Dunwoody’s super six not enough for Déise footballers
Team Captains Conor Murray Waterford & Mickey Bambrick Carlow with match official Jonathan Hayes. Photos: Eddie Dee
Six Alan Dunwoody points couldn’t prevent an opening night defeat for the Waterford footballers in desperate Dungarvan weather on Saturday. Just like the hurlers, the footballers had no luck against Carlow.
The fleet footed Kilrossanty full forward picked up from where he left off in the Sigerson Cup with MTU Cork. He enjoyed the extra space that the new rules afford and finished with four white flags and an orange one all from open play.
Waterford never threatened a goal however while Carlow created four green flag opportunities. Ross Dunphy and Kevin Murphy found the net as the visitors grabbed their first win of the campaign. They missed two other glorious goal chances. Shane Curran’s charges benefitted from the drawn game with Tipperary the week before as they capitalised on turnover ball. None more so than two minutes into injury time when Waterford lost possession with goalkeeper Paudie Hunt a long way from home. Carlow worked the ball up the field before Murphy finished to the unguarded net.
In driving wind and rain, five two pointers were scored (three for Carlow and two for Waterford). Dunwoody is the first Déise man to raise an orange flag. Captain Conor Murray followed suit in the second half. He marked his return with four classy points.
Paul Shankey’s side are still getting to grips with the new rules. James Walsh was punished heavily for showing dissent after being penalised for picking the ball off the ground. Referee Jonathan Hayes moved the ball forward 50 metres and Darragh O’Brien kicked a two pointer.
Why on earth was this game taking place at the same time as the second half of Ireland versus England in the Six Nations? Around a hundred spectators paid in with many choosing to watch the rugby on their phones. The Tipperary-Longford game had a 2.30 start in Clonmel the same day.
Colin Foley and Rory Furlong made their debuts for Waterford from the off while substitutes John Groves and Jamie Power also got their first taste of senior football. Carlow number ten Aaron Amond slotted the first two pointer of the night in the fifth minute. The umpire raised a white flag initially before putting up the orange one. Alan Dunwoody shot two early points for Waterford including one off the outside of the right. Liam Fennell made a point saving block at the other end. The Stradbally man threw himself into tackles as usual. Dissent from James Walsh was punished with another orange flag from Darragh O’Brien. Conor Murray then clipped over the first of his four points. Conor Doyle and Ross Dunphy made it 6-3 to the visitors.
O’Brien blasted right and wide with the goal at his mercy and Dunwoody responded with a two pointer at the country end. Again, the umpire went for the white flag first before Hayes corrected him. The benefits of the new scoring arc were in evidence on 31 minutes. A two point attempt from Doyle dropped short but Dunphy was lurking to punch the ball to the Waterford net. 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Dunphy extended Carlow's advantage to five a minute into the second half. Jason Curry converted a free for the hosts before Conor Murray executed a solo and go followed by a two pointer (1-7 to 0-8). Carlow wiped that out with three Darragh O’Brien frees and a Conor Crowley point from play.
Dunwoody continued to cause carnage. He dummied his marker before shooting his fifth point. Pressure on the kickout resulted in a Murray single. Another marvellous Dunwoody effort left a goal between the teams with ten minutes left (1-11 to 0-11). Dunwoody had another point attempt which Carlow netminder Johnny Furey deflected onto the crossbar. A Conor Doyle two pointer gave the leaders breathing space. John Murphy then fisted wide with the goal gaping.
Seven minutes of injury time were signalled much to everybody’s surprise! The countdown clock and hooter system isn’t in place for Division 4 games just yet. Two minutes into added time, Waterford got caught on the counter attack. With goalkeeper Paudie Hunt out the field, Carlow sub Kevin Murphy, only a minute on the field, punched the ball home.
