Portlaw and Modeligo set for battle for silverware at Walsh Park

Something rare can happen at Walsh Park on Sunday.

When Modeligo and Portlaw clash in this years Intermediate Hurling County Final, should the Western Side come out on top, they will become only the third side in Waterford to win back to back Junior and Intermediate County Champions, following on from Colligan who won the Junior County Final in 1984 and Intermediate in 1985, something repeated by Ardmore who won the Junior County Final in 2001 and Intermediate County Final in 2002.

To reach this years County Final, both sides have done so impressively.

Portlaw’s journey to this year’s final began with a 2-16 to 0-19 loss against near neighbours Clonea. They were made wait for a first win in the league section of the competition in round two as they fought out a 0-14 to 1-11 draw with Mount Sion, but did get their first win in round three when they beat Butlerstown 0-16 to 2-6.

They followed that win up with another win in round four of the championship, beating last years Eastern Champions at this grade Saint Saviours on a 2-13 to 0-9 score line that they rounded of the league section of the competition with a third win a row beating Dunhill 2-13 to 1-14.

Having qualified for the knockout stages of the competition, Portlaw were paired with De La Salle and ran out comfortable 2-16 to 1-11 winners.

It was Dunhill again in the semi finals for Portlaw and just as in the league game between the two it proved to be a tightly fought contest with Portlaw again coming out on top, again by two points just as in the first clash between the two, this time winning 1-15 to 1-13.

The Eastern Final was a repeat of the first game of the campaign for Portlaw, a clash with neighbours Clonea.

Clonea would have been in the eyes of many the favourites to come out on top again in the battle of the two, but this time around, the result of the first game was reversed.

Paudie Coffey’s charged had a good start to this game and at the break they held an impressive 1-11 to 0-6 lead, but Clonea in the second half started the brighter of the two sides, but two goals from DJ Foran 13 minutes apart either side of the mid point mark in the half proved decisive as it gave the Tannery men a 3-15 to 0-13 lead with eleven minutes remaining.

They failed however to score for the remainder of the game and as Clonea piled on the pressure it almost paid off as goals from Jason Gleeson and Ronan Cahill edged Clonea closer to Portlaw.

Modeligo have also impressed to get this far and have reached the final an unbeaten side.

They began the league section of the competition with a draw against Ardmore and followed it up with a 3-12 to 2-12 win over 2013 Western, County and Munster Junior Champions Ballysaggart.

Further wins against Shamrocks (0-21 to 1-10) and Tourin (1-16 to 1-14) followed which won for Modeligo a place in the semi finals as one of the two group winners from the league section of the competition.

In the semi final Modeligo were again paired with Ardmore and just as in the first game between the two, the game ended in a 2-12 to 1-15 draw before they came out on top in another very tight game in the replay (1-15 to 1-14).

It was Clashmore for Modeligo in the Western Final. The Still Men were spared relegation to the Junior grade at the end of 2014 after appealing to stay up after they were beaten in a relegation play off.

Despite this, Clashmore were expected to feature strongly this year after their successful appeal and they did not disappoint all year but had to settle for second best in this game as they were no match for a Modeligo side that ran out very worthy 0-19 to 0-9 winners.

Both sides will field strong sides in this game.

Portlaw will have minor player Liam Power between the posts and outside him Eoin Galvin flanked by Michael Donnelly and Shane Foran with Darren Rockett, Jim O’Donoghue and Frank Galvin playing further out the field, while Niall Fitzgerald and Jack Walsh could well feature in the middle of the field.

In attack DJ Foran will be their big gun while the likes of Paul Power, Blake O’Connor, John Hartley, and Shane Power are all set to feature.

For Modeligo they will look very similar to the side that won last years Junior Final. Cian O’Byrne however has taken over in goal from the injured Donal O’Keeffe and many regard him as someone to look out for in the years to come. In front of him Brian McCarthy is a hard working full back with Robbie Buckley and Sean Hennessy in the corners. Former inter county player Pat Fitzgerald will be at centre back and will have Thomas Walsh who refereed last weeks senior county final and Shane Troy alongside him at the start.

John McGrath and Kieran McCarthy could well start in the middle of the field while up front Modeligo will be able to call upon Pa Walsh this year after he missed much of last year, while players like Jamie and Michael Troy, Sean and Pa O’Donovan as well as Tom Devine are all vital to Modeligo’s hopes.

So who will win?

Little is set to separate the sides with maybe a puck of the ball between the sides at the end of the hour.

Portlaw will go into the game as favourites. Their players will know the ground inside out and upside down, while for Modeligo it will be their first time playing hurling at the Keane’s Road ground in a number of years and may in fact be the first time playing there.

Both sides are experienced. Portlaw last appeared in a County Final at this grade in 2012 where they suffered a heavy loss to An Rinn at Fraher Field. They will know that they can only do better this time around.

Modeligo gained a lot of experience last year and this will stand to them here, and of course they have the advantage this year of being able to call on Pa Walsh who is a very good player.

Sides from the West of the County, Tallow (senior hurling), Saint Mary’s (Junior Hurling) and Brickeys (Junior B Hurling) have all made the trip to Walsh Park in recent weeks and returned home empty handed. At the risk of getting accused of starting an East/West debate, surly one side from the West of the County can travel to the venue this year and return home with the silverware. Can Modeligo put an end to the recent run of results for Western Champions? I believe they can, but it could well be a close one.

It will be interesting to see what support will travel to Walsh Park from the West of the County this weekend. Modeligo will bring a big support from their own parish as well as maybe from nearby Cappoquin, but with Ballinameela (just across the N72 divide from Modeligo) playing in the Munster Intermediate Football Championship at Fraher Field, it will be interesting to see where those from neutral clubs will go to see their regular Sunday game this weekend.