Flannan’s keep hat-trick dream alive as Déise learn lesson

St Flannan’s 1-14 Waterford Colleges 0-10

There is no disputing the champions deserved victory but the winning margin was a little unfair on the losers, who were only a goal adrift with eight minutes remaining.

But at this level of competition, Flannan’s are past masters of what is needed to win. They were pushed all the way by a game Waterford team whose failure was their inability to score from play.

For 35 minutes of this game they failed to register a score from play. Contrast that with Flannan’s. All but four of their scores came from frees, with seven players on the score sheet.

The fact Waterford never threatened a goal was down to the magnificence of the Flannan’s defence, in particular corner-back Ciaran O’Doherty and centre-back Seamus Hickey.

A member of last year’s winning team, O’Doherty time and again came thundering out through a forest of hurleys, sliothar in hand, to clear. Outside him Hickey was majestic, covering acres of ground, and mastered highly-rated Waterford minor, John Gorman. Gorman picked up a leg injury in the first half and switched to full-forward but with little effect.

In attack, the Ennis side were equally dangerous. Full-forward Ross Horan made life a misery for Gerard Dunphy; Conor Tierney was razor sharp at right corner-forward with a superb 0-3 from play (0-6 in total). Conor Neylon was another forward to cause endless problems and also impressed further outfield in the second half.

This latest setback will disappoint Waterford Colleges. They were in the game for long periods principally due to the excellence of Paul Murray at centre-back and Shane Fives at wing-forward, but the lack of a goalscorer was decisive.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening half as they matched each other point for point. However Flannan’s’ forwards were sharper and it took a great save by Waterford ‘keeper Stephen Enright to deny Conor Tierney a goal in a one-on-one situation.

A 0-6 to 0-4 half-time lead for Flannan’s didn’t look to be enough as Waterford turned to play with the stiff wind. However poor finishing and outstanding defending by O’Doherty, Hickey and Derek Ryan cost them several scores and the tie was decided by a wonderfully-executed Conor Nealon goal in the 47th minute.

Scorers: St. Flannans: C. Tierney 0-6 (0-3 frees); C. Nealon 1-1; R. Horan, J. Neylon 0-2 each; D. Stack, M. Earley, D. Ryan (free) 0-1. Waterford Colleges: G. O’Gorman 0-4 (frees); P. Murray 0-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 65); S. Fives 0-2; B. Phelan 0-1.

ST. FLANNAN’S: D. Tuohy; C. O’Doherty, C. Cooney, S. O’Regan; E. Glynn, S. Hickey, D. Ryan; E. Barrett, M. Earley; J. Neylon, C. Madden, D. Stack; C. Tierney, R. Horan, C. Nealon.

WATERFORD COLLEGES: S. Enright, D. Phelan, G. Dunphy, J. Maher; E. Brackett, P. Murray, P. Harkin; K. McCarthy, S. O’Hare; S. Fives, J. Gorman, B. Phelan; P. O Murchu, JJ Coffey, C. McGrath.

Subs: C. O’Gorman for Coffey; M. Landers for J. Gorman.

Referee: N. Cosgrove (Tipperary).