Mickey Harte praises Waterford despite Tailteann Cup defeat to Offaly

Irish Examiner

17-05-2025

Tailteann Cup Group 2: Offaly 1-18 Waterford 1-13
Offaly joint manager Mickey Harte was full of praise for the Waterford footballers after watching his team secure a hard fought Tailteann Cup victory in blazing Saturday sunshine.
The three-time All Ireland winning boss received a round of applause from the Déise players after he addressed them out on the pitch.
"I just wanted to congratulate them on the effort they put in today and the fact that they are keeping the game alive in a county that's very much of the small ball sort.
"I told them that if they played like that against other teams then they would be very difficult to beat."
A top corner finish from Cathal Flynn on 49 minutes saw the Faithful make it two wins from two. Shane Tierney shot five points while goalkeeper Paddy Dunican made a big second half save from Ciarán Walsh.
Harte highlighted the importance of this competition.
"There's a ticket to next year's All Ireland series, there's a cup at the end of it and there's a chance to build your confidence.
"We're going into Division 2 next year and you need to be playing games at a highly competitive level. If you don't advance in the competition, you're going cold into a Division 2 that has plenty of big hitters next year."
Despite suffering back to back defeats, Waterford are still in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Paul Shankey's side face Wicklow in two weeks' time. Déise netminder Aaron Beresford produced two superb saves. Jason Curry (0-6) and Michael O'Brien (0-4) also stood out.
Despite firing nine wides, two short and two off the post, Offaly led 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval. In the fifth minute, a Stephen Curry shot fell to Dylan Guiry in front of goal and the Waterford corner forward made no mistake. Two Jack Bryant points helped a wayward Faithful recover from that early setback.
Déise goalkeeper Aaron Beresford denied Cillian Bourke with a diving save early in the second half. Adam Crawford blocked the rebound but Shane Tierney eventually fisted over.
Offaly netminder Paddy Dunican brilliantly denied Ciarán Walsh in a one on one at the other end. A mighty Michael O'Brien two pointer levelled the contest (1-6 to 0-9). Beresford again came to Waterford's rescue as he thwarted Cormac Egan.
The turning point came on 49 minutes when Offaly won a turnover ball and Cathal Flynn found the top corner. Substitute Dylan Hyland added two points but was replaced after being shown a yellow card.
Déise sub Caolán MacCathmhaoil scored with his first touch. A Jason Curry two pointer left just a goal between them on 64 minutes. The away team closed it out with two Rory Egan points and one each by Jordan Hayes and Shane Tierney.
Scorers for Waterford: J Curry 0-6 (1 2p, 1 45, 1f), M O'Brien 0-4 (1 2p, 1f), D Guiry 1-0, C Murray 0-2 (2p), C MacCathmhaoil 0-1.
Scorers for Offaly: S Tierney 0-5 (1f), C Flynn 1-1, J Hayes, J Bryant, D Hyland, R Egan 0-2 each, D McDaid, C Egan, C Bourke, A Kellaghan 0-1 each.
Waterford: A Beresford; T Martin, C Walsh, B Hynes; C Ó Cuirrín, A Crawford, D Fitzgerald; J Booth, J Curry; M O'Brien, J Power, C Murray; S Curry, C Walsh, D Guiry.
Subs: R Furlong for S Curry (51), A Dunwoody for Fitzgerald (57), C MacCathmhaoil for Guiry (63), C Looney for O'Brien (66), L Walsh for C Walsh (71).
Offaly: P Dunican; L Pearson, D Dempsey, D McDaid; D Egan, J Furlong, C Egan; J McEvoy, J Hayes; K Higgins, C Flynn, C Bourke; A Kellaghan, J Bryant, S Tierney.
Subs: D Hyland for Kellaghan (47), R Egan for C Egan (51), R McNamee for Hyland (59), A Leavy for Furlong (69), M Dalton for D Egan (71).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).