Another big weekend on the Intercounty scene.

It may be Saint Patrick’s Weekend and people will head out to different events which are planned in the different towns and villages around the land, but for G.A.A. Supporters in the Déise County, they have a number of venues to go to if they want to see our different teams in action.

Waterford has made a great start to this years National Hurling league. Twelve months ago, with three games played Waterford had no points and things were not looking good for new manager Michael Ryan.

This year round things are much better and as we head into our third game of this years campaign, Waterford are in second place in the table on three points only denied top in the table on score difference.

Kilkenny are a side that go into this game on somewhat of a low, if such a thing happens in the marble city and county. They have lost their two opening games to Galway and Tipperary. One thing that Brian Cody and Kilkenny do not like see happening is to loose a game and to loose two on the trot must almost be an unthinkable thing in the county and you cant but feel that someone somewhere will be at the end of a trimming from Kilkenny.

Let’s hope however that it does not happen this weekend and if it is to happen lets hope for Waterford’s sake it will be against either Cork or Clare; two sides Waterford have got favourable results against.

Brian Cody will know that his charges will have to start winning soon. He like us all are only too well aware that there is only six teams in Division one ‘A’ this year as was the case last year and when you enter a loosing streak you could well be dragged into a relegation dog fight, and in a play off game anything could happen regardless of who provides the opposition.

Confidence within the Waterford panel has to be high right now. However that could be a very dangerous thing, as there is always that old saying to be taken into account, the bigger you are the longer the fall.

Michael Ryan is likely to make few if any changes to the team which played Cork last weekend. Noel Connors is still out with and injury played in the Fitzgibbon Cup, so the players one to seven are likely to remain in tact. There are doubts about Darragh Fives for this game. He retired early in the game last weekend. If he is fit, then it’s a big plus for Waterford, but if he is not, it would not be the end of the world as there are some good players that could be brought in his place. Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan both came on as subs last weekend and both impressed and will be looking for a starting berth against Kilkenny.

If they were to start, both are natural forwards which would mean that some surgery would have to be made to the team to fit them in.

The game with Kilkenny is fixed for Monday afternoon in Nolan Park. It remains to be seen how the fans from both sides think of such a move. When the Munster Council a few years back now fixed a championship game for the June Bank Holiday, fans showed the council exactly what they thought of the move and stayed away in their droves. Will it happen this time round, time will tell.

Waterford senior footballers are also in action this weekend. They make the long trip to Leitrim (this evening) for a Saturday afternoon game in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Leitrim manager Brian Breen during the week conceded that his side are out of contention for one of the two promotion places, but that will not stop them from wanting to pull off a win in this game.

While Waterford has lost their last two games against Limerick and London, they are not out of contention. But have to win this game. They will also be looking for other results to go their way to ensure that they stay in touch.

Against both Limerick and London, Waterford had their chances to win. Against Limerick at Fraher Field they kicked an unbelievable amount of chances wide, some of which were very score able and against London with minutes on the clock in Ruislip the side were one point up but two mistakes in the closing two or three of the game were punished, and London won by a point.

At Fraher Field on Saturday, Waterford’s Camogie team go in search of their second win in three games in the league when they take on Wexford at noon.

Last weekend Waterford had some good performers and will look for much of the same this time round.

Karen Kelly has made a return to the Waterford set up this year after taking a year out in 2012, while Aisling O’Brien is also back in the side and if she regains the number one shirt it will be a massive boost for the side as she has carried the form she showed at primary school level into adulthood and is a player of some ability.

Grainne Kenneally has played no part yet this year and is a big loss. If she was to return to the panel in the coming weeks and months then it will further strengthen a strong panel put together by manager Mark Cooney.

If stories that Trish Jackman is set to miss this game prove true, then it will be a massive blow to Waterford but have no doubt if she does miss out who ever comes in for her will be anxious to win a regular place in the team and can do so by having putting in a good hours work.

Waterford’s under 16 Camogie team take on Cork in the Munster ‘B’ final at the grounds in the Gold Coast also on Saturday. The game has a 2-30pm throw in. What a pity that this game could not be played part of a double header with the intermediate game in Fraher Field, but as the two competitions are run by different committees it is not possible.

Waterford’s Minor team take on Kerry in the Munster ‘B’ Final at Buttervant in Cork on Monday at 4-30pm while this weekend also sees Waterford’s under 14 ladies football play their second game in the championship when they play Clare in Stradbally on Saturday next 16^th March with throw in timed for 2pm. (Those planning on going to this game however are advised to check where it is played, as there is suggestions it could be moved to Fraher Field.