WHEN PAURIC MAHONY stood over a stoppage-time free with the chance to force extra-time with Kilkenny on Saturday night, not many in the grounds doubted his ability to nail it.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Mahony had been model of consistency on placed balls over the two games and his free would have gone over had it not been for the out-stretched arm of Eoin Murphy in the Kilkenny goals.
Murphy cleared it long and Richie Hogan managed to tag on a point at the far end. And just like that Waterford’s season was over.
“We were in the dug-out saying, “this is over,” Stephen Bennett said yesterday. “He’s been brilliant all year. It’s so hard for him. I know it was the last shot but we’d so many chances as well. So much stuff didn’t go right. Just one little break.
“You have to give credit to the goalkeeper as well. It was a great catch under that much pressure. That’s Kilkenny. You think they’re gone but they just come back. Like the first week when they came back from five points down… they never, like, lose.”
Such is the nature of the GAA calendar, Bennett has little time to dwell on Waterford’s second straight All-Ireland semi-final defeat. Along with 10 other members of the senior squad, Bennett has an opportunity to blow off some steam for the U21s against Antrim on Saturday evening.
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Three days after Waterford were humiliated by Tipperary in the Munster final, the Deise served a reminder of their talent in the Munster U21 semi-final by handing out an 18-point beating to Clare. Antrim must be wary of a similar backlash this weekend.
“It’s good to get over the disappointment. At least we have something to focus on again. You haven’t time to be dwelling on last week. Yeah, it’s great to still have a chance to win a bit of silverware.
“[The Munster final] was a huge disappointment, for the players who were playing especially. It was brilliant just to go out [with the U21s] and win that and lift the spirits again.
“Obviously the Munster final didn’t go to plan but it was great and the supporters were brilliant as well. You’d be thinking, ‘Will they come or not?’ And every one of them came and it was brilliant.”
Ken Sutton / INPHO
Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO
It’s been a big year for Bennett. He’s gone under the knife for two double-hip operations – one when he was 17 and the second last winter just before he turned 20. That latest surgery was to shave off some bone that had started to grow back and repair the ligament.
“I wasn’t really sure was I going to [make it back] but then I went back to the seniors in January and was just doing my own running with the physios, who’ve been brilliant.
“Pauric Mahony and me were actually doing it [the recovery together] so it was grand to have a fella with you. The year before I was on the other side of the field running over and back by myself, so at least with Pauric we were doing it together..
“I’m just hoping for this winter now, hopefully we win the U21 and I can go away and try to build it up again. The more stronger they are, the less pressure on the hips. I just have to be sensible.”
It wasn’t long before Bennett was back to his best on the field. His deft assist for Peter Hogan’s goal in the Munster U21 final was magical.
“I know I’ll never try that again but it was grand. Just one of them things that just happens. A spur of the moment thing.
“If you watch it, he made a great run and nine times out of ten he wouldn’t get the ball. He made a 40 yard run for the goal. I knew he was there but it worked out very well. We were delighted.”
Stephen Bennett was speaking at the Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Hurling Championship All Ireland Semi-Finals Media Day in Croke Park.
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'At least we have something to focus on' - Bennett wants Deise backlash
WHEN PAURIC MAHONY stood over a stoppage-time free with the chance to force extra-time with Kilkenny on Saturday night, not many in the grounds doubted his ability to nail it.
Mahony had been model of consistency on placed balls over the two games and his free would have gone over had it not been for the out-stretched arm of Eoin Murphy in the Kilkenny goals.
Murphy cleared it long and Richie Hogan managed to tag on a point at the far end. And just like that Waterford’s season was over.
“We were in the dug-out saying, “this is over,” Stephen Bennett said yesterday. “He’s been brilliant all year. It’s so hard for him. I know it was the last shot but we’d so many chances as well. So much stuff didn’t go right. Just one little break.
“You have to give credit to the goalkeeper as well. It was a great catch under that much pressure. That’s Kilkenny. You think they’re gone but they just come back. Like the first week when they came back from five points down… they never, like, lose.”
Such is the nature of the GAA calendar, Bennett has little time to dwell on Waterford’s second straight All-Ireland semi-final defeat. Along with 10 other members of the senior squad, Bennett has an opportunity to blow off some steam for the U21s against Antrim on Saturday evening.
Three days after Waterford were humiliated by Tipperary in the Munster final, the Deise served a reminder of their talent in the Munster U21 semi-final by handing out an 18-point beating to Clare. Antrim must be wary of a similar backlash this weekend.
“It’s good to get over the disappointment. At least we have something to focus on again. You haven’t time to be dwelling on last week. Yeah, it’s great to still have a chance to win a bit of silverware.
“[The Munster final] was a huge disappointment, for the players who were playing especially. It was brilliant just to go out [with the U21s] and win that and lift the spirits again.
“Obviously the Munster final didn’t go to plan but it was great and the supporters were brilliant as well. You’d be thinking, ‘Will they come or not?’ And every one of them came and it was brilliant.”
It’s been a big year for Bennett. He’s gone under the knife for two double-hip operations – one when he was 17 and the second last winter just before he turned 20. That latest surgery was to shave off some bone that had started to grow back and repair the ligament.
“I wasn’t really sure was I going to [make it back] but then I went back to the seniors in January and was just doing my own running with the physios, who’ve been brilliant.
“Pauric Mahony and me were actually doing it [the recovery together] so it was grand to have a fella with you. The year before I was on the other side of the field running over and back by myself, so at least with Pauric we were doing it together..
“I’m just hoping for this winter now, hopefully we win the U21 and I can go away and try to build it up again. The more stronger they are, the less pressure on the hips. I just have to be sensible.”
It wasn’t long before Bennett was back to his best on the field. His deft assist for Peter Hogan’s goal in the Munster U21 final was magical.
“I know I’ll never try that again but it was grand. Just one of them things that just happens. A spur of the moment thing.
“If you watch it, he made a great run and nine times out of ten he wouldn’t get the ball. He made a 40 yard run for the goal. I knew he was there but it worked out very well. We were delighted.”
Stephen Bennett was speaking at the Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Hurling Championship All Ireland Semi-Finals Media Day in Croke Park.
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