2020. The year we thought we'd have no sport at all. Eventually, things got back on track, albeit very different to before.
Hats, scarves and headbands were replaced by padlocks on gates and players getting changed in car parks.
With the middle of the year baren of any fixtures, its amazing that we have any big moments to speak of - but sport prevailed and we were treated to some spectacular stories. Here's a short list of just some of the notable moments throughout the year.
Waterford Fall Short of ending 61 year wait for Liam
Many said it at the start of the Championship, that if Waterford were going to win an All-Ireland, of course, it would be in a year when nobody could attend. This year wasn't to be the year it happened, but not for the lack of trying. Liam Cahill's side made their way through Cork, Clare, and Kilkenny en route to the final, only being bested by John Kiely's Limerick in both the Munster final and the showpiece decider.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/12/12/all-ireland-final-the-long-road-to-croke-park/
With the wait going on for another year, attention turned to the former hurlers who last lifted the cup for Waterford. Men who have gone half a lifetime watching and waiting for All-Ireland success once again.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/12/09/1959-all-ireland-winning-hurlers/
The whole county rowed in behind the team and the anticipated "lift" of Championshi hurling was clear to see as they made their way towards Croke Park and the final day of the campaign
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/12/11/waterford-people-build-up-to-sundays-all-ireland-final/
Sometimes, reality sets in and the Deise were overpowered and outplayed by a far superior Limerick side at GAA HQ.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/12/13/waterford-reach-for-the-stars-but-are-outclassed-by-limerick-in-all-ireland-final/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3E1x692IBm3ZIb7JiSTvPa?si=GOpGLt70ST6NNU6sS1_8vA
Ballygunner Reign Supreme
The Ballygunner hurlers recorded an historic 7th county title in a row beating Passage 1-23 to 0-9 at an empty Walsh Park to retain their crown.
REPORT: @ballygunnerhc made it seven @WaterfordGAA Senior Hurling Championships in a row thanks to a convincing victory over @PassageHurling in today's County SHC Final. #GAA #GAABelong
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 30, 2020
County final celebrations with a difference at the beach #39 #clubisfamily pic.twitter.com/R7qFAF8yt7
— Ballymacarbry LGFC (@BallymacLGFC) September 20, 2020
Gailltir Crowned All-Ireland Champions
The Gailltir intermediate camogie side claimed All-Ireland glory having beat St Rynaghs of Offaly 1-13 to 0-13 in Croke Park. The Waterford and Munster title holders trailed by a point deep into injury time before super sub Una Jackman rifled to the roof of the net in the 64th minute. Her sister Patricia sealed a famous win with a last gasp free.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/03/01/120015/
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/03/02/gaultier-are-all-ireland-champions-deise-today-monday-2nd-march/
Covid Concerns Effect Football Championship
With the resumption of intercounty games "post lockdown", the Waterford footballers were due to play Antirm in Portglenone but in the buildup to the game, concerns made their way out of the camp that the players would not be comfortable playing the game in the North of Ireland with the high rates of covid prevailing.
The game was set to the handed to Antrim unless a neutral venue could be agreed.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/10/21/several-waterford-footballers-unwilling-to-travel-for-antrim-clash/
It went down to the last minute, but eventually, an agreement was reached with the Antrim players agreeing to play in Dundalk so as to allow the fixture to go ahead.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/10/23/game-on-antrim-v-waterford-to-be-played-in-louth-allianz-football-league/
The game would not go the way of the Deise with them coming unstuck against a stronger side, with the still to come fixture against Limerick being their last tilt at Championship success for the year when they welcomed the Treaty County to the Fraher Field.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/10/31/waterford-footballers-exit-championship-at-the-hands-of-superior-limerick/
All change at the RSC
Like every sports team in 2020, Waterford FC dealt with the unexpected throughout the season and shortly before Christmas, they had reached manager number four of this calendar year.
Alan Reynolds departed in June during the first lock down when play was still halted and uncertainty abounded as to when we might see games return.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/06/16/alan-reynolds-steps-down-as-waterford-fc-manager/
Reynolds was replaced by John Sheridan who flew in from Leeds aiming to restart the Blues hopes as games returned.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/07/08/john-sheridan-appointed-waterford-fc-first-team-manager/
Sheridan's approach with the players boosted their confidence, but ultimately it wasn't to be a long term appointment and he traveled home to England after a well-deserved win over Boh's. Sheridan would later in the year be followed by a former Republic Of Ireland teammate at the helm of the Blues.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/09/12/143438/
An in-house appointment followed the departure of Sheridan with Tramore native Franny Rockett taking the top job until the end of the season. With a European challenge on the cards thanks to some fortunate results elsewhere in the table, the Blues approached the end of the season with a real possibility of tacking a European playoff spot. It all came down to the last game of the season with the Waterford making the long journey to Ballybofery where they would face Finn Harps - unfortunately results did not go their way and the dream of playing in Europe ended in Donegal.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/11/10/heartbreak-for-waterford-fc-in-finn-park/
With the end of the year approaching there was one more story to come from the RSC with a shock appointment made at the helm of the club, John Sheridan's former teammate Kevin Sheedy being named as manager for the upcoming season. Sheedy will take charge of the side before games resume and he will be assisted by former Everton player and recent Wrexham assistant manager Mike Newell.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/12/17/waterford-fc-appoint-kevin-sheedy-as-manager/
Sam Bennett's Green Jersey Success
On the international stage this year, there was one of the biggest successes in 30 years with Carrick On Suir's Sam Bennett claiming the green jersey at the Tour De France.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/09/20/sam-bennett-on-the-verge-of-winning-green/
Riding a near-perfect Tour (forgetting county allegiances for a moment) Bennett managed to topple the man who had held him back for so long when he beat Peter Sagan took the points classification jersey in the year of covid.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/09/21/reaction-as-sam-bennett-wins-green/
WATCH: Sam Bennett's mother, father and brother reflect on what is the biggest achievement of the year in Irish Sport.
He took the green jersey in @LeTour winning the final stage on the Champs-Élysées and taking his place in the history books#WLRSport with @VirginMediaIE pic.twitter.com/MgW0TkMCPr— WLR (@wlrfm) September 21, 2020
Craig Breen back on the WRC stage
Having battled up and down between the world and European levels for the past couple of years, Craig Breen turned up at Rally Estonia with a single goal in mind - putting ina performance worthy of a seat at the top table. Over the course of a weekend in Estonia the man from Slieverue delivered with aplomb coming second to the World Champions Ott Tänak. Next year, Breen will race for Hyundai on the world stage once again.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/09/06/breen-takes-second-at-rally-estonia/
Waterford Crowns a new sporting hero
After a poll that ran on WLRFM for the month of June with more than 20,000 votes cast - the public decided that former Man United and Ireland legend John O' Shea is the greatest that the county has to offer.
https://www.wlrfm.com/2020/06/26/john-o-shea-is-named-as-waterfords-greatest-sporting-hero/
