Stradbally are back in the Déise senior football ranks
Stradbally celebrate promotion to the senior ranks after defeating Brickey Rangers in Cappoquin Logistic Fraher Field. Photos: Eddie Dee
19-time senior football champions Stradbally returned to the Waterford top flight after a two-year absence on a wet and windy Sunday evening in Dungarvan. The Reds survived a second-half rally from Brickey Rangers to claim back-to-back Premier Intermediate crowns.
Goals by Rory Fennell, Cormac McGrath and Man of the Match Michael O'Brien opened up a 14-point lead by the 33rd minute, but Brickeys never threw in the towel. Seven points from Déise Under 20 attacker Paddy McCarthy, including three orange flags, and a tremendous Tom O'Connell goal left only a kick of a ball between them with three to go. Stradbally goalkeeper Christopher Casey also denied O'Connell from the penalty spot.
Michael Mullaney, Liam Fennell and Michael O'Brien won key possessions to see it out and spark wild celebrations. “We are red, we are white, we are dynamite,” was the chant as the players got photos with the cup in the spilling rain. After losing two Promotion/Relegation finals to Roanmore in the last two seasons, the Reds are back in the senior ranks for 2026. Captain Daniel Weldon dedicated the win to former county chairman and staunch Stradbally supporter Tom Cunningham, who died in April.
The winners had strong performers all over the field. Christopher Casey, Paul Connors and Jack Mullaney all had big moments at the back. Liam Fennell put in hard and fair tackles from start to finish. Midfield partner Shane Aherne showed his quality at both ends. Rory Fennell (1-2 in the first half) and Michael O’Brien (1-1 in the second half) sparkled in attack. Jack Mullaney put manners on Paddy McCarthy in the first half but the young forward cut loose in the second. Tom O’Connell, Sean Lennon and Dan Kelly also kept battling for the Brickeys. A case of too little, too late in the end.
Despite shooting eight wides and leaving another three balls short with the elements, the Reds led 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval. There was needle in this one from the off. Four players engaged in pushing and shoving, and a second ball was on the pitch, as Rory Fennell kicked the opening point! On the quarter-hour mark, a Fennell shot bobbled into the bottom corner after Daniel Weldon set him up. An injury-time flurry of 1-3 turned a four-point lead into a ten-point lead. Weldon raised an orange flag before he hobbled off the field. Replacement Cormac McGrath won a mark off the kickout within seconds of his arrival. He swapped passes with Michael O'Brien and slotted the ball past Tom Gardner. What an introduction!
With the clocks going back, the floodlights were switched on at half time. Three minutes into the second period, O'Brien gathered a wild Liam Fennell point attempt and walloped to the far corner of the net (3-7 to 0-2). The Reds seemed home and dry at that stage. A thumping finish from Tom O’Connell to the top corner gave Brickeys a glimmer of hope. Nicky O’Toole then spotted a foot block on a Cormac O’Grady shot and signalled a penalty for the black and amber. Christopher Casey dived to his left to deny O’Connell.
O’Brien soloed through for a Stradbally point at the other end. Paddy McCarthy still made them sweat for their senior football spot. Seven wind-assisted points from the up-and-coming number fourteen, along with one each from substitute Scott Collins and O’Connell, brought the gap down to three. Cormac McGrath was lucky to escape a card for lashing out at a Brickey Rangers defender.
In injury time, Brickeys number one Tom Gardner clawed away a goal bound effort from Michael Mullaney. Substitute Eoin O’Brien was unmarked inside! Another McCarthy two-point attempt sailed wide as Stradbally deservedly claimed promotion.
Rory Fennell 1-2 (1 mark), Michael O'Brien 1-1, Cormac McGrath 1-0, Daniel Weldon 0-2 (1 2p), Michael Mullaney, Shane Aherne, Pa Skehan (1f) 0-1 each.
Paddy McCarthy 0-7 (2 2pfs, 1 2p), Tom O'Connell 1-2 (1f), Scott Collins, James Hahessy 0-1 each.
Christopher Casey; Brendan Gough, Sethrun Kiersey, Luke Casey; Liam Kiersey, Jack Mullaney, Paul Connors; Liam Fennell, Shane Aherne; Michael Mullaney, Michael O'Brien, Conor Fennell; Pa Skehan, Rory Fennell, Daniel Weldon.
Cormac McGrath for Weldon (33), Eoin O'Brien for Rory Fennell (52), Joseph Fenlon for Luke Casey (54), Barry O'Brien for Liam Kiersey (62).
Tom Gardner; Sean Lennon, Cormac Deevey, Conor Phelan; Josh Veale, Mark Cummins, Cillian Ryan; Dan Kelly, Cathal Curran; Cormac O'Grady, Tom O'Connell, Peter Cummins; James Hahessy, Paddy McCarthy, David Nyhan.
Darragh O'Grady for Veale (40), Scott Collins for Cormac O'Grady (44), Brendan Cullinane for Kelly (50).
Nicky O'Toole (Mount Sion)
Michael O’Brien scored 1-1, assisted Cormac McGrath’s goal and put in a mighty shift at midfield.
Christopher Casey’s penalty save from Tom O’Connell.
The high tackles that went unpunished.
Stradbally travel to Clare outfit Corofin in the Munster quarter final on November 9.
