Race for the Waterford News and Star Cup down to last four

The draws for the semi final stages of JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford County Senior Hurling Championship have thrown up two intriguing battles.

Fourmilewater, the only team with an unbeaten record in this year’s championship have been paired with Dungarvan, while there is an all city clash between favourites De La Salle and Mount Sion who dumped holders Ballygunner out of the championship after they recorded a two point victory at Walsh Park.

Fourmilewater last weekend became the first side to reach the last four of the championship when they recorded a four point victory over Abbeyside at Fraher Field.

The three remaining quarter finals took place this weekend.

Dungarvan became the second team to reach the last four when they had six points to spare over last years beaten finalists Tallow in the first of two games played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

Dungarvan lead 0-8 to 1-4 at the break the Tallow goal coming from William Henley after nine minutes.

Despite playing into the teeth of a strong breeze, the Bride-siders settled the better of the two sides in the second half as points from Shane Feeney and Thomas Ryan gave them the lead.

However, once Gavin Crotty hit the Tallow net on thirty-five minutes there was no turning back in as far as the Old Boro were concerned and they ran out deserved winners on a 1-16 to 1-10 score line.

In the second game played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening Lismore and De La Salle fought out what was the best game of the championship to date.

Lismore started without Brendan Landers, Michael Colman, Shane Kearney and Maurice Shanahan and were expected to prove ‘fodder’ for De La Salle.

However, Lismore put in a terrific hours hurling and with former hurler of the year Dan Shanahan and rising star Ray Barry causing all sorts of troubles for the De La Salle full back line, the final outcome of the game was in doubt right to the end.

A Dan Shanahan goal on seventeen minutes gave Lismore a 1-5 to 0-4 lead, but six unanswered points in the last seven minutes of the half was good enough to give the city side an 0-12 to 1-7 lead.

With thirteen minutes of the second half played De La Salle held an 0-18 to 1-9 lead but goals from Ray Barry and John Prendergast within second of each other had the sides all square after forty-four minutes.

With five minutes remaining, the sides were still level but points from John Mullane and a brace from Jake Dillon gave De La Salle a three point advantage with the hour played.

A goal following a goal mouth scramble by John Heneghan drew the side’s level and it looked as if Extra time was going to be needed to find a winner.

However, a last grasp point from Eddie Barrett handed victory to De La Salle on a 0-24 to 4-11 scoreline.

The final game of the weekend saw Mount Sion dump champions Ballygunner out of the championship.

The champions got off to an excellent start with Barry Mullane hitting the net on five minutes adding to an early David O’Sullivan effort.

However, Mount Sion responded well and with Martin O’Neill proving to be accurate with his shooting, hitting four first half points, and with Ken McGrath and Austin Gleeson also finding the target, the sides retired all square 1-3 to 0-6.

Throughout the third quarter of the game the sides were tit-for-tat and at the three quarter stage mark the sides were still all square.

The introduction of veteran Anthony Kirwan proved to be a master stroke for the Monastery Men, as he hit two points after coming into the fray which helped his side to a four point lead.

A late Ballygunner goal from David O’Sullivan gave them much hope, but it was Ken McGrath who rolled back the years to send over the score that helped his side to a 0-16 to 2-8 victory.

Meanwhile, Ballyduff Upper retained their senior status for the 2013 campaign. They beat last years Intermediate Champions Dunhill in a relegation play off final at Lemybrien on Saturday afternoon.

The County Board meanwhile have confirmed that the semi finals will take place at separate venues.

Mount Sion and De La Salle will meet at Walsh Park on Saturday 29 September at 5pm and will be followed twenty-five hours later with the meeting of Dungarvan and Fourmilewater at Fraher Field.

Elsewhere, the Intermediate and Junior Hurling championships are also down to the last four.

An Rinn have joined Cappoquin in the Western Intermediate Hurling Final after they recorded a 2-16 to 1-18 victory over Clashmore in a replayed divisional semi final at Fraher Field on Friday evening.

The Eastern final will see neighbours Clonea and Portlaw do battle after semi final wins on Saturday in Kill. Clonea had a 2-14 to 1-10 win over Mount Sion and Portlaw who many are making favourites to move up a grade for 2013 had a 1-24 to 1-16 win over Saint Saviours.

In Junior Hurling, Colligan have joined Geraldine’s in the Western Final. Last weekend, Geraldine’s had a controversial win over Saint Mary’s and on Sunday at Fraher Field Colligan had a 2-21 to 3-15 victory over a fancied Ballysaggart side. The eastern final sees last years beaten finalist Butlerstown take on Ballydurn who dropped down from the Intermediate grade a year after winning the Junior County Final.