Fitzgibbon Cup down to the final four

Galway promises to be a hive of activity this coming weekend as thousands of hurlers and supporters descent upon the city and its environs for the annual Fitzgibbon Cup Weekend.

The Fitzgibbon Cup this year promises to be an interesting one, as the four teams that that have reached the semi finals have very little between them and all four are more than capable of talking the silverware home with them after Saturday’s Final.

For one of the competing sides it promises to be an exciting one as standing to be corrected on this, not only have Mary Immaculate College from Limerick won the competition before, nor have they reached the final, this is the first time that they have reached the finals weekend.

At the other end of the scale, University College Cork, who are the holders of the competition have won it a record forty times, while University College Dublin has won it thirty times and Waterford Institute of Technology have won it on eight occasions some of its earlier successes coming under the name of the colleges former name Waterford Regional Technical College.

The semi finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup are scheduled to take place at Carnmore on Friday afternoon.

The first game sees Mary Immaculate College take on Waterford Institute of Technology at 12-45.

Both sides have very serious panels and both will fancy their chances of reaching Saturday’s finals.

In the competition up to know, both sides have played some good hurling and if they can bring the form shown in the last few weeks into this game, those that show up to see the game could well be in for an entertaining game.

The Limerick College side began their campaign with an 0-18 a piece draw against NUI Galway and had another share of the spoils in the second round of games when they drew 1-13 a piece against University College Cork. In the third series of games in the league section of competition they had a very good win over GMIT on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-8.

Last time out in the quarter finals, they once more impressed beating Dublin Institute of Technology 1-18 to 0-15.

The Limerick sides leading scorer by some distance is their full forward John Conlon who has hit thirty-four points in four games, most of which have come from frees. If the Waterford students were to show indiscipline in the clash between the two, it can be taken that the Conlon will punish the side.

However they are not over depending on him for scores as they have a very dangerous full forward line which also contains Waterford’s Brian O’Halloran and Cork’s Luke O’Farrell who have between them hit 2-7, while Colm Galvin and Declan Hannon have featured steadily in the scoring stakes for Eamon Cregan’s charges, hitting thirteen points between them in four games.

The Suir Side Students have a solid look about them this year. Since their first success in the competition in 1992 they have proven to be regular attenders at this stage of the competition and have had former Tipperary hurler Colm Bonner involved in many of their successes either as a player or as a coach.

Having given much of his time to the Wexford Senior Hurlers in recent years, he is back at the helm once more with the Cork Road Students and has guided them to the finals weekend having played some impressive hurling.

There is plenty of experience within the team. Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe will start between the posts. Having missed last weekends National League opener against Clare, Liam Lawlor is expected to be fit to start this game at full back where he could well be flanked by fellow inter county corner back Noel Connor’s and Ballygunner’s second Stephen O’Keeffe.

Outside of them Wayne Hutchinson would be expected to start at Centre back, Luke Harney and Stephen Roche should start in the middle of the field while in attach Harry Kehoe, Michael Sheedy, Eoin Murphy, Martin O’Neill, Jake Dillon and Gavin O’Brien have started all three game played to date (against IT Carlow, Cork IT and Limerick IT), but don’t be too surprized if one was to miss out and Pauric Mahony was to fill in.

One interesting (maybe) tit-bit on this game is that Timmy Hammersley who has played with Waterford Institute of Technology in recent years is assisting Eamon Cregan and will know the strengths and weaknesses of many of the Waterford players.

The second semi final sees the holders University College Cork take on University College Dublin also at Carnmore with the game having a 2-30 start.

Like the earlier semi final this game promises to be an exciting affair that could well go to the wire.

On both sides there is an array of inter county experience. For the Dublin side Noel McGrath (Tipperary) as well as Wexford’s Jack Tennyson should feature, but it remains to be seen if the Kilkenny trio of Walter Walsh, John Tennyson and Cillian Buckley will play any part. While for the holders, Cork’s Conor Lehane and William Egan as well as the Waterford duo of Darragh Fives and Brian O’Sullivan are expected to play major parts.

To reach this stage of the competition the Rebel Students have recorded wins over GMIT and NUI Galway in the group stages of the competition and also had a draw against Mary Immaculate College while last time out in the quarter finals in a repeat of last years final they had a 1-13 to 1-11 victory over Cork Institute of Technology.

To reach this stage of the completion University College Dublin have beaten Limerick Institute of Technology and Dublin City University in the group stages of the competition and in the quarter finals had a 1-16 to 0-17 win over University of Limerick.

The sides clashed at the quarter final stages of the competition last year with the Cork side on home soil winning out 1-22 to 2-13.

UCC have a number of players that were involved last year including Darren McCarthy, Stephen Maher, Killian Murphy, James Barry, Darragh Fives, William Egan, Dan McCormack and Brian O’Sullivan who all either played or were subs that day.

The side from the capital are not short of experience. Nicky English is a very astute coach and his experience on the line will be vital. So too will be that of Oisin Gough, Shane Norton, James Gannon, Noel McGrath, Donal Fox and Garreth Sinnott on the field of play.

Tipperary’s Noel McGrath has hit twenty six points for his side this year, most of which have come from frees. He will be vital to his side’s chances and when presented with a chance he will punish the opposition.

An interesting (Maybe) tit bit from this game is that in their games played to date, UCD have hit nineteen points in game to date (2-13 in one game and 1-16 in the other two games, while UCC have stuck 1-13 in three of their four games played to date in this years competition. Is this statistic telling us something?

Waterford Institute of Technology and University College Dublin go into the game as the favourites. Last time out the favourites to win the four games in the quarter finals came through. Will it happen this time?

For what it is worth, I don’t think the two favourites will advance to Saturday’s final. While I see Waterford Institute of Technology having a small margin to spare over Mary Immaculate College, I see the holders if they can prove to be disciplined and therefore restricting the amount of chances that Noel McGrath will have striking at the posts I see them advancing to Saturday’s final setting up a Cork and Waterford final in Pearce Stadium which is to be shown live on TG4 on Saturday afternoon. If it does happen this way, could we have another Cork/Waterford final that could well prove to be one of the classics that we have become accustomed to when Cork and Waterford clash on the senior inter county scene over the past decade and a half.

Waterford begin with a win

Few gave Waterford any chance of winning their opening round game of this year’s Allianz National Hurling League against Clare on Sunday.

John Fogarty in today’s Irish Examiners opened his report by stating that ‘Jubilant Waterford manager Michael Ryan couldn’t help putting it to the press that they had got it wrong in their assessment of his team’s chances in Cusack Park yesterday’, adding ‘First question from me,” he asked jokingly of the congregated journalists. “Did any of ye get a prediction right?”

I was not one of those to meet Michael Ryan after the game, but if I did, I might have responded by asking him if he read what I had to say on a posting on my blog early on Friday afternoon. Here is how I finished up my preview of the game.

With many completely writing off Waterford’s year before it has started, I for one would not be too surprised to see the team return from Ennis with a brace of points in the bag, but it won’t be easy

The game may be played in late February and no cups were handed out for it, but this was a game that Waterford needed to win and they did not disappoint.

There were few fears for the side at the back but at the other end of the field things were slightly different.

A number of key players were missing from the attack, but the six players picked to fill the positions from ten to fifteen did not disappoint.

Brian O’Halloran brought his Fitzgibbon Cup form into this game and ended it with four points, a just reward for his contribution. Jake Dillon took his scores well and Seamus Prendergast seemed to revel in his role as the side’s most senior player, while Brian O’Sullivan also impressed.

In their own end of the field, Stephen O’Keeffe made some good saves. The half back line of Jamie Nagle, Michael Walsh and Kevin Moran were solid with Moran and more over Nagle partially impressive and that full back line of Stephen Daniels, Shane Fives and Noel Connors also impressing.

This was a game that could have gone either way. The sides were level on eleven occasions and with the seventy minutes played it looked as if that was how the game would end as the sides were locked at 2-14 to 1-17 and if the game did end that way few could have complained.

Waterford got off to a dream start in this game. After hitting some poor wide’s Clashmore’s Brian O’Halloran opened the scoring on six minutes, but Clare hit back with a brace of Colin Ryan frees to lead 0-2 to 0-1 after twelve minutes.

Pauric Mahony drew the side’s level for the second time a minute later when he put over a free and moments later Seamus Prendergast had the sliotar in the Clare net having beaten Kelly in the home sides’ goal from close range.

Brian O’Halloran rifled over his second on eighteen minutes just before the Clare net rattled for the second time, this time Jake Dillon beating Kelly with an excellent ground stoke.

Colin Ryan put over a brace of points inside two minutes before Tony Kelly found the net having been set up by John Conlon to leave three between the sides.

The closing twelve minutes of the half proved to be an even contest as Pauric Mahony and Fergal Lynch first swapped scores before Seamus Prendergast and Seadna Morey did like wise.

Tony Kelly hit the last score of the opening half four minutes from the interval to leave one between the sides at the interval despite Waterford’s great start to the game.

The second half proved to be as equally a close as thirty five minutes hurling as the first half was.

Jake Dillon opened the second half scoring inside twenty seconds of the restart, but a brace of Colin Ryan points quickly had the sides all square.

Brian O’Halloran, Seadna Morey, Shane O’Donnell and Brian O’Halloran all swapped scores inside four minutes to keep the sides on level terms.

Colin Ryan put over a sixty five and half time substitute Darragh Fives swapped scores before Tony Kelly and Brian O’Sullivan sis like wise.

Clare went back in front thanks to a Colin Ryan effort, but it was a short lived lead as Pauric Mahony quickly had the sides’ level once more.

Colin Ryan edged Clare in front (1-15 to 2-11) but a brace of points from Jake Dillon who took over from the substituted Pauric Mahony had Waterford in front with just over five minutes of the seventy to play.

The game continued to ebb and flow as Colm Gavin and Jake Dillon swapped scores to keep Waterford one point in front with just over two minutes to play, but it was not to be for very long as Tony Kelly pointed for Clare in the last minute of normal time to draw the sides’ level for the eleventh time.

Referee John Sexton indicated to the fourth and sideline officials that at least two extra minutes would be played at the end of the seventy, a figure which could well have proven to be longer as there were some lengthy stoppages in the second period.

After 120 seconds the sides were still level but the Cork man did not blow his full time whistle.

Two and a half minutes past the end of the normal seventy, the Cork man blew Brendan Bugler for a high tackle on Brian O’Sullivan. Knowing that there could not be much time remaining Jake Dillon remained cool under pressure and from inside fifty metres and almost dead straight in front of the goal he made no mistake in sending the ball over the cross bar to help register a crucially important win for Waterford.

With big games to come against Cork, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Galway, the importance of this win cannot be underestimated. Hopefully, in the next few weeks Waterford will be able to get some of the players that missed out on the game against Clare back into the side. If we can, then while Waterford may not win the All-Ireland, the year may not end as disappointing as some are predicting with some while now.

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; S Daniels, S Fives, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, K Moran; S O’Sullivan, D Twomey; B O’Halloran, S Prendergast, P Mahony; G O’Brien, J Dillon, B O’Sullivan. Subs: D Fives for Twomey (h-t); J Barron for O’Brien (43); R Barry for Mahony (57).

Scorers: J Dillon 1-5 (0-3f); S Prendergast 1-1; B O’Halloran 0-4; P Mahony 0-3 (all frees); D Fives, B O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

CLARE: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, J McInerney, D McInerney; B Bugler, P Donnellan, P O’Connor; C Ryan, S Morey; F Lynch, T Kelly, E Barrett; J Conlan, S O’Donnell, P Collins. Subs: N O’Connell for O’Connor, C Galvin for Barrett (both h-t); A Cunningham for Collins (54); S Collins for Lynch (58); J Clancy for Cunningham (64).

Scorers: C Ryan 0-9 (5f, 1 65); T Kelly 1-3; S Morey 0-2; F Lynch, S O’Donnell, C Galvin 0-1 each.
Referee J Sexton (Cork).

Back to back titles for Dungarvan Colleges.

Dungarvan Colleges (formally Colaiste na nDéise) have joined Saint Colman’s from Fermoy, Saint Flannan’s from Ennis. De La Salle from Waterford City and Ard Scoil Ris from Limerick City in putting back to back Dr Harty Cup titles together since the turn of the Millennium after they overcame the challenge of Our Lady’s from Templemore at Tipperary Town yesterday.

Underage hurling in Waterford is on a bit of an up in Waterford in recent years. In 2007 and 2008 De La Salle won both the Dr Harty Cup, between 2009 and 2011 Waterford appeared in successive Munster Minor Hurling Finals and during this time Blackwater Community School in Lismore, a relatively new school have only been opened in the last decade reached the semi finals of the Dr Harty Cup and now Dungarvan Colleges have won back to back Dr Harty Cup titles and Dungarvan C.B.S. one of two sides that make up Dungarvan Colleges have appeared in the last four Munster Senior ‘B’ Colleges hurling finals, winning the finals in 2010 and 2013.

People have different theories as to what has caused the steady growth in underage hurling in Waterford. Its possibly fair to say that there will not be an agreed viewpoint as to what the reason is, but for what its worth, my view is that’s its down to the standard of underage competitions within the county.

Over the past two years we have seen two of the best Minor ‘A’ County Finals played out with finals fitting conclusions to them. Saint Carthage’s (Lismore and Ballysaggart) beat De La Salle in the final at Walsh Park and twelve months later at Fraher Field, Dungarvan beat Saint Carthage’s in two absorbing finals.

To get the competitions that they are currently at has not happened over night. The all county competitions at minor level have played a massive part in the rise of hurling at this level in Waterford.

All County underage competitions in Waterford began in 1996 at under 14 level when Féile na Gael was staged in Waterford and the under 16 championship soon followed on as an all county competition after all could see the success of the under 14 championship going all county.

It was always on the cards that the minor championship would follow suit, the only surprising thing was for the length of time it took to happen, but since it has, it’s fair to say that few could argue with the move.

In recent years, there has been suggestions made that all competitions in the Déise County should be run on an all county basis, but there is a body of support there trying to ensure that this does not happen.

This latest success should show the benefits of playing all county competitions. In the past we had players playing three or four games before they got to play a county final if they were lucky enough to reach such a stage of a competition. Nowadays clubs are playing six or seven games before any knockout game in played. In the past if a club were to come up against a club perceived to be somewhat stronger than they were a walk over was given but nowadays because clubs are playing on a level playing field, Walkovers are a rare event.

This years Dungarvan Colleges side was seen by many as a stronger side that the one which won the competition twelve months ago. They were able to call upon 10 of the Dungarvan CBS team that won the Munster ‘B’ Colleges final a week previously, and seven of the side that won last years final.

The Templemore outfit were expected to provide stiffer opposition in this game than what Nenagh CBS served up at Cashel twelve months ago, but the Dungarvan mentors will be somewhat surprised at how easy their victory was achieved.

Played before an attendance in the region of 3,000 people, it was the eventual winners that got off the best star in this game as points from Darragh Lyons, Patrick Curran and Michael Harney with a single response coming from Tommy Nolan gave the West Waterford side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after just six minutes.

Tadhg Bourke put over a long range free on nine minutes to give his side a three point lead, but points from James Bergin, John McGrath and Dean McEnroe had the sides all square by the mid way point in the first half.

Dungarvan Colleges however were not long behind as points from Colin Dunford, Patrick Curran and Dunford again had them three points up once more.

Points from Colin O’Riordan and Christy Breathnach were exchanged to keep three between the sides with two minutes of the half remaining, but the Tipperary side put in a storming finish to the opening half hitting points from John McGrath (2) and Dylan Carey had the sides locked at eight points each at the end of the first half.

In the second thirty minutes, Dungarvan Colleges proved too strong for the Templemore outfit. Points from Christy Breathnach and Patrick Curran were registered before Colin Dunford set up Ryan Donnelly for the games first goal.

Points from John McGrath, Patrick Curran, Dylan Carey, Tadhg Bourke, Colin Dunford and Patrick Curran again were traded over the following minutes to give Dungarvan Colleges a 1-14 to 0-10 lead half way through the second half.

Dungarvan Colleges continued to dominate in the final quarter of the game. John McGrath and Patrick Curran swapped frees, before Ryan Donnelly and Patrick Curran hit points for Dungarvan Colleges to give them a nine point lead with as many minutes to play.

David Gartland who came in for Colin Dunford who retired on forty eight minutes with a shoulder injury found Ryan Donnelly with a good pass but the Dungarvan man was hooked while striking but at the second attempt he was able to put the ball past Guerins in the Templemore goals to extend the Dungarvan sides lead.

Patrick Curran hit his eight of the game before Laurence Power made a good save from McGrath but he was powerless to keep JJ Ryan’s effort out on the rebound, but the score was to put a mere shine on the score board as far as the Templemore outfit was concerned as Christy Breathnach, Tadhg Bourke and Cormac Curran hit late scores for the winners to help them to a 2-21 to 1-11 victory.

DUNGARVAN COLLEGES: Laurence Power (Abbeyside); Kealan Looby (Ballinameela), Brian Looby (Abbeyside), Michael Cronin (Ardmore); Tadhg Bourke (Clashmore), Kevin Daly (Dungarvan), Tom Devine (Modeligo); Cormac Curran (Brickeys), Michael Harney (Ballydurn); Christy Breathnach (An Rinn), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan), Seamus Keating (Ardmore); Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Colin Dunford (Colligan Emmets), Ryan Donnelly (Dungarvan). Subs: David Gartland (Ardmore) for Dunford (48), Jack Mullanney (Stradbally) for K Looby (59), Sean Daly (Abbeyside) for Donnelly (59).
Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-8 (5f), Ryan Donnelly 2-1, Colin Dunford, Christy Breathnach, Tom Bourke (3f) 0-3 each, Cormac Curran, Michael Harney & Darragh Lyons 0-1 each.

OUR LADY’S TEMPLEMORE: Sean Patrick Guerins (JK Brackens); Denis Brereton (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jason Ryan (Toomevara), James Bergin (JK Brackens); Padraig Hogan (Templederry), Brian Kennedy (JK Brackens), Michael Campion (Drom & Inch); John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens); Dean McEnroe (JK Brackens), Dylan Carey (Templederry), Tommy Maher (Loughmore-Castleiney); Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch), John Joe Ryan (Clonakenny), Jamie Bergin (Drom & Inch). Subs: Bill O’Connell (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Jamie Bergin (51), Jack Fogarty (JK Brackens) for Brereton (55), Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch) for Maher (55), Tommy Brett (JK Brackens) for Carey (55).
Scorers: John McGrath 0-5 (4f), John Joe Ryan 1-0, Dylan Carey 0-2, Dean McEnroe, Tommy Nolan, Jamie Bergin & Colin O’Riordan 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Hoey (Clare).

Dungarvan Colleges and Our Lady's Templemore clash in Dr. Harty Cup Final

 

It’s a well known view of mine that we have too many boards and way too many officers. If I had my way just as Phil Hogan has done with town/city and county councils up and down the country in the past year or so, plans would be put in place to slash the amount of boards and officers not in the morning, but this evening.

There are too many people involved for more years than anyone cares to remember holding the same position or moving around like musical chairs changing positions amongst themselves when the need arises.

The staging of this year’s Dr Harty Cup final is a perfect example as to why things have to change. Accuse me of what you want, tell me I am looking at things from a Waterford perspective. I don’t mind. I am around long enough now not to let these things bother me. I’d think the same think if two colleges from any of the other counties in Munster were involved.

Playing a Dr Harty Cup with a Waterford team involved on the same day, almost the same time that the Waterford senior hurlers are playing in a National League game 100km up the road makes absolute no sense and someone somewhere has to ask some questions of themselves.

Why the Dr Harty Cup final is not played on Saturday evening is a little mind boggling. On Saturday evening, Tipperary Senior Hurlers are away to Cork in the opening game of this years Division 1A National Hurling league.

The natural thing to do for the Templemore supporters and any other Tipperary supporter wanting to see the college’s game would be to play it in Cashel, New Inn or Cahir around 3pm. Supporters heading to Cork could veer off the motorway head to the colleges game and after the game go back on the motor way and head to Cork.

Playing the league game on Saturday evening and the Colleges game on Sunday, means that any supporter in Tipperary wanting to see the two games will have to make two journeys.

Playing the Dr Harty Cup game on Saturday evening and Waterford’s game on Sunday would mean that Waterford supporters will have to make two journeys, but the genuine hurling supporter that goes to a lot of games could see both. A win – win situation surely for hurling.

And here is another thing to ponder on. Within the Dungarvan Colleges panel is An Rinn Club man Christy Breathnach. In the Waterford set up is another An Rinn Club man – his name Donie Breathnach. To those that don’t know, the two are brothers. So to which game to his parents and siblings go. Which brother and which son do they support?

This years Dr Harty Cup final promises to be an exciting one. It is one that resembles the 2012 final going into that game neither Coláiste na nDéise or Nenagh CBS had their name engraved on the famous trophy, while this year Our Lady’s Templemore or Dungarvan Colleges will have their name put on the trophy albeit that the names that both colleges would have been known as in the past (Templemore CBS and Coláiste na nDéise) are already named on the roll of honour, having won it in 1978 and 2012 respectfully.

Both sides will head into Sunday’s final in somewhat of a confident mood. Last weekend Our Lady’s Templemore won the Munster Senior ‘B’ Football final against Abbey CBS from Tipperary Town, while Dungarvan won the Munster Senior ‘B’ Hurling final after extra time against St Joseph’s from Tulla while Saint Augustine’s College, the second side in the Dungarvan Colleges make up won the Munster Senior ‘C’ Football final in the past ten days.

At the start of the year, it’s possibly fair that the Tipperary side while fancying their chances privately would not have been considered serious contenders by most outside their own set up. However, they have gained plenty of momentum since the competition began last September and will take to the field on Sunday highly confident of winning the game.

The Templemore outfit are seen as a better side than that which Nenagh CBS fielded last year. They are seen as a side that are more suited to the physical game that Dungarvan Colleges could well serve up. They also believe that playing Abbey CBS in a Munster Football Final last weekend was more beneficial to them than any tough training session that they would have gone through had they not been playing football.

The strength of the Tipperary outfit is the spine of their team. Sean Patrick Guerins is a highly thought of goalkeeper in Tipperary. Jason Ryan is likely to be full back, Joseph Nyland has been the Templemore centre back all year, while John McGrath and Colin O’Riordan are in the middle of the field. The latter two in particular are very experienced players at this level. Both are a very rare bread of player having won Minor All-Irelands in both hurling and football in the last two years.

However, there is a doubt about the availability of about Joseph Nyland going into this game. He missed last weeks football game with an ankle injury and is reported to have missed training again this week and if he misses out it will mean that surgery will have to be performed on the team with one of the centre field pairings most likely to take his place in the number six position.

Dungarvan Colleges will head into this weekends game in equally as confident mood. The wins for Saint Augustine’s College and Dungarvan CBS are to be welcomed. However there is the chance that some of the players might go into the game over confident. However, they are lucky that there is some good men over the team and especially Peter Power who will be warning the team against complacency and will have told the team that the bigger you are the greater the fall.

Dungarvan Colleges like the Templemore side have some very experienced players. A great deal of the team was involved in last years win and that has to count for something.

The team’s main strength will be seen as its centre back line. Kevin Daly who missed last years final because of suspension will line out at centre back and will be flanked by two other members of last years team Tom Devine who captains the team this year and Tadhg Bourke.

Two from Colin Dunford, Cormac Curran and Michael Harney are likely to line out in the middle of the field while with the one not selected there likely to start in the full forward line and Patrick Curran could well start at centre forward and Seamus Keating could well start at full forward.

Who will win this years final is hard to know. Its most likely to rest on a shoot out between John McGrath (Templemore) and Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) with which ever proving to be most accurate from shooting of placed balls likely to win through.

 

Paths to the final:

Our Lady’s Templemore

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-18 West Limerick Schools. 1-18

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-13 Charleville CBS 0-14

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-19 Blackwater C.S. 1-18

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-12 Abbey CBS Tipperary 0-7

Our Lady’s Templemore 2-5 Midleton CBS 0-10

Our Lady’s Templemore 0-14 Ardscoil Ris 1-11

Our Lady’s Templemore 1-13 Ardscoil Rís Limerick 0-14

Dungarvan Colleges

Dungarvan Colleges 3-13 Doon CBS 1-13

Dungarvan Colleges 2-9 St. Flannan’s Ennis 0-16

Dungarvan Colleges 3-12 St. Caimin’s Shannon 0-11

Dungarvan Colleges 5-18 Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G. 2-8

Dungarvan Colleges 0-14 Blackwater C.S. 0-10

Dungarvan Colleges 1-12 Thurles CBS 0-12

 

Panels:

Dungarvan Colleges:

Laurence Power (Abbeyside), Kealan Looby  (Ballinameela), Brian Looby (Abbeyside), Jack Mullanney  (Stradbally), Tadhg Bourke (Clashmore), Kevin Daly (Dungarvan), Tom Devine (Modeligo) Cormac Curran  (Brickeys), Colin Dunford (Colligan) Ryan Donnelly (Dungarvan), Michael Harney (Ballydurn), Eamon Crotty (Abbeyside), Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Seamus Keating (Ardmore), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan), Gavin Power (Dungarvan), Christy Breathnach (An Rinn), David Gartland (Ardmore), Michael Cronin (Ardmore), Sean Daly (Abbeyside), Kieran Barron(St Marys) Aaron Donnelly (Dungarvan), Jack O’Donnell (Brickeys), Michael Shine (Ballinameela), Conor Prunty (Abbeyside), Cian Culloo (Ballinameela), Carthach Barry (Brickeys), Cormac O’Grady (Brickeys), Conor Tobin (St Marys), Ross Browne (Colligan) Jack Morrissey (Dungarvan).

Our Lady’s – Templemore:  

John McGrath, Tommy Maher, Denis Brereton, Joseph Nyland, Bill O'Connell (all Loughmore\Castleiney), Jason Ryan (Toomevara), Tommy Nolan, Jamie Bergin, Michael Campion, Kevin Ahearn, Kevin Hassett, Emmet Moloney, Joey Maher, Colm Kinane, Robert Ryan (all Drom\Inch), Colin O'Riordan, Sean Patrick Guerins, James Bergin, Jack Fogarty, Dean McEnroe, Brian Kennedy, Tommy Brett (all JK Brackens), John Joe Ryan, Paul Bergin (both Clonakenny), Dylan Carey , Padraig Hogan ( both Templederry Kenyons), Matt Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Jacque Dowling (Erril\Rathdowney), Gary Russell, Shane Ryan  (both Moyne\Templetouhy), PJ Bourke (Upperchurch\Drombane).

There is a feeling that this could be Dungarvan College’s last game in the Dr Harty Cup for some time. Over the past four years, Dungarvan CBS have won the Munster ‘B’ Colleges final on two occasions and reached the final on the two years they did not win. Saint Augustine’s College are also somewhat successful in recent years and there are rumblings in some quarters that the sides should field separate teams of their own in the competition from 2014.

Its Meath V Waterford in Camogie National League opener

After the excitement of last weekend when Waterford Institute of Technology won the Ashbourne Cup for the fifth time in a row after two lots of extra time, the attention this weekend turns to the Inter county scene and the first round of fixtures in this year’s National League.

The fixture computer has not been kind to Waterford this year as the Waterford ladies are set to see a lot of the road, having been drawn away in three of five of their games and the other game due to be played at a venue perceived to be one half way between Waterford and Antrim.

Waterford in the last few years have seen great strides been made in Camogie. Some great people have got involved and their hard work is starting to reap rewards.

After going ever so close on a number of occasions Waterford eventually got out of the Junior grade in the championship in 2011 and last year in their first year at Intermediate they reached the All-Ireland semi final where they were narrowly beaten by a Galway side who lost out in the All-Ireland final against what was a very strong Derry side after a replay.

Last year Waterford were short a number of players that helped them win the 2011 Junior All-Ireland and those that came in for them proved to be equally accomplished players and acquitted themselves well.

It remains to be seen if any of the players that missed out playing last year will be back for 2013, or what if any changes the management team have paid to the panel that they will be choosing from.

If the panel from last year can be retained and added to, then there is no reason not to think why 2013 could not be good for Waterford.

In the likes of Patricia Jackman, Shona Curran, Zoe O’Donoghue, Nicola Morrissey, Pauline Cunningham, Vicky Falconer, Mairead Murphy, Jennie Simpson, Niamh Rockett, Ruth Geoghegan etc Waterford have some terrific players and should have enough to take the points on offer in this game and therefore getting the year off to a good start.

Waterford begins this years campaign on Sunday with an away game played at Dunganny (2-30pm throw-in).

Meath will provide stiff opposition to Waterford here.

Last year they won the All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Final where they beat Down 1-11 to 1-9, a side that Waterford beat in the final twelve months previously.

Sinead Hackett could well prove to be one of the ‘Royals’ leading players. She operates a lot playing at the edge of the square and is known to have hit an odd poachers goal or two. Jane Dolan is likely to be started in the half forward line and could well prove a danger if presented with a share of frees.  Aileen Donnelly and Aoife Maguire could also feature in attack while Emily Mangan would be expected to start between the posts.

Waterford should prove to be the side with the greater experience and will be looking to get 2013 off to a good start with a win in this game.

Clare at home to Waterford in National Hurling League opener

If we are to believe rumblings coming out of Clare, then this Sunday’s game between Clare and Waterford at Cusack Park in the opening round of games in this years Allianz National Hurling League is a four gone conclusion.

News paper editors love Davy Fitzgerald. Paper seldom refuses ink and Davy is a champion at saying things to reporters when he is talking to them who in turn are more than willing to put Davy’s words on paper.

Former Tipperary hurling manager Michael ‘Babs’ Keating famously predicted that the 2002 Munster Senior Hurling Final would be over at half time. There was no way he could see his county loose to Waterford. They had won the All-Ireland the year before and they were playing a side that not had won a Munster final since 1963 and an All-Ireland senior hurling final since 1959. In between Waterford’s number of appearances averaged one in every decade or so, appearing in the 1982, 1983, 1989 and 1998 finals between 1963 and 2002 and lost all four.

Tipperary on the other hand, won eleven Munster Hurling Final between 1963 and 2001 and lost in ten finals over the same period.

I have no doubt that ‘Babs’ in 2002 was saying one thing and meaning another. Did he fancy Waterford to win, and spurred them on to win with what he had to say by putting them down, or was he warning his native side of the dangers that Waterford possessed? Either of which, it does not matter right now, but I am sure what ‘Babs’ had to say did have a positive effect on Waterford.

What Davy is saying in the last few days could well be seen in much the same way. Telling the media how much experience Waterford have while putting down his own sides chances telling all who are willing to listen how his side are young and have played in a grade lower than Waterford in the league over the past few years will hardly wash with many.

Clare have made a great start to the year. They recently won the Waterford Crystal Trophy beating Tipperary in the final. While later in the year if someone was asked in a quiz what county won the Waterford Crystal Trophy in 2013 most might struggle to answer the question, the simple fact is that so far, Davy Fitzgerald’s charges are the only side in Munster not to have been beaten since the turn of the year and the longer they can remain unbeaten the more confidence will be built up within the panel and its supporters.

Davy Fitzgerald and the Clare players will on Sunday afternoon respect Waterford. They will see the team as an experienced side, even if the big named players that won a number of All-Ireland finals in recent years are no longer involved.

Davy will know the strengths and weaknesses of many of the players and could well set up a game plan to match these strengths and weaknesses as he sees them.

Like Waterford, Clare may no longer have the big named players they had a few years ago. The Logan’s, Anthony Daly, Jamesie O’Connor, Colin Lynch, Ollie Baker, Ger O’Loughlin, Seanie McMahon and even Davy Fitzgerald may well have hung up their inter county hurling boots, but they have replaced them with a plectra of young players that have come through a number of successful underage hurling teams in the past four or five years, from successful Saint Flannan’s College sides and with Colleges like Limerick Institute of Technology in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Players like Patrick Kelly, Donal O’Donovan, Cian Dillon, Brendan Bulger, Patrick Donnellan, Fergal Lynch, Seadna Morey, Colin Ryan, Tony Kelly, Enda Barrett, Podge Collins, Conor McGrath and Darach Honan are all fine players, having come into the side and established themselves in the last few years and will want to show how good they actually are.

Much has been made of John Mullane’s retirement from Inter county hurling. The De La Salle club man over the past decade and a bit has proven to be a great servant to Waterford hurling and what a pity that he has retired without a Celtic Cross in his medal collection.

The De La Salle club man is not the only big name missing this year. Stephen Molumphy is going to be a massive loss for Waterford. The Ballyduff Upper man may not feature highly in the scoring charts each year but his work rate since coming into the team is something that no body could question. One minute an opposing defender would be forced to pull him down as he bared down on goal rather than to leave him off and leave him have a possible one on one shot a goalkeeper and seconds later he would be after falling back into his own half back line to win the puck out from the free he had won for the side.

Philip Mahony came into the side last year and did well in his first season as a regular in the team but is not involved as of now, and his loss is going to be heavily felt.

With Maurice Shanahan and Shane Walsh also expected to be missing for much if not all of the league with injuries, their absence is also a massive blow to Waterford.

Over the past few years, Waterford have seen big named players call a day to their inter county career. Players like Fergal Hartley, Ken McGrath, Dan Shanahan, Dave Bennett, Paul Flynn, Clinton Hennessy, Eoin Murphy have all retired and players have come in and taken their place.

With the absence of John Mullane, Maurice Shanahan, Stephen Molumphy, Philip, Mahony, Eoin Kelly etc. now other players have the chance to come in and to stake a place in the team going into the future. We all know that there is plenty of potential in Waterford. Waterford sides have won three Dr Harty Cups in recent years, and many of these players now are getting the chance to shine on the big stage. The same could be said of players that shone in successful Tony Forristal teams and on recent Minor teams that reached successive Munster Finals.

At the back, Waterford looks very strong. Stephen O’Keeffe is a goalkeeper of repute, and could well be the county’s number one for some time to come. Liam Lawlor has proven to be our best full back since Sean Cullinane retired; Michael Walsh is a player nobody needs telling about.

Kevin Moran last year won his first All-Star, Stephen Daniels, Noel Connors, Darragh and Shane Fives, Jamie Nagle etc. are able to fill other positions from two to seven, and then there is a young lad by the name of Tony Browne who hopefully we will see again this year. His experience to the team is something that is vital. He may not be able for a full seventy minutes of inter county hurling (I would love to be proved wrong) but what a sub he would be to bring on for the last 15 to 20 minutes of a tight game when there may be some pressure on.

In the middle of the field the return to the set up of Shane O’Sullivan is a welcome one and he could well be partnered by Richie Foley, but there is plenty of other options opened to Michael Ryan and his selectors in this position including the De La Salle duo Dean Twomey and Eddie Barrett who very impressive at club level last year.

It is in attack that most fear for Waterford. We no longer have the likes of Shanahan, Flynn, Kelly, McGrath, Mullane etc. to pull a major score out of the bag when most needed.

Some of the players that have come in for them are fine players. Players like Brian O’Halloran, Martin O’Neill, Brian O’Sullivan, Ray Barry, Jake Dillon, Pauric Mahony, Jamie Barron and Gavin O’Brien have all excelled at underage level and at club level in recent years. The question is can they carry this ability to the next level.

I have a gut feeling that they can. However it would be wrong to place too much pressure on them too soon.

Our most experienced forward right now is Seamus Prendergast. On his own for now, the question has to be asked can he guide the players through the early games in the league.

Heading into the opening round of games in this years league, I for one would feel more comfortable if we had more experience in attack. Come championship time the likes of Maurice Shanahan and Shane Walsh should well be back in the team, and when their experience is in the team then Waterford will be a team that most will be looking out for again.

Clare despite what Davy Fitzgerald is telling us all the week are going to go into this weekends game as the favourites. But does Waterford have any chance? Of course they do. Many people love it when Waterford is underdogs.

After loosing their opening three games last year ahead of the game against Galway in Salthill, the most up to date obituary for Waterford hurling was been typed up by most, stored on the PC or Laptop and was all ready for sending to the papers after the game. What happened at that time? Against all the odds, Waterford won the game.

With many completely writing off Waterford’s year before it has started, I for one would not be too surprised to see the team return from Ennis with a brace of points in the bag, but it won’t be easy.