Hurlers lead 12pts to 6pts at halftime.
37 mins before our first wide.
All Waterford scores except one, which looked wide,from frees (missed 2 score able ones as well) still giving away too many free.
Mark Fanning on the long range frees and scored all his frees.
Before throw in I estimated to myself that
the wind was âa 6-7point windâ so every much all to play for.
Aidan Nolan missed good goal chance few minutes before half time.
Fine start to the league.
Only a handful of wides, which is always pleasing.
David Dunne with 2-2 all in second half, a real goal threat once he gets good ball.
Chin missed one free at the end so hopefully our free taking concerns are addressed.
We go again
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Reads like a great win for the hurlers in Waterford. Weâre carving a niche for ourselves as early season specialists.
Report on radio from Fermanagh made out the second half was the most violent half of football in a long time
Any signs of hope we can avoid relegation?
It was a strange second half. They got an unprecedented third âsocceredâ goal early in the second half. Keeper came out and fisted a high ball back out to the 21 and the onrushing full forward buried it.
Nick Doyle went in full forward for the second half when Syl Byrne came on and we went direct. He broke a high ball for himself in behind the full back and âsocceredâ it in too. One of the Fermanagh midfielders was sent off on a straight red card then but Iâm not sure he did anything too bad. Tiernan Rossiter got our second goal when Fermanagh lost the ball coming out of defence. Young Cathal Devereux had earlier come on and kicked a good point and Doyle deflected another long ball in over the bar with his fist. A lot of fisting today.
They were wobbling a bit at 3-6 to 2-5 with around 10 minutes left but then Rossiter was sent off for a second yellow (high tackle). Then the sideline melee - it wasnât too bad though just annoying when subs and selectors get involved. One of their players was penalised for overcarrying in front of their dug out but wouldnât release the ball. A bit of wrestling ensued with his direct marker and then the likes of McMenamin were on the pitch and getting involved. Brian Malone ended up getting a straight red card and McMenamin was sent to the stand. I didnât see any punches thrown though - lots of shoving and dunting with shoulders and posturing.
SeĂĄn Quigley came on and immediately got sent off. I was sure it was a straight red card but RTĂ Radio said it was a black card. The game was a 13v13 ragged mess at this stage and they got the last point to win it 3-7 to 2-5.
I credit Wexford for sticking with it and being game but think weâre too light, inexperienced and lacking enough quality to stay up. Malone will be a big loss if that red card isnât overturned.
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Great reports @Bandage, thanks. Was very pessemistic going into this, thought we might get a hiding. So kinda a good result. Both Sligo & offaly got scutchins today. Between them and us to go down. I think we play both of them away? Not great. Malone will be a huge loss the next day against Sligo. How did Syl Byrne do?
Weâve Offaly at home in round 5, Sligo away next
Sunday. Byrne was okay - he worked hard.
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Cheers for that. not too surprising that we were left relying on Fermanagh media for updates, the wexford twitter didnât even give a full time score. In the scheme of things, a battling 5 point loss after getting 2 red cards is not the worst to have happened. Seriously inexperienced side, so itâll be a huge learning curve for the year.
Nice win for the hurlers too to start off the campaign. Lessens the pressure on a relegation battle getting a win in the first round. Win against Cork next week is certainly achievable
We badly missed David Dunne against Galway & Waterford last year. Himself and Dunbar offer something completely different to our other forwards. Hopefully they both stay sound for the season. Good start but Iâd be expecting us to do better than expected in first few games
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+1. I think pace is required when youâre playing with 4/5 forwards. McGovern and Dunne getting injured last summer was quite a blow to us in that regard as the likes of Morris, Guiney and McDonald donât have that same level of speed.
@Ralphie, who hurled well for us today?
Dunne took his 2 goals nicely.
The first he got in close to goal before batting it in ala Shane OâDonnell.
As mentioned above Dunne and Dunbar will give us exactly what we need.
Great to have Paulie Foley back as well.
One of those good solid team performances.
I found the banking on the side opposite the stand side not great, surely there should be at least terracing.
Imagine there will be lively atmosphere for championship games there
Theyâll surely have to move those games to Nowlan Park - no way can they hold any sort of crowd there.
Was thinking that would struggle to accommodate a day-cent size crowd
Start had to be delayed due to crowd congestion.
Attendance was 7k.
Dunne was fit tho for both wasnât he? That was the big story missed by a certain scribe on here. Which is why I wasnât sure heâd hang around this year, but fair fucks to him, instead of sulking and quiting, heâs shown Davy made a mistake not to even have him in the 24 last year.
How did the DCU lads go?
He was injured after the league I thought?
Was definitely fully fit for the Waterford game anyway, I thought the clique were informed of the story
You know what to doâŚ
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Why wasnât David Dunne playing in last years Championship. Looks a superb addition and would be even better on Spring ground. Remember a Dunne playing against Cork in qualifiers in Thurles 2 or 3 years ago. Same guy?
He had a hamstring injury after the league and missed the KK game as a result. He ran the KK backs ragged in the league game. Great pace but can be a bit wasteful . Hopefully heâs been working on that as he has great potential when it clicks.
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