Waterford Crystal Cup Preliminary Round – UL 1-20 Waterford 0-18

Early warning signals as UL make it dismal day for Déise

Report from the Irish Examiner newspaper

University of Limerick 1-20 Waterford 0-18

Life after John Mullane got off to a rocky start for Waterford yesterday, with the Déise losing at home in Carriganore to the University of Limerick in the Waterford Crystal Cup. “We’re happy with that,” said UL selector Ger Cunningham when asked about their short-passing approach. “We have great hurlers and when you have good hands you can play a specific game. It suited us, though conditions were tough, but we hurled very well against the wind in the first half, and that’s where the short game helped us.”

Waterford had the wind in the first-half but struggled to hold the ball up front and most of their scores came from accurate midfielders Shane O’Sullivan and Richie Foley. Kieran Morris and Eamonn Murphy – a Waterford panellist last year – showed up well for UL, but Waterford had nudged three ahead when the game’s only goal was scored on 30 minutes. The Waterford full-back line didn’t clear a loose ball and former Tipperary senior star Paul Kelly’s first-time pull made the score 1-7 to 0-10. “We had goal chances early on but didn’t take them,” said Waterford boss Michael Ryan.

O’Sullivan (free) and Murphy swapped scores to leave it level at the break, but on the resumption UL jumped out to a three-point lead through Morris (free), David Butler and Padraic Walsh, and Waterford could never reel them in. Ryan withdrew half his starting attack and moved veteran Seamus Prendergast to full-forward, where he won a penalty which Jake Dillon put over the bar. But, late on UL had points from their subs, Tommy Heffernan, Conor Ryan and Brian Stapleton, to make a deserved win safe.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Ryan. “All day long we struggled up front and our backs seemed to be under pressure. Only for Seamus Prendergast it would have been worse. He was very good for the last 20 minutes, he worked very hard and was a serious threat at full-forward.” Ryan acknowledged that Eamonn Murphy’s display for UL was something he and his selectors could take out of the game: “He was good, he was lively and impressive and got four points.”

But there are other headaches for the home management team: “We haven’t spoken to Tony Browne yet,” said Ryan of the veteran star’s plans. “Maurice Shanahan and Padraic Mahony are both out for a while yet. I don’t expect Maurice back in action before March, though Padraic could be back in three or four weeks.” For his part, Cunningham said UL weren’t playing with a full deck: “We have a few players to come back yet. The Clare lads are only just back with us, so we threw a few of them in today, Michael Fennelly of Kilkenny will join us this week and Darach Honan is also available to us.”

He also downplayed the proposed link with the Waterford coaching ticket — for now. “It was in the paper yesterday,” said Cunningham. “I was talking to Michael (Ryan) but I have commitments elsewhere at the moment. Further down the line you’d never know what might happen.” As he spoke the Waterford management were in the background, talking to their charges on the field and having a lengthy, and by the sounds of it robust, discussion. All concerned hoping for warmer times ahead, no doubt.

Scorers for Waterford: S. O’Sullivan 0-6 (0-2 fs, 0-1 65); R. Foley and J. Dillon (0-2 fs, 0-1 pen) 0-3 each; S. Prendergast 0-2; K. Moran, S. Walsh, J. Barron and G. O’Brien (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for UL: K. Morris 0-7 (0-6 fs); E. Murphy 0-4; P. Kelly 1-0; A. Ryan and D. Butler 0-2 each; P. Walsh, S. Golden, T. Heffernan, C. Ryan and B. Stapleton 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: S. O’Keeffe, S. Daniels, L. Lawlor, N. Connors, P. Prendergast, M. Walsh, K. Moran (c), R. Foley, S. O’Sullivan, D. Twomey, S. Prendergast, R. Barry, J. Dillon, S. Walsh, J. Barron: Subs: K. Fitzgerald for S. Walsh, HT; G. O’Brien for Barron, 45; J. Nagle for Prendergast, 50; E. Madigan for Barry, 56; M. O’Neill for Twomey, 60.

UL: N. McGrath (Burgess/Tipperary), M. Carmody (Patrickswell/Limerick), M. Walsh (Young Irelands/Kilkenny), P. Ryan (Clonakenny/Tipperary), T. Ryan (South Liberties/Limerick), G. Brennan (Ballyragget/Kilkenny), J. Gallagher (Kildangan/Tipperary), S. Golden (Sixmilebridge/Clare) (c), P. Walsh (Tullaroan/Kilkenny), D. Butler (Drom and Inch/Tipperary), A. Ryan (Templederry/Tipperary), J. Fitzgibbon (Adare/Limerick), K. Morris (Moycarkey Borris/Tipperary), P. Kelly (Mullinahone/Tipperary), E. Murphy (Dunhill/Waterford).

Subs: P. Stapleton (Borrisoleigh/Tipperary) for T. Ryan, 45; B. Stapleton (Templederry/Tipperary) for Fitzgibbon, 50; T. Heffernan for Kelly and C. Ryan for Butler, both 58.

Referee: F. Horgan (Tipperary)

Team News

Waterford S.H. Team to play U.L in the opening game of 2013 at the WIT Sports Complex, Carriganore on Sunday at 2.00pm

1. Stephen O’Keeffe, Ballygunner

2. Stephen Daniels, De La Salle

3. Liam Lawlor, Fourmilewater

4. Noel Connors, Passage

5. Padraig Prendergast, Lismore

6. Michael Walsh, Stradbally

7. Kevin Moran, De La Salle

8. Richie Foley, Abbeyside

9. Shane O’Sullivan, Ballygunner

10. Dean Twomey, De La Salle

11. Seamus Prendergast, Ardmore

12. Ray Barry, Lismore

13. Jake Dillon, De La Salle

14. Shane Walsh, Fourmilewater

15. Brian O’Sullivan, Ballygunner

Captaincy of the Waterford Seniors for 2013 has been handed to Kevin Moran (De La Salle) with Noel Connors (Passage) being named as Vice-Captain.

For the Record

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling 2013

Preliminary Round (Extra Time)

Saturday January 19th

@ Kilmallock    Limerick v Mary Immaculate College                      @ 11:30am

@ The Mardyke                                 Cork v UCC                                                               @ 12:00pm

Sunday January 20^th

@ Abbeydorney                                Kerry v IT Tralee                                                        @ 1:00pm

@ WIT GAA Grounds                       Waterford v University of Limerick                         @ 2:00pm

Quarter-Finals (Extra Time)

Sunday January 27^th

@ Waterford or Clare venue            Clare v Waterford or UL

@ Cork venue or TBC                      WIT v Cork or UCC

@ Tipperary venue                           Tipperary v Limerick or Mary I

@ Kerry venue or TBC                     LIT v Kerry or IT Tralee

Semi-Finals (Extra Time)

Sunday February 3rd

Final (Extra Time)

Sunday February 10^th

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling – Odds and Ends

35 goals were scored in the 2012 Waterford Crystal Cup competition over 11 matches (an average of 3.2 goals per match). This contrasts with 23 goals in the 2011 competition over 10 matches (an average of 2.3 goals per match).

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, Clare (15 wins), Tipperary (13 wins) and Waterford (13 wins) have accounted for 41 of the 71 victories in the competition (58%).

Tipperary hold the record for the longest winning streak in the Waterford Crystal Cup since the competition began under that guise in 2006 when they won 10 consecutive matches between 2007 and 2009.

None of the five teams who take part in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship have a losing record in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006.

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, 66 games have been played with just 1 draw – the 2012 Limerick v Clare Quarter-Final after two periods of extra time.

The record of the Third Level Colleges in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006 is Won 19, Lost 39, a 33% success rate.

Waterford have won 8 of the last 9 matches in the Waterford Crystal Cup.

Limerick have failed to win a Waterford Crystal Cup match since winning the competition in 2006, a run of 5 matches without success.

Clare are the only team who have won at least one game each year since the Waterford Crystal Cup competition began in 2006.

IT Tralee is the only team not to win a game in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006, losing their first match in the last 5 seasons.

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling Roll Of Honour

Tipperary (3) – 2007, 2008, 2012

Waterford (2) – 2010, 2011

Clare (1) – 2009

Limerick (1) – 2006

University of Limerick

The UL Panel for the Waterford Crystal Cup is as follows –

Conor Ryan (Cratloe, Co. Clare)

Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Co. Limerick)

Darach Honan (Clonlara, Co. Clare)

David Butler (Drom & Inch, Co. Tipperary)

Eamonn Murphy (Dunmill, Co. Waterford)

Joe Gallagher (Kildangan, Co. Tipperary)

Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan, Co. Galway)

Kieran Morris (Moycarkey-Borris, Co. Tipperary)

Adrian Ryan (Templederry, Co. Tipperary)

Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Co. Limerick)

Pa Ryan (Clonakenny, Tipperary)

Paddy Stapleton (Borrisilleigh, Co. Tipperary)

Paul Flanangan (Ballyea, Co. Clare)

Podge Collins (Cratloe, Co. Clare)

Paul Kelly (Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary)

Pauric Walsh (Tullaroan, Co. Kilkenny)

Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare)

Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare)

Thomas Ryan (South Liberties, Co. Limerick)

Tommy Heffernan (Burgess, Co. Tipperary)

Eanna Murray (Templederry, Co. Tipperary)

Geoff Brennan (St. Patrick’s, Co. Kilkenny)

Aongus Clarke (Castletown Geoghan, Co. Galway)

Niall McGrath (Burgess, Co. Tipperary)

John Fitzgibbon (Adare, Co. Limerick)

Development Officer: Patsy Morrissey.

Manager: Liam Garvey.

Runai: Amanda Hogan.

Selectors: Ger Cunningham, Brian Lohan, Niall O’Sullivan, Eoin Brislane