Waterford SHC: Roanmore and Fourmilewater continue fine form

After a scramble for possession in the Fourmilewater penalty area Dungarvans Johnny Burke (No.14) manages to stroke the ball into the net. Pic: Eddie Dee

Roanmore made it three consecutive Group B victories in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship with a commanding 1-28 to 1-13 win over a depleted Lismore at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field.

The Sky Blues made a blistering start, with eight different scorers inside the opening nine minutes as Gavin O’Brien, Rory Furlong and Brian Nolan led the way. 

They nearly had a goal after just nine seconds, but Seanie Barry produced an excellent save to deny Ethan Flynn. Roanmore’s relentless attacking saw them build a 0-17 to 0-4 half-time lead as Lismore struggled to cope.

Lismore improved after the restart and Oisin O’Gorman’s goal offered some consolation, but Roanmore never eased off, continuing to pick off scores from all angles to complete an emphatic 15-point victory.

Fourmilewater also maintained their perfect Group B record with a comprehensive 4-24 to 3-11 win over Ballygunner B.

The Western side had 11 different scorers and struck early when Evan Spelman finished at the near post after a clever Pat Walsh pass. Sean Walsh proved a constant menace, driving through the Ballygunner defence before rifling to the top corner for Fourmilewater’s second goal. Aaron Ryan then made amends for an earlier missed penalty by netting a third before the break as they led 3-12 to 0-7.

Ryan (1-11), Walsh (1-4) and Spelman (1-3) continued to dominate after the interval, while substitute Michael Morrissey blasted home off the crossbar in the 51st minute. 

Ballygunner B responded with late goals from Ollie Fives (2) and Ruairi Fitzpatrick, but they merely reduced the margin. With 10-69 scored across their opening three games, including 3-32 from Ryan alone, Fourmilewater look among the form teams in the championship.

Elsewhere in Group B, Mount Sion pulled clear in the second half to defeat Dungarvan 2-22 to 0-17 at Azzurri Walsh Park.

Adam Regan’s four first-half points helped Sion to a narrow 0-12 to 0-10 interval lead, although Dungarvan, inspired by Darragh Lyons and Billy Hickey, stayed firmly in contention. Austin Gleeson was denied an early goal by Rian Crotty, while Martin ‘Blondie’ O’Neill also missed a late first-half goal chance.

Sion’s greater cutting edge after the break proved decisive. On 37 minutes, Gleeson set up O’Neill, who blasted home the opening goal, before Jamie Meaney finished another slick move involving Jamie Gleeson and Stephen Roche five minutes later to make it 2-15 to 0-13. Austin Gleeson also contributed four points as Mount Sion eased clear.

In Group A, De La Salle edged Passage 0-20 to 1-14 in a closely fought contest at Azzurri Walsh Park.

The city side led 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time thanks in part to impressive displays from All-Ireland minor winners Shane Power, Conor Power and Darragh Keane, though they were wasteful with 13 first-half wides. Tom Carey kept Passage in touch with six first-half points, while Shaun O’Brien denied Rory Jacob with a superb save after Passage had failed to convert earlier goal chances.

Sean Kelly levelled matters on 39 minutes before scores from Cormac Dawson and two Brian Cunningham frees restored De La Salle’s advantage. Passage drew level again when Liam Flynn struck to the net after O’Brien was penalised for a technical foul, but De La Salle finished the stronger as Jack Twomey, Conor Keane and Cunningham supplied the crucial scores to secure a deserved three-point win.

Clonea claimed a vital Group A victory in their battle to preserve senior status, overturning a half-time deficit to beat Ferrybank 0-27 to 2-11 in Portlaw.

Ferrybank led 2-8 to 0-12 at the break after making full use of the breeze and capitalising on two costly Clonea errors. Goalkeeper Jack Mackey’s mistake allowed Conor Haley to score on the half-hour, before Robbie Carew dispossessed Mairtín Power in added time and finished clinically to extend Ferrybank’s lead.

Clonea were transformed after the restart, outscoring Ferrybank 0-15 to 0-3 in a dominant second-half display. Early scores from Billy Power, Francis Roche and Tom Skehan quickly wiped out the deficit before Billy Power (0-6), Kieran Power (0-4) and Roche (0-6) inspired Clonea to pull away and seal an impressive comeback victory