Ballyduff Lower take on Ballybacon/Grange for Munster Final Spot

Saturday is a big day for the Ballyduff Lower Club.

They face Ballybacon/Grange from South Tipperary in the Munster Club Championship Semi Final at Walsh Park (2pm start), coming off the back of two football games in a week.

Last weekend Ballyduff Lower beat Roanmore 2-8 to 0-6 at Carriganore, and during the week they played Colligan in the County Final at Carriganore in the County Final, a game that ended in stalemate.

Had the side from the outskirts of the city won the midweek game it would have made things very difficult for the club as in addition to playing on Saturday they would be away to Glencar from Kerry in the Munster Junior Club Championship on Sunday, twenty four hours after playing Ballybacon/Grange.

If such a situation happened, a serious look would have to take place both locally and provincially as to how it happened.

The Munster Council to their credit set out their dates for games very early in the year and everyone knows when the champions or representatives in each county will be playing. But they have to ensure that both hurling and football are not played in the same weekend.

Club sides these days winning County Doubles is fairly rare but it does happen. Ballyduff Lower would always be one of the sides most favoured to win the hurling championship in the east of the county this year and they would have always been expected to be there or there about when it comes to football as they have some fine footballers in their panel.

The Munster Council if they want to play multiple games each weekend could ensure that Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football are played one weekend and hurling the following weekend.

Supposing Ballyduff Lower had beaten Colligan on Wednesday night and were to win again on Saturday and Sunday, the Munster Council quiet rightly have played the Munster Junior football and hurling club finals at Mallow in recent years on the Sunday closest to December 8, would the Munster Council have asked the side in red and white to play one game at for example 2pm and a second game ninety minutes later.

If the answer is no, why would they have to play twice in the space of 24 hours? Where does player welfare that we hear so much about come into things?

The Divisional and County Board have also to look at the way they do things. And by boards, I don’t mean just the officers, whose hands are often tied. The Clubs have to give serious consideration into how we do things in Waterford.

How for example are we playing a County Final a few days before a Munster Championship game. And how are we playing a Divisional Final a few days before a county final. How are we going much of the summer without any games taking place in the county, meaningful games anyway?

Things are not much better in Tipperary. The County Junior Hurling Final is not played yet in the Premier County. Ballybacon/Grange are involved this weekend because they are due to play Kildangan in the County Final, but because Kildangan will be fielding a second string side they would not be allowed to participate in the Munster Club Championship.

They come into this game having beaten Loughmore/Castleiney at Boherlahan in the County Semi-final last Saturday, a game where they had five points to spare.

Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is their stand out player, and Ballyduff Lower will have to be at their very best if they are to get past him.

He got a point for them last weekend from a ’65 and if presented with similar chances this weekend he is unlikely to miss many.

Right throughout the team the team they have players that are capable of hitting the range. Brian Dillon at centre back like Cummins is a long hitter of the sliotar. Michael O’Sullivan in the middle of the field, Billy Hewitt who hit the sides only goal last weekend after just 12 minutes, Philip Murphy, Daniel O’Regan and Aaron Lonergan all got on the score sheet along with Cummins and Dillon and will be looking to keep that run of scores going this coming weekend.

Ballyduff Lower looked very impressive coming through the Eastern Championship this year and were very worthy winners over Saint Mary’s in the County Final and last time out they beat opposition from Kerry in the Munster Quarter Finals at Walsh Park.

They will be able to call on some experienced and young players in the likes of Bryan Power, John O’Leary, Colman Power, Brian Power, Jack Kennedy, Kevin Cheasty, Jack Lyons, Ross Coffey-O’Shea  etc. here.

Playing at Walsh Park, Ballyduff Lower will be confident that they can win this game, but playing a third big game in a week is a big ask for anyone.

A big home support could well prove to be a sixteenth man for Ballyduff Lower on Saturday, and momentum from recent games might see them through this game, but they will know that they won’t have it as easy in this game as they had in some games already this year.