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The 42
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Maybe down the road, he'll suffer a bit over it. But he loves playing for Waterford'
'FOR TODAY, IT'S worth it. For the next 10 minutes, I'd do as much as I can. You'd be questioning for months and then you get a day like today and that's why I do it.' ******* WATERFORD'S STEPHEN BENNETT was trying to breathlessly sum it all up on The Sunday Game after a crucial win over Clare last weekend. He had just scored 2-8 in a man of the match performance to mark his 100th Déise appearance. The result against the reigning All-Ireland champions gives Peter Queally's side the best possible start in their attempt to qualify out of the Munster championship. An eternal quest for progress given that this was just their fourth win in 21 round-robin games, but despite the doubt that follows them every year, Waterford's players stood tall in Walsh Park. Bennett was a giant. That he has hit the century mark is scarcely believable given his injury history. Two hip surgeries before turning 17, and four by the age of 20 puts his situation in stark terms. He has no cartilage left in either joint, and arthritis is already setting in. The right hip is out of its socket. Playing through pain is a constant burden and a double hip replacement awaits him whenever he does retire. Bennett doesn't have a timeline on that but he told the Smaller Fish podcast recently that time is not his friend. Man of the match Stephen Bennett admits victories like today over Clare make the sacrifices worthwhile 📺 Watch @rte2 & @rteplayer 📻 @rteradio1 📱 Updates — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 27, 2025 'I was told I had €10,000 left in the bank and every time I run that money is being spent. When that is gone, I'm getting hip replacements. I don't know how much money I've left but I'll keep going.' Prolonging his Waterford career requires limiting his time on the training pitch. They take a similar approach in his club Ballysaggart. Advertisement 'When he comes back to us, he does whatever he can,' says manager Adrian Meagher. 'He'd do the running with us but wouldn't do anything physical. We leave it to him. If he thinks he can do a training session, we let him off and if he says he's not able, that's fine. 'We know what we're going to get off him come the day of championship anyway. All you want is honesty and that's what he would be with us.' Meagher has been in charge since 2012, overseeing a period of considerable growth in the last 13 years. He guided Ballysaggart to junior county and Munster glory in 2013 before reaching an All-Ireland final against Creggan Kickhams of Antrim that went to a replay. The second game ended in a four-point defeat for the Waterford side. Bennett scored a combined 3-8 across those two games and finished as the competition's top-scorer with 7-39. Ballysaggart tasted intermediate success in 2019 and went on to contest the Munster decider where their journey ended with a four-point defeat to Fr O'Neill's of Cork. They moved up to senior in 2020 but were relegated back to the intermediate grade by De La Salle. In 2023, they were in another relegation battle against Ballyduff Lower. But Bennett's heroics helped ensured their survival with a six-point win. 'We were under pressure but he gave a performance in the second half that was unbelievable,' Meagher recalls. Bennett's breakthrough was preceded by a successful underage career. Along with his brother Shane, he was part of a crew who helped Waterford end a 65-year wait for an All-Ireland minor title in 2013. 'We had six on that minor panel,' Meagher continues. 'We knew we had potential and knew we were going to win the junior county with them. But to go on and win Munster and go to Croke Park and to extra-time and a replay, we probably didn't see that coming.' By that stage, Bennett's ability was already well known locally. He was into his third year of hurling for the Waterford minors having made his bow at just 15 in 2011. He guided his county to a Munster final after hitting 3-2 in an extra-time epic against a Limerick side that included Dan Morrissey, David Reidy and Shane Dowling. Jamie Barron also featured that day, starting at corner-back for Waterford. Waterford lost that Munster final to Clare but reached the All-Ireland semi-final where they played out a thrilling 6-19 to 5-13 battle with Dublin. Bennett finished with 1-1 while the victorious Dublin team included some household football names including Cormac Costello and Ciarán Kilkenny. Stephen Bennett in action against Creggan Kickhams in the 2014 All-Ireland final. Presseye / John McIlwaine/INPHO Presseye / John McIlwaine/INPHO / John McIlwaine/INPHO To know more about the rise of Stephen Bennett means understanding where he came from. Ballysaggart is a small village community with a population of about 250 people. A church, pub and tyre centre comprise the local landmarks along with the hurling field which is located in front of the Knockmealdown Mountains. Lismore is to the side, who Ballysaggart amalgamate with at underage level under the name St Carthage's. 'It (the GAA pitch) was on mountain ground and it was reclaimed back in the 1970s,' Meagher continues. 'The older GAA men went in with their tractors and drained it. They did massive work that time to make it into a field. 'It was always wet down the years but the committee have done unbelievable work the last five years. They've a massive clubhouse put up and I think they've spent well over €1 million. They've levelled the field and drained and it's like an all weather pitch now, as good as any in the country.' In a small area like Ballysaggart, everyone knows everyone, but Meagher knows the Bennetts particularly well. The mothers of both families are close friends and the Bennett boys — Kieran, Stephen, Shane and Ryan — have been regulars at the house since they were children. Their father Pat, who also hurled for Waterford and served under Davy Fitzgerald during his time with the Déise, is a frequent caller too. Meagher's son Darren grew up hurling with the three brothers, giving him a front row seat to the first flashes of Bennett brilliance. It started in the back garden and carried through to their underage hurling. All three were quality players but even then, Stephen was a distinguished talent. 'He's the one fella you'd say that he had it all. 'When they were in primary school, the three of them were excellent. They used to be winning games by themselves at that level. They just had it. They were very committed and they work hard.' The pair were chatting this week in the wake of Bennett's star performance against Clare. His second goal came up in conversation and Bennett explained his movement and thought process that led to the score. 'He told me he was going in there to take a chance but then he looked up and knew it wasn't going wide. The wind held it up and the goalie [Eibhear Quilligan] and John Conlon thought it was going wide. Stephen Bennett in the 2011 Munster minor final against Clare. James Crombie James Crombie 'There's not too many fellas who would have gone into the corner but that instinct is in him. 'But that's Stephen. When he got into his hand, you knew it was going into the back of the net. It's just in him and you probably can't train that.' Waterford will take another huge step towards finally ending their Munster round-robin curse later this evening if they can get the better of Limerick. Bennett is clearly on form at the moment given his 1-49 in the league and his contribution to last week's result. Related Reads 'Bullshit is how I would describe it. No way was that a yellow card' 6 talking points after day of Munster hurling action in Waterford and Cork Liam Cahill: 'It is a difficult day for young Darragh. We all have his back in Tipperary' But his scoring record against Limerick also bodes well for him. Of their last three meetings in this competition, Bennett has scored 1-25 with 0-21 from placed balls. In 2020, the year of Bennett's All-Star award, he scored a combined 0-22 in the Munster final and All-Ireland final against Limerick. He was also the top scorer in that championship with 1-54. Meagher can remember when Bennett first started experiencing hip problems as a young player, and continues to help him manage the situation delicately as his mentor. He still marvels at how Bennett can defy the medical limitations of his injury with his powerful displays. 'It's unbelievable for the family, and it's massive for us in Ballysaggart. [We're] a small club that have three boys on the Waterford panel. Stephen is just pure talent. His workrate is immense this year. 'For a fella with his hip issues, he needn't run the way he's running. He could stand inside in the corner and wait for the ball to come to him. But he's running up and down the field. He's leaving everything out there. 'Maybe down the road, he'll suffer a bit over it. But he loves playing for Waterford and the one thing we'd all love to see him do is win an All-Ireland. If they can get out of Munster, it's a wide open field for them then.' ***** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The 42
28-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
\6 talking points after day of Munster hurling action in Waterford and Cork
1. Waterford receive boost Victories in the Munster hurling round-robin series are precious for Waterford teams. Before yesterday they had only enjoyed three under those conditions in their province, in the sixth running of this format they reached the number four figure. The pleasing nature of this success was the idenity of the opposition. Waterford ended a losing streak at the hands of Clare, as their result sheet in the round-robin system against Banner teams had read five games played and five defeats before yesterday. They did defeat Clare in the 2020 All-Ireland quarter-final during Covid but in truth had struggled in these encounters. Changing the pattern of results against Clare is a boost to the Waterford ranks, along with an excellent start to a pivotal week where they also host Limerick. 2. Red card drama For the second successive week, a red card played a major role in determining the outcome of a game involving Cork. Advertisement Last Sunday Cork were clinging on against Clare after Shane Barrett's dismissal, yesterday they were essentially set on the road to victory by the early sending-off suffered by Tipperary's Darragh McCarthy. Cork discovered last week just how difficult it is to operate with 14 men in the modern hurling era. Teams are so slick at retaining possession and eliminating risk from their deliveries, that the presence of an extra man on the pitch provides them with an asset that they will seek to maximise the value of. Cork only had to cope with that numerical disadvantage in Ennis for the last 20 minutes of action. Tipperary's task was an impossible one, playing virtually the entire contest in Páirc Uí Chaoimh with 14 players. It was too much of a setback to absorb. It's easy to have sympathy given his youth for the adrenaline-fuelled misstep by McCarthy, but the influence on the rest of the game was undeniable. 3. Stephen Bennett the scoring star There was little doubt who chiefly provided the scoring inspiration for Waterford's effort. Stephen Bennett finisehd the day with 2-8, a tally distributed across open play, frees and a penalty, and on a day when Waterford chalked up 2-23 and won by eight points, it was a handsome return from the Ballysaggart man. The timing of his goals were crucial. Clare were three adrift, 0-14 to 0-11, when Mikey Kiely was fouled, and despite losing his footing on the Walsh Park surface, Bennett drilled that penalty to the net. Then with 12 minutes left, and Clare only trailing by three once more, it was Bennett's blend of opportunism, alertness, and composure that saw him seize Patrick Fitzgeraldn's point attempt that dropped shot, before firing in the goal that sent Waterford six clear. Waterford sailed clear from there and were indebted to a player who was marking a game of personal milestones in style – making his 100th appearance for Waterford and reaching the 40th goal mark. 4. Cork's goalscoring threat The early red card sharply changed the setting at which the game was played, all the momentum was handed to Cork and wrestling it back was the tall order that Tipperary faced. Yet despite the odds being stacked in their favour, it required Cork to show the capacity to exploit it. They had the tools to do just that, once again showcasing the serious goalscoring power their team possesses. By the three-quarter mark they had found the net three times courtesy of Tim O'Mahony, Patrick Horgan, and Alan Connolly, before Declan Dalton lashed home the fourth. Their inside forwards are key threats, while O'Mahony is a running option from midfield, just like his colleague Ethan Twomey was in the league final. In their last five games across league and championship, Cork have now knocked in 19 goals, and the fact that 13 of those occurred in the opening periods, illustrates their desire to punish teams early on in games. 5. Clare under pressure When David Reidy tapped over a close-range free last Sunday, Clare were on the verge of a momentous opening day success in the defence of their All-Ireland crown. Instead they were hauled back by a late Cork rally that yielded an equalising score. Forced to share the spoils was a source of regret, a sense that hardened when they faded away to lose by eight at the hands of Waterford. It changes the outlook now for Clare, increasing the pressure that hangs over them. The home game with Tipperary on 10 May now assumes huge significance, and regardless they will head to Limerick on 25 May needing a positive result. Injuries have heaped on the difficulties for Clare. They operated without Conor Cleary and Shane O'Donnell last week, Diarmuid Ryan was an early withdrawal and then unavailable yesterday, while the hardest blow of all to take was the absence of Tony Kelly, the fulcrum of their team, in Walsh Park. Getting figures back on the pitch is a key target for the next fortnight. Related Reads Liam Cahill: 'It is a difficult day for young Darragh. We all have his back in Tipperary' Cork score 4-27 in Munster victory as Tipperary hit by early red card setback Two-goal Bennett stars as Waterford open Munster series with impressive win over Clare 6. Another difficult day for Tipperary against Cork That red card clearly impacted on the action, but the outcome was a familiar sinking feeling for Tipperary at the hands of Cork. For the third time in four seasons, Tipperary fell to a heavy loss against Cork – defeated by 12 points in 2022, by 18 points in 2024, and by 15 points yesterday. They drew a thrilling game with Cork in 2023 but leaked four goals that night and in their last four championship meetings with the Rebels, Tipperary have shipped 15 goals. The pain from these beatings will linger, particularly when the league final reversal earlier this month is also factored in. The positive plaudits for Tipperary after last week's draw were deserved. But the fact that Darragh McCarthy's last act last Sunday was to float over the levelling point, and his first act yesterday was to get sent-off, illustrated the contrasting emotions that they encountered in their Munster hurling week. ***** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Waterford hero Stephen Bennett: 'We're fed up of being finished hurling in May'
Two-goal Waterford hero Stephen Bennett is desperate to make it out of the Munster round robin in 2025. The 2020 All-Star scored 2-4 in the second half and 2-8 in total on his 100th appearance to help the Déise defeat reigning All-Ireland champions Clare on home turf. That's now a staggering 40 goals and 554 points in white and blue for the Ballysaggart scoregetter. "That's something I'll look back on in a few years. I'm just delighted with the two points. I would have sat out on the bench if we could have won two points today. We've been so nearly there all the time. We need to just go away and get another win. Get out of the group, get to a Munster final or get to the All-Ireland series. We're fed up of being finished hurling in May. We've Limerick in six days' time so we'll focus on that now." Bennett admitted that he lost his footing in converting the penalty on 44 minutes. "I fell over! We'll take it! It was like a John Terry moment! Look, it went in, I was happy. I didn't see it go in." Clare goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan is beaten for Waterford's first goal, a penalty by Stephen Bennett, during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 2 match between Waterford and Clare at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Waterford manager Peter Queally hailed Bennett's second-half heroics. "Funnily enough, I would have said Stephen has had better games! He was quiet in the first half but he had a brilliant second half. This is something about Stephen I have noticed in the last few years. Looking back on the analysis last year, Stevie was very injury-affected. When we look back on the Limerick game and the Clare game last year, we took Stephen off after 50 minutes because that's all he had in him. I was thinking to myself 'why did we do that?' "Thinking back, he was injured or coming back from injury and he hadn't a lot of training done. I said to Eoin Kelly and Dan Shanahan 'we ain't doing it this year!' I don't care how bad he's going, there's so much in this fella. If you think back on the league game here against Dublin, that was only his second game in six months. That day and that last three or four minutes, he provided the pass for Patrick Curran's goal and point in injury time. That sums up Stephen. There's no end to him with his work rate and his energy and what he can contribute." The Waterford faithful, among a sellout crowd of 12,078, also played their part. "It means so much to us, it means so much to those players to get them behind us. We know how passionate they are. It's like breaking up with someone, we missed them in the last few years! It was great to get them back today and to see the buzz. I knew when the announcer announced with two minutes to go 'no supporters on the field', you were going to have some job holding these back here! They deserve it. They've been behind us through thick and thin." He wants his team to back up that performance against Limerick in six days' time. Treaty boss John Kiely and coach Paul Kinnerk watched on from the stand. "Our eyes are wide open as regards where it leaves us. We were in this position last year. We have to get something out of next Saturday's match. We're at home to Limerick; it's so important that we get results in these home games and make it a bit of a fortress and make it a place that is hard to come to. We can't use the six day turnaround as an excuse. We have to come with all guns blazing against Limerick next Saturday night and try and get a result." Bringing the same energy and intensity is a must. "I always felt coming into this game that the freshness was more important than the game last week. We did have that energy all through the game. The secret now, if there's a way of cracking it, is to get the emotion back down and get those energy levels way up again on Saturday night and bring the same energy, intensity, aggression and work rate that we had today."
Irish Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Waterford blow the roof off Munster championship with convincing defeat of Clare
Munster SHC: Waterford 2-23 Clare 0-21 Stephen Bennett marked his 100th championship appearance with a performance for the ages as Waterford blew the roof off the Munster senior series at a raucous Walsh Park. The Ballysaggart man's brace of second-half goals proved vital as the hosts managed the conditions with surprising comfort, registering 2-10 despite playing into a strong wind. The All-Ireland holders Clare , who started without either Tony Kelly or Shane O'Donnell for the first time in a decade of championship hurling, once again laboured in the free-taking department. This glaring weakness could prove critical should scoring difference come into play once this minefield of a round robin phase concludes. With the wind to their backs, Waterford led by 0-13 to 0-10 at the interval. The visitors opened the scoring through Cathal Malone after 50 seconds with Stephen Bennett levelling matters up barely a minute later. READ MORE A fifth-minute free from Bennett sent the hosts ahead for the first time, before Darragh Lyons extended Waterford's advantage from their next attack. The Déisemen's fine start was maintained by marauding wing back Mark Fitzgerald, who bisected the city end uprights following a bounding upfield gallop. Having lost three successive rucks, Cathal Malone's second point steadied the visitors' ship after eight minutes, much to the delight of the substantial travelling support. Patrick Curran and Mark Rodgers traded impressive points in the ninth and 10th minutes respectively before the all-action Lyons, enjoying his best half in senior championship action, expertly pointed from halfway. Having unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty, Stephen Bennett converted a 13th minute free to send Waterford four points clear as the hosts began to assert some authority. Stephen Bennett of Waterford scores a goal past Darragh Lohan of Clare. PhotographL Natasha Barton/Inpho The outstanding Jamie Barron, fed by Patrick Curran, smartly dispatched a 15th minute point from inside the 13-metre line as Waterford sought to make good on the advantage provided by the wind. By the 18th minute, Peter Queally's men led by six following Stephen Bennett's third free of the afternoon. Darragh Lyons' third point left Waterford seven clear and good value for their advantage after 20 minutes. Despite Clare's ongoing struggles with the dead ball, having used four different free takers against Cork, they finished the half strongly, outscoring Waterford by 0-7 to 0-3 in the closing dozen minutes of action. The towering Peter Duggan was prominent in the Banner's recovery, asserting his aerial dominance as Brian Lohan's side ended the half with menace. Duggan pointed and assisted Ryan Taylor before Jamie Barron and Shane Meehan traded white flaggers. Before a 12,078-strong gate, Clare's strong first-half finish, coupled with the wind advantage, suggested they more than possessed the wherewithal to turn things in their favour come the restart. However, it was Waterford who opened the second half scoring through captain Dessie Hutchinson, breaking free of Adam Hogan's attention for the first time all afternoon. Shane Meehan, who deputised impressively following for Tony Kelly in the wake of the Clare talisman's late withdrawal, broke free of Iarlaith Daly's attention to land his third point in the 40th minute. Peter Duggan's 41st minute shot landed into the grateful palm of Billy Nolan, as Waterford successfully cleared their lines and swept forward, with Michael Kiely's progress halted by David McInerney, followed by a disputed penalty award. Stephen Bennett, despite undercooking his penalty stroke, landed the sliotar into the middle of the 'Country End! net beyond Eibhear Quilligan's outstretched limbs to send Waterford six points clear. Ryan Taylor, David Reidy and Peter Duggan (with a great goal chance) all pointed to reduce Clare's arrears to just a goal by the 53rd minute. But just moments after another impressive Jamie Barron point, Bennett goaled again, capitalising on some hesitancy between Quilligan and John Conlon to leave Waterford six clear with 12 minutes remaining. Clare, unable to develop a meaningful second-half rhythm such was Waterford's dominance, were denied an injury-time goal by Billy Nolan, who dived to his left to deny Peter Duggan. Bennett and Kiely pointed brilliantly as normal time elapsed, with the reappearance from the bench of Austin Gleeson further buoying up the home support as the match ticked into additional time. 'I'd a feeling Waterford would be top of the table by a quarter to four,' former Déise manager Michael Walsh had earlier opined on local radio. How right he was. WATERFORD: B Nolan (0-1) I Kenny, C Prunty, I Daly; M Fitzgerald (0-1), T De Búrca, P Leavey; D Lyons (0-3), K Bennett; Stephen Bennett (2-8, 0-4f, 1-0 pen, 0-1sl), J Barron (0-4), J Prendergast; K Mahony, D Hutchinson (0-2), P Curran (0-2). Subs: M Kiely (0-1) for K Bennett (HT) , P Fitzgerald (0-1) for P Curran (52 mins), Shane Bennett for K Mahony (57 mins), S Walsh for D Lyons (71 mins), A Gleeson for J Prendergast (72 mins). CLARE: E Quilligan; A Hogan, D Lohan, C Leen; C Galvin, J Conlon, D McInerney; D Fitzgerald, C Malone (0-2); S Meehan (0-4), M Rodgers (0-1), P Duggan (0-4, 0-1 Sl); R Taylor (0-4), A McCarthy, D Reidy (0-6, 0-2f). Subs: A Shanagher for D Fitzgerald and I Galvin for A McCarthy (both 47 mins), R Hayes for C Leen (65 mins). Referee: C Mooney (Dublin).
