Dungarvan CBS start with a win

Dungarvan CBS return to the Dr Harty Cup for the first time since the 1950’s ended in a victory (1-16 to 0-14) over Blackwater Community School when the two schools clashed at Fraher Field last Wednesday.

The feeling before the game was that it was going to be a close game, with both sides able to call on several members of the victorious All-Ireland winning team and the extended panel. The fact that the two sides were level on nine occasions over the hour showed exactly how close the game was.

While every player on the day gave it their all, it was the contribution of Cormac Curran who finished the game with six points behind his name that ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.

In addition to the Brickey man, Dungarvan CBS in their starting line out included Kevin Daly and Patrick Curran from the team that started the All-Ireland final with Galway in their team while Blackwater Community School had Colm Roche, Cian Leamy, Shane Bennett and top scorer on the day Mikey Kearney in their starting fifteen.

Playing against the wind in the first half, Dungarvan CBS opened the scoring through Ballinameela Club man Michael Shine with just thirty seconds gone.

A brace of Mikey Kearney points had the Lismore based School in front by one on six minutes, but it could be argued that they could well have been even further in front at this stage as Shane Bennett had an attempt from a free following a foul on Andrew Casey blocked by the defensive Dungarvan wall.

The only goal of the game came on nine minutes which helped Dungarvan CBS regain the lead. Conor Morrissey was the scorer after he cleverly batted a Patrick Curran cross past John McGrath.

Blackwater Community School hit three points in a five minute spell courtesy of Mikey Kearney, Eoghan Murray and Cian Leamy with Cormac O’Grady responding for the Old Boro based side.

Cormac Curran pointed at the end of the first quarter to give Dungarvan CBS the lead once more but an Andy Molumpy point on seventeen minutes ensured that the sides were all square once more with seventeen minutes played.

Patrick Curran and Mikey Kearney both from frees traded scores to level matters again but Patrick Curran restored the lead for the winners sending over another point, which was followed with a well worked score as Cormac Curran and Conor Morrissey linked up before Carthach Barry pointed to give his side a 1-6 to 0-7 lead with twenty eight minutes played but a Shane Bennett effort just before the half time whistle meant that just one separated the sides at the turn around.

Within a minute of the restart, the sides were level once more as Mikey Kearney again found the range but Dungarvan CBS were soon back in front as Cormac Curran scored a delightful point which was followed by another Patrick Curran score which gave his side a 1-8 to 0-9 lead with six minutes of the second half played.

Three Mikey Kearney points in a row inside five minutes of each other gave the Lismore based side a 0-12 to 1-8 lead with the third quarter drawing to its conclusion, but the lead could have been even greater had not Shaun Murray did well to keep the Lismore men at bay.

With the game having entered its final quarter, Cormac O’Grady again drew the sides level their first score in ten minutes.

Both sides continued to go at each other at every opportunity. The Lismore men missed three good chances for scores while Patrick Curran made no mistake when he was given a chance after he received a good pass from Aaron Donnelly.

Jack Prendergast pointed for the Lismore men with nine minutes to play to level matters ninth time.

However, from here on in it was the Dungarvan men that proved to be the stronger of the two sides, as the Lismore side hit just one further score in the time that remained.

Cormac Curran edged Dungarvan CBS back in front with seven minutes of the hour to play and two minutes later, Carthach Barry put two between the sides.

With two minutes to go, Michael Shine but three between the sides, a dangerous lead for any team to be defending in the closing minutes of any game, but Cormac Curran managed to put some further day light between the sides on the hour mark.

Colm Roche in the closing minutes attempted to draw the sides level in added time shooting for a goal but his effort was tipped over by Shaun Murray which left three between the sides once more, but before referee Willie Barrett blew his full time whistle, man of the match Cormac Curran put over two long range frees to give his side what was a deserved five point win.

Dungarvan CBS: Shaun Murray; Michael Cronin, Kevin Daly, Cian Culloo; Billy Egan, Darragh Lyons, Jack O Donnell; Cormac Curran, Shane Nugent; Carthach Barry, Aaron Donnelly, Micheal Shine; Conor Morrissey, Patrick Curran, Cormac O Grady.

Scorers: Cormac Curran 0-6 (2 frees), Patrick Curran 0-4 (2 frees), Conor Morrissey 1-0, Carthach Barry, Michael Shine, Cormac O’Grady 0-2 each.

Blackwater Community School: John McGrath; Jordan Henley, Colm Roche, David Prendergast; Cian Leamy, Shane O Brien, Eoghan Murray; Shane Murray, Andy Molumpy; Shane Bennett, Aaron O Sullivan, Ronan Landers; Andrew Casey, Mikey Kearney, Jack Prendergast.

Scorers: Mikey Kearney 0-7 (4 frees), Shane Bennett 0-2, Colm Roche, Cian Leamy, Eoghan Murray, Andy Molumpy, Jack Prendergast 0-1 each.

Referee: Willie Barrett (Tipperary).

Kate-Marie Hearne hits 2-7 as Butlerstown lift county title

What a year Butlerstown Camogie Club are having.

Earlier this year they won the Intermediate League and they followed that up with winning the non county player league and last Saturday they won the Intermediate Championship beating Cappoquin at the Dungarvan Club grounds.

With both sides having a number of inter county players at different levels to pick from, this game promised to be a entertaining game and the players did not fail to deliver.

Jenny McCarthy finished as top scorer for Cappoquin in this game with six points behind her name on the score sheet but it was Kate-Marie Hearne that stole the show finishing the game with 2-7 of Butlerstown’s 3-9 behind her name.

It was the Corner Stone Ladies that made all the early running in this game hitting early scores from Jenny McCarthy and Clodagh Walsh.

Both sides in the opening minutes of this game had their defences on top and it was not until the closing ten minutes of the half that Butlerstown were able to breach the Cappoquin defence.

Rosemary Power hit Butlerstown’s first score of the game which was quickly followed by a free off the stick of Kate-Marie Hearne.

Butlerstown had now found their rhythm and soon took the lead when Rosemary Power hit her second of the game.

Cappoquin struck back with a point from Jenny McCarthy to level matters with first half ticking down, but Butlerstown were to finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Kate-Marie Hearne hit her second score of the game and then followed up with a goal just before the break, as she was quickest to react to a dropping ball in around the Cappoquin goal which was not dealt with by the side in red and black.

Trailing 1-4 to 0-3 at the break, Cappoquin were first to score in the second half, Jenny McCarthy putting over a forty-five.

Kate-Marie Hearne showed her class once more by adding the next two scores for Butlerstown which gave them a five point cushion.

However, Cappoquin are a side that you write off at your pearl they hit the next four scores of the game, three of them points coming from Jenny McCarthy frees and a Lauren McGregor goal which gave them a one point advantage the game in its final quarter.

The loss of Roisin Cahillane with an injury was a major blow for Cappoquin with the game entering its final ten minutes and with her not on the field, Butlerstown in the final ten minutes proved to be the better of the two sides and finished the game much the stronger.

Kate-Marie Hearne put over a forty-five to level matters for the third time in the game and it was looking as though extra time was going to be needed to find a winner.

However, commit the hour commit the man or in this case the woman.

Kate-Marie Hearne struck her second goal of the game to give her side a three point advantage and moments later the same player extended that lead when she put over a her sixth point of the game.

Nicola Fitzgerald added a third Butlerstown goal at the end of the game and it was fitting that it was their top tallies lady Kate-Marie Hearne that rounded off the scoring when she registered her ninth score of the game.

Butlerstown now march on and will represent Waterford in the Munster Club championship but while Cappoquin will be somewhat disappointed in the final outcome in this game, they can take solace in the fact that they played their part in a fine game and were in contention right up to the closing minutes. They can also take much hope that they are moving in the right direction, something that was confirmed less than twenty four hours after this game when they beat a fancied De La Salle side to win the under 16 ‘A’ Championship at Lemybrien where four of the panel for Saturday’s game were also involved.

Butlerstown Panel: Deirdre Brennan, Emer Kearney, Clodagh Doherty, Kate Walsh, Mandy Kelly, Jean Burns, Nicola Fitzgerald, Caroline Farrelly, Vikki Falconer, Martina Cashin, Rachael Taheny, Breda Kennedy, Rosemary Power, Kate-Marie Hearne,  Michelle Burns, Niamh Kennedy, Caroline Fox,  Kate Browne, Elma Farrell, Sarah Kennedy,  Aine Breathnach, Claire Nolan, Elizabeth McGrath.

Scorers: Kate-Marie Hearne 2-7, Nicola Fitzgerald 1-0, Rosemary Power 0-2.

Cappoquin Panel: Jade Fraher, Tina Coffey, Emma Foley, Linda Foley, Aoife Cahillane, Roisin Cahillane, Carole McCarthy, Jemma Burke, Lorraine Bray, Elaine McCarthy, Jenny McCarthy, Bree Coffey, Catherine Ahearne, Clodagh Walsh, Nicole Landers, Ciara Moore, Jessica Glavin, Emily Power, Lauren McGregor and Elaine Looby

Scorers: Jenny McCarthy 0-6, Lauren McGregor 1-0, Clodagh Walsh 0-1.

Aisling O'Brien helps Lismore advance in Camogie Semi Final.

This years County Senior Camogie Final will be a repeat of last years final and a repeat of this years league final after Lismore came through their semi final meeting with Galltir at the Dungarvan Club Grounds on Saturday afternoon last to set up an eagerly awaited clash with Saint Anne’s.

Over the course of the hour there can be no doubting that the overall better team on the day won through to the final, but Galltir will be cursing their luck that they did not put more up in the score board on the day, but for that they will have to blame Lismore’s goalkeeper Aisling O’Brien.

Normally, when it comes to a win, a lot of the plaudits goes to the person that finishes the game with the highest tally after their name on the score sheet.

This honour fell to the impressive Aoife Hannon, who finished the game with 2-6 behind her name, but in this game I am sure that she will not mind allowing her colleague at the other end of the field been named player of the match.

The inter county net minder on the day put in a very solid display. For Galltir, Trish Jackman was without doubt their most influential player, registering all of their scores (1-2) and she is somewhat unlucky not to have finished the game with a higher tally.

At least three times during the game she attempted to have a green flag waved, but the Lismore player who I have seen playing between the post from a young age many times was at her very best to keep the Galltir long hitter from registering more than she did.

Lismore ended the first half holding a 2-5 to 0-2 lead but they will possibly be the first to admit that they should have hit a higher tally in those opening thirty minutes but also that they were unlucky not to have struck more.

On more than one occasion in the first half, Lismore were found guilty of missing score able chances. There is an old saying in the GAA that you go for your points and that the goals will come, but in the opening thirty minutes, Lismore were going for goals when they should be going for their points and as a result Clara Horgan between the posts for Galltir was comfortably able to deal with the shots, while on other occasions when they did go for points, the ball fell just short of its intended target and the Galltir number 1 was again able to clear the danger.

Lismore opened the half in whirlwind fashion as Aoife Hannon pointed inside a minute of the game starting.

Seconds later they extended their lead when Caithriona McGlone blasted to the net it was followed up with a Johnanna Houlihan point.

Aoife Hannon pointed again for Lismore before Galltir got off the mark on eight minutes when Trish Jackman put over a forty five and six minutes later the same player pointed from a free to leave her side trailing 1-3 to 0-2 at the break.

Ten minutes from the break Aoife Hannon struck for a second goal blasting to the net after an inward bound goal was batted down in the Galltir defence and from fourteen metres the Lismore player made no mistake shooting on the rebound, an art often not seen enough in the men’s game.

Sinead Walsh added a point on twenty two minutes and seconds later Lismore were somewhat unlucky not to have added a third goal but good defending by the side in sky blue shirts forced Caithriona McGlone over the end line while shooting.

A point from Aoife Hannon gave Lismore a 2-5 to 0-2 advantage with five minutes to play, but Galltir were unlucky to go in trailing on this score line at the break as Aisling O’Brien made a terrific save from Trish Jackman on twenty six minutes and a minute later the same two players were in action again as the Lismore and Waterford net minder terrifically saved a powerfully struck free from the Galltir long hitting shooter.

Galltir had a tonic start to the second half as at the third time of asking Trish Jackman did manage to beat Aisling O’Brien for a beautiful goal, but it was to be the last time that Galltir would score in the game.

Ruth Geoghegan struck for a third Lismore goal on thirty five minutes, and five minutes later it was Aoife Hannon for the second time in the game had the umpires reaching for a green flag after she put the ball into the net from a lengthy pass from Sarah Geoghegan.

Aoife Hannon and Ruth Geoghegan added points before Nicola Morrissey struck for her first of the game to give Lismore a 4-8 to 1-2 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Aoife Hannon hit a brace of scores to stretch Lismore’s lead before Nicola Morrissey struck again with eight minutes of the game to play.

Aisling O’Brien again proved her worth between the posts for Lismore with another excellent save from Trish Jackman who hit a powerful low shot at the Lismore goal five minutes from time and in stoppage time when Lismore won a twenty metre free the call went up invited the net minder to make the long run up field to shoot at goal, but she saw her shot go just over the cross bar.

Lismore will be happy with this win, but they will know that if they are to win against Saint Anne’s in two weeks time, they will have to put chances that they missed especially in the first half between the uprights.

Lismore: Aisling O’Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Sandra Prendergast; Marie Russell, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Geoghegan; Aoife Houlihan, Shona Curran; Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan, Sinead Walsh; Aoife Hannon, Caithriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan. Subs: Jennifer Kingston for Marie Russell, Shauna Fennessy for Ruth Geoghegan, Sarah Russell for Shauna Fennessy.

Scorers: Aoife Hannon 2-6 (0-4 frees) Ruth Geoghegan 1-1, Caithriona McGlone 1-0, Nicola Morrissey 0-2, Johanna Houlihan, Sinead Walsh, Aisling O’Brien (free) 0-1 each.

Galltir: Clara Horgan; Áine O’Keeffe, Claire O’Riordan, Emma Hannon; Laura Flynn, Trish Jackman, Aoife Scallon; Bella Daniels, Claire Dunne; Roisin Flood, Sara Judge, Fiona Conroy; Shannon Delahunty, Margo Heffernan, Sarah Smith.

Scorers: Trish Jackman 1-2 (0-1 ’45, 0-1 free).

A busy weekend ahead for Camogie in Waterford

While it is a big weekend for hurling in the county with a number of big games down for decision in both the East and West divisions as well in the county with the playing of the senior hurling semi finals as well as a number of minor semi finals and one county final, it is also a big week end for Camogie within the county.

At under sixteen level, two county finals are down for decision this weekend. Both finals are fixed for the Kilrossanty Club Grounds in Lemybrien on Sunday. First up is the meeting of De La Salle and Cappoquin in the ‘A’ Final at 11-30am.

This could well prove to be a must not miss game as the two sides contain some excellent players who were part of the Waterford team that won the Munster Under sixteen ‘B’ Final earlier this year against Cork and which lost to the same opposition in the All-Ireland final in recent weeks.

For the city side, they will have the likes of Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy, Beth Carton and Ciara Twomey to pick from while Cappoquin who qualified for the final on Thursday evening after beating Brickeys in the semi final will included the likes of Roisin Cahillane, Jessica Glavin, Aisling Power, Clodagh Glavin and Emily Power in their line out.

These are all top quality players. De La Salle may well go into the game as the favourites and come out on top, but no doubt the Corner-stone girls will make it very difficult for them.

This game will be followed at 1-30pm with the meeting of Dungarvan and Tramore.

Also on Sunday morning, the County Junior semi final between Tallow and Galltir will take place in Stradbally. This game was to have taken place in Kilmacthomas but was moved during the week. The game has a 12 noon start. The winners will play Portlaw in the county final.

With due respect to the games on Sunday, the main action however will take place on Saturday afternoon with the playing of the senior semi final and Intermediate final.

Cappoquin and Butlerstown clash in the Intermediate final which has a 2-15pm start. This could well prove to be a lively encounter with some good players to choose from on both sides.

Cappoquin could well call upon some of the players that will feature in the under 16 county final on Sunday morning while Lorraine Bray who impressed with the county intermediate team this year could also be vital to their sides chances.

Butlerstown had Elizabeth McGrath and Kate McMahon involved with the county under 16 panel this year and may well play their part in this game while Deirdre Brennan who played between the posts on a number of occasions this year with the County Intermediate team will also be crucial as will Martina Cashin who was also involved with the county intermediate team over the past few months.

Lismore and Galltir meet in the big game of the weekend which is the senior semi final with Saint Anne’s the reigning champions awaiting the winners.

To many, Galltir’s best known player is Trish Jackman, the five in a row ladies Puc Fada All-Ireland champion. However, they are not a one lady team and will have some other good players in their ranks. 

Sara Judge was part of the Waterford intermediate and minor panels this year and is a player of some quality. Emma Hannon is another player of note and is involved with the county set up, and they will also have another experienced player in Margo Heffernan within their ranks.  

For Lismore, Aisling O’Brien will start between the posts. Marie Russell, Shona Curran, Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan and Sarah Coughlan are players to keep an eye on, but they are set to start with Laura Buckley who was involved with the Waterford Intermediate’s this year and Grainne Kenneally who is not involved this year.

Lismore will possibly start the game as the favourites, but will have it all to do if they are to beat Gaultier and set up a place in the county final against Saint Anne’s.

Fixtures for Saturday

Senior Semi-final

Lismore v Galltir at 12.45pm in Dungarvan GAA Club Grounds

Intermediate Co Final

Cappoquin v Butlerstown at 2.15pm in Dungarvan GAA Club Grounds

Fixtures for Saturday

U16 ‘A’ Co. Final         De La Salle v Cappoquin in Lemybrien at 11.30am

U16 ‘B’ Co. Final         Dungarvan V Tramore in Lemybrien at 1pm

Junior Semi-final         Tallow V Galltir in Stradbally at 12 Noon

Senior Hurling Championship down to the last four.

The biggest weekend of club hurling within the county up to now is upon us.

On Sunday, the two county senior hurling semi finals are due to take place at Walsh Park. Mount Sion and Passage play in the first game which has a 2pm throw in and ninety minutes later it is the turn of Abbeyside and Ballygunner to do battle.

Strangely, the semi final pairing of this years championship are the second meeting of the competing sides as the four sides all came through from group two of the league stages of this years championship.

To reach the semi final stages of the championship, all four sides have wrapped up some impressive statistics.

Abbeyside for example have hit the most goals in the championship of the four remaining sides, fourteen in total, ten of which have come from the stick of full forward Patrick Hurney.

Ballygunner at the back, are without doubt have the meanest defence, conceding just four goals.

When it comes to giving away overall score’s Abbeyside are the tightest defence, giving away just eighty three scores, while Abbeyside and Mount Sion have jointly kept the umpires busy hitting one hundred and eleven scores each in their five games. Its worth noting that all four teams involved in this weekends games have all hit one hundred or more scores in their six games in the championship.

Up to this stage of the competition, Mount Sion has the best record. The Monastery men have won five of their six games

They began the year in fine fashion beating Ballygunner by three points in the opening game of this year’s championship back on the 3 of May at Walsh Park. This was followed up with another three point win over Abbeyside at Fraher Field and another three point victory followed in the third series of games on June 9 when they beat Dungarvan at Walsh Park.

Three points separated the sides again in Mount Sion’s fourth game but this time it was not a victory for Mount Sion, but a defeat against this weekends opponents Passage who won 2-15 to 2-12 at Walsh Park.

Mount Sion however got back to winning ways in the final round of games in the league section of the championship when they easily accounted for Roanmore at Kill.

In the quarter finals they were paired with Tallow in the first of three games to be played at Fraher Field.

The sides had met three times in the last few years resulting in one win each for both sides and a draw, meaning that most were expecting a close battle between the two.

However, those expecting a close battle were to be left disappointed as the city side easily accounted for the men from the far west of the county, putting up a very impressive score in the first half despite playing against a very strong wind.

Passage too has qualified for this weekend’s games with an impressive record.

Like Mount Sion, they have lost one game in the six games they have played but they dropped another point in the league section when they drew with Dungarvan in a rescheduled second round game.

Peter Queally’s charges began this year’s championship with a very impressive win over Abbeyside in Fraher Field and then had a four point win over Roanmore at Walsh Park.

Passage’s round two game was played on July 30 when they played Dungarvan at Walsh Park, a game which ended eighteen points a piece.

Passage in round four had a three point win over Mount Sion at Walsh Park and they finished the league section of the competition by going under to their great rivals Ballygunner by eleven points.

In their quarter final game against Ballyduff Upper at Fraher Field, a goal just before the half time having played against a very strong wind gave them much hope in the second half. In the second thirty minutes they played much better than they had in the first half and in the end ran out winners by five points.

Both of these sides have some very good players to choose from, meaning that a good game could well be fought out.

It is well documented that Mount Sion are understrength this year, but the players that have come in for those that have missed much of the year have acquired themselves well and wont let the side down here.

In the likes of Eoin McGrath, John O’Leary, Tony Browne and Ian O’Regan they have very experienced players, but they also have some very good young players coming through such as the Roche brothers, Eoin Whelan and of course Austin Gleeson.

Passage are not to be out done. In former Mount Sion man Eoin Kelly they have a player of unquestionable ability. Noel Connors over the past few years have established himself as one of the finest defenders in the game. Conor Carey for a while a few years back was involved with the Waterford senior hurling panel while Killian Fitzgerald and Mark Wyse were involved this year. Through in the likes of Eddie Lynch, Jason Flood and Joseph Upton and they have side that cannot be underestimated.

Abbeyside will be heading to Walsh Park this weekend at a time when they looking to be about to peak.

They did not have the best of starts to this year’s championship loosing their first two games against Passage and Mount Sion by a collective thirteen points.

However since then a remarkable transformation has been seen.

Back in June they accounted for Ballygunner on a 1-21 to 4-6 score line but the margin of victory could be much higher but for the fact that they conceded a number of late goals.

Against Roanmore at Walsh Park in Round Four, Patrick Hurney put in a five star performance hitting five of his sides six goals, and in the final round of games in the league section, they accounted for last years beaten finalists Dungarvan, a side that most expected to prove too strong for their neighbours across the Harbour.

In the quarter finals, Abbeyside were paired with Fourmilewater a side beaten in last year’s county semi final and who were expected to prove too strong for Abbeyside.

Fourmilewater on the day won the toss and opted to play against a very strong wind in the first half. The Ballymacarbry based outfit on the day greatly disappointed and at the break the game was as gone from their grasp and when Patrick Hurney added a third goal for Abbeyside, there was no way back for Fourmilewater.

Ballygunner like Abbeyside disappointed in the earlier rounds of this years championship, but just like Abbeyside we have seen the sides luck turn in recent games as they got players who were not fully fit or away for the earlier games back into the side and are now approaching their best.

The Gunner’s began their year by loosing to Mount Sion back in may. A win over Roanmore followed but this was followed up with another defeat this time against Abbeyside.

Heading into their last two games, Ballygunner knew that they failed to win their last two games in the league section of the competition they could well find themselves out of the championship before the quarter finals stages take place.

They did not disappoint, putting in a very good performance against Dungarvan and following it up with a win over Passage.

In the quarter finals, they needed to hit a late point to send the game to extra time against De La Salle but in Extra time they proved far too strong for the 2012 champions eventually running out winners 1-21 to 0-15.

Like the Mount Sion and Passage game this game could prove to be a lively encounter.

Abbeyside have some quality players within their ranks. Patrick Hurney is in the form of his life in recent weeks. Older brothers John and Gary have some inter county experience to call upon from their days involved with the senior hurlers.

Sean O’Hare, Stephen Enright, Mark Ferncombe, Mark Gorman are all fine players. Gavin Breen provides experience while Richie Foley is showing signs of returning to his best after suffering his share of injuries.

Ballygunner are a side that most will know about. The talent they have available to them is well known about.

Stephen O’Keeffe is as good as goal keeper as there in the whole country. Pauric Mahony is back to his best after a spell out with injuries. Older brother Philip is another player with plenty of inter county experience having played for Waterford up through the grades.

Barry Coughlan was involved with Waterford this year and with the form he is in of late he could win himself a place in the starting team next year. Shane Walsh, Alan Kirwan, Wayne Hutchinson are also players we know a lot about and at the opposite end of the field David and Brian O’Sullivan and JJ Hutchinson amongst others could prove to be their scoring hopes.

For me, Mount Sion even though they are short the services of some key players look as though they should be strong enough to come through the game. Most of the statistics would indicate that they will win, however Passage are not without hope as they have hit nearly twice the amount of goals that Mount Sion have hit in the championship up to now.

The other game to me is slightly harder to call. In my days involved with Bord na nÓg Ballygunner and Abbeyside were always in contention for the top honours in division one.

Many of the players that were involved in these games are now key to their clubs senior sides.

Up along through the age groups both sides have won their quota of finals. Those involved with Abbeyside have also done it in football. Many of there players have won every honour within the county that is possible with the exception of the senior hurling championship.

Could 2013 be the year that the Waterford News and Star Cup make its way to the Village? While most would be happy to see Abbeyside win their first title, there would also be some sadness attached to the final that two of the clubs greatest servants, Tony Mansfield and Seamus O’Brien will not be present to see them win, following their deaths earlier this year.

It will be interesting to see how being involved in both the senior hurling and football championship will affect them. To be successful in both codes at the business end of the championship and to find the right formula to balance things is difficult. Abbeyside/Ballinacourty as well as Nire/Fourmilewater have come close to fining the right balance in recent years, but not have perfected it yet.

For me, Ballygunner’s experience in winning titles at senior level will have to count for something on Sunday and they get the nod to advance from this game, meaning that the sides that played in the opening game of this year’s championship would also be playing the last.

The Déise El Clásico

All sports fans will have heard of El Clásico. For those that may have not heard of El Clásico it is the name given to any match between Spain’s two biggest soccer teams – Real Madrid and Barcelona.

El Clásico originally referred to game’s played in the games held under the control of the Spanish Football Association, nowadays with the introduction of such competitions as the Champions League etc. any game featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona is referred to as El Clásico.

Twelve months ago, The Nire and Kilrossanty were paired together in the quarter finals of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Football Championship, the sides fought out a game that was without doubt the game of the championship. At the end of the hour the sides were locked together, and even after another twenty minutes, the sides could not be separated.

To expect the sides in the replay to fight out another classic would be expecting a lot. Replays are seldom as good as the game that was fought out just before it. The Nire won the replay, a enjoyable game but not a classic.

When the two sides were pitted together at the same stage of this year’s championship a few weeks back, many were wondering what kind of game would be served up. Would it come anywhere near as good as the game twelve months ago many were wondering, especially as both sides were going to be without key personnel.

Giving updates of this years game on my Twitter account (Thomaskeane1973 if you don’t follow me already) I noticed one comment that came in regarding one of my tweets after the game, ‘it was another El Clásico alright’.

Meetings between Kilrossanty and The Nire in knockout games of the Waterford Senior Football Championship are indeed fast becoming the Déise El Clásico.

This years game was not as good as last years game, it was better, and its possibly fair to say that if the two sides were to meet in a knockout game in next years championship, many are already planning to be in attendance.

I must admit, when I heard that this years game was going to be played on Friday evening last I intended on giving it a miss. When I heard a week ago that the game was going to go ahead on Saturday evening and be part of a treble header of games at Fraher Field, even though it was going to be a long day, I decided that I could not miss it, and am delighted that I did attend it.

This without doubt is the best game of football played within the county this year, and if there is going to be a better game played for the remainder of the year, I hope to be at the game as it will prove to be a must not miss game.

From the off this game had it all. Football played as it should by the two sides, some great scores and an outcome that was in doubt right to the very end.

The Nire who had former Tipperary footballer Declan Browne with them in the line started the game without Shane Walsh, Jamie Barron and Shane Lawlor. Kilrossanty started the game without Tommy Prendergast who picked up a serious injury in the game with Stradbally a few weeks back but they were able to welcome back Paul Whyte into the team after a short spell in America.

The game was just over thirty seconds old when Paul Whyte had the first score of the game registered on the score board.

The Nire were not long behind as cousins Shane Ryan and Brian Wall put over frees to give their side a 0-2 to 0-1 lead with three minutes played.

A minute on, Joey Veale pointed to level matters for Kilrossanty. We were already getting a good indication as to how this game was going to be fought out.

Kilrossanty took the lead once more on nine minutes when David Power scored, but as when it happened earlier in the game, The Nire were not long behind. They hit the next three scores through Craig Guiry, Shane Ryan and Conor Gleeson to give then a two point advantage.

By the twenty second minute the sides were level again as David Power and Eoin Cummins hit points for Kilrossanty and this was followed buy Liam Lawlor and Joey Veale two men to play minor football together ten years ago swapped points to keep the sides locked together.

Michael O’Gorman put The Nire back in front on twenty seven minutes but seconds later Joey Veale had the sides in deadlock once more.

 A Paul Whyte point on the half hour mark looked as though it would give Kilrossanty an advantage at the turn around but in stoppage time Darren Guiry pointed for The Nire to send the sides to the dressing rooms tied at eight points a piece.

Kilrossanty came out for the second half kicking the first two scores of the half. Paul Whyte needed less than fifteen seconds to edge John Kiely’s men in front and seconds later Joey Veale extended the lead.

Shane Ryan put a free between the uprights for minutes after the restart and seconds later the impressive Darren Guiry leveled matters for the eight time in the game.

The games first green flag was raised on thirty six minutes, Darren Guiry brilliantly blasted past Darren Mulhearne in the Kilrossanty goal after he was picked out by Conor Gleeson and The Nire went four points in front moments later when Seamus Lawlor dissected the posts.

Kilrossanty hit a purple patch over the following minutes.

Paul Whyte pointed on forty-three minutes and it was followed up with a Joey Veale free and then Niall Walsh and Paul Whyte landed scores which leveled matters once more.

Dermot Ryan was only moments on the field when he edged The Nire back in front, and from Darren Mulhearne’s restart after Ryan’s score Kilrossanty attacked up field and Paul Whyte cracked the ball past Tommy Wall in the Nire goal to give his side a two point cushion.

With five minutes of the hour remaining, the sides were level again after Brian Wall from a free and Craig Guiry landed points for The Nire and it was looking as though extra time was a distinct thing to find a possible winner for the second year in a row.

Paul Whyte kicked Kilrossanty back in front from a free with four minutes play. The Nire’s response was to send for the cavalry, sending Shane Walsh and Jamie Barron into action.

With three minutes to go, Shane Ryan leveled matters. With the lights on in Fraher Field, it was looking as though nobody would be leaving the ground early in this game.

On the hour mark, Shane Walsh landed a point for The Nire which put them in front once more (1-16 to 1-15), but there was still time for Kilrossanty to get something from the game.

Deep in stoppage time, Kilrossanty won a free just outside The Nire’s forty-five metre line. Paul Whyte carefully placed the ball. Many times before he had kicked scores from this distance and even slightly further out the field, but no kick in the past was to prove more pressure-full than this one. Slightly to the left of the uprights, the Kilrossanty many got plenty of high in his kick, but it fell a little short of the target.

The Nire brought the ball out the field and the full time whistle sounded.   

For Kilrossanty, Paul Whyte was outstanding throughout, finishing the game with 1-6 to his name. Joey Veale who finished with five points was equally as impressive.

For The Nire, while they had no one to match Paul Whyte, they put in an overall better team performance. Ten different players out of the eighteen used in this game verified this.

The draw for the semi finals will take place on W.L.R.fm 1pm sports news on Monday. Going on this performance, Stradbally, Ballinacourty and An Rinn who all came through this weekends quarter finals will want to avoid The Nire, but they will know that if they are to stand a chance of winning the Conway Cup this year, one of them will have to beat The Nire and going on this game, that wont happen easily.

The Nire: Tommy Wall; Justin Walsh, Maurice O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney; John Moore, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; Michael O’Gorman, Craig Guiry; Seamus Lawlor, Brian Wall, Darren Guiry; Conor Gleeson, Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan. Subs: Dermot Ryan for Seamus Lawlor, Shane Walsh for Michael Moore, Jamie Barron for Darren Guiry.

Scorers: Darren Guiry 1-2, Shane Ryan 0-4 (3 frees), Brian Wall (2 frees), Craig Guiry 0-2 each, Conor Gleeson, Liam Lawlor, Michael O’Gorman, Seamus Lawlor, Dermot Ryan, Shane Walsh 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Paul Hayes, Mark Prendergast, Kevin Delahunty; Niall Walsh, Seamus Veale, Barry Prendergast; Paul Whyte, Brendan McGarr; David Power, Joey Veale, Paul Keating; Willie Brazil, Tommy Prendergast, Eoin Cummins. Subs: Alan Quinn for Willie Brazil, Pa Cunningham for Paul Keating.

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-6 (0-3 frees), Joey Veale 0-5, David Power 0-2, Eoin Cummins, Niall Walsh 0-1 each.

Referee: John Condon.