Back to back wins for Queally's men
Peter Queally's Waterford secured an 18 point win over Antrim
The big guns returned for Waterford in a big win away to Antrim at a blustery Corrgian Park this afternoon.
The damage was done in the first half as a Kevin Mahony goal and a Stephen Bennett penalty helped the wind assisted visitors into a seventeen point lead. Bennett, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly and Dessie Hutchinson all made their first starts of 2025 as Peter Queally’s charges stayed in contention for promotion from Division 1B.
Davy Fitzgerald’s Saffrons rallied briefly at the start of the second half with four unanswered points but there was no way back. Hutchinson hit four points from play on his return while Bennett, Prunty, Jamie Barron, Paddy Leavey and Michael Kiely also played starring roles.
Queally made five changes from the win over Laois as Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly, Stephen Bennett, Dessie Hutchinson and Charlie Treen replaced Conor Keane, Carthach Daly, Shane Bennett, Sean Walsh and Patrick Fitzgerald. A statement of intent.
The visitors played with a strong breeze in the opening half and set to work straight away as Padraig Fitzgerald pointed off the throw in. Michael Kiely added a second. Fitzgerald missed a free but James McNaughton made no mistake at the other end. Mark Fitzgerald then set up a Jamie Barron point from distance. Padraig Fitzgerald nailed a free from his own 65 to make it 4-1 after eight minutes.
McNaughton was off target from an Antrim free. In the tenth minute, Charlie Treen and Conor Prunty worked the ball into Kevin Mahony off a long Billy Nolan puckout. Mahony’s shot from a tight angle bounced past Ryan Elliott and ended up in the back of the net. Another Fitzgerald free extended the lead to seven.
On the quarter hour mark, Stephen Bennett set off on a solo run from 60 metres out. The 2020 All Star flicked the ball over Niall O’Connor and Kealan Molloy brought him down for a penalty. Molloy received a black card from referee Caymon Flynn. Bennett buried the penalty in the bottom corner (2-5 to 0-1). Ryan Elliott never budged.
A powerful run from Michael Kiely set up Paddy Leavey but his strike at goal was saved by Elliott. Antrim couldn't clear their lines however and Conor Prunty punished it. New Déise captain Dessie Hutchinson put over two points before Charlie Treen got in on the act (2-9 to 0-1).
A McNaughton free ended an eighteen minute barren spell for Antrim. A Billy Nolan clearance was intercepted but Niall O’Connor couldn’t capitalise. Jamie Barron finished a magical solo run with a point off the hurley. Padraig Fitzgerald sprayed a crossfield ball to Mark Fitzgerald and the Passage man split the posts from his own 65. Hutchinson hit his third of the afternoon as the away team enjoyed a sixteen point advantage at the break (2-14 to 0-4). Eight first half wides was another sign of Waterford’s dominance.
Antrim reeled off four points in a row on the resumption. McNaughton knocked over two frees while Eoin O’Neill and Keelan Molloy were also on target.
Charlie Treen broke that sequence with his second point from play and Waterford’s first of the second half. Substitute Kieran Bennett scored shortly after his arrival. Further points from Barron, Prunty and another sub Peter Hogan put an end to Antrim’s revival.
Entering the last quarter, another defensive splitting run from Michael Kiely created an opening for Dessie Hutchinson. The Ballygunner man was denied a goal by Ryan Elliott.
McNaughton, Molloy and Gerard Walsh got consolation points for the hosts. Stephen Bennett shot over a late double before he was rested. The Ballysaggart ace judged the wind to perfection for his second after receiving a pass from his brother Kieran. Late points from Patrick Curran and Hutchinson finished the job.
Back to back wins keep Peter Queally’s men in the promotion hunt ahead of a home match against Dublin at Walsh Park next Sunday.
