Mount Sion and Dungarvan enjoyed opening day victories in the Waterford SHC at a sun splashed Walsh Park.

Sion had 16 points to spare against Passage in a one sided curtain raiser (2-24 to 1-11). Austin Gleeson didn’t feature, due to a hamstring injury, but Jamie O’Meara’s side still possessed too much firepower for their opponents.

Corner forward Adam Regan was unmarkable with 1-6 (1-5 from play) for the Monastery side while substitute Jamie Meaney also found the net. Martin ‘Blondie’ O’Neill hit ten points (seven from placed balls). Alan Kirwan was another nuisance with three from play. The winners finished the hour with 21 wides.

Mark Fitzgerald was a big loss for Passage at the heart of the defence. He is away in Boston at present. Darragh Lynch and Callum O’Neill were also missed at the back. Thomas Carey scored 1-4 for Vinny Keane’s men including a goal from a close range free on the stroke of half time. Captain Gary Cullinane chipped in with two long distance points.

Despite the absence of the injured Darragh Lyons, Dungarvan ran out 1-21 to 1-13 victors against Ferrybank. The Curran brothers supplied fifteen points (six for Patrick, four for Cathal, four for Colm and one for Brian) as their father Pat made a winning start as manager. Goalkeeper Cormac O’Driscoll starred for Ferrybank with a point blank stop from Johnny Burke in the second half followed by a double save from Eoin O’Callaghan and Brian Curran.

Shane Oates fired Ferrybank into an early lead with a second minute goal. The Blues rebounded with 1-7 without reply. Alex Shanahan blasted the ball home on fourteen minutes after Johnny Burke’s initial shot was well saved by Cormac O’Driscoll. Cathal Curran and Eoin O’Callaghan nailed three points each as Dungarvan led 1-11 to 1-2 after 21 minutes. Former county man Mark O’Brien dragged Ferrybank back into the contest with the last three white flags of the half.

Neil Sullivan and Fionn McGarrity reduced the arrears to four points three minutes into the second period. Two Colm Curran efforts settled Dungarvan as they hit the second water break with a 1-14 to 1-9 advantage.

Patrick Curran tagged on two more straight after it. Despite the brilliance of Cormac O’Driscoll, Dungarvan pulled clear. Five of the last six points belonged to the boys in blue. They could afford to shoot 17 wides.

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