Late injury-time drama ends Waterford’s Kennedy Cup ambitions

Despite a spirited late rally, the Waterford Schoolboys League saw their hopes of a fourth Kennedy Cup title slip away at the University of Limerick on Tuesday evening as they finished second in their group.

After opening with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Longford League, Nigel Ray and Gary Coad’s side recovered well with a convincing victory over South Tipperary on Tuesday morning. However, a 2-2 draw with Cork in their final group game ultimately proved costly.

Waterford went into the clash with their Munster rivals knowing only a win would suffice, but they were slow to hit top form and failed to match the intensity shown earlier in the day. As a result, they must now turn their attention to the Bowl competition for the remainder of the week.

It could so easily have been different. In the dying seconds of the decisive encounter, Southend’s Fareed Alabi looked certain to snatch a dramatic winner, only to be denied by an outstanding last-ditch tackle from Cork defender Mason Cummins Stanton.

Waterford had earlier found themselves two goals down before staging a strong finish in the closing stages, particularly after Cork’s influential Ben Davies was forced off through injury. A brace from Mallow Town’s Cian McMahon had Cork firmly in control after 41 minutes, but Waterford responded impressively.

Louis McDonald pulled one back before Alabi headed home an equaliser, setting up a tense finale that ended in heartbreak as the decisive third goal never came.

Their campaign had begun with a frustrating draw against Longford, where they struggled to find rhythm. Ferrybank’s Calum Walsh opened the scoring, but his effort was cancelled out by a Dylan Butler lob.

The response against South Tipperary was far more positive, as Waterford claimed a 4-1 win. Carrick’s Ryan Walsh opened the scoring with a superb strike before South Tipperary levelled with a free header. McDonald restored the lead just before half-time, while Samuel Bekel added a third on 35 minutes following a delivery from Calum Walsh. Fionn Fell rounded off the scoring with a fourth.

However, despite that dominant display, it was the disappointment of the final group game that ultimately defined Waterford’s campaign.