This event has passed.

McGrath Cup Final – Waterford 3-12 UCC 1-9

January 24, 2015 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Waterford defeated UCC by 3-12 to 1-9 in the McGrath Cup Final on Saturday January 24th at Fraher Field Dungarvan.

Match Report: @WaterfordGAA ended a 34-year wait for honours with @MunsterGAA McGrath Cup win over @ucc_gaa: http://t.co/G420tuU1gs

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 24, 2015

Déise end 34-year wait for McGrath Cup title

McGrath Cup Final: Waterford 3-12 UCC 1-9

Waterford seized their second McGrath Cup crown with a nine point win over UCC at Fraher Field. In front of 907 spectators, goals from Joey Veale, Maurice O’Gorman and Gavin Nugent allowed Tom McGlinchey’s side bridge a 34-year gap for major honours.

McGlinchey named the same starting fifteen that nosed past Cork last Sunday. They built up a 2-6 to 1-7 lead at half time following a fast and furious opening period. Waterford made the perfect start when Joey Veale slotted home after Liam Lawlor’s point effort dropped around the goalmouth.

The students, minus several first choice players, gave the Déise persistent headaches at the back and posted four unanswered points through Conor Horgan, Adrian Spillane, David Harrington and Kevin Davis. Although the hosts got their noses back in front, Horgan pounced for a goal on 18 minutes when Stephen Enright saved Tom Hickey’s close range blast (1-4 to 1-2).

Waterford regained the lead when centre back Maurice O’Gorman made a rare foray into enemy territory and fired a low shot under Pádraig McCarthy. Liam Lawlor and Patrick Hurney extended the margin out to four before a pair of Tom Hickey points left UCC two down at the interval.

On 50 minutes. Michael O’Halloran’s long delivery was fumbled by the UCC defence and full forward Gavin Nugent intervened to hammer home (3-7 to 1-8). Points by Tommy Prendergast, David Grey, Conor Phelan and Shane Ahearne moved them comfortably ahead.

***
Scorers for Waterford: S Ahearne 0-4 (0-3fs), J Veale, M O’Gorman, G Nugent 1-0 each; P Hurney, L Lawlor 0-2 each; M Curry, T Prendergast, D Grey, C Phelan 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCC: C Horgan 1-2 (0-2fs); D Harrington 0-3; T Hickey 0-2 (0-1f); K Davis, A Spillane 0-1 each.

Waterford: S Enright; D Crowley, N Walsh, T O’Gorman; T Ó hUallacháin, M O’Gorman, R Ó Ceallaigh; S Ahearne, T Prendergast; M Curry, M O’Halloran, P Hurney; L Lawlor, G Nugent, J Veale. Subs: D Grey for Veale (52); J Curry for P Hurney (61); B Power for Crowley (66); O Keevers for Prendergast (66); M Ferncombe for M Curry (69).

UCC: P McCarthy (Kerry); J Davis (Cork), K Fulingati (Cork), K Histon (Cork); K O’Sullivan (Kerry), S White (Cork), E Dennehy (Cork); A O’Donovan (Cork), A Spillane (Kerry); F O’Connor (Cork), K Davis (Cork), S Keane (Kerry); T Hickey (Kerry), D Harrington (Cork), É Ó Conchúir (Kerry). Subs: F Courtney (Kerry) for Hickey (H-T); K Hayes-Curtin (Cork) for J Davis (42); C Hyde (Cork) for White (43); P Scanlon (Kerry) for O’Donovan (44); P Lohan (Tipperary) for Harrington (51); S Power (Tipperary) for Keane (61).

Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry)
***
Report: Tomás McCarthy for GAA.ie

Match Report on the Waterford GAA Website! Thanks to @alltheyoungblue http://t.co/ar33TZyKYL

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 24, 2015

Big night for @WaterfordGAA football as they win #McGrathCup congrats! @LiveGAAResults @PunditArenaGAA @RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/4zbsDT2aaN

— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) January 24, 2015

Waterford end 34-year wait for a McGrath Cup title with facile win over UCC http://t.co/TKmuVBlEEC pic.twitter.com/Wzlp4wI7NM

— Independent Sport (@IndoSport) January 24, 2015

McGrath Cup Final Preview: @WaterfordGAA v @ucc_gaa, Fraher Field, Saturday, 6pm – http://t.co/lxUCawP1AO #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 23, 2015

When – Saturday January 24^th at 6pm

Where – Fraher Field, Dungarvan

Referee – Seamus Mulvihill (Ciarraí)

Extra time – (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 70 minutes

Admission Prices –
Adults – €10
Students / OAPs – €5
Under 16s will admitted free

Contact Munster GAA PRO Ger Ryan at pro.munster@gaa.ie or 0868149146 for more information

Team News

McGrath Cup Final – Waterford Senior Football team v UCC. Saturday 6pm Fraher Field. PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT http://t.co/mb4mpS640I

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 22, 2015

Waterford Senior Football team to play UCC in the McGrath Cup final on Saturday evening next at 6.00pm in Fraher Field.

1. Stephen Enright Ballinacourty
2. Dean Crowley St. Saviours
3. Niall Walsh Kilrossanty
4. Thomas O’Gorman (CAPT) Nire
5. Tadhg Ó hUallacháin An Rinn
6. Maurice O’Gorman Nire
7. Ray Ó Ceallaigh An Rinn
8. Shane Aherne Stradbally
9. Tommy Prendergast Kilrossanty
10. Michael Curry Rathgormack
11. Michael O’Halloran Ballinacourty
12. Patrick Hurney Ballinacourty
13. Liam Lawlor Nire
14. Gavin Nugent Rathgormack
15. Joey Veale Kilrossanty

UCC (Cork clubs unless stated): M Martin (Nemo Rangers); J Davis (Douglas), J McGuire (Listowel Emmets, Kerry), D Culhane (Ballylongford, Kerry); C Dorman (Bishopstown), S White (Clonakilty), T Clancy (Fermoy); I Maguire (St Finbarr’s), G O’Sullivan (Listry, Kerry); S Keane (Legion, Kerry), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers), É Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht, Kerry); T Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds, Kerry), C Cox (Listowel Emmets, Kerry), D Harrington (Adrigole).
Subs: P McCarthy (Rathmore, Kerry), P O’Connor (Legion, Kerry), F McNamara (Austin Stacks, Kerry), B O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), P Geaney (Dingle, Kerry), S Kiely (Ballincollig), C Horgan (Nemo Rangers), A Spillane (Templenoe, Kerry), E Dennehy (St Finbarr’s), K O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks, Kerry), K Histon (Cobh), A O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), R Murphy (Beaufort, Kerry), K Davis (O’Donovan Rossa), P Scanlon (Glin, Kerry), F Courtney (Beaufort, Kerry), K Fulignati (Nemo Rangers).

For the Record

	Waterford	UCC
2014 McGrath Cup Performance	Did not take part	Lost to University of Limerick by 5-18 to 4-16 in the quarter final on January 5^th.
Number of McGrath Cup Senior Football titles	1	0
Last McGrath Cup Senior Football Title	1981	N/A
McGrath Cup Senior Football Record since 2000	Played – 20 Won – 6 Lost – 14 Drawn – 0	Played – 17 Won – 7 Lost – 10 Drawn – 0

Fixtures and Results

Preliminary Round

Sunday January 4^th

@ Carriganore Waterford 1-16 UL 2-7

@ Mallow Cork 7-20 Mary Immaculate 0-4

Quarter-Finals
Sunday January 11^th

@ AustinStack Park Tralee IT Tralee 4-12 Kerry 0-16

@ Rathkeale UCC 4-16 Limerick 3-9

@ Clonmel Cork 1-14 Tipperary 0-12

@ Clashmore Waterford 1-11 Cork IT 0-9

Semi-Finals
Friday January 16th

@ IT Tralee UCC 0-18 IT Tralee 0-6

Sunday January 18^th

@ Clashmore Waterford 0-8 Cork 0-7

Final (Extra time)

Saturday January 25^th

@ Fraher Field, Dungarvan Waterford v UCC @ 6pm

McGrath Cup Senior Football – Odds and Ends

Since 2000, Cork have won 20 of their 23 games (an 87% success rate, the best of any county). In the same period, Kerry’s McGrath Cup success rate is 85% with 17 wins out of 20 in the competition.

In the 8 games to date in the 2015 McGrath Cup, there has been an average of 2.9 goals per game. This compares with 4 in 2014, 2.6 in 2013, 2.4 in 2012 and 1.4 in 2011.

The last time a college reached the final was in 2010 when UCC also qualified. On that occasion they lost to Kerry by 1-11 to 0-9.

The last McGrath Cup Final which did not involve Cork or Kerry was in 2008 when Clare defeated Limerick by 1-6 to 0-8. Neither Cork or Kerry took part in the competition that year. The last McGrath Cup in which Cork and Kerry were both defeated in the early stages of the competition was in 2005. On that occasion, Tipperary accounted for Kerry in the Quarter-Final by 1-10 to 0-8 while Cork lost out in the semi-final to Limerick by 2-3 to 0-7. The 2005 McGrath Cup was won by Limerick following a 2-10 to 1-3 victory over the Cork Institute of Technology in the final.

Two counties lost to colleges teams in this year’s competition – UCC defeated Limerick and IT Tralee defeated Kerry. No college team defeated a county in 2014 but only Kerry and Cork participated. No college defeated a county team either in 2013. In 2012 IT Tralee defeated Waterford and UCC defeated Limerick.

McGrath Cup Senior Football Roll Of Honour

Clare (12) – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2008

Cork (7) – 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014

Limerick (5) – 1985, 1987, 2001, 2004, 2005

Kerry (4) – 1996, 2010, 2011, 2013

Tipperary (3) – 1989, 1993, 2003

Waterford (1) – 1981

London (1) – 1988

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete Roll of Honour since the competition began in 1981 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/mcgrath-cup-football/

McGrath Cup

Presented by Joe McGrath on June 21st, 1981 for the promotion of Senior Football in Munster.