Stradbally return to Déise senior football ranks as they defeat Brickey Rangers

Stradbally return to the top ranks after a two year abscence. 

RETURN TO TOP RANKS: Nineteen time senior football champions Stradbally returned to the Waterford top flight after a two year absence on a wet and windy Sunday evening in Dungarvan. The Reds survived a second half fightback from Brickey Rangers to claim back to back Premier Intermediate crowns. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Waterford Premier IFC final: Stradbally 3-8 Brickey Rangers 1-11

Nineteen time senior football champions Stradbally returned to the Waterford top flight after a two year absence on a wet and windy Sunday evening in Dungarvan. The Reds survived a second half fightback from Brickey Rangers to claim back to back Premier Intermediate crowns.

Goals by Rory Fennell, Cormac McGrath and Man of the Match Michael O'Brien opened up a 14 point lead by the 33rd minute but Brickeys never threw in the towel. Seven points from Déise U20 attacker Paddy McCarthy, including three orange flags, and a tremendous Tom O'Connell goal left only a kick of a ball between them with three to go. Stradbally goalkeeper Christopher Casey also denied O'Connell from the penalty spot.

Michael Mullaney, Liam Fennell and Michael O'Brien won key possessions to see it out and spark wild celebrations. After losing two Promotion/Relegation finals to Roanmore in the last two seasons, the Reds are back in the senior ranks for 2026. Captain Daniel Weldon dedicated the win to former county chairman and staunch Stradbally supporter Tom Cunningham who died in April.

Despite shooting eight wides and leaving another three balls short with the elements, the Reds led 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval. A Rory Fennell shot bobbled into the bottom corner on the quarter hour mark after he was set up by Daniel Weldon. Fennell supplied 1-2 in that opening half.

An injury time flurry of 1-3 turned a four point lead into a ten point one. Weldon raised an orange flag before he hobbled off the field. Replacement Cormac McGrath won a mark off the kickout within seconds of his arrival. He swapped passes with Michael O'Brien and slotted the ball past Tom Gardner.

Three minutes into the second half, O'Brien gathered a wild Liam Fennell point attempt and walloped to the far corner of the net. The Reds seemed home and dry in the rainy conditions but a Paddy McCarthy inspired Brickeys made them sweat for their senior football spot.

Scorers for Stradbally: R Fennell 1-2 (1 mark), M O'Brien 1-1, C McGrath 1-0, D Weldon 0-2 (1 2p), M Mullaney, S Aherne, P Skehan (1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Brickey Rangers: P McCarthy 0-7 (2 2pfs, 1 2p), T O'Connell 1-2 (1f), S Collins, J Hahessy 0-1 each.

STRADBALLY: C Casey; B Gough, S Kiersey, L Casey; L Kiersey, J Mullaney, P Connors; L Fennell, S Aherne; M Mullaney, M O'Brien, C Fennell; P Skehan, R Fennell, D Weldon.

Subs: C McGrath for Weldon (33), E O'Brien for R Fennell (52), J Fenlon for L Casey (54), B O'Brien for L Kiersey (62).

BRICKEY RANGERS: T Gardner; S Lennon, C Deevey, C Phelan; J Veale, M Cummins, C Ryan; D Kelly, C Curran; C O'Grady, T O'Connell, P Cummins; J Hahessy, P McCarthy, D Nyhan.

Subs: D O'Grady for Veale (40), S Collins for C O'Grady (44), B Cullinane for Kelly (50).

Referee: N O'Toole