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Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Cormac Spain's 11-point haul helps Waterford secure All-Ireland minor title
All-Ireland MHC Final: Waterford 1-18 Clare 0-11 Waterford unquestionably saved their best for last when overpowering Clare on their way to a first All-Ireland minor hurling crown since 2013 at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles on Saturday. Having only pipped the Banner with a late surge in their group meeting two months ago in Dungarvan, another expected inch-tight wrestle for supremacy was emphatically sidestepped by a dominant Déise, who led from start to finish for their biggest victory of the championship. Even more impressively, they were led supremely by talisman Cormac Spain, who not only scored 11 points to take his overall tally to 8-75 in eight matches but remarkably did so despite being clearly hampered by a leg injury sustained in the opening minutes. The Ballygunner marksman had to receive treatment twice in the opening quarter but still endured for the entire hour, epitomising the character and determination of this new wave of Waterford hurlers. READ MORE After all, with their under 20 side only garnering one win in their last 19 matches since 2017 and even the flagship side struggling with five wins from 28 in the same period, this minor triumph couldn't have come at a more opportune time for Waterford. They couldn't have asked for a better start either as within seconds of the throw-in, a hopeful delivery towards the square broke perfectly for Dylan Murphy to tee up Pierce Quann to find the net. Quickly followed by points for Spain and Shane Power, the Déise were suddenly five points clear, a lead that they grittily managed to protect when Darragh Keane produced a timely block on a Liam Murphy goal-bound shot up the other end. Waterford's Shane Power celebrates after the game at Semple Stadium. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho In truth, Keane and fellow shadower Conor Lynch were outstanding throughout on Clare's twin threats Murphy and Paul Rodgers in Waterford's last line, ensuring that it took 13 minutes for Clare to get their first point from play through Ben Talty at 1-3 to 0-3. A wind-assisted Waterford pushed on again though, with Tommy Kennedy, Gearóid O'Shea and Spain (two) picking off the next four points, with Clare extremely grateful to goalkeeper Leon Talty for somehow repelling a Spain shot from point-blank range. Rodgers lofted over an excellent sideline while a Liam Murphy volley just cleared the crossbar for Clare. But they failed to build on those green shoots and would be punished by an inspirational Spain who converted four of the last five points to power his side into the dressingrooms 1-12 to 0-5 clear. With the conditions to come, a Banner backlash was anticipated and initially delivered as substitute John Barry (two) and Ian O'Brien combined for the opening three points of the new half by the 35th minute. However, Ger O'Connell's side were simply unable to sustain that surge as the dynamic Spain incrementally wrestled back control as the third quarter developed. Dylan Murphy had a shot blocked by Evan Crimmins while Spain would be denied again by goalkeeper Talty, but Waterford did have far more joy over his crossbar. Grabbing six of the next seven points to put the result beyond any doubt, they also restricted a wind-assisted Banner to only a solitary point for 23 minutes, a testament to a miserly defence just as much as their scoring prowess. Shane Power would score two further final-quarter points but the All-Ireland Final stage was patently made for the superb Spain. He first had a free tipped over the bar before adding another three in a row entering the final 10 minutes to add further anguish to a frustrated Banner. Waterford's Hugo Quann in action against Clare's Jake Gibbons. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho Indeed, despite the best efforts of Zak Phelan, Dara Kennedy and captain Graham Ball, a strangely subdued Clare simply had to concede second best to a utterly commanding Waterford who defiantly prevented Liam Murphy or Ball from even raiding for a consolation goal. With only two wins from 16 matches in the previous six seasons at minor level, this was their sixth victory of this campaign as James O'Connor's side completed the county's intercounty season on the ultimate high. Being the first grouping of a new development plan, it is envisaged that Waterford will look to rival their opponents Clare, who have now contested at least an All-Ireland semi-final in the last four years for the first time in their county's history. It's only Waterford's fourth All-Ireland minor success but felt every bit like their first for a bumper Déise support that enveloped Semple Stadium to usher in what they hope will be an exciting new chapter for Waterford hurling. WATERFORD: J Comerford; D Keane, C Lynch, Daragh Murphy; B Penkert, H Quann, T Kennedy (0-1); É McHugh (0-1), G O'Shea (0-2); S Power (0-3), J Power, P Quann (1-0); J Shanahan, Dylan Murphy, C Spain (0-11, 7f). Subs: None used. CLARE: L Talty; N Doyle, J O'Halloran, Z Phelan; E Crimmins, D Kennedy, C Daly; G Ball (0-1, f), E Cleary; I O'Brien (0-1), R Ralph, J O'Donnell; B Talty (0-1), P Rodgers (0-2, 1f, 1sl), L Murphy (0-2) Subs: J Barry (0-3, 3f) for Ralph (29 mins); G Marshall for B Talty (45); D Murrihy (0-1) for Cleary (52); J Gibbons for O'Donnell (60); D Mahon for Murphy (63). Referee: C McDonald (Antrim).
The 42
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Waterford crowned All-Ireland minor hurling champions for first time since 2013
Waterford 1-17 Clare 0-10 Páraic McMahon reports from FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles WATERFORD ARE ALL-IRELAND minor hurling champions for the fourth time after producing an impressive display to overcome Clare for the second time this year. A first All-Ireland minor title since 2013 is the reward for James O'Connor's Déise who emerged as deserving winners on Saturday evening. 12 years ago their side included Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine, Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett but the class of 2025 were led by marksman Cormac Spain, Tommy Kennedy, Shane Power and Darragh Keane to ensure goalkeeper James Comerford received The Irish Press Cup from GAA President, Jarlath Burns. Burns in his presentation speech noted that victorious manager O'Connor was in the third year in charge, a tenure which began without recording a championship victory in year one, the journey included one win in year two but the destination arrived at is the promised land for his third year at the helm. Played in front of an attendance of 16,411, Waterford had the wind at their backs in the opening half of the Electric Ireland minor final. They had a dream start when wing forward Pierce Quann goaled inside the first minute as the Clare defence were caught napping. Points from Cormac Spain and Shane Power followed as they built up a five point advantage. By the 13th minute, Clare had made it a one score game with only three points between the sides. However, Waterford produced a very strong second quarter which included an unanswered tally of five points to close out the half and hold a 1-12 0-5 interval lead. Advertisement Waterford's Eanna McHugh with Clare's Evan Cleary and Dara Kennedy. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO Ger O'Connell's Clare needed to start with a bang in the second half and they had three scores on the bounce via John Barry on the double and one from Ian O'Brien. That was as good as it got for the Banner who only hit two points for the remainder of the game. Ballygunner ace Cormac Spain continued to be the scorer in chief over the hour, finishing with eleven points to his name, he picked some off excellent efforts and it was made all the more impressive as he was visibly carrying a knee injury but persevered. Waterford stayed resolute despite holding a comfortable lead and through Spain and Shane Power they kept their account ticking over to run out as deserving winners by a margin of ten points, an increase on their six point victory when the sides met in the Munster championship at the beginning of May. Dara Kennedy and Zak Phelan impressed for Clare who found that their attacking threat was well nullified on the day. Spain was player of the game excelling at full forward with Shane Power effective in the air and when given the time to shoot. Tommy Kennedy, Gearoid O'Shea, Bradley Penkert and Darragh Keane also stood out for the All-Ireland champions. Scorers for Waterford: C Spain (0-11 6f), P Quann (1-0), S Power (0-3), G O'Shea (0-2), E McHugh (0-1), T Kennedy (0-1) Scorers for Clare: J Barry (0-3 3f), P Rodgers (0-2 1f 1SC), L Murphy (0-2), B Talty (0-1), I O'Brien (0-1), D Murrihy (0-1). Waterford 1. James Comerford (Ballygunner); 3. Darragh Murphy (St Mary's East), 4. Darragh Keane (De La Salle), 2. Conor Lynch (Geraldines) 5. Bradley Penkert (Mount Sion), 6. Hugo Quann (Lismore), 7. Tommy Kennedy (Mount Sion) 8. Éanna McHugh (Roanmore), 9. Gearóid O'Shea (St Molleran's) 12. Shane Power (De La Salle), 11. Jack Power (Ballygunner), 10. Pierce Quinn (Dungarvan) 13. Dylan Murphy (Roanmore), 14. Cormac Spain (Ballygunner), 15. Jamie Shanahan (Erins Own). Subs Clare 1. Leon Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield) 3. Jack O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge), 2. Niall Doyle (Éire Óg), 4. Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge); 5. Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), 6. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea), 7. Colm Daly (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield); 8. Graham Ball (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield), 9. Evan Cleary (Ballyea); 13. Ian O'Brien (Cratloe), 10. Rory Ralph (Clarecastle), 11. James O'Donnell (Broadford); 14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff), 15. Liam Murphy (O'Callaghans Mills), 12. Ben Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield). Subs 20. John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Ralph (28) 21. Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick) for B Talty (45) 17. Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Cleary (51) 24. Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for O'Donnell (60) 22. Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin) for Murphy (63) Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)
Irish Examiner
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cormac Spain leads Waterford to convincing All-Ireland MHC final victory over Clare
All-Ireland MHC final: Waterford 1-18 Clare 0-11 From the very bottom of the ladder to the highest step. From a winless and worrying couple of years on the underage front to a fourth All-Ireland minor crown in Waterford history. Convincing. Timely. Needed. A welcome change of direction. A most welcome piece of silverware. Across the 2022, '23, and '24 campaigns, Waterford minor teams played 13 championship games and lost 11. If you factor in the 2021 Munster final defeat to Cork, that stat stretches to 12 losses from 14 championship outings. At U20 level, the county are currently winless across 13 games and three years. The health of the county's underage scene was not at all rude. The chart at the front of the patient's bed has been rewritten in recent weeks. Waterford have a group of young talents to offer hope and excitement in the years ahead. In goalkeeper James Comerford, corner-back Darragh Keane, midfielder Gearóid O'Shea, half-forward Shane Power, and full-forward Cormac Spain, they have a quintet of fine prospects to keep the closest eye on in the years ahead. The Waterford supporters rose in the rain to applaud off their young heroes at half-time. The Waterford subs had departed their seats just before the half-time whistle. As their team-mates disappeared off the field, they lined either side of the tunnel and clapped back to the dressing-room the 15 starters. The last of the starters to disappear out of sight was Cormac Spain. His left knee was heavily strapped. The Waterford team doctor accompanied him off the field. Spain's injury arrived early in proceedings. He didn't move as freely for the remainder of the half. You'd hardly have known such from his seven-point haul. Of the four frees he converted, he won one himself. And but for Leon Talty's reflexes in the Clare goal on 16 minutes, one of Spain's three white flags from play would have been green. His hand was strongest in their 1-12 to 0-5 interval lead. Waterford had one hand on the silverware they last lifted in 2013. Clare's danger duo at the far end of the field were Paul Rodgers and Liam Murphy. The pair were responsible for four of Clare's five first-half points. Their problem and Clare's problem was the radar. It was not in. Not even close. By the 12th minute, Clare had registered three wides, one short, and had a Murphy goal effort blocked by corner-back Darragh Keane. By half-time, their wide count was at five and the number of point attempts short three. Waterford didn't hesitate in punishing. After Paul Rodgers struck the Banner's fourth wide on 20 minutes, the Déise held onto possession from the ensuing puckout and engineered a point through Spain. When Rodgers was short at a later turn, the play finished with another Spain score. When centre-back Dara Kennedy was short with a free from the opposition 65-metre line, the play finished with a foul on Jamie Shanahan and Cormac Spain converted free. Waterford finished the half with six scorers. They began the half with a 1-2 burst. James Comerford's free broke to Dylan Murphy. He hand-passed to Pierce Quann. A Waterford goal inside 68 seconds. Spain and Power followed with a white flag pair. A five-point lead inside three minutes. Rodgers opened the Clare account from the placed ball on four minutes. It would be another nine minutes before the Banner would double their tally and manage a first from play. They lacked the defensive heft or middle third cohesion Waterford brought in bucklet loads. The Déise struck five without reply on the run into the break. Four belonged to Spain, the remainder to midfielder Gearóid O'Shea. Clare charged into the second half in such a manner that suggested a comeback was a strong prospect. Sub John Barry assumed freetaking responsibilities and sniped a pair either side of an Ian O'Brien effort. The gap back to seven. 1-12 to 0-8. They would, however, manage only two further points across the remaining 28 minutes. Waterford, mind, weren't exactly shooting off into the distance at the same time. Only two points in the opening 23 minutes of the second period. A poor second period, all told. Not that it was necessarily required such was their strong lead throughout, but the score that told you that this, in front of 15,411 spectators, was Waterford's day arrived on 55 minutes. Clare's James O'Donnell and Liam Murphy had goal shots repelled. Waterford worked possession down the Ryan Stand side. An 11th Cormac Spain point. The Waterford crowd again on their feet. On May 2, Waterford had six to spare over Clare in the Munster round-robin at Dungarvan. The result carried Waterford into the Munster final at Clare's expense. It was a Munster final Waterford came off second best in. From very early on here, it was so abundantly clear they'd not be second best in this latest decider. Scorers for Waterford: C Spain (0-11, 0-7 frees); S Power (0-3); P Quann (1-0); G O'Shea (0-2); T Kennedy, E McHugh (0-1 each). Scorers for Clare: J Barry (0-3, 0-3 frees); P Rodgers (0-1 free, 0-1 sc), L Murphy (0-2 each); B Talty, I O'Brien, G Ball (free), D Murrihy (0-1 each). WATERFORD: J Comerford (Ballygunner); C Lynch (Geraldines), D Murphy (St. Mary's East), D Keane (De La Salle); B Penkert (Mount Sion), H Quann (Lismore), T Kennedy (Mount Sion); E Burke (Roanmore), G O'Shea (St. Mollerans); P Quann (Dungarvan), J Power (Ballygunner), S Power (De La Salle); D Murphy (Roanmore), C Spain (Ballygunner), J Shanahan (Erins Own). CLARE: L Talty (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); Z Phelan (Sixmilebridge), N Doyle (Éire Óg Ennis), J O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge); E Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), D Kennedy (Ballyea), C Daly (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), E Cleary (Ballyea); B Talty (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), R Ralph (Clarecastle), J O'Donnell (Broadford); I O'Brien (Cratloe), P Rodgers (Scariff), L Murphy (O'Callaghan's Mills). SUBS: J Barry (Inagh Kilnamona) for Ralph (29 mins); G Marshall (Parteen Meelick) for Talty (45); D Murrihy (Inagh Kilnamona) for Cleary (52); J Gibbons (Whitegate) for O'Donnell (61); D Mahon (Clooney Quin) for Murphy (64). REFEREE: C McDonald (Antrim).
The 42
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Spain's brace of goals helps Waterford reach first All-Ireland minor final since 2013
Waterford 2-21 Kilkenny 2-18 WATERFORD HAVE PROGRESSED to a first All-Ireland minor hurling final since 2013 after getting the better of Kilkenny in a four-goal battle in Wexford Park. A haul of 2-6 from Cormac Spain proved decisive as Waterford held off a late Kilkenny fightback to advance to the decider. Advertisement Kilkenny made a lively start after a Cian Byrne goal to help them into a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after just two minutes. Points from Shane Power, Jamie Shanahan and Jack Power helped settled the Déise after that early setback before Spain scored the first of his two goals to leave just two between the teams on 18 minutes. Jake Mullen got the last score of the half to give Kilkenny a 1-10 to 1-7 lead at the break. The sides were level at 1-14 apiece 11 minutes into the second half before Spain grabbed his second goal of the game to open up a four-point lead for Waterford. That proved to be the turning point in the game as the gap widened to eight points in the closing stages. 18 nóim #KILvWAT @KilkennyCLG 1-05@WaterfordGAA 1-07 Cúl ag Port Láirge agus tá siad chun cinn Cormac Spain puts Waterford ahead with the second goal of the game Beo/Live ar @TG4TV 📺 @ElectricIreland #GAABEO — Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 14, 2025 Kilkenny staged a late rally as Adam Maher lifted a green flag and Conor Holohan added a point to leave just two between the teams. But a late point from Shanahan helped Waterford squeeze over the line.
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Déise delirium as Waterford book place in minor hurling decider at Kilkenny
Waterford are into the All-Ireland Minor Hurling final for the first time since 2013 after a thrilling 2-21 to 2-18 win over Kilkenny at Wexford Park, powered by a superb 2-6 from talisman Cormac Spain.
