Goals from Dylan Guiry and Jamie Barron fired defending champions The Nire into the Waterford SFC Quarter Finals as they overcame Stradbally 2-12 to 0-5 at a bright and breezy Ardmore on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Ryan impressed with three points from play while Conor Gleeson, Ciaran Walsh and Shane O'Meara kicked two apiece. Both sides finished with fourteen men as Liam Fennell and Thomas O'Gorman got dismissed in the second half on second bookable offences.
"Slowly but surely we're improving but we still have a lot of work to do," remarked Nire boss Michael Ryan. "Overall, I think we're going in the right direction."
With wind assistance, Ryan's charges led 1-6 to 0-1 at the break. Dylan Guiry buried the ball to the top corner after 15 minutes to open up a seven point advantage. A minute later, Stradbally forward Michael Mullaney crashed the ball off the crossbar. Michael O'Brien knocked over their first point from a free on 28 minutes. Conor Gleeson and Shane O'Meara added injury time singles for The Nire.
Stradbally shot stopper Oran Grant denied Aaron Ryan a goal in the third quarter with a point blank save. Three-time All Star Jamie Barron did find the net for The Nire in injury time when he was set up by O'Meara.
Rathgormack, Clashmore/Kinsalebeg, Gaultier and Ballinacourty are also safety through to the last eight. 2022 runners-up Rathgormack made it three wins from three in the Gold Coast as Kenny Hassett's men defeated An Rinn 1-18 to 1-11. Waterford attacker Conor Murray shot 1-3 while Jason Gleeson supplied four points. Oisín Ó Ceallaigh finished the hour with 1-8 for An Rinn.
A late Josh Fitzgerald goal gave Clashmore/Kinsalebeg a 1-9 to 0-10 victory over Kilrossanty in Fraher Field. Clashmore trailed by three points with two minutes left before Fitzgerald levelled matters with that green flag. Brother Sam put them in front before former Déise hurler Brian O'Halloran wrapped up the win in injury time.
The clash of Brickey Rangers and Portlaw was postponed on Saturday due to adverse weather conditions in Leamybrien. That game will take place in Fraher Field tonight at 7.45.
