Rathgormack end final pain to secure Waterford crown

Despite ending this Waterford Senior Football Final with 13 men, Rathgormack cruised to their first Conway Cup success since 2019, seeing off the three-in-a-row chasing Niremen.

"There's joy, there’s relief and there’s pride," as ecstatic manager Kenny Hassett aptly put it following Anthony Fitzgerald’s full-time whistle.

Determined to avoid a fourth successive senior final reversal, the Comeragh Mountain men led from the fifth minute of the first half all the way through to the second half’s fifth additional minute.

With captain Willie Hahessy leading his defence by example, a Rathgormack side inspired by Conor Murray, Jason Curry and Jason Gleeson were in command throughout against a Nire side which lined out without veteran full-back Tomás O’Gorman.

Jason Curry, via a free and an excellent effort from play following Michael Curry’s pass, had Rathgormack two points up by the eighth minute. The men in green and red went three clear thanks to Billy Power following a superb in-field pass by Conor Murray after 11 minutes.

The defending champions broke their scoring duck at the head of the second quarter through Shane O’Meara, one of only two points they registered from play this afternoon.

Jason Gleeson shook off the disappointment of two missed frees to landed the first of his three points from play in the 20th minute, with The Nire replying through a Dermot Ryan free three minutes later.

But Rathgormack, who were happy to allow The Nire press onto them all game long, extended their lead in the 26th minute thanks to Jason Curry, who sidestepped Jamie Barron to score following another superb Conor Murray assist. Curry converted his second free in additional time to leave the challengers four clear, with The Nire left to rue Aaron