Champions the Nire back to winning ways

The Waterford kingpins bounced back from an opening-round defeat to Rathgormack.

Two first-half goals in the space of a minute gave the Ballymacarbry men a 14-point lead. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Waterford SFC Round 2 

Defending champions the Nire bounced back from an opening round defeat to Rathgormack with a resounding 2-12 to 0-6 victory over An Rinn at a rain-lashed Fraher Field on Saturday night.

Two first-half goals in the space of a minute from Aaron Ryan and Tholom Guiry gave the Ballymacarbry men a 14-point lead by the break. Sean Walsh starred at midfield with three points from play. Aaron Ryan (1-2), Shane O’Meara (0-4) and Ciaran Walsh (0-3) all contributed handsomely up front.

"It was important to start the game well tonight," Nire manager Michael Ryan remarked. "Coming off that performance last week, we felt that we needed to stand up and be counted. The players did in fairness. Difficult conditions out there, the pitch is cutting up. I thought the attitude was much better. We would be very happy with the way we played in the first half, scored two goals and nine points. Certainly in the second half, we were a long way away from where we need to be. There's still loads of work to be done."

All Star hurler Jamie Barron returned to the Nire line-up and got 51 minutes under his belt. The holders played with the wind and the rain in the first half and took full advantage. Shane O’Meara curled over the opener in the fourth minute before a rasper from Ciaran Walsh got blocked by Caolan Mac Craith. Oisín Ó Ceallaigh equalised on seven minutes, after a patient build-up, but An Rinn wouldn’t score again for the rest of the half.

On 25 minutes, Jake Mulcahy found Jamie Barron and he supplied Aaron Ryan who fired to the far corner of the net. Just a minute later, a quick hand passing move between Tholom Guiry, Ryan and Dylan Guiry ended up with Tholom Guiry banging the ball home from close range. The scoreboard read 2-9 to 0-1 at half time which allowed some supporters to slip away and watch Ireland-South Africa in the Rugby World Cup.

The other round two games, Ballinacourty versus Clashmore/Kinsalebeg and Rathgormack-Stradbally, were called off over the weekend.

On Wednesday night, JJ Hutchinson kicked six points as Gaultier got the better of Brickey Rangers at Carrickbeg (0-13 to 0-8).

The former Déise attacker is back for his 21st season in club colours. He got three points in each half while younger brother Dessie and county hurler Mark Fitzgerald chipped in with two apiece. Fitzgerald ran the game from midfield. The Eastern outfit have appeared in the last three county semi finals.

Gaultier will take on Portlaw at 7.45 tonight in Carrickbeg.