The Intercounty Campaign
While there was some silverware picked up, it was not the most successful year for the Waterford senior hurlers. A thrilling campaign ended with a first National Hurling League title since 2015.
In his third year in charge of the county, it was the first trophy for Liam Cahill who had guided Waterford to the All-Ireland Final in his first year in charge.
An opening day loss to Dublin in a wet Parnell Park was marked down to the two sides finding their feet and blowing out the winter fumes.
That early season form searching was put to bed when they hammered Laois at Walsh Park, 7.31 - 0.19. Stephen Bennett notched 3.08 that day to set the tone for the type of league campaign he intended to have. The goal fest was added to by Patrick Curran (1.07), Ciaran Kirwan (1.04), Austin Gleeson (1.03) & Carthach Daly (1.01).
A hard-fought 2-point win over Antrim was to follow with Colin Dunford scoring 2 goals before receiving his marching orders, with Michael Kiely also raising a green flag.
The Walsh Park dominance continued a week later with Tipperary put to the sword 1.28 - 0.21. With the Déise's place in the semi-finals already secured the final group game against Kilkenny proved to be a more tame affair and Brian Cody's Cats took the victory by 6 points, 2.21 - 0.21.
As semi-finals go, the clash with Wexford showed what Cahil's team could do when they were on song. Despite being without their top-scoring Stephen Bennett, Waterford still scored 5.20 to Wexford's 0.16. Austin Gleeson was sent off in that game on a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident with the Wexford goalkeeper. Prior to the red card, Gleeson had comfortably been man of the match scoring 2.03.
All of those results set up the final with 2021 All-Ireland runners-up, Cork. While Bennett had been missing for the semi, the Ballysaggart ace showed up for the final in the form of his life. Two sublime goals added to the Waterford tally of 4.20 at the full-time whistle with Bennett's second goal a piece of pure skill and determination.
Stephen Bennett with an unbelievable solo goal for @WaterfordGAA v @OfficialCorkGAA in The Division 1 Allianz Hurling League Final ! #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/Oi2qpAQqYH
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 2, 2022
The result marked a first National Hurling League title for the Déise since 2015, and a first piece of silverware for Cahill but the Tipperary man was not ready to celebrate with a Championship campaign looming, "it is important to get silverware and start building a bit of confidence as the championship comes down the tracks, so delighted to win it, it’s a good little confidence boost for everybody, myself included” said Cahill.
The manager continued, pointing out that the very fact that they turned up to play in a final showed sings of growth from his team, “The way we look at it we’re putting ourselves in a position to get into finals, putting ourselves at the top table with the best teams, and it’s a good start for these group, but the real test will be the big challenges from Easter Sunday onwards."
That first challenge was the second visit of Tipp to Walsh Park. While Waterford would win the day, it would be their last win of the year. At that point of the year, Cahill's men were still being talked about as the #2 team in the country, as the team to beat Limerick, and as one of the top contenders to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand.
All of that talk would come to an end in the space of the next three weeks.
Despite losing to Limerick by just 3 points at the Gaelic Grounds, it was another loss to the side who had caused so much hurt to Waterford these past three years. Everyone spoke about how the gap was closing, how Limerick needed to dig deep to get their win - albeit having lost hurler of the year Cian Lynch to injury - and how Waterford had begun to make inroads on the defending champions.
Next time out it was to be Cork who needed a win to stay alive. The Rebels had been beaten by Limerick and Clare and were fighting to make it out of the province. Kieran Kingston's side turned up when they arrived on Suirside. They battled for every ball and left Waterford with a 3- point win, marking their card to say that they were not done yet.
Waterford now found themselves in a similar spot to the Cork men. They had to go to Clare and win if they had any hopes of moving on to the All-Ireland series, while the win on it's own would likely not be enough, they needed a favour elsewhere and had to pray that Tipperary would pull a big performance out of the bag against Cork.
It was all for naught. Cork ran riot in Thurles and Cahill's men were well beaten by Clare. Unable to get into the game at all, the Banner were good value for their win and the sudden surprise package from Munster had now replaced Waterford as the team most likely to topple Limerick.
Waterford's year ended that day in Ennis. The round robin had stung them once again. 12 games played to date, one win and yet to make it out of the province.
22 May 2022; Conor Gleeson of Waterford is tackled by Ryan Taylor of Clare during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Clare and Waterford at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
While rumours had circulated that Cahill could stay put for another year, it was eventually confirmed that his time in Waterford would come to an end. After three years at the helm, the Ballingarry man was to leave his role. The county board began their search for a new boss and after a month of searching, they found their man.
Davy Fitzgerald (the worst-kept secret in the county) was confirmed as the new manager in August to a mixed reaction from the fans. Some happy, some unhappy, some apprehensive.
His second term in charge of the county will get underway in the new year with the defence of the league title, but Davy has already had one game on the sideline already when he coached the side in an exhibition game against the TG4 Underdogs at Carriganore.
Nothing but success will be enough for the fans at this point. Coined as the manager who has had an instant impact wherever he goes, the same will be expected here with Waterford.
The Club Scene
Ballygunner began their year by rounding out the campaign they had started in 2021. Darragh O'Sullivan's team claimed a first Munster title since 2018 when they beat Kilmallock in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
That provincial success was to be followed by the All-Ireland series where they would have to fight tooth and nail to beat SLaughtneil in the semi-final in order to set up a date with the kingpins Ballyhale in the decider.
That day in Croke Park will not be soon forgotten. The Gunners were planning to become the first-ever Waterford team to win the All-Ireland and while they had given everything to the cause, they were coming up short as injury time was called. Trailing by 2-points it all seemed like the job was done for the Kilkenny champions; that was until Harry Ruddle decided to rip up the script.
The substitute was given the sliotar by Peter Hogan and utterly ignorant of how these things are meant to go, Ruddle struck towards the Ballyhale goal and billowed the back of the net to snatch victory form the jaws of defeat.
The final whistle blew and the celebrations began. Ballyhale bodies littered the carpet of Croke Park, utterly dismayed as to what had just happened.
The intercounty game occupied the first half of the year and with a July All-Ireland, they returned to action in the county with an opening-day win over neighbours Passage.
The Gunners would go on to stamp their authority on the championship. Their county final win over Mount Sion brought them level with both Sion and Erin's Own on nine consecutive wins. A new star emerged along the way as Patrick Fitzgerald - despite still being a teenager - made everybody aware of what he has to offer Waterford hurling.
The Munster campaign began in November with Tipperary's Kilruane-MacDonagh's put to the sword in Walsh Park with O' Sullivan's men running out as 4.19 to 0.14 winners.
Their toughest game in some time came against Limerick's Na Piarsaigh at the Gaelic Grounds. A first half for the ages gave cause for concern as Na Piarsaigh had matched and even bettered Ballygunner in the physical stakes. They scored 2.11 in the first half, but the changing room team-talk must have been a special one as in the second half Na Piarsaigh could only manage 4 points. The Gunners overturned them by 10 points in all and went on to win the game by five.
The Munster final booked Clare's Ballyea against the defending champions. Last time they met, the Gunners were 17-point winners (with Ballyea playing minus Tony Kelly). There was not a whole lot different this time around with the Gunners supreme in their application and execution.
They made it back-to-back provincial titles, becoming just the fifth team in the history of the competition to do so.
With another piece of silverware tucked away in the cabinet in Ballgunner, their sights were now set on the All-Ireland series and a defence of their title. With Ballyhale battling their way past Kilmacud-Crokes in the Leinster decider it was all set up nicely to have the All-Ireland final a month early. A repeat of last years box office final with the presumed two best teams on the island.
Ballyhale were not going to be bested in Croke Park, however. They fought and battled for everything, not allowing the Gunners to play their usual game. The final scoreline which saw Ballyhale take it by three points could have looked much worse if not for the heroics of Stephen O' Keefe. The ever-reliable shot-stopper made four superb saves on the day to keep his team int he game. Having held the title for a year, Ballygunner were sent packing from the competition at the semi-final stage with Ballyhale advancing to face Dunloy of Antrim in January.
While it was not the end to the year they may have wanted they can still look back on a successful outing in 2022. They are now tied for the most consecutive titles in Waterford, as well as being one of very few clubs to have defended the Munster crown. With a conveyor belt of players in full swing, the future looks very bright for the Gunners (maybe not as bright if you support another club).
Other successes
While Ballygunner dominated the county at senior and intermediate levels, they were not going to have it entirely their own way.
Colligan had won the West of the county at Junior level and would line out in Fraher Field to face the Gunner's third team.
Sometimes, things are written in the stars and so it was in Dungarvan back in September. Two goals from Gavin Whelan inspired the Western club to success and a first county Junior A title since 1984. A nail-biting finish saw them win out 3.16 to 2.14.
39-year-old Johnny Wall hit eight points on the day and his late free dropped in around to house to the waiting Whelan who drilled it to the back of the net to decide the game.
