Waterford - A Hurling review (Part 3)

In the late spring of 2013, just before the various hurling championships began in Waterford, if someone was to carry out a survey of 100 people and asked who would come out on top in the various championships, its possibly fair to say that few if any would have predicted the correct teams.

For most the Senior Hurling Championship was going to be a two horse race between Ballygunner and De La Salle, the best two sides in the county over the past four or five years by some distance, with which ever one of them was to come through expected to make a brave bid to win the Munster Club Championship and then to go on and hopefully feature in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day on Saint Patrick’s Day this March.

However, if the big two in recent years were to slip up, a number of other clubs were expected to challenge strongly for the Waterford News and Star Cup.

Dungarvan who were beaten by De La Salle in the 2012 County Final, the first time they featured in a final since 1951 were once more expected to challenge strongly, while Fourmilewater who made steady progress over the past number of years were also expected to be up there challenging for silverware.

Lismore who have not won the title since 1993 but who featured in a number of finals since were expected to challenge, but they would need to find someone to take the main scoring burden off the shoulders of Maurice Shanahan, while Mount Sion who contested the semi finals in 2012 were also expected to challenge but going to be without Ken McGrath was going to be a tough ask, while others were questioning if Tony Browne could see out another championship year. They need have had no doubts.  

Although Ballyduff Upper were involved in a relegation battle in 2012, there was hopes especially with some new blood coming through that they could challenge for a place in the knockout stages of the championship and if they did, then anything could happen, while Passage and Abbeyside were also expected to have a say on where the Waterford News and Star Cup would find a home for the next twelve months, but most could not see with involved in the final shake-up.

The 2013 Senior Hurling Championship was again played in two groups of six. De La Salle the county champions of 2012 were automatically place in group one, Dungarvan the beaten finalists in 2012 in group two, with the sides they beat respectfully in the 2012 semi finals placed in the opposite group.

When the remainder of the groups were drawn, most were making bold predictions. Most were confident of naming at least seven of the eight sides that would come through to play in the quarter finals. The very brave were predicting the eight sides that would advance.

However, making predictions could at times leave a person look foolish, and many of those that were confident of predicting the sides that would play the knockout stages of the competition were proven wrong.

Along with De La Salle and Fourmilewater, Tallow, Ballyduff Upper, Lismore and An Rinn were grouped together in group one.

This was a group that An Rinn always was going to struggle in, and so it proved. They opened with a defeat to Tallow. A heavy loss to De La Salle followed. Against Ballyduff Upper, An Rinn put up possibly their best performance, but the final out come was the same. For much of the hour against Fourmilewater, they put it up to the Ballymacarbry based outfit, but again defeat was their loss.

An Rinn went into their last game with Lismore still in with a chance of avoiding been involved in a relegation play off. If they beat Lismore, they would avoid such a lottery, but it was not to be, as An Rinn suffered a fifth defeat in the league section of the championship.

A look at results over the past few years, and you have to wonder does our current championship structure serve its purpose.

In the last number of years, on more occasions than one, the team that won the Intermediate Championship have gone back down to the intermediate grade one year after going up. Does such a Yo-Yo competition serve purpose? Would we be better off restructuring? Do we really have 12 teams that compete in the senior championship? Would we be better off cutting the numbers to eight, and introducing a ‘B’ Championship including the four teams that would loose out, plus the four most consistent Intermediate teams over the past five teams, regardless of what division they come from? If we don’t want to call such a competition a ‘B Competition’ we would call it an Intermediate Premier competition, with the winners representing Waterford in the Munster Intermediate Championship as happens in Cork.

The surprise package in group one this year were Lismore, who won just two of their five games and as a result missed out on a place in the knockout stages of the competition. Normally, four points from ten would give you a place in the last eight of the competition, but not in 2013.

De La Salle as expected finished top, with eight points, dropping points in their last game against Tallow.

Fourmilewater also finished on eight points, loosing out on top spot on both score difference and the head to head game with De La Salle.

Ballyduff Upper turned around their performances of 2012, finishing on five points, while Tallow took the final place, also finishing on five points, thanks to a win over an understrength De La Salle side in the final game in the final round of games in the league section.

Dungarvan and Mount Sion in group two were joined by Ballygunner, Passage, Abbeyside and Roanmore.

As in previous years, Roanmore struggled throughout the competition, but to their credit, they had a terrible year with injuries. Their star player Gavin O’Brien did not feature in a number of their games, and was a massive loss.

Mount Sion and Passage throughout the league section of the competition looked impressive and it was no surprise that both qualified for the knockout stages before the last round of games were played.

The battle for the final two places from group two was a lot tougher. Going into the last round of games, Ballygunner, Abbeyside and Dungarvan were in with a shout, but only two of them would make it.

Ballygunner in Championship hurling had never lost to arch rivals Passage and in their final game, they needed to beat them, while the winner of the game between Abbeyside and Dungarvan would also qualify.

At Walsh Park, things were very clear cut. Ballygunner ran out convincing winners, having eleven points to spare.

At Fraher Field, things were not so clear cut, and the large attendance that made their way to the ground were served up a game that went right to the wire.

Abbeyside went into the game needing just a draw to secure their place in the last eight. They were reaching their peak levels of fitness and were playing some good hurling. They had put together some good results and settling for a draw was never on the cards. There would have been a strong feeling that the lads across the harbour could be beaten.

Near the end things got very exciting. Both sides had their chances to win. Every score was greeted with a mighty cheer by the support of the side raising an umpire’s flag. In the end, it was the Abbeyside supporters that were most vocal, winning 2-11 to 0-16.  Abbeyside and Ballygunner had reached the knockout stages of the competition.

The last eight draw was determined by who finished where in the group stages of the competition. The two group winners would face the fourth placed team from the opposite group, with the second placed teams facing the third placed team from the opposite group.

Mount Sion would play Tallow, Passage were paired with Ballyduff Upper. Fourmilewater and Abbeyside were pitted together in an eagerly awaited clash but the game of the round was without doubt De La Salle against Ballygunner.

The game between the big two at Walsh Park resulted in a draw after sixty minutes. In extra time, Ballygunner proved to be the better of the two sides and ran out 1-21 to 0-15 winners. However, after the game questions were asked of the De La Salle set up on the day. Had players been asked to play where to play best, would the outcome be different? We will never know now.

At Fraher Field, the other three games were played on the one programme.

Mount Sion in the opener proved forever too strong for Tallow.

In the second game Ballyduff for the first 25 minutes were too strong for Passage, but a goal against the run of play changed things around and Passage gave themselves hope for the second half when they would have the wind at their backs.

In the second half, Passage were the better side and at the end of the hour they were winners with five points to spare.

The final game was a real disappointment. Most expected Abbeyside and Fourmilewater to fight out a close battle, but things did not turn out that way as Abbeyside proved forever too strong for Fourmilewater, winning by a massive 19 points.

All four teams through to the semi finals all came from the one group in the group stages of the competition.

Sometimes when teams play for the second time in a short space of times, results can be reversed as teams at time can be a little over confident of winning second time around, but its often the case that the team that lost first time out will have learned most about their opponents.

Would the teams that won when the sides met previously win again or would either of the sides that lost first day out win a place in the county final? We were about to find out.

The semi final draw pitted Ballygunner with Abbeyside and Passage against Mount Sion, meaning that we could have two of the biggest clubs within the county contesting the county final, or we could even have a local derby and even the chance of two sides in the final who would be looking for their first ever championship success.

As things worked out, Passage for the second time in a few weeks beat Mount Sion, this time stretching their winning margin from three to five points while Ballygunner who previously lost to Abbeyside by six points emerged winners this time around by five points.

The 1979 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Manchester United is known as the 5 minute final as both sides scored two goals each in the last five minutes of the game as Arsenal ran out 3-2 winners.

In time, the 2013 Waterford senior hurling county final could become known as the seven minute final.

With seven minutes to go, Ballygunner lead by as many points. Many supporters were seen to be leaving the ground. The final result was seen as an obvious one.

But Passage refused to throw in the towel. No game is over till the final whistle is blown, just as they say no show is over till the fat lady sings.

Passage began to dig deep in the reserve tank and they were rewarded. The scores began to come and Ballygunner had to response. Spectacularly, the goals began to hit the net. Passage drew level with a goal from rising star Sean Hogan.

The supporters of both sides would at this stage have surly settled for a draw and the chance to do it all over again, but there was still time to play and seep in stoppage time Man of the Match Owen Connors picked out Conor Carey who finished to the net, giving Passage a 3-16 to 3-13 lead. Could Ballygunner now come back? Not this time as the full time whistle soon followed.

Passage had not much to celebrate in recent times, but now they had. Passage were County Senior Hurling Champions for the first time. It was a great year for Passage on the hurling field and the year was not over yet. The Munster Championship was to come.

Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh were Passage’s opponents after they came through their quarter final clash with Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney.

The game at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick was one which ebbed and flowed. One side would take the lead, then the other. At times it looked as though that a draw could be on the cards resulting in extra time. But in the end, the home side and their greater experience, winning the 2011 Limerick and Munster Club Finals told for something. Passage bowed out but now without a brave fight.

In Intermediate hurling, Ardmore are county champions for 2013. They beat Clashmore in a terrific Western Final. Seamus Prendergast was key to them on the day hitting some crucial scores, including some pressure scores late in the game. In the county Final they beat 0-23 to 2-13 but the win was far more comprehensive than the win suggests.

In the Munster Championship, they were pitted with their neighbours Youghal at Pairc Ui Rinn, where the East Cork side came out on top.

In Junior, Ballysaggart are the talk of the county this year. They came through the Western Championship with flying colours, loosing just one game against Modeligo, a side they drew with in the semi finals before beating them in a replay and then beating a fancied Colligan side in the Western Final.

Tramore and Ballydurn were expected to be the sides that featured in the Eastern Championship. Tramore came out on top, but in the final they were no match for a strong Ballysaggart side who won 1-18 to 1-9.

Since then wins over sides from Cork, Tipperary and Limerick have followed for Ballysaggart as they went on to add the Munster Championship to the Western and County Titles won weeks earlier and in the coming weeks they take on opposition from Sligo in the All-Ireland semi final.

In the ‘Attached’ Junior Championships, Erin’s Own won the intermediate final beating Abbeyside while Ballygunner proved too strong for Lismore in the senior final.

De La Salle and Brickeys are the under 21 champions after wins over Saint Carthage’s and Tramore in the county finals, while there was minor championships, there was wins for De La Salle (Div1),Erin’s Own (Div2), Cois Bhride (Div3) and Ballyduff Upper (Div4) following respective wins over Dungarvan, Clonea, Fourmilewater and Ballyduff Lower.