'Special feeling' for Kiely as Abbeyside reach first Waterford final in six years

LONG TIME WAITING: Abbeyside's Michael Kiely and Mount Sion's Martin 'Fish' O'Neill contest the ball. Picture: Patrick Browne

Waterford SHC semi-final: Abbeyside 3-20 Mount Sion 0-19 

Abbeyside are back in their first Waterford SHC final for six years after a ten point win over Mount Sion on a bright and blustery Sunday afternoon. Only the seventh time that the Villagers will step out in the county showpiece.

Déise full forward Michael Kiely struck 2-2 including a first half penalty. 

"It feels great," the captain remarked afterwards. 

"I've never been in a senior county final before and it's a long time since Abbeyside have been in one. It's a special feeling to get there, it's the highlight of the club year. Please god, we'll give a good account of ourselves next week."

Man of the match Willie Beresford gave an all action display at midfield. The Waterford U20 player grabbed puckouts, won frees and sprayed a wonderful one handed stick pass across goal for Charlie Treen's green flag three minutes from the end. "Willie has some engine," Kiely admitted. "He got on a load of ball today which is really important to the team."

Conor Prunty tracked Austin Gleeson all over the pitch and even became an attacking weapon. The All-Star fullback clipped over a stunning first half point from a tight angle. Brian Looby made a brave block seven minutes from time to deny Sion sub Adam Regan a certain goal.

Top scorer Michael O'Halloran hit nine points as his 2024 championship total now stands at 0-41. Billy O'Connell contributed three second half singles while hard working centre forward Rian Walsh (0-2) also caught the eye.

Austin Gleeson was held scoreless from open play but Mount Sion's talisman did convert nine frees. Alan Kirwan posed their biggest threat up front with four points. The corner forward had three to his credit inside five minutes as Sion moved 6-1 ahead. Brian Looby moved over on Kirwan and curbed his influence. 

Then, Conor Prunty marched forward and pointed from an acute angle. On the quarter hour mark, Michael Kiely won a penalty and buried it past Ian O'Regan. After playing against the breeze, Abbeyside only trailed by one at half-time.

Kiely lashed to the far corner two minutes into the second period, after a Charlie Treen assist, and Benji Whelan's men kept their noses in front after that. Billy O'Connell belted over three points before county midfielder Neil Montgomery made his first appearance of the 2024 championship.

With three points between them, Austin Gleeson played a short free to Adam Regan in front of goal but Looby got his body in the way. On 57 minutes, Kiely found Willie Beresford and the marauding midfielder flicked it across for Treen to strike home the clinching score.

Scorers for Abbeyside: M O'Halloran 0-9 (6fs), M Kiely 2-2 (1-0 pen), C Treen 1-1, B O'Connell 0-3, R Walsh 0-2, C Prunty, W Beresford, E Kiely 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mount Sion: A Gleeson 0-9 (9fs), A Kirwan 0-4, Martin O'Neill 0-2, L O'Brien, PJ Fanning, J Gleeson, J Kennedy 0-1 each.

ABBEYSIDE: L Power; S Whelan Barrett, D Collins, B Looby; J Beresford, C Prunty, E McInerney; M Power, W Beresford; M O'Halloran, R Walsh, B O'Connell; C Treen, M Kiely, E Kiely.

Subs: C Foley for Whelan Barrett (43), M Twomey for E Kiely (45), N Montgomery for M Power (51), E Ahern for Walsh (61).

MOUNT SION: I O'Regan; M Daykin, L O'Brien, J Byrne; Martin F O'Neill, S O'Neill, PJ Fanning; O Whelan, D Power; E Curran, A Gleeson, J Gleeson; Martin O'Neill, J Kennedy, A Kirwan.

Subs: A Regan for Daykin (38), S Roche for Whelan (47), J Meaney for Kennedy (56), B Frisby for J Gleeson (58).

Referee: S Walsh