Tailteann Cup preliminary round

Wicklow 3-16 Waterford 1-10

By Brendan Lawrence in Aughrim

Wicklow secured an historic victory in the first ever Tailteann Cup clash when recording a comfortable 3-16 to 1-10 win over Waterford at Aughrim on Saturday afternoon.

Two goals for the home side early in the second half that put this tie to bed in emphatic fashion and sent the Garden County on to meet the winners of Wexford and Offaly in the first round proper next Sunday.

Wicklow enjoyed a better opening half while playing against the wind, although Waterford kicking seven wides in the opening period and two shots dropped short to Mark Jackson certainly helped the home side on the scoreboard as they went in leading by 0-8 to 0-5.

The Garden County captain, Dean Healy, got his side off the mark after three minutes while enjoying advantage from referee David Coldrick and they would lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 13 thanks to points from Eoin D’Arcy (free) and hard-working midfielder Pádraig O’Toole with Brian Lynch opening Waterford’s account with a peach from distance.

With Dermot Ryan sweeping in front of his full-back line, Wicklow had to be patient in their approach play but with Nicky Devereux and Darragh Fitzgerald working really hard, the home side started asking significant questions of the Déise defence.

Brian Lynch added to the visitor’s tally after 15, another bomb from distance but two Mark Jackson frees and an Eoin D’Arcy placed ball had Wicklow up by 0-6 to 0-2 as the half hour mark closed in.

Waterford midfielder Jason Curry, one of three Curry cousins on the Déise side, popped over two points soon after (one free) but two wicked Mark Kenny scores pushed Wicklow ahead by 0-8 to 0-4.

Dermot Ryan, joining an attack from deep, would have the last say of the opening period when notching a fine score off the left sending the sides in with Wicklow leading by three and having the wind at their backs in the second half.

While Wicklow hadn’t really threatened Aaron Beresford’s goal in the first half, that changed dramatically in the second with Kevin Quinn after six minutes and Eoin D’Arcy after 10 putting an end to the game as a contest.

Waterford battled bravely against the breeze, but were found sorely lacking in front of the posts, although they would finish strongly, adding a late 1-3 to add some respectability to the scoreboard.

Wicklow looked impressive in the second half, their third goal coming from a Kevin Quinn penalty after the Blessington man had been fouled when picked out by a beautiful Rory Stokes ball while Mark Kenny and Oisin McGraynor had the pick of the points.

Scorers for Wicklow: Kevin Quinn (2-1, 1pen), Eoin D’Arcy (1-3, 2f), Mark Jackson (0-4, 4f), Dean Healy (0-2), Mark Kenny (0-4, 1m), Pádraig O’Toole (0-1), Oisin McGraynor 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Jason Curry (0-4, 2f), Brian Looby (1-0), Darragh Corcoran (0-2, 2f), Brian Lynch (0-2), Dermot Ryan (0-1), Dermot Ryan 0-1.

Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Malachy Stone, Patrick O’Keane, Tom Moran; Nicky Devereux, Zach Cullen, Oisín Cullen; Pádraig O’Toole, JP Hurley; Arran Murphy, Dean Healy, Darragh Fitzgerald; Mark Kenny, Kevin Quinn, Eoin D’Arcy.

Subs: Rory Stokes for JP Hurley (h-t), Oisin McGraynor for D Fitzgerald (52), Jack Kirwan for N Devereux (55), Jack Treacy for A Murphy (64), Mark Cullen for E D’Arcy (64).

Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Liam Fennell, Darragh Ó Cathasaigh, Michael Kiely; Dermot Ryan, David Hallihan, Brian Looby; Jason Curry, Michael Curry; Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Jordan O’Sullivan; Stephen Curry, Tom O’Connell, Brian Lynch.

Subs: James Walsh for S Curry (40), Tholom Guiry for B Lynch (47), Conor O Corráin for J O’Sullivan (53), Gareth Duffy for T O’Connell (53), Jack Keane for C Murray (61).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).