Modeligo and Cappoquin fancied to be Junior and Intermediate Hurling Champions

We already know that Ballygunner will represent Waterford in this year’s Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship after their somewhat easy win over Mount Sion in last weekend’s County Final at Walsh Park, and this coming Sunday evening barring the need for a replay, we should know the clubs that will represent the county in the Intermediate and Junior grades, after the two respective county finals take place at Walsh Park.

For anyone at the start of the year, even the start of this years championships in late April or Early May to head into their favourite bookies shop and to correctly predict the teams that would be involved in this weekend’s games would have been a bold move and they are no doubt rubbing their hands with glee in the past few days.

The Intermediate final between Cappoquin and Saint Saviours is one that few would have predicted. The Junior final between Modeligo and Bunmahon is one that even fewer could have predicted.

However how unpredictable the final pairing proved to be, the four sides in action this weekend are there on merit and all four clubs could well bring a large gathering of support both from their respective parish’s and from neighbouring parishes to Fraher Field well before the 1-30pm throw in for the Junior game on Sunday afternoon.

Modeligo’s place in this weekend’s junior final was only confirmed last weekend when they beat neighbours Colligan at Fraher Field in what was a rather one sided final.

Colligan would have gone into that final as the favourites. They were in the final again twelve months ago, but were beaten by a Ballysaggart side that went on to win a County and Munster final and were only beaten in the All-Ireland Final after a replay.

Modeligo who are coached by the former Ballyduff Upper and Waterford hurler Pa Kearney at the break held a 0-12 to 0-6 lead at the break, and while Colligan faired better in the third quarter, getting to within four points (0-15 to 0-11) at one stage, they were powerless to stopping Modeligo going on to win by double score’s (1-19 to 0-11).

Bunmahon secured their place in the final a week earlier, when they beat neighbours Fenor who have the Kill players rowing in behind them this year when it comes to hurling.

Fenor just like Colligan in the Western Final would have been favourites to win this final, but as we all know, favourites do not always oblige those that back them.

The first half proved to be an even enough game with both sides retiring at the break locked at five points each.

Fenor started the second half in whirlwind fashion hitting four points in a row, but the game would take a turn.

They say to be championship winners you need a bit of luck along the way and Bunmahon certainly had a major slice of luck.

In the second half of the third quarter, Bunmahon’s Charlie McKeown attempted his luck for a point, but his effort dropped short and while Ray Hennessy in the Fenor goal was alert enough to see what was happening he allowed the dropping ball to slip from his grasp and fall into the empty net behind him.

Before the third quarter was over, Bunmahon were again using up their luck. Bunmahon won a free that the Fenor players felt should have gone their way and after the usual protests died down, the ball was brought forward a very generous ten metres, and former Waterford minor stood over the ball and his effort from distance again eluded Ray Hennessy in the Fenor goal and dropped behind him for the second time in the game.

Bunmahon will go into this game as the underdog, but they wont mind. They will feel that there is a win there for them if they really want it.

Michael Harney will no doubt be their stand out players, but they wont be just looking for him for inspiration in this game. Fionn Buckley struck four points in the eastern final and the mid county side will once again be looking for him to be accurate in his shooting of any place balls given to him to strike this Sunday.

Charlie McKeown the scorer of their first goal against Fenor, Conal Queally, Tommy Power, Patsy Casey, Richie Walsh and Ciaran Buckley are others they will be looking to help them secure a rare title.

Modeligo’s main man could well prove to be another member of the Waterford Minor All-Ireland winning team from 2013, Tom Devine. In fact we could see him be paired alongside Michael Harney and if this was to prove to be the way, then those that pay the admission fee could be in for a terrific battle.

But like Bunmahon, Modeligo are not a one man team. Pat Fitzgerald was a member of the Waterford Senior Panel while Justin McCarthy was the Waterford manager and was retained for a short while by Davy Fitzgerald.

There is a number of brothers in the side that could also have a big bearing on this game including Brian and Kieran McCarthy, Pa and Sean O’Donovan have played underage hurling for Waterford and will be joined by younger brother Nicky, the Troy name is always associated with Modeligo and this panel has Shane, Jamie and Michael. Thomas (Tyler) Walsh joined the club from Fourmilewater this year and is a player to keep an eye on. Interestingly it will be a big weekend in the Walsh household this weekend as Thomas’ older brother Patrick (Jr) will be playing a part with Clonkill against Saint Bridget’s in the Westmeath Intermediate Hurling final at Cusack Park in Mullingar on Saturday. Others to keep an eye on for Modeligo could be Pa Walsh, Sean Hennessy and Louis Queally, younger brother of top jockey Tom.

The main game of the weekend when it comes to hurling at Fraher Field this weekend will be the meeting of Cappoquin and Saint Saviours in the Intermediate final.

Cappoquin and hurling have always gone side by side. Down the years they have always provided some excellent players to various Waterford sides.

Those involved with the Corner-stone Club have always worked hard to promote the game and will continue to do so for some time.

Some years back after a lean spell, the likes of Michael (Magoo) Murray and Tommy Sullivan got involved with the teams younger teams and their work is now beginning to shine through, even if those that started the work have now decided to take a seat in the back-benches. And it is not just in the Cappoquin Club that their work can be seen, as players from the surrounding clubs have had players involved in such competitions like the Mass Lane Cup, and playing in such competitions where the emphasis is on enjoying yourself and learning the skills of the game rather than winning.

Saint Saviours may well be known as a football club but it may come a surprise to some younger people that not too long ago the Ballybeg based club was a duel senior club. This it should be pointed out was a remarkable achievement as while a duel club they lost some of their better players, including some of their best hurlers to rival clubs.

However, the refused to throw in the towel and people like Noel Reidy and Tony Corcoran put in many hours work promoting hurling and football amongst the youth of the area and they winning the Eastern Final recently and reaching this weekend’s final pays dividends for all the hard work put in over the past few years.

Nicky Jacob who was part of the Waterford Senior panel a few years back may be their best known hurler, but he is ably assisted by the likes of Adam Brophy, Peter Crowley, Joey Phelan, John P. Jacob, JP Collingwood, Kevin Boland and Dan Connors.

Cappoquin last won the Intermediate championship in the mid 1970’s and remained a senior team till the mid to late 90’s.

Since then they have often gone close to winning back a place on the higher rungs of the hurling ladder in Waterford, but to now, have failed to do so.

They have some excellent players in their ranks. Donal (Duck) O’Rourke has played underage hurling for Waterford in the past. He missed the sides western final win over Ballinameela and will be hoping he is fit to take back the number one shirt for this game. If he does not, Darren Curran will again prove to be an able deputy. No Cappoquin team would be complete without a Murray involved and for this game they will be able to call upon the likes of Fionan, Paul, Shane and Conor. Colm and Kevin Looby will be in the full back line and they will hope to have brother Timmy alongside him after he missed the win over Ballinameela.

Andy Molumby a member of the Waterford minor team this year will be expected to be involved but it remains to be seen if another inter county minor from this past year Aaron O’Sullivan will be involved, however his older brother Cillian could well feature.

PJ Curran at full forward could well prove to be a danger to the Saint Saviours last line of defence while in front of him Keith Landers could also play a major team as could one of the side’s older players Shane Coughlan.

Since the turn of the Millennium, while only one club (Ballyduff Upper) from the western division have won the senior championship, the intermediate and junior championships have been dominated by the clubs from the western end of the county.

In Intermediate, the title gone to the western champions on eight occasions, (Ardmore – twice, An Rinn – twice, Dungarvan, Ballyduff Upper, Abbeyside and Fourmilewater).

In Junior matters are even better for the west as eleven times the cup has gone to clubs in the western division (Ballysaggart – twice, Ballinameela, Tourin/Glen Rovers, Modeligo, Lismore, Brickeys, Kilgobinet, Geraldine’s, Ardmore and Clashmore).

For the record, the sides to win from the Eastern division in Intermediate are Dunhill, Roanmore, Passage, Clonea, Portlaw and Ballyduff Lower, while in Junior Butlerstown, Ballydurn and Tramore have won.

Something is telling me that the west’s good run in these competitions will continue this coming weekend, but should one or both of the clubs from the Eastern end of the county come out on top, they would be wordy winners.