Semi final pairings should be known this weekend.

Barring the need for a replay, by tea-time on Sunday evening we should know what four clubs will contest the semi finals of this year’s J.J. Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship.

Last weekend Fourmilewater became the first team to advance to the last four when they beat Abbeyside at Fraher Field in the first of the quarter finals and this weekend the remaining three quarter finals will be fought out at both Fraher Field and Walsh Park.

Two quarter final games will take place at Fraher Field on Saturday evening. Last years beaten finalists Tallow will meet Dungarvan in the first game which has a 4pm throw in.

Dungarvan have made great inroads in this years championship. After two years where they just about retained their senior status, they have made an all out attack on the championship this year and won group one of the league section of the championship recently when they beat Passage in Lemybrien and at the same time saw other results go their way.

Tallow have never looked like the side that got to contest last years final. They have struggled somewhat in the championship this year and some will saw that they are fortunate to be able to contest this stage of the championship.

On paper, both sides have good panels to choose from, with both containing some exciting players. Both sides have a number of players that has played for the county at all levels. Tallow in particular have players that have played Senior Inter County hurling in both the league and championship while Dungarvan have a number of players that have played a lot of underage inter county hurling in the last number of years.

Dungarvan from their five games played in the championship head into this game with the better scoring for average and the better scoring against average. They get the nod to win this game, but expect Tallow to make a game of it.

The second game on the programme in Fraher Field on Saturday evening sees De La Salle take on Lismore. The city side this year are vying for their third County Senior Hurling Championship win since 2008 while the side from the west of the county has not brought the winners trophy to the banks of the Cathedral Town since 1993.

On paper, it is hard to see but one outcome to this game. De La Salle have by the preverbal country mile are the most impressive team in the championship this year, and may are putting up the case that the present side are a better team than the ones that won the Waterford News and Star Cup in 2008 and 2010, and in truth it is hard to argue against such an argument.

They have been scoring for fun this year. They have hit seventeen goals and ninety-seven points in five games to date and at the other end of the field, they have proven to have the tightest defence, conceding just one goal and sixty two points.

Lismore are going to head into this game minus the services of Maurice Shanahan who has proven to be their most important player not just this year but over the past few years. He was sent off last day out against Ballygunner and will be a massive loss for his side in this game.

However, while Lismore have depended on him in recent times to see them over the line, his loss could and should give other players the opportunity to step up to the mark and show exactly what they can do and to show everyone that they do not depend on Maurice alone for scores.

We all know what older brother Dan can do. If he can get a supply of good ball against the Grace-dieu outfit, he could cause them some considerable damage and could swing what would be seen as a surprize result.

However, this is hard to see. Few will bet against De La Salle in this game. While Lismore’s chances cannot be ruled out, anything other than a De La Salle win and potentially with a little to spare, is hard to see.

The final quarter final game of the weekend takes place in Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon when two of the cities biggest sides, Ballygunner and Mount Sion do battle.

Neither of these two sides has played as we know they can this year and both only secured their place in the last eight of the competition after the last round of league games in this section of the championship.

Ballygunner are county champions and we all know that they are capable of much better than what they have served up to this point in the championship. However, in their defence, like every other club across the country, at different times in this years championship, they have seen players leave the country for some time this summer and Injuries have also not helped them.

The majority if not all of these players are not back in the famous Black and Red shirt and at full strength they will be keen to show us exactly what they are capable of doing.

Mount Sion to many are a pale shadow of the side that they once were. They have not contested a County Final since 2006 when they beat Ballygunner in the final. They still are able to choose from a number of players that helped them to what was a thirty-fifth county final success. These players are still key to the Monastery Men but they are not as young as they once were, and some have shown signs of slowing down a little in recent times.

They got to this stage of the competition by the skin of their teeth, beating Tallow and then Roanmore in a win must game in their last two league section competitions. They will be hoping that these wins will give them the confidence, and will be really looking to test Ballygunner.

Mount Sion go into this game with a better scoring average than Ballygunner in the championship to date but on the other hand, they have a worse of scoring average against ratio. This could suggest that a close game is in store, but it is hard not to bee the champions advance.

A fourth game is also down for decision this weekend. At the Lemybrien venue, Ballyduff Upper and Dunhill clash in a relegation play off final.

If Dunhill were to survive in this one, it would be a good year for them. The aim of all clubs that come up from the intermediate ranks should be to retain their senior status at the end of the first year playing at the highest level and this is what Dunhill will achieve if that win.

However, it is hard to see them win. Ballyduff Upper have some very experienced players throughout the field which could well cause plenty of trouble for Dunhill. Many will say that they are too good a side to go down, but as we have seen in the past, especially in other sports, there is no such thing as a side too good to go down a grade.

 

Weekend Fixtures:

Saturday September 15:

J.J Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship – Relegation Play off

Ballyduff Upper V Dunhill in Lemybrien at 2-30pm

 

J.J. Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter Finals

Dungarvan V Tallow in Fraher Field at 4pm

De La Salle V Lismore in Fraher Field at 5-30pm

 

Sunday September 16:

J.J. Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship – Quarter Finals

Ballygunner V Mount Sion in Walsh Park at 3pm