A general view of Fraher Field, Dungarvan. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Waterford SFC Final
Rathgormack 2-10 Abbeyside Ballinacourty 0-8
By Tomás McCarthy at Fraher Field
Second half goals from Peter Walsh and James Power saw Rathgormack keep hold of the Conway Cup in high winds against a battling Abbeyside/Ballinacourty this afternoon.
Kenny Hassett's men scored 2-3 into the elements to capture the 12th title in the club's history. Hard running wing forward James Power caught the eye with 1-1 while Willie Hahessy, Peter Walsh, Michael Curry and Jason Gleeson also made sizeable contributions. Michael O'Halloran hit three points for Ballinacourty while Michael Kiely and Willie Beresford put in big shifts.
There were only three points between the teams, with nine minutes left, when Jason Gleeson set off on a solo run and offloaded to James Power. He passed to the unmarked Peter Walsh who slipped the ball under Aaron Beresford. Ballinacourty nearly cancelled it out straight away as Patrick Hurney punched a Brian Looby delivery off the crossbar.
Substitute Billy Power, who returned from Dubai last week, added a point. Two minutes into injury time, Courty keeper Aaron Beresford was caught off his line and James Power booted the ball into the unguarded net.
Wind assisted Rathgormack led 7-3 at the break. Jason Curry, Jason Gleeson and Conor Murray all split the posts from outside the 45. Courty dug in and second half points from Aaron Beresford (45), Michael O'Halloran and Diarmuid Mackle narrowed the gap to two. Rathgormack went 26 minutes without a score, but a Cathal Crowch single settled them.
Scorers for Rathgormack: James Power 1-1, Peter Walsh 1-0, Jason Curry 0-3 (2fs), Conor Murray 0-2, Billy Power, Cathal Crowch, Jason Gleeson, Adam Murray 0-1 each.
Scorers for Abbeyside/Ballinacourty: Michael O'Halloran 0-3 (1f), Patrick Hurney 0-2 (2fs), Diarmuid Mackle, Aaron Beresford (45), Willie Beresford 0-1 each.
Rathgormack: Paudie Hunt; Glen Power, Máirtín Power, Willie Hahessy; Sean Hahesy, Tom Walsh, Cathal Crowch; Peter Walsh, Michael Curry; James Power, Jason Curry, Conor Murray; Jason Gleeson, Stephen Curry, Adam Murray.
Subs: Billy Power for Adam Murray (HT), Francis Roche for Conor Murray (43), Conor Walsh for Crowch (57), Donnacha Hassett for Gleeson (61).
Abbeyside/Ballinacourty: Aaron Beresford; Colin Foley, Conor McCarthy, David Montgomery; Charlie Treen, Brian Looby, Willie Beresford; James Beresford, Michael Kiely; Diarmuid Mackle, Rian Walsh, Michael O'Halloran; Sean Whelan Barrett, Patrick Hurney, Dean Beresford.
Subs: Brian Callaghan for Walsh (41), Daire Slevin for James Beresford (43), Niall McCarthy for Mackle (57).
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Erin's Own)
