Weekly Digest 8/8/2013.

Week’s Round up.

Every week from now on (hopefully on a Thursday or a Friday) I am hoping to have on this blog a look pack over what was happening within the G.A.A. in the Waterford area in the week just ending and look forward to some of what is coming up in the week ahead.

Another All-Ireland for Trish Jackman:

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Galltir and Waterford Camogie player Trish Jackman won the All-Ireland Puc Fada for the fifth year in a row.

This is a remarkable achievement, and will hopefully be recognised within the county. This year’s title will surely be the most pleasing to Trish.

To win a first title for any player in any sport or event would be special. To retain the title the following year would be seen by some to be extra special. To win the title five years in a row is truly remarkable. Not even the great Kerry football team of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s could win five All-Ireland’s in a row. The great Kilkenny Hurling team over the past few years could win five All-Ireland’s in a row.

Trish managed to win five finals in a row last weekend and in the process did so finished the 2.5km course in a record low amount of pucs (27).

 

 

Dr Harty Cup

The draws for the group stages of the 2013/14 Dr Harty Cup were made recently, and the disappointing news coming out of the draws was that Dungarvan College’s who won the 2012/13 title were not allowed to defend their title.

I am not up to speed as to how voting takes place at a Munster College’s Meeting. Does each college taking part get a vote, or is it the officers that does the voting, maybe doing so on what they are hearing from the delegates as well as going with what they believe themselves.

I could be doing them an injustice and if I am I apologise, but you can’t but think that the call to not allow amalgamated sides into this years college could be down to the colleges in Tipperary and Cork who for a long number of years have dominated the competition along with Saint Flannan’s from Ennis.

There is a believe out there that the colleges in both Cork and Tipperary (a sizeable amount between them compared to what is in other counties) got together and to ensure that they are only playing smaller sides than themselves from this year. The numbers available to Dungarvan Colleges in last season’s competition (collectively from Dungarvan CBS and St Augustine’s) would be smaller than what other sides have put together.

However, the call is made now and the twenty two competing sides will have to get on with things as things stand.

In group one of the 2013/14 competition Thurles CBS will be the strong favourites to come out as group winners. They are in a group along with Castletroy College, Doon CBS and Gael Cholaiste Mhuire from Cork.

In group two, Blackwater Community School from Lismore and Dungarvan Colleges are paired together, along with Midleton CBS, Nenagh CBS and Rochestown College from Cork. This will be a very difficult group to come out of. Four of the sides will be fancying their chances, but wont be making too much noise about it in public, while the fifth side, Rochestown College did well last year in the Munster ‘B’ Competition and will be looking for another good run at the higher grade in this years competition.

The third Waterford side competing in this years competition is De La Salle and they are drawn in group three. They are in another tough group which contains Ard Scoil Rís from Limerick, Hamilton High School from Bandon, St Flannan’s from Ennis and St Colman’s from Fermoy.

In group four, last season’s beaten finalists Our Lady’s from Templemore will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages in a group that also contains Charleville CBS, Clonmel CBS and Colaiste na Trionoide from Youghal.

Two teams from the four groups will advance to the quarter finals. It is expected that the groups of five teams will begin in late September with the four team groups starting in early October and will continue to the Mid term break (Halloween) with one or two rounds played when the schools re-open in early November.

Under 16 Ladies Football

Waterford’s Under 16 Ladies football team make the journey to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick this Saturday to play Roscommon in the All-Ireland ‘B’ semi final.

Waterford has had a long wait for this game. They played their first Munster Championship game back on March 27 when they played Limerick at Hospital where the game ended in a 1-16 to 1-4 win for Waterford.

Waterford’s second game in the Munster Championship was against Clare on April 3 when Clare travelled to play at Bushy Park and the game again resulted in a win for Waterford, this time on a 5-12 to 1-3 score line.

Waterford played Clare again in the Munster Final, after the young ladies from the Banner County beat Limerick in their Round Robin game. This time round the game was played at Tipperary Town and proved to be a much closer affair, but Waterford again proved to be the stronger of the two sides winning 3-6 to 2-5.

The long delay can be very off putting for players and management alike. It is hard to keep interest alive when there is too big a gap between games, but no doubt the Waterford management team will have kept the side ticking over and will have whatever side they send out to play the ‘Rossies’ fully prepared.

Under 16 Camogie All-Ireland Semi Final

Over the past few weeks the Waterford Under 16 Camogie team have been in action a lot and are back in action this Sunday afternoon when they play Wexford in the All-Ireland semi final at Fraher Field.

To date, Waterford has put together some impressive results. Earlier this year, they won the Munster Final, beating Cork at the Gold Coast grounds.

In the All-Ireland championship, Waterford began with a game against Westmeath at Bushy Park, which Waterford won 10-10 to 0-3. Next up was a trip to Mahon to play Cork, a game that ended in a 1-7 to 1-7 draw.

Waterford’s last two games in the group stages of the competition required them to make the trip to Dublin. First up they played Armagh, a game that Waterford won 5-10 to 1-10 at Swords and then made a return trip to the Capital to play Derry, a game Waterford won 4-14 to 2-2.

With Waterford and Cork both finishing the league section of the competition with seven points from a maximum of eight, a play off was required recently in Mahon to see which of the two sides would top the group and to see who would play the two teams coming out of group ‘A’ in the All-Ireland semi final’s.

Cork won that game 3-3 to 1-6 to end Waterford’s unbeaten run in 2013 in the championship, but each and everyone in the panel will know it is better to loose a play off game with Cork where there was little or anything at stake than to loose later on in the competition.

What a pity that this game has to clash with the All-Ireland Minor Semi Final. I am sure that the girls will receive an amount of support on Sunday in Fraher Field, but it could be even grater if it did not clash with the big games in Croke Park which many will be travelling to or watching on TV.

The Waterford County Camogie Board cannot be faulted for the timing of the game. They can only play games as they are told. However, the scheduling of events by the Association’s central council this year does leave a little to be desired at times. A few weeks back they fixed an Intermediate Championship game the same day as the Munster Puc Fada Final. The clash meant that Waterford was not represented at the event in the Glen of Aherlow. At times some joined up thinking would not go astray.

All-Ireland Minor Semi Final

Many in Waterford will be making the annual pilgrimage to G.A.A. head quarter this weekend. Over the past number of years a visit to the Jones’ Road venue in August meant supporting the counties senior hurlers in an All-Ireland semi final, but this year it is to support the minors.

Waterford has qualified for this year’s semi final after games against Tipperary, Clare, Cork, Limerick (two games) and Antrim.

At the time of putting this piece together neither a Waterford nor a Kilkenny team is known. However, as soon as they are known it is hoped to have something up on the game on my blog.

To reach this stage of the competition, Waterford has surely set some sort of a record. I wonder are they the first county from Munster to reach an All-Ireland semi final having had to play the other four counties from Munster to compete in the competition.

Ladies Football

This weekend, the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team should discover who they will play in this year’s All-Ireland quarter finals.

The second series of games in the qualifiers take place and see Roscommon take on Leitrim, Wicklow take on Down, Cavan play London and for the second time this year Limerick take on Tipperary.

The four winners of these games will advance to the quarter finals where they will be joined by the four provincial winners.

Waterford teams in Tournament action.

This Saturday evening three sides from Waterford will be in action in big tournaments.

At Kill, the President of the G.A.A. Liam O’Neill will be visiting the mid county village to officially open the clubs new dressing room facilities.

To mark the occasion, the local club have organised two senior tournament games. The official opening of the facilities will take place at 4pm and ninety minutes later, a Senior Football Tournament will take place involving Stradbally and Tinryland from Carlow. At 7pm the attention turns to hurling and the game between Lismore and Ballyhale Shamrocks will surly attract a sizeable support, as the likes of the Shanahan brothers Maurice and Dan face up to the likes of Henry Shefflin. With both Lismore and Ballyhale Shamrocks having important Championship games coming up shortly, it is envisaged that both sides could be at full strength and will be going all out for a win to built up confidence ahead of their next championship outing.

And in Clonmel on Saturday evening, the Clonmel Óg Club will be opening their new dressing rooms. They have organised a senior football tournament game between Clonmel Óg and Rathgormack which has a 7-30pm start.

In Kill, the winners of the football game will be playing for the McGrath Cup, those in the hurling game will be playing for the Mike Hennessy Memorial Trophy and in Clonmel the sides will be playing for the Jim Cleary Cup.

Silverware for Mount Sion

There was Silverware on the double for the Mount Sion Club last weekend when they won the Sargent Cup, beating Abbeyside in the Final at Cappoquin, a game which doubled up as the County Senior Hurling League final.

This proved to be a high scoring game with nine goals scored over the hour. Michael Gaffney, Richie Roche, Sean Ryan, Gavin Carroll and Pat Kelly all found the net for Mount Sion in a 5-15 to 4-10 win, while the Abbeyside goals came through Mark Fives who hit two, Mark Gorman and John Hurney.

Big weekend in Touraneena

Big crowds gathered last weekend at Kirwan Park in Touraneena for a number of games which were played as part of a ‘Gathering Weekend’.

In Ladies Football, Ballymacarbry proved too strong for Na Déise in an under 14 football game. Ballymacarbry ran out winners with four points to spare.

Slaibh gCua beat Kill in an Intermediate Football Tournament final for the Ned Burke Cup. In intermediate hurling, Saint Mary’s had a one point win over Fourmilewater in the final of the Bob Keane Cup and in underage games, Naomh Brid proved too strong for Brickeys in an under 10 game which saw one half played in hurling and the other in football. The local side were presented with the Michael Kiely Cup and on the same day, Ballygibblin from Cork retained the Bob Keane Shield beating Naomh Brid in an under 12 hurling game.

Intermediate Hurling

The quarter final parings in this years Eastern Intermediate Hurling Championship were confirmed last weekend. Portlaw who are the current champions will play Ferrybank, while Dunhill who were relegated from the Senior ranks last year will play Ballygunner’s second string team. Last years Junior hurling champions Butlerstown will play Clonea who are annual challengers for the Intermediate crown and the final game will see the clash of De La Salle and Mount Sion’s second string sides.

Intermediate Football

In the Western Intermediate Football Championship there is still one game to play in the group stages of the competition (Ballyduff and Clashmore) but the semi final parings are already confirmed.

The Geraldine’s have topped the group with ten points from a maximum of twelve and will play Dungarvan who are relegated from the senior ranks last year. The second semi final sees Sliabh gCua take on Ballyduff Upper. The two sides met in Cappoquin last weekend and the game resulted in a 1-11 to 0-5 win for Ballyduff who secured their place in the last four as a result of the win.

Meanwhile staying in the west of the county, Ardmore and Cappoquin will contest this year’s Western Intermediate Hurling League final. The two will meet at Fraher Field on August 23 in the final.

Camogie Quiz.

Don’t forget this evening to help try and offset the huge expense that the County Board will incur in the coming weeks with the Intermediate and under 16 teams playing in All-Ireland semi finals and hopefully finals, they have organised a table quiz for this evening (August 8) in Lawlor’s Hotel at 8-30pm. Teams of four cost €40 and even if you cant make it to the quiz tonight and would like to get involved any of the county board or the players will take whatever you can afford and put it with what is taken up on the night.

Meanwhile the ladies footballers have also have a fundraiser. They are selling tickets which have some worthwhile prizes. Waterford have had a team in an Under 14 All-Ireland Final earlier this year, have an under 16 team in an All-Ireland semi final this weekend and the intermediates are in an up coming All-Ireland quarter final. Reaching these stages of competition does not come cheap and your support would be much appreciated.