Green flags from Paul O'Sullivan and Sam Pender saw Roanmore retain their senior football status in a fiery promotion relegation final with Stradbally in Fraher Field on Saturday night (2-9 to 1-4).
The Sky Blues won three of their six championship games in 2024. Nolan brothers Billy and Brian, Dean Reidy and Rory Furlong were central to this victory.
These two sides met in the same fixture last year and there was an edge throughout. Referee Anthony Fitzgerald issued three black cards, three yellows and a red. The man in the middle also had to intervene when the players exchanged words after the final whistle.
Stradbally won the premier intermediate championship last week but took the field without two key players. Shane Aherne didn't feature due to injury while Jack Mullaney missed out due to illness. Roanmore led 6-1 by the 26th minute. Waterford hurler Billy Nolan converted three frees off the ground including one from 50 metres.
Stradbally lost two players to black cards in quick succession. Paddy Kiely was first to leave the field in the 23rd minute for a heavy tackle on Brian Everard. Michael O'Brien followed two minutes later for another body collide.
The thirteen men rose to the challenge as lone striker Rory Fennell ran amok. He won a penalty on the stroke of half time and slotted it into the bottom corner of the net. The Reds only trailed by a point at the break (0-6 to 1-2).
Conor Ryan man marked Fennell when the game resumed. The Sky Blues owned the ball in the third quarter and points followed from Ethan Flynn and Brian Nolan.
Stradbally were back in the hunt when Roanmore defender Dale Hayes received a black card and Daniel Weldon raised a white flag. Two points in it with nine minutes left (0-8 to 1-3).
The fourteen Roanmore players responded straight away as strapping midfielder Rory Furlong soloed through and offloaded to Paul O'Sullivan who slipped the ball to the net. Paddy Kiely then got his marching orders on a second bookable offence. On 58 minutes, O'Sullivan set up Sam Pender who drilled a low shot to the cobwebs.
Roanmore stay senior, Stradbally stay premier intermediate.
