No surprise results in opening round of games in S.H.C.

Six games were played in the first round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship over the weekend with none of the six games throwing up any surprises.

Ballygunner and Mount Sion got the ball rolling on Friday evening at Walsh Park.

When the sides met at the quarter final stages of the championship in 2012 it was Mount Sion that came out on top and while Ballygunner went into this latest battle between the two city sides, Mount Sion were not wrote off by anyone.

It was Mount Sion that hit the ground running, and at the break they held a 0-14 to 0-7 advantage.

Pauric Mahony proved to be Ballygunner’s leading tallies man on the day hitting ten points for his side but he was powerless to stopping his side going under twenty points to seventeen. For the winners they were best served by rising stars Stephen Roche and Austin Gleeson.

Two games were played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

In the opening game Passage came out on top hitting 4-15 past Abbeyside who hit 1-15 themselves, a tally that is often good enough to win most games.

Former inter county hurler Eoin Kelly was literally on fire for Passage in this game hitting 2-5 for his side and was involved in setting up many of his sides other scores.

First half goals from John Whitty, Eoin Kelly and Killian Fitzgerald helped Passage to a 3-8 to 0-9 lead at the break. Goals in the second half were hit by a second goal from Eoin Kelly in the second half helped Passage to a comfortable win in this game, who if they can keep up their form up over the coming weeks and months could have a say on where the Waterford News and Star Cup will find a home come October. A Patrick Hurney goal fro Abbeyside proved to be a mere consolation score, but did help improve their score difference which could well prove crucial at the end of the league phase of the competition.

The second game on the cards on Saturday evening was the clash between Ballyduff Upper and De La Salle.

The current champions were given a real fright in this game and were made fight right to the end to secure an opening round win against the side that were involved in a relegation play off last year.

Ballyduff Upper at the break held a 1-9 to 0-9 lead, the goal coming on sixteen minutes when former Waterford captain Stephen Molumphy did well to set up Shane Kearney.

Inside the closing ten minutes of the game Ballyduff Upper held a one point lead. They won themselves a twenty metre free all-be-it from a very tight angle and rather than try and put it over the bar, they opted to try and work the ball into a more favourable position but they were caught out.

De La Salle cleared the ball and sent it down field where Dean Twomey split the posts to level matters. A Jake Dillon goal for De La Salle quickly followed to send his side three points clear. Points from John Mullane and Jake Dillon followed to help De La Salle recorded an opening round 1-18 to 1-13 victory.

In the first game played at the Shandon Road venue on Sunday afternoon, last years runners up recorded a massive 5-15 to 1-9 win over Roanmore.

Dungarvan were always on top in this game. First half goals from Cormac Curran and Jamie Nagle helped Dungarvan to a 2-8 to 1-4 lead at the break, the Roanmore goal coming in stoppage time courtesy of Laurence O’Neill.

Dungarvan introduced Patrick Curran for his Senior Championship debut at the break and he had one to remember hitting a point inside twenty-five seconds of coming on and later hitting a brace of goals. Cormac Curran hit his second goal of the game for Dungarvan early in the second half.

The second game at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon saw Fourmilewater take on Lismore. This game was expected to be close and the two sides did not fail to disappoint.

The games only goal came on eight minutes, Dan Shanahan set up young Jordan Shanahan who impressed in this game to smash the ball past Brendan Lawlor.

The remainder of the first half remained evenly poised and after thirty minutes of hurling it was Jordan Shanahan’s goal that separated the sides as Lismore retired holding a 1-7 to 0-7 advantage.

Fourmilewater began the second half brightly. Maurice Shanahan and Jamie Barron hit early scores for their respective sides before Dermot Ryan and Jamie Barron hit points to leave just one between the sides.

Alan Lawlor levelled matters for Fourmilewater and which was followed with points from Diarmuid Wall and Shane Walsh which gave Fourmilewater a two point lead.

Lismore fought back however and on sixty minutes the sides were all square but three minutes into stoppage time Jamie Barron put over a long range free to give his side a 0-17 to 1-13 victory.

The final game of the weekend was played in Cappoquin on Sunday evening. Last years Intermediate champions were expected to put it up to Tallow who had a disappointing year last year having reached the final twelve months earlier.

First half goals from Thomas Ryan and William Henley helped the Bride-siders to a 2-6 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

A second Thomas Ryan goal early in the second half helped in no small part to a 3-8 to 0-10 victory.

Games in round two of this year’s championship take place this coming weekend, following which sides that lost this weekend could find themselves in a lot of trouble if they don’t win in round two.