"Keep' ball" Ardmore's Clinton Hennessy in possession against Nire's Michael O'Gorman during their County SFC clash in Fraher Field on Saturday. | Photo: Sean Byrne
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It may well sound a little harsh to say at such an early stage of the campaign but unless there is a dramatic improvement by both of these sides neither will be getting their name engraved on the Conway Cup later in the year.
The Nire, as we all know, can step up their game. Ardmore, according to some quarters, are focusing the most of their energies on getting out of the Intermediate hurling ranks and if this is the case their football fortunes could well suffer.
Last year when the two sides clashed at the same venue a previously-unbeaten Nire, playing some breathtaking football up to then, were brought down to earth with a 2-6 to 0-11 defeat.
This time The Nire held a seven points to one lead at the break, despite seldom getting out of first gear. Which says as much about the opposition.
Shane McGrath opened the scoring for The Nire, who are under new management this year, with just 17 seconds played. Patrons had to wait ten minutes for the next score to arrive when Brian Wall kicked a free. Scores then came relatively quickly for a period.
Alan North responded with a point for Ardmore from a free but by the midway mark of the opening half Ardmore were once again trailing by two points after Brian Wall kicked a second free, followed by a magnificent Liam Lawlor point for the Comeragh men.
Waterford manager John Owens was in the stand with some of his management team as they checked out the form of some of their players ahead of their Munster championship meeting with Clare in a little over two weeks’ time.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full match report.
