Phelan’s late goal propels Waterford past W’meath

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Both sides on display in this encounter have reputations for playing a fast, exciting brand of hurling, and for those of us who witnessed the spectacle at Gaelic Park on Sunday were not too disappointed in Waterford’s narrow victory.

Joe Ward of Waterford hit the bar early on with a long-distance shot that could easily have crept underneath the bar, but it was his teammate David Ryan who opened the scoring with an early point for his side. Westmeath veteran Brendan Kirby replied almost immediately, only to have his equalizer surpassed by another effort from Ryan. This see-saw effect continued with Brian McCabe striking a stunning point from a free for Westmeath, and Kirby again hitting one for his side to snatch a lead for Westmeath. Donncha Crotty notched his first of the game shortly afterward, but the score of the game was soon to follow.

Jim Hughes, on a mazy run through the midfield unleashed a powerful shot that sailed high over the Waterford crossbar to extend his team’s lead. The match, however, never fell too favorably for either side, with neither Westmeath or Waterford were able to grab hold of the lead and extend it for long. David Ryan capitalized upon a defensive misunderstanding in the Westmeath box to drive the ball home for the first goal of the game.

Brian Daly and Kirby each hit a point for Westmeath to draw the sides level before the break at 6 points each. After the interval, there was still very little to choose from between the sides as each time one team scored, the other would quickly reply. Brian McCabe hit two consecutive points for his side early in the second half, but was thwarted by equalizers from Waterford’s goal scorer David Phelan and that man Ryan again. Kirby took his chances with a long distance effort from the left side of the field to snatch a point, only for Ryan to score yet another equalizer. Following this was an effort from Brian McCabe upon the Waterford goal. A fantastic save from goalkeeper Kevin Martin denied Westmeath the lead they so desperately craved. Westmeath did take a 2-point lead, however, late in the game and this did seem as if it were to be enough to win the tie. David Phelan of Waterford wasn’t quite finished, however, and fired in a late goal past John McDonald to claim a well-fought 1-point victory for Waterford.

Westmeath: John McDonald, Gregory Dixon, Robbie Kennedy, Enda Lohan, Peter Dalton (0-1), Collie Fearon, Jim Hughes (0-1), Colm Reilly, James Hayden, Brian McCabe (0-3), Brendan Kirby (0-4), Brian Daly (0-1), Damian Dermody. Sub: D. Newman (0-1).

Waterford: Kevin Martin, Tom Bermingham, Finbarr Craughwell, JoJo Sullivan, Thomas Maher, Owen O’Connor, David Ryan (1-4), Jamie Duggan, Mike O’Shea, Darragh Power, Joe Ward, David Phelan (1-1), Donncha Crotty (0-1). Subs: Ollie O’Neill, Cathal Shaughnessy, Kieran Murphy, Mike Rennicks.