Power returns from Dubai to help Rathgormack defend Waterford SFC title against Abbeyside/Ballinacourty
CHAMPIONS AGAIN: Rathgormack celebrate their victory over the Nire in the Co.Final of the J.J.Kavanagh & Sons Waterford senior football championship back in 2023.
On a wild day for football in Dungarvan, Rathgormack mastered the stormy conditions and the sticky challenge of Abbeyside/Ballinacourty to keep hold of the Conway Cup.
Only three points separated the teams with nine minutes left but late strikes from Peter Walsh and James Power saw the green and red go back-to-back for the first time since the mid 90s. Kenny Hassett's men scored an impressive 2-3 against the elements.
It's a long way from Dubai to Dungarvan but the trip proved worthwhile for half time substitute Billy Power. The mid-term break allowed the teacher to return to Rathgormack last week.
"Out there is a bit different to county final day in a weather warning! There's a great club out there in Na Fianna that I can train away it and keep the fitness up. I missed it big time.
"It's nice to come home and for the club to give you the opportunity. You want to do the best for them. There's lads out there on the field celebrating that have trained us from Under 6s and Under 7s all the way up. The least we can do as players is repay them."
Billy's brother James drove the team to victory with his second half solo runs. The hard running number ten set up towering midfielder Peter Walsh for the first goal on 51 minutes.
Ballinacourty nearly cancelled out that green flag straight away as Patrick Hurney punched a Brian Looby delivery off the crossbar.
Billy Power then pointed at the other end. Two minutes into injury time, Courty keeper Aaron Beresford was caught off his line and James Power kept his composure. He rounded the stranded netminder and booted the ball into the empty net.
The weather was the main topic of conversation before throw in. The tricolour just about stayed on the flagpole. In the opening minute, Aaron Beresford made two attempts to put the ball on the tee for a Ballinacourty kickout.
It blew off both times so he just took it straight off the ground. In the second half, a crossfield kick from Rathgormack defender Máirtín Power flew back 30 yards and went out for a Courty 45.
Rathgormack won the toss, took the wind and built up a 7-3 advantage by the break. Jason Curry, Jason Gleeson and Conor Murray all split the posts from outside the 45. Courty dug in and second half points from Aaron Beresford (45), Michael O'Halloran and Diarmuid Mackle narrowed the gap to two.
O'Halloran hit three points in total while Michael Kiely and Willie Beresford put in big shifts around the middle third. Rathgormack went 26 minutes without a score, as Stephen Curry missed a goal chance, but a badly needed Cathal Crowch single settled them.
J Power (1-1), P Walsh (1-0), J Curry (0-3, 2fs), C Murray (0-2), B Power, C Crowch, J Gleeson, A Murray (0-1 each).
M O'Halloran (0-3, 1f), P Hurney (0-2, 2fs), D Mackle, A Beresford (1 '45), W Beresford (0-1 each).
P Hunt; G Power, M Power, W Hahessy; S Hahesy, T Walsh, C Crowch; P Walsh, M Curry; J Power, J Curry, C Murray; J Gleeson, S Curry, A Murray.
B Power for A Murray (HT), F Roche for C Murray (43), C Walsh for Crowch (57), D Hassett for Gleeson (61).
A Beresford; C Foley, C McCarthy, D Montgomery; C Treen, B Looby, W Beresford; J Beresford, M Kiely; D Mackle, R Walsh, M O'Halloran; S Whelan Barrett, P Hurney, D Beresford.
B Callaghan for Walsh (41), D Slevin for James Beresford (43), N McCarthy for Mackle (57).
E Morrissey (Erin's Own).
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