Big weekend for hurling fans lies ahead.

Another big weekend lies in store for lovers of Gaelic Games in the Déise County.

Two senior hurling semi finals are down for decision, one in Walsh Park on Saturday evening and the second at Fraher Field on Sunday evening, the latter of which could well attract some considerable support, not just from the areas where the two competing clubs are from, but also from right across the county and maybe beyond.

Two of Waterford City’s giants of hurling get the ball rolling on Saturday evening when De La Salle takes on Mount Sion.

It’s a surprise to many that Mount Sion have reached this stage of the competition. They did not have the best of starts to this years championship, loosing all three of their opening games in the league section of the championship, but they recovered well and in their last two games they recorded two wins which was good enough to give them the third quarter final spot (on score difference and head to head meetings) from group two.

In the quarter finals, they took on another of the city’s giant’s – Ballygunner. While both sides had far from perfect league sections to the championship, few if any gave the Monastery Men any chance in the last eight games. Most expected the Gunners to have too much fire power for them, but Mount Sion put in their best performance of the championship, even possibly in the last few championships, and they proved worthy winners.

De La Salle many argue are not just favourites to win the Waterford News and Star Cup but also are well fancied winning even greater honours.

They have had a good league campaign in the championship at their backs, loosing only one game, that against Fourmilewater. They were expected last time out to have too much for a Lismore side that were short four players that were crucial to them at the start of the year, including Maurice Shanahan.

However, on the day things did not work out as they had liked, and they struggled to make the impact that they would have liked to. There was signs in their full back line that they were not as water tight as they would have liked to be and will know that if this was to happen again, then there aspirations could well be dashed for another year.

De La Salle will go into this game as the favourites, and rightly so. They have won two county finals in the past four years and also added Munster Finals to them. They appeared in an All-Ireland final and a semi final where they were beaten after extra time.

They have amassed some considerable experience in winning these games and have added to their panel, and in 2012 have a better look to them than they had in 2008 and 2010.

While Mount Sion may not be the side that they once were, they showed the last time out that on the day, they can mix it with anyone. They have some good young players like Martin O’Neill and Ian Galgey, and nothing needs to be said about Tony Browne, Ken McGrath and Anthony Kirwan etc.

The Gracedieu outfit should win this game, but under no circumstances can they take or should they take Mount Sion lightly.

With due respect to De La Salle and Mount Sion, the game of the weekend, has to that of Dungarvan and Fourmilewater at Fraher Field.

The timing of this game (6pm on Sunday) has saddened some people. With the All-Ireland Final replay between Kilkenny and Galway going ahead the same afternoon, it could well be a mad dash to Fraher Field for many on after what is served up in Croke Park and more so if as some are expecting that the game in Croke Park could go to Extra Time.

However, let’s be fair, the County Board had their hands slightly tied when it came to the game. When they fixed the dates for their semi finals, they were not to know that the All-Ireland would need a replay. It could be argued that they could have fixed the game for Saturday evening, but the Western Board have a programme of games to fit in as well, and therefore Fraher Field was out of commission, unless they went very late in the evening.

Dungarvan are in their first semi final since 1951. They have been building things up nicely in recent years. They have put together a useful youthful side with some experience thrown in as well, and are deservedly through to this stage of the championship.

With three wins, one draw and one defeat they topped group one after the league stages of the championship and last time out as expected they accounted for a Tallow side that contested the County Final twelve months ago.

Fourmilewater are the only unbeaten side in the championship this year. They looked impressive in the league stages of the championship. Drawn against Abbeyside last time out, they will be the first to admit that they did not play as they could, but will correctly tell you that what they did do was enough to give them a place in the last four of the championship.

They are the only side left in the championship that has never won it in the past. Their best championship to date came in 2003 when they reached the semi finals. They are a side that has won many admirers in recent years and many neutrals would love to see no better than for them to lift the Waterford News and Star Cup.

This is a game that many will argue is too evenly balanced to call with a degree of certainty.

Fourmilewater go into the game as the warmest of favourites (4/11) as opposed to 12/5 for Dungarvan, but it should remembered that last weekend while both sets of players were involved in Football action, it was Fourmilewater’s sister club The Nire that but in the greater effort and there game went to extra time. This will have taken something out of the players and if any injuries were picked up, have they had significant time to recover.

This is defiantly a game where the heart if telling you one thing and the head is another. For me, the head is telling me Dungarvan and the heart Fourmilewater. It will be interesting to see which will be proven right.

Elsewhere, this weekend both Divisional boards have some important game down for decision. In the East, Butlerstown and Ballydurn clash in the Junior Final Proper Final at Kill on Saturday afternoon at 1-15pm and will be followed at 3pm with the Intermediate Hurling final between Portlaw and Clonea.

On Sunday morning, Ballygunner and Tramore meet in an Intermediate relegation play off game at Walsh Park (11-30am) and at the same time there is two under 21 ‘B’ hurling semi finals down for decision, Passage play Ballyduff Lower in Portlaw and at Clayboy Ferrybank take on Erins Own.  

In the west, Clashmore and Kilrossanty meet in the Junior Football (Senior Attached) Final at 8pm in Fraher Field on Friday evening.

On Saturday evening, Colligan and the Geraldines meet in the Junior Hurling Premier Final at 3-45pm in Fraher Field and will be followed at 5-15pm with the Intermediate final between An Rinn and Cappoquin. Lismore and Abbeyside also meet in the under 21 ‘A’ semi finals in Cappoquin at 2pm.