February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Although Connecticut didn’t have it all their own way, the suburbanites never had to shift into high gear as they always were able to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
It looked like a Connecticut rout in the opening stages as the representatives of the Nutmeg State had the scoreboard all to themselves. Four points from Bonny Kennedy and one from midfielder Cronin Dempsey stood in stark contrast to the goose egg on the Deices side of the Gaelic Park scoreboard.
Roy Henley finally lodged Waterford’s first entry and the match was on. The underdogs quickly added two points, one each from Jamie Duggan and John Redman. Waterford corner forward Sean Daly was beginning to cause a bit of discomfort in the Connecticut back line, winning possession in dangerous position.
Waterford weekender Declan Ruth was looking dangerous from his center back spot, but it was Connecticut who made their chances count. Three frees resulted in points off Bonny Kennedy’s hurl to just one Waterford point from a Declan Ruth free.
Trailing by 0-9 to 0-4, Waterford had great chance before the end of the half. Daly earned a penalty just before the buzzer. A goal at that point would have been a huge boost. Unfortunately for Waterford, Kevin Jordan easily stopped Daly’s effort and the chance was lost.
Waterford showed great resolve, putting that disappointment behind and coming out flying on the restart. Two well-taken frees from Roy Henley closed the gap to 0-3, just one puck of the ball.
Connecticut’s Tipperary import, Declan Maher, responded with two excellent points as Connecticut looked to pull away. But Waterford were not ready to concede. Two points from Declan Ruth narrowed the gap to that same 0-3. Could a Waterford revival be in the cards?
Five consecutive Connecticut points was the answer. Four Bonny Kennedy frees and an outstanding Andy McGovern point from play set the margin at double scores 0-16 to 0-8.
Cronin Demsey’s midfield play was keeping the Waterford backpedaling while the Connecticut half back line of Richie Purcell, flanked by Tom Foy, and Aiden Kiely was choking off the Waterford attack.
Waterford never stopped trying to claw back into the match and were finally rewarded with a late goal. Declan Ruth blasted a free to the twines and the score was 0-18 to 1-10, only five points between them.
But time was running out and a Connecticut point, from substitute Aiden Power, finished the scoring and sent Connecticut back to the final, where they will try to go that one extra step.
Man of the Match: Cronin Dempsey
Connecticut: Kevin Jordan, Joe Kavanagh, Phil Wickham, Tom Foy, Richie Purcell, Aiden Kelly, Cronin Dempsey (0-2), Keith Hennessey, Bonnie Kennedy (0-13, 11 frees), Ollie O’Neill, Martin Maher, Andy McGovern (0-1), Declan Maher (0-2). Sub: Aiden Power (0-1).
Waterford: Ian Duggan, Patrick Coleman, Rory Duggan, Tomas Maher, Declan Ruth (1-5, 1-3 frees), Victor O’Shea, Jamie Duggan (0-1), Bertie Ruth, John Redman (0-1), Aiden Sweeney, Colin Ruth, Roy Henley (0-3, 2 frees), Sean Daly.