Lawlor levels it

Waterford SFC final/Stradbally 1-5 Nire 0-8: A 57th-minute point from Alan Lawlor - their only score from play - gave Nire a…

Waterford SFC final/Stradbally 1-5 Nire 0-8: A 57th-minute point from Alan Lawlor - their only score from play - gave Nire a deserved draw with holders Stradbally in a tense Waterford senior football final at Dungarvan yesterday.

Nire had wind advantage in the opening half but still trailed by 1-2 to 0-2 at the break. The Stradbally goal was a great solo effort from Ger Power two minutes into injury time at the end of the half.

Stradbally, seeking their fourth title in a row, led by 1-5 to 0-3 at the end of the third quarter but failed to score again.

Four points from frees converted by the unerring Lawlor in an eight-minute period in that final quarter saw the deficit cut to the minimum. Lawlor had in fact scored all of Nire's scores from placed balls up to the match-levelling score that sent the game to a replay next Sunday. Both sides had chances to win the match in the closing minutes but defences stood firm.

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STRADBALLY: E Cunningham; E Cummins, K Coffey, T Walsh; O Costelloe, T Costelloe, D Doyle; G Walsh, J Hearne; J Coffey, G Power (1-1), S Cunningham (0-1); N Curran (0-2), M Walsh (0-1), S Lannon.

NIRE: M Doocey; J Walsh, D Ryan, M Byrne; L Lawlor, A O'Gorman, L Walsh; A Ryan, M Walsh; A Lawlor, (0-8, 7 frees), S Walsh, C Power; B Wall, P Walsh, J Moore. Subs: G Walsh for Aidan Ryan, T O'Gorman for Anthony O'Gorman

Referee: Stan Flynn (Fenor)