Its Stradbally and The Nire again for the Conway Cup

This Sunday’s County Senior Football has a ring of familiarity about it.

Since 1987 when these two sides first met in a county final, there has only been six occasions when one or the other did not appear in the final.

There has also been six occasions when the two sides clashed in the final since 1987. Stradbally currently lead the way with battles in the final. They have won out on five occasions, 1987, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2009 with The Nire’s only success in a final between the two coming in 2006 when they halted Stradbally’s bid to win a record six Waterford Senior Football Finals in a row.

Battles between the two in the final have become very close affairs. Standing to be corrected on this, there has been three draws between the sides in the finals, and in the games where a victor was found, the biggest winning margin came in 2004 when Stradbally won by seven points. In other years, games have been won twice by two points, twice by four points and once by five points, and this year’s final promises to be equally as tight.

Both sides go into the final following good semi final wins. Stradbally had six points to spare over 2011 champions Ballinacourty in their semi final and in the second semi final The Nire had seven points to spare against Clashmore.

In both games, goals were the crucial issue.

In the Stradbally/Ballinacourty game, the 2011 champions dictated much of the first half proceedings. They had at least three chances for goals in the first half and took none. Stradbally in the second half created two chances and took both.

In the second semi final, Clashmore at the break were well in contention, but two first half goals helped The Nire to a five point lead at the break and when they added a third goal very early in the second half, the game was as good as up for Clashmore.

Both sides have every right to be in this years decider. Between them this year they have played fifteen games in this year’s championship. Stradbally won all but one of their seven games, which was a 1-9 to 0-8 defeat to Clashmore in the opening round of games, while for The Nire their only blip was a draw in the quarter finals against Kilrossanty after extra time.

Throughout the championship we have seen some good football played by both sides. Stradbally compared to more recent years have played a more open style of football in attack but in defence, thinks remain much the same, with teams closed down as quickly as possible to stop them from scoring.

Up in attack we have seen them win games by greater margins that they were in recent years. Throughout the year they have played without players that were key to their chances in previous years, but as the year progressed they have re-introduced many of these players into the team and will head into Sunday’s final much fresher than they would have in times past.

The Nire this year are playing some good football. They are playing an attractive blend of football which is pleasing to see, as the negative football we see at times is doing the game a great injustice and is turning people off playing and from parting with their cash to go and see games.

On a number of occasions we have seen all of The Nire’s forwards get on the score sheet. The day’s on relying on one or two players to notch up the scores is gone. We have also seen their mid field players get their name on the score sheet as have some of their half backs and the subs that come in when needed.

The Nire’s players head into this final after a long year. If they were not lining out in the yellow and blue shirt of The Nire, it was the blue and white one of Fourmilewater or even the white and blue of Waterford.

A few weeks back after Fourmilewater went out of the Senior Hurling Championship many of the players appeared to be tiring a little. The same appeared to be the case in The Nire’s quarter final replay win over Kilrossanty but the win seemed to have injected some new life into the side and in their game against Clashmore, they seemed to be somewhat refreshed. The two weeks break between that win and this weekend’s game could well make a further difference.

Stradbally go into this weekend’s game with tradition on their side. They have become very hard to beat and when a side do manage to beat them, then it is a deserved victory. In Robert and Shane Ahearne they have two huge target men in their attack and some experienced and pacey players around them who will try and gather any breaking of the ball that the duo will do.

Who will win this weekend’s final is the six million dollar question. A brave man might put a few euro on the sides having to re-meet to see which will play either Corks Castlehaven or Limerick’s Dromcollogher Broadford in the Munster semi final in just over two weeks time. After all, these sides as already pointed out have needed more than one meeting in recent years to find a winner when they clash.

The head is telling me that Stradbally with their know how on keeping teams from getting too near their goal could be the difference between the sides. I’m also wondering has Shane Walsh recovered from the injury that forced him to miss his sides semi final win, and if he has, is he fit enough to play sixty plus minutes. If he starts and go off, then despite some good replacements on the bench, his loss would be a big one.

I am predicting a Stradbally win on Sunday, but anyone that follows my tipping of teams in what is effect a two horse race is often not the best, so there-in lies some hope for The Nire.

 

Paths to the Final:

Stradbally      0-8       Clashmore       1-9

Stradbally      3-17     Dungarvan     0-8

Stradbally      0-8       Kilrossanty    0-7

Stradbally      3-11     Brickeys          0-7

Stradbally      1-10     An Rinn         0-8

 

The Nire          2-10     Gaultier          1-4

The Nire          3-14     Ardmore          0-7

The Nire          1-14     Ballinacourty 1-4

The Nire          1-16     St Saviours     0-5

The Nire          2-14     Rathgormack  0-6

 

Quarter Finals

Stradbally      1-10     Ardmore          2-4

The Nire          2-14     Kilrossanty    1-17 (after extra time)

 

Quarter Final Replay

The Nire          1-8       Kilrossanty    0-9

 

Semi Finals

Stradbally      2-12     Ballinacourty 0-12

The Nire          3-13     Clashmore       0-15

 

Final outcome of County Finals back to 1987.

Year	Winners	Score			Finalists	Score
		Goals	Points			Goals	Points
2011	Ballinacourty	0	6		Stradbally	0	5
2010	Stradbally	0	9		Ballinacourty	1	5
2009	Stradbally	2	5		The Nire	0	9
2008	The Nire	0	12		Ballinacourty	0	8
2007	Ballinacourty	3	4		Ardmore	1	7
2006	The Nire	1	5		Stradbally	0	3
2005	Stradbally	1	8		The Nire	1	4
2004	Stradbally	2	8		The Nire	1	4
2003	Stradbally	1	11		Tramore	0	8
2002	Stradbally	0	12		The Nire	0	10
2001	Stradbally	1	13		Rathgormack	2	4
2000	The Nire	1	11		Kilrosanty	1	8
1999	Rathgormack	1	9		Stradbally	0	9
1998	St. Saviours	1	10		Kilrosanty	1	9
1997	The Nire	1	8		Dungarvan	0	4
1996	Rathgormack	2	9		Gaultier	0	11
1995	Rathgormack	0	15		Kilrosanty	2	3
1994	The Nire	2	9		Gaultier	0	11
1993	The Nire	2	7		Dungarvan	1	9
1992	Dungarvan	3	8		Rathgormack	2	11
1991	Dungarvan	1	9		Stradbally	1	6
1990	Dungarvan	1	6		Stradbally	0	8
1989	Kilrosanty	1	4		The Nire	1	3
1988	Kilrosanty	2	7		St. Saviours	0	8
1987	Stradbally	1	9		The Nire	1	5