Waterford 2-28
Offaly 0-7
Conor Kane reports from Thurles
AFTER A DISAPPOINTING 2018 in both league and championship Waterford need to hit the ground running this year and they couldn’t have started in any better fashion than with this emphatic win over a hapless Offaly.
Stephen Bennett took the opportunity afforded by poor opposition to mount an exhibition of scoring, 0-16 from play and frees, with some of his long-range efforts drawing gasps of admiration.
DJ Foran looked sharp from the off, sending over two nice points in the first half while Stephen Bennett was reliable with the placed balls and also got a couple from play early on. Veterans such as Kevin Moran and Michael “Brick” Walsh caused many problems with some fine ball-winning and passing.
It took Offaly 17 minutes to trouble the scoreboard, Kevin Connolly opening their account, and they had Eoghan Cahill between the sticks to thank for a couple of good saves which prevented goals by Thomas Ryan and Shane Bennett, while a well-struck ground stroke by Thomas Ryan in the 22nd minute went just wide of the post.
At the break Waterford led by 0-12 to 0-5 but suffered a setback when Shane Fives, who had performed strongly until then, had to come off injured in the 33rd minute.
If Offaly had any dreams of mounting a fightback they were extinguished barely.a minute into the second period when DJ Foran took possession on the right, rounded his man and sent a powerful shot past Cahill and into the net. Mikey Kearney and Stephen Bennett followed up with a string of fine points and the cause was lost for Offaly.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-16 (10F), DJ Foran 1-3, Jack Prendergast 1-0, Mikey Kearney 0-3, Thomas Ryan 0-2, Tadhg de Búrca 0-1, Kevin Moran 0-1, Mark O’Brien 0-1, Shane Bennett 0-1
Scorers for Offaly: Kevin Connolly 0-2, Aidan Treacy 0-2 (2F), Eoghan Cahill 0-2 (2F), Damien Egan 0-1.
Waterford
1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
3. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside)
6. Tadhg de Búrca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
8. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank)
7. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
10. DJ Foran (Portlaw)
15. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
9. Mikey Kearney (Ballyduff Upper)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
13. Thomas Ryan (Tallow)
12. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart).
Subs:
17. Jordan Henley (Tallow) for S Fives (33)
24. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Shane Bennett (44)
23. Jack Prendergast (Lismore) for B O’Halloran (44)
21. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for M Walsh (51)
23. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion) for K Moran (55).
Offaly:
1. Eoghan Cahill (Birr)
2. Tom Spain (Brosna Gaels)
3. Niall Houlihan (Tullamore)
4. Paddy Rigney (Kinnitty)
7. Aidan Treacy (St Rynagh’s)
6. Pat Camon (St Rynagh’s)
5. Craig Traynor (Birr)
8. Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels)
9. Kevin Dunne (Seir Kieran)
12. Shane Kinsella (Kinnitty)
11. Sean Dolan (St Rynagh’s)
10. Eoghan Callaghan (Kinnitty)
14. Colm Gath (Drumcullen)
15. David Nally (Belmont)
13. Kevin Connolly (Coolderry).
Subs
20. Paddy Murphy (Ballinamere) for D Nally (HT)
24. Enda Grogan (Kilcormac/Killoughney) for P Rigney (HT)
25. Damien Egan (Belmont) for E Callaghan (HT)
17. Joey Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels) for S Dolan (66)
21. Dylan Murray (Kilcormac/Killoughney) for S Kinsella (66).
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
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The Dolphins QBs are going to take some hammering this season behind what’s left of their offensive line. I was reading elsewhere that the Texans never negotiated a salary with Tunsil before the trade went through. Almost guaranteed they have to give him a massive long-term contract with the leverage he has over them now. The mess they made of trying to poach Caserio from the Patriots to be GM coming back to haunt them.
@john smyth: Texans are dysfunctional but I think they won after all these trades. Franchise left tackles are hard to come by and franchise QBs are even harder to come by. The Texans now have both. They needed to keep Watson healthy long term and not turn into the luck fiasco with the colts. The dolphins got a nice haul also. Will allow them to take tua and some lineman in the draft.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: True. And they got Clowney out the door as well, something they needed to do even if they didn’t get huge riches for him.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Tunsil isn’t a great left tackle but the Dolphins got a great price for him. Texans should have gone after Trent Williams from the Redskins. Watching whether the Dolphins #TankForTua or #TankForTrevor over the next 2 years will be interesting to say the least!!
@Alan Boyle: Tunsil is a top 5 left tackle
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: they gave up more than the bears gave up for mack. While tunsil is an upgrade, he is not a generational player.. not even close.
To the Dolphins credit, if your gonna tank, you might as well go all out and make sure you get Tua, rather than risking winning 3/4 games and missing out
@Taos Hum: With the picks they have, it’s very tempting to wait for Trevor Lawrence. Trading down with a QB needy team and drafting Jerry Jeudy next year would be a great scenario. Definitely risky though
@Gary: Hard to sell two years of tanking though to fans, players and coaches. Get Tua and start building around him with all the picks they have.