Waterford Senior Football Championship Resumes

Within the G.A.A. it must never be forgotten that the Club Scene is the most important unit within the association.

Sadly however, in many counties while the counties strongest senior and often minor team are still involved in the championship the club scene is often forgotten about.

While I do not expect many if any to agree with this, it is my view that since the ‘back door system’ or ‘second chance system’ was first introduced in many counties, the club scene has suffered.

While the stronger of the counties hurling or football teams are still involved in with a chance of winning the Same Maguire or Liam McCarthy Cups many of the players playing for their equivalent within many counties are left twiddling their thumps.

Most players in each county are left to play often meaningless league or challenge games or left to hope that their club organises a tournament or get invited into a tournament to remember some former Gael.

As soon as the inter county team are then eliminated from the championship which is holding up things within the county, players are often forced to play week in week out, with little thought given to player burn out which is often a huge concern to some earlier or later in the year, or to allow players to recover from niggling injuries which need rest to recover from.

It is important here to point out that I am not signalling out any county in particular. The above happens in many counties so that the relevant county boards can say that they did all they could to have a team in place to represent their county in the different provincial championships.

This weekend here in Waterford, after what seem to be an age, the senior football championship resumes, with the playing of four delayed round three games in the league part of the championship.

For most if not all of the eight sides involved this Friday or Saturday evening, the outcome of the games are very important.

There is a number of games which should attract a sizeable attendance to where they are being played, but its unlikely to happen.

Stradbally and An Rinn clash on Friday evening at 7-30pm in Fraher Field.

Stradbally are without doubt the best side in the county since the turn of the Millennium, while An Rinn in the last two years have began to show they are moving in the right direction, reaching the semi final stages of the championship.

In both years An Rinn were coached by former Stradbally footballer Packo Curran and this year the former inter county hurling goalkeeper is back with his own club having taken over from Stephen Cunningham as manager, which will give this game a bit of an edge.

Stradbally while still strong, are not as strong as they were a few years back, and with An Rinn having reached the semi finals in 2013 and 2014 you would expect the Gaeltacht side to put it up to the Cove Men.

However, An Rinn could well be without a number of important players. Donie Breathnach is in the states for the summer, while Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Lorcán Ó Corraoin and Jamie de Barúin are all reported to be doubtful starters for An Rinn.

If An Rinn are short the services of key players, then the nod to win here will go to the Cove men who would secure their quarter final position and also move level on points at the top of the table with neighbours and rivals – Kilrossanty.

Clashmore and Ardmore meet in a local derby clash on Saturday evening again at Fraher Field.

Clashmore are having a good season so far and are on full points from their two games played to date and another win here would secure their quarter final spot.

Inter county hurlers Tadhg de Búrca and Brian O’Halloran are not free of inter county commitments. They will be fit but you will have to wonder how much football they will have kicked in the run up to this game.

Ardmore will field a team made up of a mix of youth and experience. They have had mixed results to date beating De La Salle in the first round of games before loosing to Nire last time out.

Had this game been played when the game was originally due to be played you would think that Clashmore would have won the game such was the form they were in at the time.

Ardmore last year were in a relegation play off with Ballinameela and will know that another win will mean that they should have no such fears this year.

They would like to secure their status with a win over their neighbours, but they might have to wait a little longer for a second win. Clashmore get the nod here to win, but it could be close.

The main game of the weekend will see two of the big three Ballinacourty and The Nire do battle at Fraher Field.

Ballinacourty have two wins from two games played so far in the championship after beating the two sides currently bottom of the group.

They will know that another win here will secure a place in the quarter finals, while the reigning champions who lost first time out against Clashmore can move level on points with Ballinacourty with a win here, but more importantly move above the 2013 champions on the head to head between the two if they were to finish the league section of the championship level on points.

This is one of those games that could well go right to the wire. Heading into the game Ballinacourty are in the stronger position. The Nire are reported to be without Conor Gleeson for this game and if this proves correct it would come as a massive blow to their chances as he was outstanding last year in helping them reach the Munster Club final against Austin Stacks.

The Nire having already lost in the championship will know that another defeat will mean that they could well have to play someone like Stradbally in the quarter finals of the championship, something they should qualify for.

On paper, Ballinacourty have slightly the stronger forwards so they get the nod to win here.

The final game of the weekend sees Rathgormack take on De La Salle at Carrickbeg.

De La Salle last year showed they are able to play football as well as anyone reaching the knockout stages of the competition in their first season playing senior football in nearly 30 years.

Rathgormack at underage level are proving to be as good as anyone around, winning a number of titles in the last few years. But like many others before them, they are finding it difficult to transfer underage success to adult grade success.

If Rathgormack do manage to transfer the success they have had at underage level they could well be in a position to challenge the big three and those that are lurking just behind them.

With both sides without a win up to now, a win here for both is a must. It will prove to be a real four pointer, as the win would also guarantee that they would finish above the side that looses here should the two finish level on points.

Rathgormack should win here, but De La Salle’s chances of winning cannot be ruled out.

Fixtures:

An Rinn V Stradbally at 7-30pm on Friday evening at Fraher Field

Clashmore V Ardmore at 4pm on Saturday evening at Fraher Field

The Nire V Ballinacourty at 5-30pm on Saturday evening at Fraher Field

De La Salle V Rathgormack at 7-30pm on Saturday evening at Carrickbeg