Action heats up on the underage front
Waterford's Dara Gough kicks a massive two-point score against Limerick in their minor comeback win at Lemybrien. Photo: Eddie Dee
Another huge week awaits Déise teams on the underage front this week with four fixtures to feast upon, as the respective races to provincial deciders begin to gather shape. Here’s all you need to know:
A place in the Munster Under-20 Football Championship final awaits Wednesday night’s winner following the Déise’s terrific comeback in Clare. Cork drew with the Banner but landed a seismic scalp of their own in their second outing, seeing off Kerry by a point. Kerry were streets ahead of the Déise in their meeting, so that’s a fair piece of form for the Rebels. Paddy McCarthy, David Nyhan and Joe Brennan have been outstanding for Waterford of late - but Cork with home advantage will be an extremely tough test. Waterford haven’t been to a provincial football decider since reaching one at this grade in 2006. This is the best team we’ve seen since, rule them out at your peril.
Following on from their agonising disappointments against Clare, Tipperary and Cork - pride is now the only prize on offer for James O’Connor’s under-20 outfit. They might have zero points, but they’ve only been beaten by a solitary score in all three of the aforementioned outings. Conor Tobin and Mark Hartley were electric against the Rebels, while Davy Comerford and Joe McDonnell once again caught the eye. Limerick also come into this clash winless, having lost by nine to Cork and by three to Clare. This will have been seen from the outset as the Déise’s most winnable fixture, and it would be great to end the campaign with confidence. Easier said than done, but a win at this grade to end a long running drought would do the world of good.
Darragh O’Sullivan’s Déise minor hurlers have won one and lost one going into an away trip to Clare on Friday night. They were value for their opening-night success away to Limerick, while in awful conditions they were probably second-best against Cork last time out. Dylan and Darragh Murphy have been the stars so far, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Donncha Flannery can get a starting berth having impressed in a cameo against the Rebels. Limerick were six points clear of Clare after their defeat by the Déise, so on form, Waterford have a big opportunity to book a place in the All-Ireland series as they bid to defend the Irish Press Cup. Away wins in Clare don’t come easy, but this group are capable of achieving such.
Having gone three from three in Phase 1, the truest test of the Waterford minor footballers’ credentials will arrive on Monday in the form of the Kingdom. The Déise showed resilience in fighting back from eight points down against Limerick last time out, having controlled throughout their previous wins against Clare and Tipperary. Their scoring power is undeniable, led chiefly by Dara Gough. This is Kerry’s first outing against a side brimming with confidence on their home patch. Still, it’s been 23 years since the Déise downed the green and gold at any level - so irrespective of the talent on offer, it’ll be a huge ask. Perhaps closer than most meetings, but a win against Kerry might be slightly ahead of schedule.
