WATERFORD SFC FINAL REPLAY Stradbally 1-8 The Nire 0-10:The Waterford senior football final replay hoodoo which has haunted The Nire in their three previous meetings with Stradbally inside the last decade, returned to haunt them yet again on Saturday night when an injury-time point by substitute David Grey ensured a 17th title win for his side under lights at Fraher Field.
It was a dramatic finale to a high intensity game that more than compensated for the substandard drawn tie six days earlier. Another draw might have been the fairest result on the night, but credit Stradbally who trailed for much of this final before grabbing the game’s only, and decisive, goal from Ger Power’s fine fisted effort in the 48th minute.
They still had it all to do to hold Nire at bay in the closing stages but, with extra time looming, Grey became his side’s hero with that last-gasp match-winning point with just 40 seconds remaining.
Nire enjoyed the better of the first half, and after racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside the opening quarter weren’t flattered by their 0-7 to 0- 4 interval lead.
They were still two points to the good when Power’s fisted goal dramatic turned the tide for Stradbally and when the outstanding Shane Ahearne added a point from a 45 it looked as though they would go on and clinch a decisive victory. Points by Nire’s Shane Walsh and Thomas O’Gorman however tied it all up again before Grey popped up with that late and priceless winner.
