Ahearne brothers lead Stradbally into final

Stradbally 2-8 The Nire 1-8: The Ahearne brothers blasted Stradbally into their seventh Waterford SFC final in succession as they dethroned champions The Nire with a performance of savage intensity in appalling conditions at Fraher Field last night.

The imposing double act combined for 2-6 as Pat Curran’s outfit pressurised their opponents high up the field and reaped a rich dividend from their persistent aerial deliveries.

The rain lashed down all evening in Dungarvan and a crossfield breeze swept across the field. Stradbally chose the route one option into the Ahearnes early on, and the twin towers were responsible for 1-5 between them over the first half hour.