the first minute of added time, Stephen O Keeffe got down well to save Patrick Curran’s penalty strike. With the ball still in play, Colm Curran salvaged a point and the half time score read Ballygunner 1-14 Dungarvan 0-6.

Credit Dungarvan, they battled away in a second half that the Gunners won by 1-8 to 1-7. With the wind at their backs, the locals enjoyed more of the play and despite wides by Cathal Curran and Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnolly(f) and Patrick Curran had scores by the 36th minute. The Gunners first score of the second half came in the 37th minute per Peter Hogan and the game was completely finished by the 40th minute when acres of space was again opened up and wing forward Michael O Mahony goaled after an earlier score from play, 2-17 to 0-8.

Dungarvan showed flashes of their true form at the end of the third quarter resulting in Ryan Donnolly and CathalCurran(2) scoring from play with a single reply by Barry O Sullivan, 2-18 to 0-11. The scoring rate diminished in a final quarter that Dungarvan edged by 1-2 to 0-4 thanks to an added time consolation goal by Patrick Curran after Joe Allen going close in the town end.

Scorers in that final quarter for the winners were Pauric Mahony 0-3(2f) and sub JJ Hutchinson while Ryan Donnolly(f) and Gavin Crotty added to Curran’s goal.

Ballygunner are showing no signs of tiredness as they seek their 6th title in a row and there was a buzz about them from the start. DLS are sure to put it up to them in the final but the Gunners will be favourites to add to their trophy cabinet.

Dungarvan could not get into this game against superior opposition and they were not allowed to. Only at times did they show some form but they have made good progress in 2019 after losing out at the quarter final stages the year before.

Ballygunner’s Top Three : Dessie Hutchinson, Shane O Sullivan, Pauric Mahony.

Dungarvan’s Top Three : Cathal Curran, Sean Ryan, Jamie Nagle.

Observer’s man of the Match : Dessie Hutchinson.

Number of Scorers : Ballygunner : 8. Dungarvan : 6.

Scores From Play : Ballygunner : 2-16. Dungarvan : 1-9.

Frees For : Ballygunner : 10. Dungarvan : 7.

Wides : Ballygunner : 9. Dungarvan : 8.

Score of the Match : Ballygunner’s team worked goal in the 40th minute finished to the net by Michael O Mahony.

Scorers for Ballygunner: Pauric Mahony (0-9 , 6 frees); P. Hogan, M. Mahony (1-2 each); D. Hutchinson (0-4); C. Sheahan (0-2); B. O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson, B. O’Keeffe (0-1).

Scorers for Dungarvan: R. Donnelly (0-5, 4 frees); P. Curran (1-1); Cathal Curran (0-3); Colm Curran 0-2, G. Crotty and M. Kiely 0-1 each.

BALLYGUNNER: S. O’Keeffe, I. Kenny, E. Hayden, C. Sheahan, Philip Mahony, B. Coughlan, S. O’Sullivan, B. O’Keeffe, M. Mahony, D. Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony (c), B. O’Sullivan, P. Hogan, T. O’Sullivan, P. Leavy. Subs: C. Power and W. Hutchinson for B. Coughlan and T. O’Sullivan (52); JJ Hutchinson for Sheahan (53); T. Foley for B. O’Keeffe (57)

. DUNGARVAN: G. Power, A. Donnelly, J. Curran, S. Ryan, J. Nagle, K. Power, K. Moore, M. Kiely, J. Lacey, C. Curran, J. Allen, R. Donnelly (c), D. Lyons, P. Curran, G. Crotty. Subs: Colm Curran for Moore (inj., 13); Cormac Curran for A. Donnelly (29); K. Daly for Kiely (49); J. Duggan for Colm Curran (51)

. Referee : Alan Kissane (Dunhill).