Fourteen man Passage staged a sensational second half comeback to surprise Roanmore at Walsh Park and reach the Waterford SHC semi finals for the first time since 2020 (1-18 to 0-20).
Vinny Keane's side lost defender Kevin Cullinane to a straight red card after just three minutes but still recovered a seven point deficit. 18 year old Thomas Carey starred with thirteen points, county man Mark Fitzgerald netted a second half goal while centre back Gary Cullinane nailed two monster points.
Electric corner forward Lee Hearne hit five from play for Roanmore and saw a late strike deflected away for a 65. Gavin O'Brien decided to knock it over for his tenth point of the game and referee Tadhg Tobin blew the final whistle. O'Brien thought that there was one more play as he protested to the referee afterwards.
In the third minute, the umpires alerted Tobin to an off the ball incident and Kevin Cullinane saw red. Brian Nolan acted as the extra man for wind assisted Roanmore and they shot five unanswered points during the second quarter. Gavin O'Brien finished the half on six points (four placed balls) while the lively Lee Hearne landed four from play.
Thomas Carey tapped over Passage frees while Sean Kelly, son of Waterford All Star Eoin, struck one from play. In a fiery finish to the half, county team mates Billy Nolan and Mark Fitzgerald engaged in a shouldering match and both players picked up yellow cards. Roanmore racked up eight wides as they reached the dressing rooms 12-6 to the good.
Five Carey frees cut the gap to two before Fitzgerald intercepted a short puckout on 46 minutes and rifled the sliotar to the top corner of the net (1-12 to 0-14). Jack Chester got a hurley to it but couldn't keep it out. The 2013 champions kept their noses ahead after that as Stephen Lynch, Gary Cullinane and Carey added inspirational long distance scores. Goalkeeper Eddie Lynch saved from Shane Mackey deep into injury time before Passage players and mentors celebrated a mighty come from behind win.
