LISMORE LOOK TO ADD TO ROLL OF HONOUR IN MALLOW ON SATURDAY

Lismore will look to record a third successive Munster Intermediate Club Camogie title to their roll of honour at the second time of asking on Saturday afternoon when they take on Tipperary Champions Cahir at the G.A.A. Complex in Mallow with the game having a 2pm throw in.

This game was to have gone ahead two weeks ago at the same venue but the weather conditions that weekend did not allow it to happen.

Ideally with Lismore without a competitive game since they beat Saint Anne’s to win the County Final back in the first weekend of October would liked to have had the game go ahead last weekend, but with Cahir involved in an All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Semi Final last weekend, they had to wait till this weekend for the game to be rescheduled.

Cahir come into this game with a big 3-14 to 1-6 over Cork Champions Brian Dillon’s at White’s Cross in the Munster Semi Final a number of weeks back, a win that will give them plenty of confidence for their meeting with the side that has contested the last two All-Ireland Finals at this grade.

Last weekend’s Ladies Football All-Ireland semi final win over Glenelly from Tyrone who they beat 5-15 to 1-8 will give those involved in both games plenty of confidence and they will be looking to give the South Tipperary Club the chance to appear in possibly two All-Ireland Club Finals in the new years, something that can only happen if they win this weekend.

Prior to their Munster Semi Final win over Brian Dillon’s, Cahir beat Silvermines in the Tipperary Intermediate County Final at The Ragg on a 0-14 to 0-9 score line having beaten Newport 3-17 to 2-8 in the semi finals and in the group stages played Moycarkey and Drom & Inch.

Lismore as pointed out have not had a competitive game since they beat Saint Anne’s for the third year running in the County Final back in Early October but they will enter this game with having left no stone unturned as they look to add to what is an impressive run of results in the last few years.   

Prior to their win over Saint Anne’s in the County Final they had wins over Gailltir and Cappoquin and drew with Saint Anne’s in the group stages of the competition, results that were good enough to send then straight to the county final and earlier this year they had an excellent win over Cappoquin in the League Final at Tallow, the third time the Lismore club won the final in four years.

Cahir to many may not have the household names that the Lismore side have when it comes to camogie but none the less they have some quality players some of whom are well known in Ladies Football circles in Waterford and beyond in the likes of Roisin Howard, Aisling Moloney, Caoimhe Condon, Carol Casey, Orla and Lorna McEniry, Emma Buckley and Lauren Fitzpatrick a member of the Tipperary Intermediate Ladies Football team who plays her Club football with Ballymacarbry.

Lismore will be looking to the likes of intercounty players Caithriona McGlone, Shona Curran and Nicola Morrissey for much of their inspiration while they will also be looking for big games from experienced players like Gráinne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon, Ruth Geoghegan, Marie Russell, Shauna Prendergast, Tanya Morrissey and team captain Shauna Kiernan in a game that could well prove to be their toughest so far this year.

Lismore in their two previous Munster Final wins had to pull out all the stops to beat Newmarket-on-Fergus in 2013 and Sarsfields in 2014 before to claim the trophy on offer to the winners, and this time around it is expected to be no different.

Cahir to date have put up some very good scores to this weekends rescheduled final and the Lismore defence will have to be at their very best to stop them this weekend putting up another big score which the South Tipperary side are capable of, but Lismore’s greater experience and their hunger for another All-Ireland title, a first in Croke Park should see them move a step closer to winning a first All-Ireland Title at Croke Park, something that the club would love to see happen.

BALLYGUNNER MUST WAIT FOR MUNSTER TITLE NUMBER TWO AS NA PIARSAIGH CLAIM TITLE NUMBER THREE

Ballygunner must wait for at least one more year if they are to win a second Munster Senior Hurling Championship Title after they lost out to Limerick side Na Piarsaigh in this years decider at Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon, going under to the Limerick Champions 2-18 to 2-11 who claimed their third title at this stage since 2011 and will now be confident that they can end their campaign by climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand on St. Patrick’s Day.

While defeat was Ballygunner’s lot in this game, they will have to be confident that their wait for a second title wont last too long more, as it is well documented that going into this game they were without the influential Mahony brothers and lost another rising star Peter Hogan after just 20 minutes with an injury.

The Gunner’s and hurling supporters will know that with these three back in the side from the off for next years campaign and with many of the other young players involved being a year old and as a more experienced, should Ballygunner get out of Waterford, they will be a side closely watched by many not just in Munster by the other County Champions but also in the other three provinces.

And while Ballygunner were short the services of key players for this game, it must not be forgotten that the Limerick side were also without Kevin Downes and while they began without David Breen he did manage to get in the last twenty minutes of the game coming on for Pat Gleeson who started for Downes.

In this game Ballygunner had done to them what they had done to Cork Champions Glen Rovers in the semi final as they went in leading by three points at the interval but in the second half had to play second fiddle to a strong Na Piarsaigh performance.

While it was Ballygunner were the better side in the first half it was the Limerick side that were first to score on six minutes as Alan Dempsey pointed. However within a minute Brian O’Sullivan who has impressed all years for Ballygunner responded with a similar score.

Kevin Ryan and Brian O’Sullivan swapped scores for their respective sides before Stephen O’Keeffe put over a long range free to give Ballygunner the lead for the first time with twelve minutes played.

By the mid way point of the first half Ballygunner had stretched their lead to three as Brian O’Sullivan from a free and Stephen Power landed scores to give the Waterford side a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

The lead however did not last long as on nineteen minutes Ronan Lynch pulled a point back from a free and a minute later, David Dempsey finished a Mike Foley pass to the back of Stephen O’Keeffe’s net following some hesitation in the Ballygunner full back line.

The sides were level again with eight minutes left to play in the first half as JJ Hutchinson just seconds after replacing Peter Hogan slotted the slitter between the Na Piarsaigh posts.

A Shane Dowling point followed for the winners three minutes from the end of normal time in the first half which gave his side a one point lead, but it was the ‘Gunners’ that finished the stronger of the two sides as Tim O’Sullivan finished to the Na Piarsaigh net on twenty eight minutes after the Limerick side failed to clear their line and they rounded off the first half scoring two minutes into stoppage time as Brian O’Sullivan put over a ’65 to give his side a 1-7 to 1-4 advantage as the sides headed to the dressing rooms under the old stand at Semple Stadium at the interval.

The Limerick side began the second half by hitting the first five scores of the half in ten minutes.

Shane Dowling cut the Ballygunner lead by one in the first minute of the half, after which Peter Casey and Will O’Donoghue landed points to draw the sides level within five minutes of the restart.

The Limerick side went back in front on thirty-seven minute when Mark Foley put over a huge score and three minutes later Shane Dowling put his side two up on forty minutes.

The Limerick side were now on a bit of a high and it was important that Ballygunner would hit a first score of the second half and this is what they did as Brian O’Sullivan put over a free to leave just one between the sides, but the Limerick side hit back with points from Shane Dowling, David Dempsey and Kevin Ryan to lead 1-12 to 1-8 at the end of the third quarter.

Na Piarsaigh in the final quarter continued to prove to be the better of the two sides.

Peter Casey and Brian O’Sullivan exchanged scores in the first five minutes of the final quarter to keep four between the sides which was brought to three on fifty one minutes when Shane O’Sullivan pointed for Ballygunner.

Points from David and Alan Dempsey followed for Na Piarsaigh to send them five in front with seven minutes remaining, but that lead was cut to two three minutes later as Brian O’Sullivan got the final touch to a Conor Power shot and beat Podge Kennedy in the Na Piarsaigh goal.

But the goal proved to more of a wake up call for the Limerick side than a inspirational one for Ballygunner as Roan Lynch and Peter Casey to of Limerick’s rising stars landed points with two minutes remaining and they secured a third Munster title in five years two minutes later as Shane Dowling hammered to the net to give his side an eight point lead.

Ballygunner hit the final score of the game through Stephen Power.

The Gunner’s like any side will be disappointed with this seven point defeat, but they will know that next year should they come out as Waterford Senior Champions for a third year in a row they will be a much more difficult side to beat with a stronger and more experienced side to pick from.

Na Piarsaigh: Podge Kennedy; Mike Casey, Kieran Breen, Kieran Kennedy; Mike Foley, Ronan Lynch, Cathal King; Alan Dempsey, Will O’Donoghue; Kevin Ryan, David Dempsey, Shane Dowling; Peter Casey, Pat Gleeson, Adrian  Breen. Subs: David Breen for Pat Gleeson, Tommy Grimes for Kevin Ryan

Scorers: Shane Dowling 1-4 (0-2f), David Dempsey 1-2, Peter Casey 0-3, Ronan Lynch (1f), Alan Dempsey & Kevin Ryan 0-2 each, Mike Foley, Will O’Donoghue & David Breen 0-1 each.

Ballygunner: : Stephen O’Keeffe; Eddie Hayden, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Shane Walsh, David O’Sullivan, Harley Barnes; Billy O’Keeffe, Shane O’Sullivan; Tim O’Sullivan, Stephen Power, Barry O’Sullivan; Peter Hogan, Brian O’Sullivan, Conor Power. Subs: JJ Hutchinson for Peter Hogan, Conor Sheahan for Billy O’Keeffe, David Walsh for JJ Hutchinson

Scorers: Brian O’Sullivan 1-6 (0-4f, 0-2 65s), Tim O’Sullivan 1-0, Stephen Power 0-2 (1f), Stephen O’Keeffe (f), Shane O’Sullivan & JJ Hutchinson 0-1 each.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

Fenor advance to Munster Final

Fenor’s bid to become the third Waterford club to win the Munster Junior Club Championship in a row remains on track after they overcame the challenge of Clare side Ennistymon at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon last.

This was a game that the Déise Champions were always in with an excellent chance of winning despite not having a competitive game with almost five weeks since they beat Saint Mary’s in the County Final at the same venue.

Fenor made two changes to the side from the start to the team that beat Saint Mary’s as their hero on that day Sean Cheasty who won a late free to draw that game and then got the winner moments later came in for Tadhg Campbell at corner forward and Ray Hennessey replaced Kieran Dunphy between the posts after his recent move to New Zealand.

Right from the off in this game Fenor were on top in this game.

Ben Gallagher opened the scoring for his side just past the minute mark of the game when he put over a free and repeated the act five minutes later.

Conor Rockett put his side three up on eight minutes, but that lead could have been wiped out moments later as Enda Ralph shot wide.

Mickey Nicholls and Liam Tierney exchanged scores for their respective sides by the twelfth minute to keep Fenor three up.

Ben Gallagher extended Fenor’s lead by one on twenty one minutes and two minutes further on he could have put his side seven up when he found himself with a good goal scoring opportunity but he saw his effort go just wide of Cathal McDonagh’s upright.

However, Fenor wasted little or no further time to ensure that the umpire would have to reach for a green flag as Conor Rockett and Mickey Nicholls combined well to set up Sean Cheasty for the games first goal of the game.

Ben Gallagher put over two more points before Liam Tierney for the visitors hit their second point of the game to leave his side trailing 1-7 to 0-2 as the sides changed ends.

The visitors to Walsh Park in the second half did manage to do better than in the first as they out scored their opponents 0-9 to 1-4 but they had left themselves with too much to do as Fenor ran out winners with eight points to spare.

The Clare side who bowed out of the Clare Championship at the semi final stages of the competition began the second half brightly with a point from Michael McDonagh inside thirty seconds of the restart.

However, the game was as good as over for Ennistymon with twenty-seven minutes to go as Sean Cheasty cracked his second goal of the game following good work by Anthony Kiely in the build up.

Ennistymon enjoyed a period of dominance after this as Michael McDonagh from a ’65, Liam Tierney from a brace of frees and Padraig Brennan all landed scores to leave Sean Cheasty’s goals the difference between the sides on the scoreboard.

Ben Gallagher put over two more frees to put Fenor back in front by eight.

The closing minutes proved to be an even affair as Liam Tierney put over a brace of frees for the visitors, one from a free while Ollie St. John and Ben Gallagher from a magnificently struck sideline cut just as he had done in the county final landed points for the eventual winners.

Fenor now head to Mallow on December 6 where they will be playing Cork side Doungourney and will be hoping that a venue that has proven to be kind to Ballysaggart and Modeligo over the same weekend in the last two years will be just as kind to them.

Fenor: Ray Hennessy; Fergal Whelan, Donal Kelly, Luke Middleton; Peter Kelly, Jim Halley, John Flynn; Anthony Kiely, Niall Hennessy; William Cullinane, Ciaran Kirwan, Ben Gallagher; Sean Cheasty, Conor Rockett, Mickey Nicholls. Subs: Anthony Whelan for Peter Kelly (44), Ollie St. John for William Cullinane (48), Flannan Cleary for Conor Rockett (56), David Sullivan for Anthony Kiely (59).

Scorers: Ben Gallagher 0-8 (4f, 1sl), Sean Cheasty 2-0, Conor Rockett, Mickey Nicholls, Ollie St. John 0-1 each.

Ennistymon: Cathal McDonagh; Cathal Frawley, Michael Devitt, Brendan Hogan; Adam Ralph, David Davenport, Joseph Rynne; Liam Davitt, Michael McDonagh;  Christoir McCaw, Enda Ralph, Padraig Brennan; Liam Tierney, Aidan Slattery, Tony Malone. Subs: Liam O’Driscoll for Cathal Frawley (41), Thomas Griffin for Christoir McCaw (48), Colin O’Driscoll for Liam Devitt (52), Kieran Harvey for Joseph Rynne (58), Derek McInerney for Tony Malone (58).

Scorers: Liam Tierney 0-5 (3f), Michael McDonagh 0-2 (1 ’65), Padraig Brennan 0-1.

Referee: Philip Kelly (Tipperary).

TITLE NUMBER 4 IS WON FOR MODELIGO IN 2015 AS COUNTY JUNIOR FOOTBALL TITLE IS CAPTURED

It will be interesting in a few weeks time to find out which one of the four clubs named for Club of the Year when it comes to the G.A.A. in Waterford is picked as the overall winner.

The gong has often gone to the side which wins one of the senior championships in the county as they often get much publicity in the written, spoken and social media.

Ballygunner and Stradbally as the winners of the senior hurling and football championships this year are both in with an excellent chance of winning this years award, but so too have Modeligo.

The small West Waterford club have had a great last few year’s the highlight for many would be winning the Munster Junior Hurling title just under 12 months ago against Castlemartyr at Mallow.

There achievements this year have been just as impressive. They reached the Western Junior Football League Final, won the Western Hurling League, won the Western Intermediate Hurling Championship, were narrowly beaten in the County Intermediate Hurling Final, won the Western Junior Football Championship and on Saturday night last the left Fraher Field with the fourth piece of silverware this year in the bag after they won the County Junior Football Final against Roanmore.

Sometimes winning is more important that the way the win was achieved and while any neutral or Roanmore supporter leaving the ground on Saturday evening will have done so disappointed with what they saw over the course of the hour, the Modeligo support on the night were far from disappointed.

In truth, the final was far from good. Conditions on the night possibly played a part on the night.

A very strong win blew up field towards the road goal which Modeligo had first use of. The surface also left a lot to desire as it clearly showed signs of the high volume of games played at the venue over the past year. Is the field over used? It possibly is. It would be great to see games spread around as what happens in other counties, but here in Waterford for too long now we have a tendency to use our two county grounds far too often. Had the ground been in its usual pristine condition would we have seen a better game? Maybe we might, but there is no way anyone could have factored in the weather conditions on the night regardless of how good the playing surface was on the night.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, Modeligo got off to a great start in this game as two of the younger three Troy brothers on the field, Michael from a free and Jamie from play landed points for the recently crowned Western Champions.

Going on these opening minutes, it was envisaged by some with the win that was blowing that Modeligo would need a double digit score lead at the break if they were to stand a chance of playing Clare side Clonmeen in Cooraclare in a Munster Semi Final this weekend, but as the game wore on it quickly became apparent that a smaller lead at the break might be sufficient to see them past the post.

Modeligo hit just four more scores in the opening half and were not tested at the other end of the field as the city side went to the dressing rooms without raising a flag of any colour by the umpires.

Former inter county hurler Pat Fitzgerald who put in a Man of the Match performance for Modeligo hit his sides third score of the game on seven minutes and that lead went to four before the end of the first quarter when Michael Troy put over another free.

Modeligo failed to score again until the twenty-seventh minute of the half when Michael Troy put over his third of the game and in added time at the end of the half Pat Fitzgerald landed his second of the game to give his side a six point advantage at the sound of referee Timmy Organ’s half time whistle.

Some in the crowd would have been wondering would Roanmore with the wind at their backs in the second half make a game out of it. The answer was – not really.

Modeligo with the better footballers on show played much better when facing the wind than what Roanmore did.

The eventual winners opened the second half scoring with another Michael Troy free eight minutes after the restart.

Roanmore hit their first score of the game on forty-two minutes when Brian Nolan put over a free but the score failed to ignite the Sky Blues in any way.

Modeligo cancelled out Brian Nolan’s effort was cancelled out on forty-six minutes which all but secured the win for his side.

Scores in the condition proved to be hard won, but six minutes from the hour mark Roanmore did have a chance of registering the first major score of the game, but a strike for goal in a crowded Modeligo goalmouth was somehow managed to kept out by Thomas Walsh in the Modeligo goal as he put the ball out for a 45 which came to nothing for the Sky Blues.

Within a minute however the umpire was reaching for a green flag but it was at the other end of the field as Michael Troy who impressed throughout beat Colm Burke for a good goal.

In the time that remained there was a lot of stopping and restarting of the game as both sides began to use up as many of their subs as was possible and as a result it was not real surprise that there was only one further score as a result, that coming two minutes into stoppage time when the older of the three Troy brothers to start for Modeligo, Shane popped the ball over the head of Colm Burke to seal a 1-9 to 0-2 win for his side.

The new county champions will have celebrated the win over the weekend, but things will quickly settle down again as the side prepare for a Munster Semi Final this weekend, where they will be hoping to earn the right to return to the ground one day short of twelve months where they won a Munster Final and have a crack at winning another.

Modeligo: Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’Donovan, Brian McCarthy, John McGrath; Sean Hennessy, Kieran McCarthy, Sean O’Donovan; Patrick O’Donovan, Shane Troy; Rian Reddy, Pat Fitzgerald, Robbie Buckley; Michael Troy, Patrick Walsh, Jamie Troy. Subs: Cian O’Byrne for Robbie Buckley (56), Paudie McCarthy for John McGrath (59), Mike Bumster for Rian Reddy (60), Michael Power for Patrick Walsh (63).

Scorers: Michael Troy 1-5 (0-4f), Pat Fitzgerald 0-2, Jamie Troy, Shane Troy 0-1 each.

Roanmore: Colm Burke; Johnny Walsh, Tommy Aldridge, Tim O’Byrne; Frank McGrath, Emmet O’Toole, Charlie Chester; Darragh Swaby, Brian Nolan; Dale Sheridan, David Barrett, Dean Reidy; Paul O’Toole, Paul O’Sullivan, Shane Nolan. Subs: Keith Kennedy for Darragh Swaby (38), Cein Chester for Dean Reidy (41), Dale Hayes for Dale Sheridan (46), Conor O’Byrne for Johnny Walsh (58), Robbie Kelly for Paul O’Sullivan (60).

Scorers: Brian Nolan (F), Paul O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Referee: Timmy Organ (Ballinacourty).

Fenor seek to continue Waterford’s recent good run in the Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship

After recent successes by Ballysaggart and Modeligo in the Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship in the last two years, this years County Champions Fenor will be hoping to keep Waterford’s excellent run of recent results in tact on Saturday afternoon when they take on Clare side Ennistymon in Walsh Park.

The recently crowned champions won their first county title five weeks ago when they beat Saint Mary’s are without a competitive game since then.

However the five week lay off allowed them the chance to celebrate that first county title in style and since then they have got things to settle down once more and have played challenge games against the Clonea under 21 team and Tourin who are involved in a Intermediate Relegation play off in the west of the county against Ballinameela at Fraher Field while Fenor will be playing at Walsh Park.

This is a game that Fenor will feel that they can win as they will be playing a side that failed to reach let alone win a county final in Clare.

In the Banner County three of the sides that reached the semi finals of the junior championship were second string teams and as Ennistymon who are a predominantly a football club were the Clare nominations to represent the county in Munster.

While playing second string sides in  Junior and Intermediate championships has its merits as it will help players develop more than they would if they were playing against all second string sides, the wisdom of playing them in these competitions would have to be questioned if one of them were to go on and win the competition as they cannot compete in the Munster Championships which devalues the Munster Championship a little when the best side in each county on a given year is not involved.

By strange coincidence Ennistymon have had to play a quarter final in order to play at Walsh Park this weekend and in that game they played Tipperary side Ballylooby Castlegrace and just like Ennistymon they bowed out of the championship in the Premier County at the semi final stages as two second string sides went on to compete in the county final.

Ennistymon on-route to this weekends game drew 3-12 to 2-15 in the first round of the Championship against Bodyke, and had two clear goals to spare in round two where they played Meelick. The West Clare outfit beat Eire Óg Ennis 2-9 to 0-13 in round three and after receiving a bye in the fourth series of games, they drew 3-7 each draw with O’Callaghan Mills in the last game in the group section of the competition.

Topping group two they played Sixmilebridge in the semi finals but bowed out to the bridge side on the day.  

Fenor go into Saturday’s game an unbeaten side which is always something nice to report when a side are involved in a competition at this time of the year, winning nine of the eleven games that they have played up to now and drawing the other two.

Wins over Ballydurn, Ballyduff Lower and Clonea were recorded in the first three rounds of the competition in the East of the county before drawing 1-14 to 0-17 with Passage in Walsh Park in round four of the competition.

Fenor however got back to winning ways in round five beating Roanmore, Mount Sion in round six and Bonmahon in Round seven before finishing the league section of the competition with a 3-12 to 1-18 draw against Ballygunner.

Their prize for topping the group was a bye to the semi finals where at the second time of asking in a few weeks they got the better of Ballygunner beating them 2-13 to 1-11 at Walsh Park in the semi finals which set up a final against Passage a game they won 1-12 to 0-13.

After beating the two sides that they drew with in the group stages of the championship after it went knockout, Saint Mary’s were next up for Fenor.

Many made the western champions favourites to win a third title at this grade of hurling but it was Fenor that collected the laurels winning the competition for the first time in the clubs history.

Sean Cheasty proved to be the side’s hero on the day as he won a late free to draw the sides level deep in stoppage time and in added time at the end of the two minutes announced he put over the winner. Interesting he did not start the game, coming on for William Cullinane at half time and will be hoping that he did enough in those thirty plus minutes to earn a place in the team from the start this time around.

Fenor playing on a ground that they are more than used to have what it takes to advance to a third Munster Final in a row for Waterford clubs, but maybe they may have to up their performance from their county final win if it is to happen.

Dungourney or Dromcollogher-Broadford await the winners at Walsh Park in the Munster Final on December 6 in Mallow on the same ticket as the Munster Junior Football Final.

LISMORE SEEK MUNSTER FINAL TITLE NUMBER FIVE AT MALLOW

Lismore will look to record a third successive Munster Intermediate Club Camogie title to their roll of honour on Saturday afternoon when they take on Tipperary Champions Cahir at the G.A.A. Complex in Mallow with the game having a 3pm throw in.

Cahir come into this game with a big 3-14 to 1-6 over Cork Champions Brian Dillon’s at White’s Cross, a win that will give them plenty of confidence for their meeting with the side that has contested the last two All-Ireland Finals at this grade.

Prior to this Cahir beat Silvermines in the Tipperary Intermediate County Final at The Ragg on a 0-14 to 0-9 score line having beaten Newport 3-17 to 2-8 in the semi finals and in the group stages played Moycarkey and Drom & Inch.

Lismore have not had a competitive game since they beat Saint Anne’s for the third year running in the County Final back in Early October but they will enter this game with having left no stone unturned.

Prior to their win over Saint Anne’s in the County Final they had wins over Gailltir and Cappoquin and drew with Saint Anne’s in the group stages of the competition, results that were good enough to send then straight to the county final and earlier this year they had an excellent win over Cappoquin in the League Final at Tallow, the third time the Lismore club won the final in four years.

The Cahir side may not have the household names that the Lismore side have when it comes to camogie but none the less they have some quality players some of whom are well known in Ladies Football circles in Waterford and beyond in the likes of Roisin Howard, Aisling Moloney, Caoimhe Condon, Carol Casey, Lorna McEniry, Emma Buckley and Lauren Fitzpatrick a member of the Tipperary Intermediate Ladies Football team and goalkeeper for the Ballymacarbry club this year that won a 34^th County Finals in a row and also added a Munster ‘B’ Final before loosing out in the ‘A’ Final.

Lismore will be looking to the likes of intercounty players Caithriona McGlone, Shona Curran and Nicola Morrissey for much of their inspiration while they will also be looking for big games from experienced players like Gráinne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon, Ruth Geoghegan, Marie Russell, Shauna Prendergast, Tanya Morrissey and team captain Shauna Kiernan.

Lismore in their previous two Munster Final wins over Newmarket-on-Fergus from Clare and Sarsfields from Cork were made work hard for their victories and it is anticipated that Cahir will also push them to the pin of their collars. Cahir to date have put up some very good scores to this weekends final but Lismore’s greater experience and their hunger for another All-Ireland title, a first in Croke Park should see them through in this game.

Experience should tell for Modeligo in Junior Football County Final against Roanmore

One of the last pieces of silverware for 2015 will be handed out at Fraher Field on Saturday evening next when Modeligo and Roanmore clash in the County Junior Football Final.

The prize on offer to the winners will be a Munster Club semi final spot against Coolmeen from Clare a week later at a venue in Clare after they overcame the challenge of Limerick side Cappagh at Askeaton on Saturday last.

Roanmore were the first side to reach this year’s final when they beat Ferrybank at Friday evening last at the WIT Campus in Carriganore with three clear goals between the sides at the end of the hour.

There path to the final has been an impressive one as they recorded wins over Kilmacthomas, Naomh Pól, De La Salle and Portlaw before loosing to group winners Ferrybank in the fifth round of games, but they finished off the group section of the competition with wins over Kill, and Bunmahon.

Roanmore entered the knockout stages of the competition in the east of the county at the semi final stages where they beat Bunmahon for the second time this year at Carrickbeg and on Friday evening last they had a 3-5 to 0-5 win over Ferrybank in the Championship decider.

The Sky Blues in that game got off to a great start as Shane Nolan and Paul O’Sullivan kicked early points to edge them in front but two goals from Shane Nolan proved to be the important scores in those opening 30 minutes as they turned around at the break with a 2-2 to 0-3 lead.

Nolan’s second goal in that game came as a result of a penalty won following a challenge by Ferrybank goalkeeper Martin Freeman on Paul O’Sullivan but Freeman made up for his giving away the one on one kick from 12 metres by blocking Shane Nolan’s effort but was powerless to keep out the rebound from the same player.

And if their was any doubting the final outcome of the game, Roanmore well and truly ensured that they would win the game four minutes from time when Dale Sheridan hit their third goal of the game.

Modeligo’s path to the final is equally as impressive as Roanmore’s.

They opened their campaign with a 1-13 to 0-7 win over last years Western Champions and County Runners up Old Parish, but lost out to Colligan in round two by a goal.

Modeligo got back to winning ways in round three when they had a 1-14 to 2-6 win over Affane and then had a big 4-11 to 0-11 win over Shamrocks and rounded off the league section of the completion with a 0-15 to 1-10 win over Tallow.

In the west of the county the top two teams at the end of the group stage of the competition play a league final and get byes to the semi final. In a local derby clash Modeligo for the second time lost out to Colligan again by a goal, this time going under 1-11 to 0-11.

In the semi finals Modeligo recorded an excellent 1-17 to 1-9 over Old Parish and on Saturday afternoon last they made it third time lucky against Colligan as they ran out 3-14 to 2-10 winners at Fraher Field.

Colligan must surely be asking themselves what they must do to win a major final after this game as they have now lost the last four Western Junior Hurling Finals and two of the last three Western Junior Football Finals that they have appeared in since 2013.

Roanmore in this game will be looking to their goal scorers from their win over Ferrybank, Shane Nolan (2) and Dave Sheridan for a repeat performance this time around while they will be looking to the likes of Brian Nolan, David Barrett, Charlie Chester, Paul O’Sullivan, Emmett O’Toole, Tommy Aldridge, Frank McGrath and Dean Reidy for big performances.

Modeligo will be looking to much the same players that contested the County Intermediate Hurling Final to see them through this game which will mean they will be looking for big performances from the likes of Patrick, Seanie and Nicky O’Donovan, Shane, Jamie and Michael Troy, Brian and Kieran McCarthy, Thomas and Pa Walsh, Padraig McCarthy,  Pat Fitzgerald, Sean Hennessey, John McGrath, Robbie Buckley, and Cian O’Byrne for their guidance.

Inter County hurler Tom Devine lost out on a place in the recent County Intermediate Hurling final loss to Portlaw recently with a serious hand injury which is expected to keep him out of contention again this time around and he will prove to be a big loss as many regard him to be a better footballer than a hurler.

There can be no disputing that the best two sides in the county this year are involved in this years final, but their can only be one winner. Modeligo playing on a field that they are very familiar with and with their more experienced footballers will be expected to win here which will make up somewhat for their county intermediate hurling defeat.

Impressive Gunner’s advance to Munster Final

Ballygunner advanced to this years Munster Senior Club hurling final following a 0-19 to 1-9 win over Glen Rovers at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners put in a magnificent second half as they outscored the Cork side 0-16 to 1-1.

The Glen travelled to Walsh Park having won their first title on Lee-side in 26 years recently with the favourites tag around their neck but favourites even in a two horse race don’t always win and on a ground that is so familiar to Ballygunner they made the return to Cork after the game with their interested in this years competition well and truly over.

With Pauric Mahony absent for Ballygunner from the start in all but one game this year following the injury he sustained back in May Brian O’Sullivan has taken over the mantel of the sides main free taker and he has not disappointed as he has proved a more than able deputy and finished this game with nine points behind his name on the scoresheet, all but one of which came from placed balls.

For Glen Rovers Patrick Horgan was their scorer in chief finishing the game with 1-5, 0-4 of which came from placed balls and while they had four other players that got their name on the score sheet at this level of hurling, they would need more players to clock up higher tallies if you are to be successful.

Both sides ended the game with a man less than they started the game with as Philip Mahony and Dean Brosnan were both sent off on a straight red card by referee Johnny Murphy following a flare up on 20 minutes under the stand.

At this stage it was the Cork side that were 0-3 to 0-2 in front after Patrick Horgan and Peter Hogan both put over two points each for their respective sides with Gavin Moylan hitting the Glen’s middle score.

After the game restarted it was the Cork side that proved to be the better of the two sides in the difficult conditions played on a field that was only deemed playable about an hour before throw in following heavy rain in the hours leading up to the game.

Patrick Hogan put over a brace of scores to give his side a three point (0-5 to 0-2) lead before Graham Callanan and Conor Dorris extended it to five. Brian O’Sullivan pulled a point back for Ballygunner but before the break David Cunningham pointed once more for Glen Rovers to give them and 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the short whistle having played with the advantage of the wind at their backs in those opening thirty minutes.

While the first half for much of it proved to be a one way traffic situation, there can be no disputing that the game was won and lost in the third quarter as it was in this period that the Waterford champions hit ten points in a row to sail into a 0-13 to 0-8 lead.

Brian O’Sullivan in this time did the bulk of the scoring for his side as he hit five of the ten points with Harley Barnes, Shane O’Sullivan, Tim O’Sullivan Billy O’Sullivan and Stephen Power from a ’65 all got their names on the score sheet.

Trailing 0-13 to 0-8 having turn around with a 0-8 to 0-3 lead Glen Rovers rececieved a boost eleven minutes from time when a Dave Noonan sideline cut was connected to with the stick of Patrick Horgan who beat Stephen O’Keeffe with the only goal of the game with a suburb strike to draw the visiting side to Walsh Park to within two of Ballygunner.

But as sometimes happens, the goal failed to ignite Glen Rovers as The Gunners hit the next five points in a row, three from Brian O’Sullivan and once each from Shane O’Sullivan and Stephen Power who had come into the game for Peter Hogan who hit the first two points for the winners after just fourteen minutes.

Glen Rovers top tallies man Patrick Horgan hit his sides last score of the game to draw his side to within six of Ballygunner who managed to stretched their lead by one with a late point from Conor Sheehan.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Eddie Hayden, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Shane Walsh, David O’Sullivan, Philip Mahony; Billy O’Keeffe, Harley Barnes; Conor Power, Shane O’Sullivan, Barry O’Sullivan; Tim O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan, Peter Hogan. Subs: Stephen Power for Peter Hogan (14), JJ Hutchinson for Tim O’Sullivan (45), Sean O’Sullivan for Conor Power (58), Conor Sheehan for Billy O’Keeffe (60).

Scorers: Brian O’Sullivan 0-9 (7fs, 1 65’), Stephen Power (1 65’), Peter Hogan, Shane O’Sullivan 0-2 each, Harley Barnes, Billy O’Keeffe, Tim O’Sullivan, Conor Sheehan 0-1 each.

Glen Rovers: Cathal Hickey; Ben Murphy, David Dooling, Stephen McDonnell; Gavin Moylan, Brian Moylan, Graham Callanan; Donal Cronin, Dave Noonan; Dean Brosnan, Patrick Horgan, David Cunningham; Conor Dorris, Brian Phelan, David Busteed. Subs; Adam O’Donovan for Brian Phelan (47), Liam Coughlan for David Busteed (52), Glenn Kennefick for Conor Dorris (58).

Scorers: Patrick Horgan 1-5 (3fs, 1 65’), Gavin Moylan, Graham Callanan, Conor Dorris, David Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).

Stradbally win title number eighteen

Stradbally won a eighteenth County Senior Football Championship, the ninth since the turn of the Millennium and a first in three years on Friday evening when they overcame the challenge of Ballinacourty at Fraher Field with two points to spare at the end of the hour and three added minutes played over at the end of the two halves.

The victory takes them to within one of the record number won of titles won by Dungarvan and also ensures that they will make the short journey up the coast road again later this evening to play Cork side Nemo Rangers in the Munster Senior Club quarter final.

This was a game that Stradbally won in a similar fashion to many of the previous eight they won as they helped ground down Ballinacourty who with 59 minutes played looked as if they were going to send the game to extra time in a bid to ensure Waterford would have a representative in the Munster Club competition this evening, by sending over an equalising score.

However two late points from Michael Walsh and Robert Ahearne ensured that Stradbally ran out winners.

Ballinacourty will however he kicking themselves as they will not need to be told that this is one that got away from them as they kicked thirteen wides over the 63 minutes played, one of which came from a penalty fourteen minutes into the first half of the game.

The winners not wanting to become another Waterford side to loose three finals in a row got off to a good start in this game when Shane Ahearne put over the opening score of the game on three minutes.

However the lead was short lived as Ballinacourty equalised with a point from Patrick Hurney three minutes later and seven minutes later the same player gave Ballinacourty for the first and only time.

Patrick Hurney attempted to extend the Ballinacourty lead a minute later but his effort fell short of its intended target but the ball was won by older brother Gary who was fouled by the Stradbally defence leaving referee Alan Kissane with no other option but to outstretch his arms and award the side in Green and White a penalty.

Michael O’Halloran was given responsibility for striking one on one from twelve metres against Eoin Cunningham but his low effort went to the left and wide of the upright.

Stradbally had received a let off and they made the best of it as they finished the half the better of the two sides as Shane Ahearne put over his second of the game with seventeen minutes played and Shane Lannon burst forward from his centre back position to kick a brace of points on nineteen and thirty minutes to give Pat Curran’s charges a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

Ballinacourty came out for the second half and for much of it proved to be the better of the sides.

Gary Hurney opened the second half scoring in the first minutes of the half but his effort was cancelled out with an effort from Tommy Connors who like Shane Lannon in the first half broke forward to give the Cove Men a 0-5 to 0-3 lead with thirty four minutes on the clock.

A brace of Patrick Hurney points in a two minute spell, the first of which proved to be the score of the evening however levelled matters by the thirty-sixth minute but Stradbally were back in front three minutes later as Michael Sweeney put over a free.

With both sides defences on top and with neither side wanting to make the mistake that would give the advantage to the other side, it was no real surprise that no further scores were registered for the next twenty minutes.

Stradbally apart from Ballinacourty’s first half penalty miss had the only other real chance of a goal seven minutes from time but Robert Ahearne saw his effort brilliantly saved by Stephen Enright in the Ballinacourty goal after some good work by Shane Lannon and Shane Ahearne in the build up.

Mark Fives drew the sides level with a minute remaining of the hour which looked as if it was going to send the game to an added twenty minutes.

However, Stradbally’s famous never say die attitude was again to come to the core in the final minutes of the game a Michael Walsh edged Stradbally back in front on the hour mark and in the first of two added minutes at the end of the second half Robert Ahearne ensure that his side were going to secure the title.

STRADBALLY: Eoin Cunningham; Kevin Lawlor, Kevin Coffey, Luke Casey; Tony Grey, Shane Lannon, Tommy Connors; Jack Mullaney, Michael Walsh; John Hearne, Robert Ahearne, Daniel Weldon; Michael Sweeney, Shane Ahearne, Ger Power. Subs: Paddy Kiely for Daniel Weldon (H-T); John Coffey for Ger Power (H-T); Eoin O’Brien for Michael Sweeney (56); Shane Cunningham for John Hearne (59).

Scorers: Shane Lannon, Shane Ahearne (1f) 0-2 each; Tommy Connors, Michael Sweeney (f), Michael Walsh, Robert Ahearne 0-1 each.

BALLINACOURTY: Stephen Enright; Shane Briggs, Sean O’Hare, Brian Looby; E Bergin, Richie Foley, David Collins; John Hurney, Conor Prunty; Michael O’Halloran, Mark Ferncombe, Eoin Collins; Shane O’Donovan, Gary Hurney, Patrick Hurney. Subs: Mark Fives for Michael O’Halloran (H-T); Conor McCarthy for Brian Looby (BC, 39); Michael Maher for Mark Ferncombe (49).

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-4 (2fs); Gary Hurney 0-1 (1f) Mark Fives (0-1).

Referee: A Kissane

NEIGHBOURS BALLINACOURTY AND STRADBALLY CLASH IN COUNTY FINAL FOR THE FOURTH TIME

County Senior Football Champions for 2012 and 2013 Stradbally and Ballinacourty clash in this years County Senior Football Final at Fraher Field on Friday evening next, the first time that a senior football final has been played under lights at the ground that has hosted most All-Ireland senior finals outside of Croke Park.

This will be the fourth time that two neighbouring clubs have contested the final since 2010 with Ballinacourty currently leading 2-1 on head to heads between the two at this stage of the competition.

The winners (of course should there be one on Friday evening) will go forward to represent Waterford in the Munster Club Football Championship but the bad news for the winners is as we all know that they will have less than 22 hours to recover from their win as they will return to Fraher Field on Saturday evening to play Cork side Nemo Rangers in the Munster championship.

This is something that is totally unsatisfactory and must never again be allowed to happen.

With the past number of years here in Waterford and indeed in other counties we are suspending games during the summer resulting come September and October we are playing off games in quick succession with little consideration for players to recover from any niggling injuries that may have picked up, all so that counties have teams in place to play in the provincial championship.

The less than 24 hours to recover may not prove to be a factor however, as just two years ago, Ballinacourty travelled to Cusack Park in Ennis to play Cratloe beat Doonbeg 0-10 to 0-7 and 24 hours later they beat Ballinacourty 1-10 to 0-11, as a winning momentum can often see teams through games played in quick succession, but it is not ideal.

Stradbally since the turn of the Millennium have proven to be without question the best senior club in Waterford, contesting all but two county finals in that time.

Each passing year many of us, myself included have asked can the Cove-Men come back for more especially as those that have served the club well down the years decide to hang up their boots, but they are constantly bringing forward young talent, maybe one or two players each year who are showing the same hunger as those that have worn the famous red and white shirt before them.

Ballinacourty have in the last decade become a serious force in Waterford football. It did not happen over night as going back to the mid 90’s they injected serious energy and time into promoting the game at juvenile level from a young age and it paid off as they won numerous under 12, 14 and 16 levels at Bord na nÓg level before transferring that success to the minor and under 21 grades and eventually senior while all the time continuing to promote the game for the players of the future.

Both sides head into Friday’s game with excellent results all year at their backs.

Stradbally have had a 100% record beating Gaultier, Brickeys, An Rinn, Saint Saviours and Kilrossanty in the group stages of the competition, before beating Ardmore in the quarter finals and the Nire last weekend in the semi finals.

Ballinacourty’s path to the final is equally as impressive. They ad wins over Rathgormack and De La Salle before loosing to The Nire but ended the league section of the competition beating Ardmore and Clashmore.

After Ballinacourty, The Nire and Clashmore all finished level on eight points, play offs were needed to decide the final placings in the group as The Nire did not get the chance to improve their score difference after getting a walk over from De La Salle.

In the first play off game Ballinacourty beat Clashmore and conceded a walk over to The Nire in a game to see which of the two would top the table. Finishing second they played and beat Gaultier in the quarter finals and beat Kilrossanty in the semi finals last weekend with three points to spare.

Both sides head into the game having hit impressive tallies so far in the championship.

Stradbally come into the game having scored 10 goals and 83 points conceding 5 goals and 47 points.

Ballinacourty have been equally as impressive at either end of the field scoring 16 goals and 99 points while 3 goals and 60 points have passed them, having played an extra game to their neighbours from across Ballyvoile Bridge.

Stradbally up to this point have had 20 different players get their name on the scoresheet with Shane (1-18) and Robert (2-9) Ahearne proving to be their top scorers with Michael Sweeney (0-12), Ger Power (2-5), David Grey (1-7) and Daniel Weldon (1-6) also featuring prominently for Pat Curran’s charges.

Ballinacourty have had seven fewer scorers to this point than Stradbally with Shane O’Donovan proving to be their main score getter accounting for 7-9 of their impressive tally mentioned above while Patrick Hurney (0-29), Michael O’Halloran (1-19), Mark Ferncombe (2-15) and Gary Hurney (3-11) all registering impressive tallies for the side managed by Mattie Kiely.

Stradbally in addition to their big hitters mentioned above will be looking to the likes of Eoin Cunningham, Kevin Coffey, Jack Mullaney, Tommy Connors, Tony Grey, Shane Lannon, Michael Walsh, John Hearne, Luke Casey and Stephen Cunningham who is likely to see action coming off the bench for their leadership.

It will be interesting to see if Shane Briggs is available for Ballinacourty this game as he was a surprise inclusion last weekend in their win over Kilrossanty. They like Stradbally in addition to their big hitters already mentioned will be looking to the likes of Stephen Enright, Sean O’Hare, Brian Looby, David and Evan Collins, Richie Foley, John Hurney and Conor Prunty to see them over the line.

This is a game that could well go right to the wire with victory going to the side that wants it most.

As a bit of a traditionalists at times, believing that Championships should be run on a straight knockout system, it would be nice to see Stradbally as the only unbeaten side in the competition go on to move closer to the record number of titles won within the county in this competition by Dungarvan.

However, the competition is knockout and the way that competitions are run have to be accepted, even if we do not agree with them.

As can be seen above both sides have registered some good scores but to know, but its in defence that this game could be won, with the side that performs best at the back winning.

Stradbally in their seven games have kept three clean sheets and have conceded as pointed out already five goals.

Ballinacourty with a game extra played have kept five clean sheets and just three green flags have been waved against them.

Stradbally may have more scorers going into this game, but it’s the Ballinacourty forwards that are hitting the more impressive tallies, while at the back they appear to be the better outfit.

While Stradbally are often very good at grounding out results at this time of the year, often happy to win by the off point in eleven, thirteen or fifteen, all year Ballinacourty have looked the more impressive team for me and am predicting that they will make the short journey across the River Colligan again on Saturday evening to play Nemo Rangers.