Rathgormack 2-10
Abbeyside Ballinacourty 0-08
Rathgormack have secured back-to-back Conway Cups as they've been crowned Waterford county football champions yet again.
Kenny Hassett's side defeated Abbeyside Ballinacourty by 8 points on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-08 in Fraher Field.
Second half goals from Peter Walsh and James Power secured a famous result for the Comeragh side who will go on to represent Waterford in Munster.
Rathgormack opted to play with the gale force wind in the opening period, a decision which immediately came to fruition - as Conor Murray opened the scoring with a terrific point straight between the posts from 35 yards with just 57 seconds on the clock.
Brian Looby started well with two big hits for 'Courty, as players took a while to become accustomed with the hurricane-like elements provided by Storm Ashley.
Jason Curry used the breeze to his advantage with a superb effort from 45 yards out on five minutes to extend the champions' advantage to two - but following some patient build-up from the challengers, Michael O'Halloran halved the deficit with the outside of his right boot.
Adam Murray then immediately restored the two-point margin as he ran at Colin Foley and was afforded the room to slot the ball over the bar.
Willie Beresford then burst straight through the green and red core with a fantastic individual driving run making it 0-3 to 0-2 midway through the opening quarter.
The ball was like a bar of soap in Fraher Field with no quarter given by either side, but it did little to take from the quality of scores on offer - an excellent effort from Jason Gleeson on the '45 making it 0-4 to 0-2 on 11 minutes.
Rathgormack were beginning to find their groove as they had five different scorers for their opening five scores - James Power pointing well off balance to give them a three point cushion - and the gap was soon four as Jason Curry's second long-range effort of the afternoon was as accurate as ever.
Conor Murray's second point made it four without response for Kenny Hassett's men, who were value for a five-point advantage with ten minutes remaining in the opening period.
With the elements in their favour, the Comeragh men sought to stretch that advantage to the maximum - but a buoyant 'Courty effort led by the likes of Michael Kiely refused to budge.
38-year-old Patrick 'Pudge' Hurney reduced arrears with an excellently taken point on 24 minutes, as Rathgormack were now 8 minutes without finding the radar.
Jason Gleeson's effort crashed off the post and wide, before Stephen Curry was sandwiched by a combination of goalkeeper Aaron Beresford and a Ballinacourty defender. Rathgormack cried for a penalty but referee Eoin Morrissey didn't agree - signalling for a free out.
Jason Curry then pulled a free left and wide as the period without a score grew to 12 minutes, two minutes added time was then announced but 0-7 to 0-3 it remained.
Despite going 15 minutes without a score, Rathgormack led by four at the break.
Billy Power back from Dubai was blooded at the break as the champions looked to flex their muscle - Peter Walsh was then denied the game's opening goal right on the resumption of play, as his fisted effort was denied by Aaron Beresford.
A superb '45 from Beresford then moved 'Courty back within three points on 34 minutes as the wind began to play havoc. Michael O'Halloran then pulled an effort right and wide, before Jason Curry struck the post.
The tension was palpable in Fraher Field as the challengers began to grow into the game, mistakes becoming more prominent on both sides - before a superb block by Conor Murray denied Charlie Treen a goalscoring opportunity on 39 minutes.
A badly-needed score went the way of Rathgormack soon afterward via Cathal Crowch - their first in 24 minutes, extending the advantage to four once again.
Michael O'Halloran's free made it a one-score game once again, with Courty piling on the pressure - as Diarmuid Mackle cut the gap to two on 46 minutes.
Willie Beresford then tried to chip Paudie Hunt after a poor kickout, but Hunt got back to make amends to spare both his own and his clubs' blushes.
James Power was impressive throughout for Rathgormack with his ball-carrying abilities, and when he was dragged down - Jason Curry made no mistake with the requisite free to restore the 3-point margin with roughly ten minutes to play.
The outstanding Power was instrumental to everything positive produced by Rathgormack - and when he squared to Peter Walsh for the game's opening goal on 50 minutes - it looked certain that the Conway Cup was going to remain in the Comeraghs.
Pudge Hurney's fisted effort crashed back off the crossbar almost instantly afterward - as Lady Luck began to shine on Rathgormack. Billy Power made a fantastic one-two and then pointed and suddenly they led by seven - 1-10 to 0-06.
James Power then got the clincher in added time as he rounded Beresford out of his goal on 61 minutes - rolling the ball into the empty net to secure a famous win and a 12th county title for his club.
Rathgormack began to ease up as they closed in on a second consecutive Conway Cup - replicating the great feat of '95 and '96.
The sound of Eoin Morrissey's full time whistle was greeted by green and red jubilation as Rathgormack march on to represent Waterford in Munster on November 24th.
Rathgormack: Paudie Hunt; Glen Power, Mairtin Power, Willie Hahessy; Sean Hahessy, Tom Walsh, Cathal Crowch; Peter Walsh, Michael Curry; James Power, Jason Curry, Conor Murray; Jason Gleeson, Stephen Curry, Adam Murray.
Subs: Billy Power for Adam Murray (HT); Francis Roche for Conor Murray (42); Conor Walsh for Cathal Crowch (56)
Scorers: James Power (1-1); Peter Walsh (1-0); Jason Curry (0-3); Conor Murray (0-2); Cathal Crowch, Adam Murray, Billy Power and Jason Gleeson (0-1 each)
Abbeyside Ballinacourty: Aaron Beresford; Colin Foley, Conor McCarthy, David Montgomery; Charlie Treen, Brian Looby, Willie Beresford; James Beresford, Michael Kiely; Diarmuid Mackle, Rian Walsh, Michael O'Halloran; Sean Whelan Barrett, Patrick Hurney, Dean Beresford.
Subs: Brian Callaghan for Rian Walsh (40); Daire Slevin for Dean Beresford (44); Niall McCarthy for Diarmuid Mackle (57)
Scorers: Michael O'Halloran (0-3); Patrick Hurney (0-2); Diarmuid Mackle, Willie Beresford and Aaron Beresford (0-1 each)
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own)
