Brickeys reap revenge on Clashmore to return to Waterford senior ranks

Brickey Rangers will play senior football in 2027 after gaining revenge on Clashmore Kinsalebeg

Brickey Rangers will play senior football in 2027 after gaining revenge on Clashmore Kinsalebeg with a five-point victory in the Waterford Premier Intermediate Football Championship final under the Fraher Field floodlights, sealing a deserved return to the top flight after a fiercely contested local derby.

Beaten by the same opponents in the recent premier intermediate hurling decider, the Brickeys turned the tables, with Paddy McCarthy’s 14th-minute goal proving pivotal. The same player successfully appealed a suspension earlier in the week having been sent off in their semi-final win against Modeligo.

Clashmore, aided by a strong first-half breeze, opened a four-point lead through Brian O’Halloran’s free and fine point, followed by Darragh Ryan’s two-point free.

David Nyhan opened Brickey Rangers’ account after 13 minutes before McCarthy intercepted Kieran Connery’s kickout and raced through to finish past Paudie O’Rourke, levelling matters.

Brian Lynch landed a superb two-pointer for Clashmore, but Cathal Curran responded with two points to leave the sides level, 1-3 to 0-6, at half-time.

With the wind behind them, Shane McGrath’s charges dominated the restart, registering seven unanswered points. McCarthy converted a two-point free before Man of the Match Conor McGrath produced an outstanding two-point effort.

Tom O’Connell, Nyhan and Sean Lennon added points as the Brickeys surged 1-10 to 0-6 ahead.

However, substitute Mark Cummins received a straight red card for a high challenge on Lynch after 45 minutes, offering Clashmore renewed hope.

Frees from Paul O’Connor and O’Halloran, followed by points from Ben Lombard and Lynch, reduced the deficit to three with ten minutes remaining.

Nyhan subsequently missed a goal opportunity, while Brickeys goalkeeper Tom Gardiner denied Sam Fitzgerald an equaliser at the other end.

Despite their numerical advantage, Clashmore pressed desperately, but Nyhan settled the contest with an injury-time two-pointer, securing long-awaited county final glory for his club, following two defeats in the previous twelve months.

Brickey Rangers now advance to face Clare champions The Banner in Munster on November 8.

Western sides completed a clean sweep of the county junior football honours in a double-header at Azzurri Walsh Park, with Dungarvan and Tallow recording emphatic victories in their respective finals.

Dungarvan claimed their first Junior A title since 1973 with a comfortable 2-12 to 0-7 victory over Ferrybank, securing an immediate return to the intermediate ranks for 2027.

Bobby Lyons’ side made the perfect start when Charlie Crotty found the net after just 80 seconds, setting the tone for a dominant display. Luke Power impressed throughout, including a superb two-pointer before the interval, as Dungarvan established a 1-8 to 0-4 half-time advantage.

Ferrybank struggled to make inroads after the restart, and Johnny Burke’s 50th-minute goal, when he was afforded time to pick out the bottom right corner, put the result beyond doubt.

Meanwhile, Tallow secured their first county football title in 16 years with an equally convincing 2-12 to 0-4 triumph over Mount Sion in the Junior B decider.

Stephen Murphy’s first-half goal helped the Bridesiders establish a commanding 1-6 to 0-1 interval lead before Eoin McGrath converted a penalty shortly after the restart.

Sean Gleeson’s charges continued to dominate proceedings, with Murphy producing a Man of the Match performance, scoring 1-4 as Tallow rounded off a memorable afternoon for western football.