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2024 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League – Waterford 3-23 Kerry 3-12
Waterford defeated Kerry by 3-23 to 3-12 in Round 1 of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League on Tuesday January 2nd at Austin Stack Park Tralee.
Waterford hurlers find extra gear to down Kerry
Munster Hurling League Group B
Waterford 3-23 Kerry 3-12
Report by Murt Murphy for the Irish Examiner newspaper
Waterford made a winning start to 2024 running out 11-point winners over Kerry in their opening Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group B encounter on a wet and blustery night in Tralee.
2023 was a year to forget for Waterford and despite only 14 players from last term’s panel available for selection this evening, Davy Fitzgerald’s side looked at full strength against a Kerry outfit managed by former Waterford Munster Championship-winning captain Stephen Molumphy.
The advantage was Waterford’s at the break leading 1-11 to 1-6.
Kerry did show dogged determination throughout the contest but Waterford found the extra gear when it mattered most.
Shane Conway was at his sparkling best for Kerry notching 2-7, while Paudie Fitzgerald put his hand up for a regular starting berth with a tally of 1-9.
It was largely nip and tuck for the opening quarter, one lapse in concentration cost Kerry the opening goal after 13 minutes.
Michael Kiely sent a long ball into the full-forward line, Jack Fagan ghosted behind the Kerry defence as Kiely supplied the delivery. The wing-back showed composure in striking low to the net past Kerry debutant goalkeeper Diarmuid Quirke.
By the quarter’s end, the Déise had some breathing room for the first time leading 1-4 to 0-3, this served as a real catalyst for the visitors who kept doing the right things in the forward line, moving clear by eight approaching the interval.
Shy of the break Waterford were dealt a double blow.
Conor Prunty was shown a black card for a pull-down on Michael Leane inside the area. Up stepped Conway to dispatch the resulting penalty with a bullet of a strike to the net.
Jack Prendergast capitalised on a Kerry error to notch the second goal for Waterford to lead 2-13 to 1-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Maurice O’Connor gave Kerry a lifeline with a goal after Dan Goggin turned over possession close to the Déise net, the gap was now down to six.
Waterford showed their strength to score a third goal after the hour mark.
Michael Kiely, grabbing a third assist, set up Paudie Fitzgerald to strike from close range to rubber-stamp the result.
Conway would strike a second penalty to the net a few short minutes later. The score did little, however, to reflect the outcome of proceedings in Tralee.
Scorers for Waterford: P Fitzgerald (1-9, 5fs), J Fagan (1-2), J Prendergast (1-2, 2f), P Curran (0-3), M Kiely (0-2), K Bennett, S Fitzgerald, T Barron, M Fitzgerald, S Callaghan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Kerry: S Conway (2-7, 2-0 pen, 6fs,), M O’Connor (1-0), D Goggin( 0-2), M Leane, R Walsh, K O’Connor (0-1 each).
WATERFORD: S O’Brien; C Prunty, M Fitzgerald, B Looby; PJ Fanning, K Bennett, J Fagan; T Barron, S Fitzgerald; J Prendergast, P Curran, P Fitzgerald; S Callaghan, S Walsh, M Kiely.
Subs: M Mullaney for S Callaghan (57), M Power for T Barron, C Bonnar for S Walsh (Both 63), R Furlong for P Curran (69), W Hassett for J Fagan (70+2).
KERRY: D Quirke; D Griffin, D Shanahan, E Murphy; M Madden, R Walsh, K O’Connor; B Barrett, S Conway; M Leane, D Goggin, K Hayes; T Doyle, G Dooley, F Mackessy.
Subs: M O’Connor for G Dooley, N Mulcahy for M Madden (both h/t), F O’Sullivan for D Shanahan, L Crowley for B Barrett (Both 48), S Brosnan for T Doyle (52), F McCarthy for R Walsh (66).
Referee: S Scanlon (Cork).
Ticket Information
Live Streaming Information
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Team News
🥎 Team Announcement: Kerry vs Waterford – 2024 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League.
Full team news here: https://t.co/tUtLaKE8My#WeAreKerry #CiarraíAbú pic.twitter.com/7I8TrRJAAl
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) January 1, 2024
Waterford Team for this evenings @CoOpSuperstores Munster Hurling League V Kerry.
1. Shaun O'Brien – DLS
2. Willie Hassey – Clonea
3. Mark Fitzgerald – Passage
4. Brian Looby – Abbeyside
5. Callum O'Neill – Passage
6. Kieran Bennett – Ballysaggart
7. Jack Fagan – DLS
8. Tom… pic.twitter.com/JTWIkIo3US— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) January 2, 2024
WATERFORD (Munster SHL v Kerry): S O’Brien; W Hassey, M Fitzgerald, B Looby; C O’Neill, K Bennett, J Fagan; T Barron, S Fitzgerald; J Prendergast, P Curran, P Fitzgerald; S Callaghan, S Walsh, C Bonnar.
