Meagher star in breathtaking Déise minor comeback win
Great scenes on the pitch in Lemybrien at the final whistle s Waterford players and management celebrated with family and supporters after coming from eight points down at half-time to win the game by a single point.
A Monday night to remember in Lemybrien as the Waterford minor footballers reached Phase 2 of the Munster championship with a gutsy comeback victory over Limerick. Players and mentors hugged and jumped around giddily before family and friends spilled out onto the pitch to join in. A glorious sight.
Led by Theo Meagher, Aidan McMaugh and Dara Gough, the Déise stormed back from eight points down at half-time to make it three wins from three and extend their provincial adventure. Brendan Kearney’s charges will tackle Kerry, Clare and Cork in the next part of the competition.
Midfielder Theo Meagher hoovered up high ball and breaking ball all night. He also fired 1-1 in that second-half recovery. Aidan McMaugh at number eleven was another ball winner. Dara Gough continued his red-hot form with six points. 1-22 in three outings for the Stradbally striker. Ronan Kirwan and Anthony O’Donnell also rolled up their sleeves and drove the team forward. The bench made a big difference as subs Charlie Smyth and Charlie Kelly both raised white flags.
Lemybrien feels like a proper home for Déise underage football teams. Lively tunes over the PA kept the crowd entertained!
A goal with the last kick of the first half from Brooklyn Delahunty left Limerick eight up at the break (1-9 to 0-4). A sucker punch for Waterford as they coughed up the ball after a long spell of possession. Conor O'Dwyer and Charlie McCarthy lit up the scoreboard with four points apiece from play.
The young Treaty men won the toss and chose to play with the breeze blowing towards the Comeraghs. Eoghan Hogan struck first after just 47 seconds. Dara Gough equalised after a fine Theo Meagher catch. Limerick wing back Rory O'Dwyer fetched the next kickout, and a Conor O'Dwyer point followed. In the tenth minute, Charlie McCarthy let fly from 45 metres out, and his left-footed effort floated over the green and gold spot. A breach by the home side got punished by O’Dwyer (0-5 to 0-1).
After Gough nailed a Waterford free, the Déise had a let-off when Cillian Murphy fired across the face of the goal and wide. O'Dwyer added another off his reliable right. McCarthy looked just as lethal with his left boot. He swung over his second two-pointer, again from 45 metres. O'Dwyer’s fourth single made it 9-2. McCarthy then saw a goal disallowed for a square ball. More relief for an under-the-pump Déise defence.
A solo run from Aidan McMaugh yielded a badly needed point before Gough dispatched another free. Waterford tried to create one last chance in injury time but Limerick caught them on the counter. Eoghan Hogan turned sharply and passed across the goal for Brooklyn Delahunty to belt the ball home and open up an eight-point cushion.
A wind-assisted Waterford lifted the tempo on the restart. Ronan Kirwan created early points for Meagher and Gough. A Kirwan catch on 43 minutes sent them goalwards again. Shay Healy and Peter Murray worked the ball across to Meagher, who smashed it into the bottom corner. The stand erupted. Game on!
A Waterford free was moved forward 50 metres, and Gough punched the air when his two-point effort sailed over (1-9 to 1-8). Limerick emptied the bench, and substitute Ollie Stokes scored with his first touch. Waterford wing-back Liam O'Grady levelled when his two-point attempt turned in from left to right like a golf shot in Augusta. Another huge roar! Substitute Charlie Smyth put the home side ahead for the first time. The mighty Meagher won a dirty ball off a kickout, and McMaugh left it 1-12 to 1-10 with eight minutes to play. A Charlie McCarthy free brought it down to the minimum.
An Anthony O'Donnell intercept started another home attack. The hard working Kirwan soloed through and Charlie Keating chose to tap over. Waterford weren’t out of the woods just yet. A cynical foul on McCarthy saw Tom Gavin convert a close range free. Limerick probed again but the Déise broke and nearly netted a goal off the last play.
The home fans rose to their feet at the final whistle. A great night for Waterford football.
Dara Gough 0-6 (1 2pf, 2fs), Theo Meagher 1-1, Liam O’Grady (1 2p), Aidan McMaugh 0-2 each, Charlie Kelly, Charlie Smyth 0-1 each.
Charlie McCarthy 0-5 (2 2ps, 1f), Conor O’Dwyer 0-4, Brooklyn Delahunty 1-0, Tom Gavin (1f), Ollie Stokes, Eoghan Hogan 0-1 each.
Jack Sheehan (Kilgobinet); Arlo McManus (Tramore), James Skehan (Rathgormack), Cian Power (Portlaw); Shay Healy (Geraldines), Anthony O'Donnell (Brickey Rangers), Liam O'Grady (Gaultier); Tomás Walsh (The Nire), Peter Murray (Rathgormack); Enda Bloomer (Gaultier), Aidan McMaugh (The Nire), Theo Meagher (Portlaw); Dara Gough (Stradbally), Rian Hallahan (Dungarvan), Ronan Kirwan (Rathgormack).
Charlie Smyth (Tramore) for Hallahan (HT), Caolan Johnston (Gaultier) for Bloomer (37), Charlie Kelly (Geraldines) for Murray (49), Eoin Keane (Stradbally) for Healy (54), Colm Kiely (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) for Power (61).
Dean Ryan (Na Piarsaigh); Ronan Conneely (Ballybricken/Bohermore), Aaron Murphy (Fr Casey's), Luke McDermott (Monaleen); Rory O'Dwyer (Monaleen), Eoghan Murnane (Camogue Rovers), Conor O'Dwyer (Rathkeale); Cillian Murphy (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Jamie McAuliffe (Fr Casey's); Cian Barry (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Jack Moynihan (Monaleen), Seán O'Flynn (Dromcollogher/Broadford); Charlie McCarthy (Adare), Brooklyn Delahunty (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan), Eoghan Hogan (Munster/St Paul's).
Ollie Stokes (Dromcollogher/Broadford) for Barry (45), Tom Gavin (Monaleen) for Delahunty (47), Kevin McNamara (Ahane) for Moynihan (47), Cian Lonergan (Ballylanders) for Murphy (Blood, 50-61), Cathal Donnelly (Camogue Rovers) for O’Dwyer (58), Cian Lonergan (Ballylanders) for Conneely (62).
Brian Crowley (Cork)
Theo Meagher was a magnet for kickouts and struck 1-1.
Meagher’s goal lifted the home crowd.
Three Munster championship wins in a row!
Kerry will pay a visit to Lemybrien on April 27.
