Waterford 0-22
Wexford 0-16
Tomás McCarthy reports from Innovate Wexford Park
A HUNGRY WATERFORD outfit made an immediate return to Division 1A as they swept aside their hosts by six points in the promotion decider at Innovate Wexford Park.
The away team showed a ferocious appetite for work throughout the seventy and overwhelmed an out of sorts Wexford.
Top scorer Pauric Mahony returned thirteen points for the comfortable winners as Jake Dillon, Colin Dunford and Michael Walsh also impressed up front. The defence only conceded eight points from play. They were ably led by Tadhg De Burca, Austin Gleeson and Noel Connors.
The sides were level twice in the first quarter as they traded four points each. Colin Dunford and Stephen Bennett caused all sorts of problems early on. Liam Óg McGovern roused the home crowd with the equaliser after Andrew Shore made a great catch from a puckout. The Waterford half back line led by De Burca and Gleeson started to imposed their will as they crowded out the Wexford forwards.
Derek McGrath’s side picked out their men with snappy passes and shot six points without response. This included four from Pauric Mahony (three frees). Jake Dillon secured his second after a De Burca interception before Austin Gleeson lashed over the score of the half after a fielding a Mark Fanning puckout.
McGovern ended an 18 minute famine for a Wexford white flag. Mahony struck his seventh point to leave the Déise 0-13 to 0-7 in front at the break although they hit ten wides in the process.
Waterford stretched the lead to eight with three Mahony frees and a single from Dillon. Stephen Bennett was denied a goal at the near post by Fanning. Wexford created a glorious chance at the opposite end but substitute Kevin Foley sent his shot screaming past the left hand post.
The hosts nibbled into the deficit with points through Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Jack Guiney (0-17 to 0-11). On 52 minutes, Stephen O’Keeffe swatted away a McGovern attempt. The away side weathered the storm through the unerring Mahony to secure a spot in the top flight for 2016.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-13 (0-11f); Jake Dillon 0-3; Colin Dunford 0-2; Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron, Austin Gleeson, Tom Devine 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Jack Guiney 0-6 (0-5f); Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Ian Byrne (0-3f) 0-3 each; Liam Óg McGovern 0-2; Conor McDonald, Paudie Foley 0-1 each.
WATERFORD
1. Stephen O’Keeffe
2. Shane Fives
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Noel Connors
24. Austin Gleeson
5. Tadhg De Burca
7. Philip Mahony
8. Jamie Barron
10. Kevin Moran
14. Michael Walsh
11. Pauric Mahony
12 Jake Dillon
13. Brian O’Halloran
22. Stephen Bennett
23. Colin Dunford
Subs
Maurice Shanahan for Bennett (53)
Tom Devine for O’Halloran (60)
Michael Kearney for Dunford (66)
Martin O’Neill for Dillon (68)
Shane O’Sullivan for Barron (71)
WEXFORD
1. Mark Fanning
6. Matthew O’Hanlon
17. Eoin Conroy
2. Liam Ryan
5. Paudie Foley
4. Eoin Moore
7. Andrew Shore
8. David Redmond
9. Lee Chin
10. Diarmuid O’Keeffe
11. Daithi Waters
12. Ian Byrne
19. Podge Doran
14. Conor McDonald
15. Liam Óg McGovern
Subs
Kevin Foley for Byrne (H-T)
Jack Guiney for Doran (H-T)
Harry Kehoe for Redmond (42)
Garrett Sinnott for Moore (49)
Shane Tomkins for Waters (63)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Katie Taylor is an absolute class act, forget the critics, your fans know how great you are Katie. Bring on 2018.
@Brian Gibbons: the BBC has turned into a complete sh*t show! Terrible coverage, analysis, totally bias and as for that sports person of the year awards.. it’s a complete joke…
She got hit a lot. I was surprised too given the other girl was game but basically a novice.
@DuskyTheCat: I can only agree pal. Got hit a hell of a lot. And was hit in previous fights by lesser boxers!
@DuskyTheCat: she got roped into a slug fest when she should have just boxed. To be fair in terms of skill and speed there isnt another woman on the planet anywhere near as good as her. Unfortunately she does sometimes get caught in brawls which there is no need for.
Why can’t she take a bit of critisism? No doubt she is a good fighter but what they were saying seemed right.Might be too used to people saying how great she is, then when she gets a bit of stick can’t seem to handle it.If she came up against someone with real power she could be in serious trouble, she does get hit a lot.Take the critisism on board, (it is constructive) park it, then move on.
Sure Katie could pick and hit all fight but that’s not what gets the average person watching boxing.
From what I can see, Katie is being consciously more confrontational with in her pro boxing career for two reasons. Firstly, because the crowd respond to it and secondly because she knows she can get away with it due to the respective ability of the fighters she’s faced. I’m sure if Katie faced a better boxer she would revert to picking and hitting.
Despite all the money he has made, Mayweather is reviled by the average punter because he picks and hits. He got more credit when he was aggressive against McGregor but only did it because he could. Katie is right to fire back because whatever way she boxes, there’s always going to be someone criticising her.
IMO Katie doesn’t have KO power and should be a defensive fighter. She’d be untouchable a la first two rounds. After that sloppy, footwork and exits need to be better in future.
Rise above it Katie !upwards we go yeah yeah yeah champion
There riddled with the jealousy.
Katie is such a class act an has been for so long, she did get hit alot and to be fair her opponent got in her head, but also remember Katie has fought 8 times in 14 months. That’s amazing, and her opponent tried to make it a street fight, Katie still boxed the head off her, her opponent gave Katie no credit either, I can’t wait to see her fresh again and domanite.