Waterford win first senior experimental rules football match

Waterford 3-11 IT Tralee 3-09

John Kiely's Waterford side emerged victorious today in the first senior inter-county football match to be played under the GAA's new experimental rules.

Waterford beat IT Tralee in a hard-fought McGrath Cup preliminary round tie played in bitterly cold conditions at Fraher Field in Dungarvan.

Match referee Derek O'Mahoney visited both dressing rooms beforehand to discuss the implementation of the experimental rules, under which a player shown a yellow card will now leave the pitch and be replaced by a substitute.

O'Mahoney showed two yellow cards in this afternoon's encounter – IT Tralee wing-back Joe Scully became the first player to be 'sent off' and replaced under the new rules, after being shown two black books which automatically means a yellow card.

Waterford's Cillian O'Keeffe was also sent to the sideline, earning a straight yellow card for a heavy challenge on Tralee's Tony McMahon.

On the playing front, the Deise men had an ideal start when dual player Gary Hurney broke through to score a fifth minute goal.

Good work from Liam O Lionain then set up a goal for Sean Fleming, just two minutes later, and the home side were cruising when O Lionain finished off a fine individual run with goal number three.

At the other end, a goal and two late frees from full-forward David Culloty kept the Kerry students in touch at half-time as they trailed by 3-07 to 1-05.

But it was all IT Tralee on the restart as Kevin Hartnett kicked a free, the very effective Culloty pounced for his second goal, Tony McMahon tagged on a point from play and Shane Hennessy registered a '45'.

Culloty, who top-scored for his side with 2-05, added another point, however Waterford stemmed the tide and moved 3-09 to 2-09 ahead when Hurney (free) and Thomas O'Gorman clipped over points.

Further efforts from O'Gorman and Fleming made it a five-point game and although Hartnett did well to punch home a third Tralee goal in response, Waterford held firm to see out the win.

Kiely's charges are through to face Limerick IT in the McGrath Cup quarter-finals on Sunday week (January 11).