Waterford steamroll courageous students
Waterford 5-14 IT Tralee 2-5
Justin McCarthy's Waterford advanced to meet LIT in the semi-final of The Waterford Crystal League when they easily overcame a gallant Tralee IT outfit in Carrick-on-Suir last night.
The students opened the scoring in the fifth minute when a blocked shot was deflected over the bar. Waterford replied with a couple of points of their own before outstanding corner forward Paddy Raftice bundled home a Tralee goal in the 10th minute after a mistake by the Waterford 'keeper to leave scores 1-1 to 0-3.
A brilliant Eoin Kelly goal restored Waterford's advantage but the students had a slice of good fortune in the 23rd minute, when a high ball from Raftice which looked to be going over the bar deceived all to drop into the net. Further goals by Walsh and Casey in the 22nd and 24th minutes gave the home team a commanding 3-6 to 2-2 half-time lead.
In the second half Waterford added a succession of points to lead 3-11 to 2-4 by the 17th minute.
Justin McCarthy then introduced local hero Bobby Landers and with his first touch he forced the ball over the students' goal line. Two more points and Waterford were comfortable winners.
Scorers -- Waterford: E Kelly 1-5, J Mullane 1-1, B Landers 1-1, S Walsh 1-0, S Casey 1-0 S O'Sullivan 0-2, D Bennett 0-2; S Prendergast 0-1, M Walsh 0-1, P Kearney 0-1. Tralee: P Raftice 2-2, N Quaid 0-1, J O'Riordan 0-1, Downes 0-1.
WATERFORD -- B.O'Leary; T Feeney, W Hutchinson, D Prendergast; D Bennett, B Phelan, J Kennedy; M Walsh & S O'Sullivan; J Mullane, S Prendergast, E Kelly; S Walsh, D Shanahan, S Casey. Subs: P Kearney for S Walsh; B Farrell for Shanahan; J Kearney for Kelly; J Kindregan for Hutchinson & B Landers for S Prendergast.
Tralee -- S Heffernan (Limerick); D Brennan (Tipperary), B Lalor (Offaly), C Griffin (Kerry); E O'Brien (Limerick), S Kelly (Clare), S Guilfoyle (do); L Hurley (Limerick), M Lynch (Kerry); J O'Brien (Limerick), A Ryan (Tipperary), N Quaid (Limerick); D O'Brien (Tipperary), T Downes (Clare), P Raftice (Kilkenny). Subs: D Crowley (Cork) for Lalor; J O'Riordan (Limerick) for Ryan; T Hanafin (Kerry) for Lynch.
- IT Tralee 2-5
