Waterford players figure strongly on Australian club scene
Waterford Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final, Walsh Park, Waterford 4/9/2022 Mt. Sion vs De La Salle Mount Sion's Owen Whelan and Shane McNulty of De La Salle challenge for the ball Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher
As clubs at home prepare for the commencement of the championships in the coming weeks just how hard some of them, particularly at Intermediate level, have been hit by emigration can be seen by having a look at GAA activities in Western Australia with particular reference to clubs in the Perth area such as Sarsfields, Western Gaels and Perth Shamrocks.
Two weeks ago Sarsfields played fellow Perth side Western Gaels and were defeated on a score of 5-16 to 1-20 with former Waterford player Shane McNulty named as man of the match for the opposition.
A week earlier the Sarsfields had drawn with Perth Shamrocks and while the line outs of the opposing teams are not available the Sarsfields team and extended panel for both games makes for interesting reading for Waterford followers.
In each of their two games two thirds of the Sarsfields team was made of Waterford players who had figured prominently with their clubs in recent years. In each game as many as eight players, listed as being from Waterford, were on the bench.
With the Eastern Intermediate and Junior championships due to commence in two weeks’ time some clubs will clearly be missing some key players.
The Sarsfields team contained no fewer than four Ballyduff Lower players in Marcus Millea, Jack Lyons, Ronan Dunphy and Cormac Dunphy, all of whom will be a huge loss to their club going into the upcoming championship.
Figuring at halfback on the Sarsfields side was Ferrybank’s Sam Lawless who played a big part in his side’s achievement in gaining senior status last year while former team mates Jonno Brown and David Atkins, who had left for Australia a year earlier, were in goal and defence respectively. Other players from eastern Intermediate clubs who featured and will be missed by their home sides this coming year are Adam Byrne (Erins Own), Conor Quinn (Dunhill), Philly Lavery (Butlerstown) and Shane Power (Portlaw).
Former De La Salle dual player Stephen Dalton, who has been left a few years lined out at centre back while other players listed as being from Waterford such as James O’Leary and Ciaran Barron were also on the Sarsfield panel.
In their most recent game the Sarsfields defeated St. Gabriels and the line up showed just how Waterford based the club is.
Jonno Brown (Waterford), David Atkins (Waterford), Philly Lavery (Waterford), Sean Kenny (Offaly), Sam Lawless (Waterford), Cormac Dunphy (Waterford), Stephen Dalton (Waterford), Mike Ryan (Offaly), Aaron Holland Cork), James O’Leary (Waterford), Conor Quinn (Waterford), Adam Byrne (Waterford), Adrian Cleary (Offaly), Jack Lyons (Waterford), Shane Power (Waterford). Subs – Marcus Millea, Ronan Dunphy, Jason O’Shea and Ciaran Barron (all Waterford).
Scorers:- Jack Lyons 0-11 (8Fs), Shane Power 1-3, Conor Quinn 0-3, Adam Byrne, Adrian Cleary 0-2 each, Mike Ryan, Aaron Holland and Cormac Dunphy 0-1 each.
Sarsfields are just one club in Perth but I have no doubt there are others in Australia such as Western Gaels with Waterford players on board.
Students travelling to New York and the North American League on J. 9 Visas have seen clubs hit hard throughout June and July in recent years but, while they were returning for the latter stages of the club championships, moves to Australia tend to be more enduring, leaving some clubs struggling for numbers each year. Still, it is great to see lads continuing to enjoy their hurling in far flung fields.
