TWO WINS FROM three healthy on paper – a pair of swift corrections for Waterford after that opening round stumble at Páirc Uí Chaoimh – but scorelines can lie.
Waterford’s six-point win over Offaly at Walsh Park on Sunday flattered the Déise more than anything else. Still missing almost the entire Ballygunner contingent, they were scratchy and disjointed. They hit 1-7 from play across 70 minutes, and 12 wides that kept inviting Offaly back into the contest. With 44 minutes gone, the margin was only two, 0-12 to 0-10. They got out of it. But they didn’t convince.
When Eoghan Cahill set up Brian Duignan for a goal chance, the Faithful thought they had taken the lead, only for Billy Nolan to make the stop. Even then, Offaly almost had a second bite at the cherry when the rebound fell for Adam Screeney, but he missed his pulled effort.
Waterford’s counter almost saw that become a six-point swing, but Mark Fitzgerald failed to get the ball to hand and punish the Faithful miss. Another chance gone to waste.
In the 54th minute, Waterford finally shook free from Offaly, Jamie Barron and Calum Lyons carrying possession through tackle after tackle. Offaly couldn’t stop the inevitable.
Lyons found Halloran, and he rifled across goal and into the bottom corner to leave it 1-15 to 0-10.
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The brief spark where this game felt like anything more than a challenge match had come and gone.
Offaly would finally get their second score of the latter half in the 63rd minute through Dan Bourke, and thy would hit five of the last eight, but they never looked like coming back into contention.
Twice in the first half Offaly had come close to hitting the net. Both Screeney and Brian Duignan had seen chances go over instead of under, the latter’s effort in the 35th minute had drawn them level for the third time at 0-9 each.
The Déise were lethargic in the first half, allowing themselves more time in possession on the short restarts. Iarlaith Daly was the spare Waterford defender as Offaly played with two up front and kept Brecon Kavanagh as the sweeper, and they were competitive for the opening period.
Screeney had done well and picked off a couple of decent scores, Ter Guinan was lively too for the visitors – but once Waterford got over the initial slump and Conor Keane tightened his grip on Screeney, there was only going to be one winner, especially with Halloran’s form from placed balls.
Scorers for Waterford: Reuben Halloran 1-12 (0-9 f, 0-3 65), Billy Nolan, Brian Lynch, Calum Lyons, Michael Kiely, Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Seán Walsh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-10 (0-8 f), Dan Ravenhill (f), Luke Watkins, Dan Bourke, Oisin Kelly, Brian Duignan, David Nally 0-1 each.
Waterford
1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
4. Conor Keane (De La Salle), 6. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore), 2. Aaron O’Neill (Ballygunner)
7. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), 18. Daniel Lalor (De La Salle), 5. Brian Lynch (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
13. Reuben Halloran (De La Salle), 14. Michael Kiely (Abbeyside), 15. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
Subs: 21. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart) for O’Connell, 3. Mark Fitzgerald (Passage) for C Daly (both HT), 20. Charlie Treen (Abbeyside) for Curran (57), 23. Sean Mackey (Fenor) for Lalor (60), 22. Seán Walsh (Fourmilewater) for Kiely (63), 17. Mairtin Power (Clonea) for Keane (68 inj)
Offaly
1. Mark Troy (Durrow)
2. Ben Miller (Birr), 3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s), 4. Sam Bourke (Durrow)
6. Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
5. Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), 9. Cathal King (Carrig & Riverstown) 7. Ross Ravenhill (Durrow)
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11. Daniel Bourke (Durrow), 8. Luke Watkins (Shinrone)
10. Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey), 13. Eoghan Cahill (Birr), 12. Oisín Kelly (Belmont)
14. Brian Duignan (Durrow), 15. Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
Subs: J Clancy for R Ravenhill (35+3 inj), P Taaffe for S Bourke, C Spain for Guinan (both 55), C Cleary for Watkins (57), D Nally for Cahill (61), L Nolan for Screeney (70+4).
Subs: 21. Jack Clancy (Belmont) for R Ravenhill (35+3), 18. Patrick Taaffe (Belmont) for S Bourke, 20. Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Guinan (both 55), ), 19. Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone) for Watkins (57), 22. David Nally (Belmont) for Cahill (61), 17. Luke Nolan (Birr) for Screeney (70+4).
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Halloran hits 1-12 as Waterford continue winning run with six-point victory over Offaly
LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago
Waterford 1-19
Offaly 0-16
Jack McKay reports from Walsh Park
TWO WINS FROM three healthy on paper – a pair of swift corrections for Waterford after that opening round stumble at Páirc Uí Chaoimh – but scorelines can lie.
Waterford’s six-point win over Offaly at Walsh Park on Sunday flattered the Déise more than anything else. Still missing almost the entire Ballygunner contingent, they were scratchy and disjointed. They hit 1-7 from play across 70 minutes, and 12 wides that kept inviting Offaly back into the contest. With 44 minutes gone, the margin was only two, 0-12 to 0-10. They got out of it. But they didn’t convince.
When Eoghan Cahill set up Brian Duignan for a goal chance, the Faithful thought they had taken the lead, only for Billy Nolan to make the stop. Even then, Offaly almost had a second bite at the cherry when the rebound fell for Adam Screeney, but he missed his pulled effort.
Waterford’s counter almost saw that become a six-point swing, but Mark Fitzgerald failed to get the ball to hand and punish the Faithful miss. Another chance gone to waste.
In the 54th minute, Waterford finally shook free from Offaly, Jamie Barron and Calum Lyons carrying possession through tackle after tackle. Offaly couldn’t stop the inevitable.
Lyons found Halloran, and he rifled across goal and into the bottom corner to leave it 1-15 to 0-10.
The brief spark where this game felt like anything more than a challenge match had come and gone.
Offaly would finally get their second score of the latter half in the 63rd minute through Dan Bourke, and thy would hit five of the last eight, but they never looked like coming back into contention.
Twice in the first half Offaly had come close to hitting the net. Both Screeney and Brian Duignan had seen chances go over instead of under, the latter’s effort in the 35th minute had drawn them level for the third time at 0-9 each.
The Déise were lethargic in the first half, allowing themselves more time in possession on the short restarts. Iarlaith Daly was the spare Waterford defender as Offaly played with two up front and kept Brecon Kavanagh as the sweeper, and they were competitive for the opening period.
Screeney had done well and picked off a couple of decent scores, Ter Guinan was lively too for the visitors – but once Waterford got over the initial slump and Conor Keane tightened his grip on Screeney, there was only going to be one winner, especially with Halloran’s form from placed balls.
Scorers for Waterford: Reuben Halloran 1-12 (0-9 f, 0-3 65), Billy Nolan, Brian Lynch, Calum Lyons, Michael Kiely, Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Seán Walsh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-10 (0-8 f), Dan Ravenhill (f), Luke Watkins, Dan Bourke, Oisin Kelly, Brian Duignan, David Nally 0-1 each.
Waterford
1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
4. Conor Keane (De La Salle), 6. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore), 2. Aaron O’Neill (Ballygunner)
7. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), 18. Daniel Lalor (De La Salle), 5. Brian Lynch (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
8. Carthach Daly (Lismore), 9. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
12. Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), 11. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), 10. Tom O’Connell (Brickey Rangers)
13. Reuben Halloran (De La Salle), 14. Michael Kiely (Abbeyside), 15. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
Subs: 21. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart) for O’Connell, 3. Mark Fitzgerald (Passage) for C Daly (both HT), 20. Charlie Treen (Abbeyside) for Curran (57), 23. Sean Mackey (Fenor) for Lalor (60), 22. Seán Walsh (Fourmilewater) for Kiely (63), 17. Mairtin Power (Clonea) for Keane (68 inj)
Offaly
1. Mark Troy (Durrow)
2. Ben Miller (Birr), 3. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s), 4. Sam Bourke (Durrow)
6. Brecon Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
5. Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), 9. Cathal King (Carrig & Riverstown) 7. Ross Ravenhill (Durrow)
11. Daniel Bourke (Durrow), 8. Luke Watkins (Shinrone)
10. Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey), 13. Eoghan Cahill (Birr), 12. Oisín Kelly (Belmont)
14. Brian Duignan (Durrow), 15. Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
Subs: J Clancy for R Ravenhill (35+3 inj), P Taaffe for S Bourke, C Spain for Guinan (both 55), C Cleary for Watkins (57), D Nally for Cahill (61), L Nolan for Screeney (70+4).
Subs: 21. Jack Clancy (Belmont) for R Ravenhill (35+3), 18. Patrick Taaffe (Belmont) for S Bourke, 20. Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Guinan (both 55), ), 19. Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone) for Watkins (57), 22. David Nally (Belmont) for Cahill (61), 17. Luke Nolan (Birr) for Screeney (70+4).
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Déise Driving On Division 1A Hurling League Hurling Offaly GAA Waterford GAA