Make or break weekend in County Senior Hurling Championship for many

One week after qualifying for our fourth Munster senior hurling final in a row, we face into another big weekend of hurling, this time on the club scene.

For many clubs, this is going to be the weekend that the result of their game coupled with that of others could mean that when the knockout stages of the competition are played in a few weeks time, they are either in or out of the championship and in the case of some, could be trying to fight off relegation to the intermediate ranks for next years competitions.

Games as always are fixed for Walsh Park and Fraher Field. But for hurling supporters, there is some bad news in so far as while there are six games to be played this weekend, there is just one double header to take place this weekend.

This could well mean that an already cash strapped county board will loose out on some extra revenue, even if what would be taken up would be small in comparison to what is needed to run the boards affairs each year, as supporters are unlikely to return to two or more games over the weekend.

Why we do not have three double headers this weekend, I do not know, nor have I made any attempt to find out, but I am sure there is a perfectly good reason.

Two games take place on Friday evening, one each at Fraher Field and at Walsh Park.

Last years beaten finalist Tallow take on Mount Sion in Fraher Field. While the Bride-siders after three games are in the quarter final places, this could all well change over the next two rounds of league games in the competition. Mount Sion in their three games played have failed to collect a single points and if there loosing streak was to continue beyond this weekend, they could well end up in a second relegation battle since 2009.

Ballygunner and Passage meet in Walsh Park in what is a must win game for both sides and as a result could draw the biggest attendance to a venue in the county this weekend. Ballygunner to date have won just one of their three games and are bottom of group one. Passage has faired slightly better recording one win and one draw in their three games.

A defeat for Passage would not be the end of the world for them as they will have one more game to ensure that they are in the last eight of the competition, but for Ballygunner, a defeat could mean that they not only miss out on a place in the last eight of the competition but they would end up fighting relegation which for many would be almost unthinkable.

Saturday evening sees a double header fought out at Fraher Field.

Fourmilewater and Dunhill clash in the first game and on paper, many will see just the one outcome to this game. Fourmilewater have three wins from three games played in the competition to date and have qualified for the quarter finals already. With players like Shane Walsh, Liam Lawlor, Brian Wall, the O’Gorman brothers and Jamie Barron all who have played for different inter country teams in recent years to pick from, it hard to see them not win, but expect Dunhill to put it up to them.

The second game of Saturday evening sees Lismore take on Abbeyside. Both sides are going well this year. Lismore head their group, but Abbeyside are not behind and could move ahead of Lismore this weekend if they were to win. Lismore will be looking to Maurice Shanahan for much of their inspiration in this game and will enter the game as favourites, but if Abbeyside are able to get a full 60 minutes out of Gary Hurney after his recent injury, they could make life very difficult for the side from the far-west.

Two games are to take place on Sunday.

Roanmore and De La Salle clash at Walsh Park and could attract a good attendance. Both sides have lost one game in this year’s championship, both coincidently against Fourmilewater. De La Salle are one of the favourites to win this years championship. They have some excellent young players coming through their ranks and some outstanding more experienced players as well. They will fancy their chances of winning this game but Roanmore especially if Gavin O’Brien is at his very best could make it a very difficult game for De La Salle and as we all know, when two neighbouring sides clash, especially at this level, anything can happen.

The final game of the weekend sees Dungarvan take on Ballyduff Upper at Fraher Field. Both sides go into this game needing a win. The winner should reach the knockout stages of the championship, but the loosing side could well miss out on a place in the last eight and maybe end up fighting relegation.

League Tables

Group One. Lismore	3	2	0	1	66	57	9	5
Dungarvan	3	1	1	1	54	50	4	3
Abbeyside	3	1	1	1	53	54	-1	3
Passage	3	1	1	1	59	62	-3	3
Ballyduff Upper	3	1	2	0	44	48	-4	2
Ballygunner	3	1	2	0	39	44	-5	2

 Group Two

Fourmilewater	3	3	0	0	60	35	25	6
De La Salle	3	2	1	0	70	43	27	4
Roanmore	3	1	1	1	41	54	-13	3
Tallow	3	1	1	1	47	64	-17	3
Dunhill	3	1	2	0	54	59	-5	2
Mount Sion	3	0	3	0	50	67	-17	0

Which Waterford side will go furthest in 2012-2013 Dr Harty Cup?

It’s just a few months back that for the first time ever, Colaiste na nDeise became the first team from West Waterford and the third team from Co Waterford following on from Mount Sion CBS and De La Salle College to win the Dr Harty Cup.

The 2011-2012 school year is just over, in fact for those still sitting state exams it may not yet be technically over, but already 21 colleges competing in next years completion already know who they are playing and also know who their first round opponents will be.

The current holders Colaiste na nDeise will be without a large amount of the team that helped them win this years competition are drawn in ‘Group D’ and in their opening game which comes as early as September 19 owing to the increased numbers taking part in next years competition, will play Doon CBS who beat Dungarvan CBS in the final of the Munster Senior B colleges final at Cahir in their first game. Also in their group will be Gael Colaiste Mhuire from Cork City who play St Flannan’s from Ennis in the opening round and St Caimins from Shannon get a first round bye.

Waterford City side De La Salle College are drawn in Group A and in their opening game will play Castletroy College from Limerick. Ard Scoil Ris who won the competition in recent years are also in Group A and in their opening game will play Clonmel CBS, who Dungarvan CBS beat in the semi finals of the Munster Senior B competition earlier this year and they are possibly going to include some players from the Fourmilewater Club in their panel. St Colman’s from Fermoy are another college side that over the years have included players from Waterford clubs are also in Group A and in their opening games will play the Kerry Colleges.

Blackwater Community College from Lismore are drawn in Group B and in their opening game will play Our Lady’s from Templemore in their first game. West Limerick Colleges are in the competition for the first time and in their first game will play Abbey CBS for Tipperary Town while Charleville CBS have a first round bye.

Every year there is one group of death and in the competition to begin in September it has to be Group C which is made up of five college sides from Counties Cork and Tipperary. Nenagh CBS will play Midleton CBS in the first round of games while Colaiste Chriost Rí will play Hamilton High School from Bandon. Thurles CBS are the fifth team in Group C and have a bye in the first round of games.

For this school year just ended, the competition generated much excitement especially in the west of the county thanks to Colaiste na nDeise’s run in the completion. With potentially so much interest in the competition this year, the chances are that the 2012-2013 competition could well be just as exciting. We will know if it will over the next number of months.

Waterford into fourth Munster Final in a row.

The world and its mother know only too well, that with the past three and a half years, I was not a happy camper when it came to the Waterford Senior Hurling team. While I always had the utmost of respect for all that they have achieved, when it came to the teams management it was an entirely different situation.

Writing an article for the ‘Munster Express’ which was included in their preview of the 2008 All-Ireland semi final between Waterford and Tipperary, I made a mention of the lack of ‘sexy hurling’ that was no longer been played, which proved so successful under Justin McCarthy and which won Waterford many fans all over the country and beyond.

One thing I love to see is - good hurling played. Sometimes if Waterford or any other team are beaten while I would have been disappointed, I would not have minded too much if people were entertained.

Watching the Waterford and Clare game, I was delighted with what I saw. Gone was all the negativity that we saw with the past three and a half years, gone was the idea that the ball had to be passed to certain players who had to do the bulk of the scoring for Waterford. Gone was the short passing, and players were shooting when given the chance to do so.

Of the six forwards that started for Waterford, all six got their names on the score sheet. When did we last see that happen for Waterford? The two that started in the middle of the field also got on the score sheet as did Richie Foley in the half back line. Martin O’Neill after coming on also chipped in with a point which meant of the twenty players used my Michael Ryan and his selectors, half of them score. Marvellous stuff and long may it last. And we should not forget that Thomas Ryan also had a great chance near the end. Some are critical that he did not take his point sooner than he did shoot, but credit one of the Clare defenders for getting in a timely hook just as he was about to pull the trigger.

And the game was not all about our attacking players. We also did well at the back. In our own half of the field we had three players making their debut, we had one returning to inter county championship hurling for the first time in a number of years, and it would be hard to find fault with anyone in our own half of the field as it would be difficult to fault our players in Clare’s half the field.

Stephen O’Keeffe in goals was rock solid. Nobody could or should fault him for the goal that passed him. Near the end he showed why he is so highly rated, making two excellent saves and with youth on his side he could be between the posts for some time to come.

Waterford’s full back line also impressed. Aidan Kearney may have been taken off at half time. Some will argue that he disappointed somewhat and had picked up a yellow card, but lets not forget that he is out of inter county hurling with some time and will need a few games to get back up to the pace of it. Liam Lawlor was again impressive at full back and Stephen Daniels in the other corner also had a very fine debut and could be hard to dislodge from the team.

Again the half back line did their job. Michael Walsh what can you say about him. He gave a typical Michael Walsh performance. Ok, he might not have done anything spectacular, but it’s not the job of a defender to be trying spectacular things. He did the simple things and did them right and that’s all we can ask and should expect. Kevin Moran also had an excellent game and showed that while he will give his all where ever he is asked to play, but he showed that when in the half back line he is at his best. To many the naming of Richie Foley at wing back was a bit of a shock. He had a quite day and was taken off late in the game, but we all know that he will be back showing exactly what he can do in the future.

What can be said of the centre field paring? Philip Mahony on his debut without been spectacular was impressive, while Stephen Molumphy gave a typical Stephen Molumphy performance. The Ballyduff Upper man for some reason is under valued by some hurling supporters in Waterford, most often on some of the internet forums. However, anyone that sees him playing regularly with club and county will know what his game is all about. He might not get the five, six or seven scores some players get but what he does is to bring other players into the game and sets them up to score and also is able when needed able to fall back and help his defenders when needed.

Seamus Prendergast at Centre Forward had his best game in a Waterford shirt in a number of years and surly must have run Stephen Molumphy close for the official man of the match award. Along side him, Maurice Shanahan also had a solid game finishing the game with seven points, two of which were from play. On the other wing Eoin Kelly by his standards had a quite game, but was still a thorn in the sides of the Clare defence. Have no doubt that Eoin Kelly is going to pull off one or two big performances for Waterford this year. Maybe, just maybe, if free taking duties could be split between him and Maurice, with each taking frees on the side of the field he is playing, he could be brought into the game more than he was on Sunday.

Shane Walsh at full forward was again magnificent. He finished the game early, hopefully not with an injury as some were suggesting with a 1-1 after his name. Along side him, John Mullane was again in fine form. Some seem to be critical of him finishing the game with just three points, but under Michael Ryan and his selectors, his game seems to be chancing and we not do not over rely on him for scores and he is bringing others more and more into the game, something we saw again recently while playing with De La Salle. Gavin O’Brien was the fourth player making his debut from the start and while he was quite, lets not forget that he is still very young and no doubt with his ability will come back with many fine performances in a Waterford shirt for many years to come.

The subs that Waterford brought in also played a key role. Noel Connors came on for Aidan Kearney at Half time and looked impressive as he returned from a recent injury which had kept him out of much of the year to date. Paul O’Brien impressed immensely after coming on as did Martin O’Neill. Some were critical of Thomas Ryan for a miss late in the game after he made a good run at the Clare goal, but lets not forget that we don’t have eyes on the back of our heads and he was not to know that a Clare defender was going to get the slightest of touches on his hurley as he was about to shoot. Dean Twomey also made his debut coming on as a sub and no doubt will be looking to win more game time in games in the future with Waterford.

Next up is a Munster Final appearance on July 15 against the winners of next weekend’s second semi final against either Cork or Tipperary. If it’s Cork, the fame will be in Thurles, if it’s Tipperary then it’s a trip to the Southern Capital. Which ever it will be, it’s going to be a tough game, and as good as Waterford were on Sunday, they will know to beat either, they will have to step up a gear or two on the performance against Clare.

Another Munster Final appearance looms

The day we have all looked to for some time is upon us. This Sunday – summer officially starts in Waterford (and hopefully it will be a long one) when our senior hurlers enter the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at the Semi Final stages against Clare, who this year are managed by Davy Fitzgerald, having served a three and a half year apprenticeship as an inter county hurling manager in Waterford.

Going into this game, much is been made of Clare. Many are saying that Davy will have them well wound up. This is a certainty. Many are saying the team will be made up of a number of players that formed parts in recent successful underage teams in Clare and in recent colleges’ successes in both Clare and Limerick.

But lets not forget something, Waterford too have success at underage and the colleges scene in recent years.

De La Salle won two Dr Harty and Dr Croke Cups in recent years. Other Colleges have also tasted success. Colaiste na nDeise, Blackwater Community School in Lismore, Dungarvan CBS, St Augustine’s College in Abbeyside, St Declan’s Community School in Kilmacthomas and St Paul’s in Lisduggan have also put together good teams in recent years and many of the players involved in these successes are not involved with the Senior Inter County panel.

Waterford have also had a number of very good Tony Forriestal teams and some of the players involved in these teams are not beginning to make a name for themselves on the National scene. Again we have had some good minor teams and these players are coming through as are some of the players that appeared in an Under 21 Munster Final a few years back now.

And another thing we should not forget is that in the last ten years, Waterford have appeared in more Munster Final’s than the likes of Cork or Tipperary and many of those that have played in most if not all of these finals are still around and are key to the Waterford set up, so when Michael Ryan, Sean Cullinane and Ken McGrath sit down later this evening (if they have not done so already, which I suspect they have) to pick their team to play Clare they will have a lot of experience to call upon.

Success at underage level does not always carry forward to adult level. Galway have shown this with years, winning many underage All-Ireland Finals in recent years but have not climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand in September since the late 1980’s.

Much has been made of Clare since Davy Fitzgerald taking over the hot seat, but lets not forget a few things, which I hope will not come back to hit me in the face.

OK, Clare won Division 1B of this years National Hurling League but we should not forget that the standard of Division 1B is somewhat off what you would expect in Division 1A, something that was clear to see when Clare went on to take on Clare in the League Semi Final.

We should not forget 12 months ago, Clare lost to Tipperary in the Munster championship on a score of 4-19 to 1-19. I know Waterford lost to Tipperary by an even greater margin, but it’s my view that there were plenty of other factors which influenced that defeat.

After loosing to Tipperary, Clare went out the next day in the qualifiers and lost to Galway on a score of 4-25 to 0-20. The Tribesmen then lost to Waterford in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on a 2-23 to 2-13 scoreline.

The question should be asked, has Clare improved as much as some say they have in the last twelve months. And while some say Waterford has gone backwards over the past year, there is no way that we have gone back as far as some are saying. We will know for definite what way the two are going in the coming days.

The argument has also been made that Davy Fitzgerald will know the Waterford players inside out and upside down from his time involved with Waterford. Its well documented that he will know the strength and weakness and will or should know how to exploit where weaknesses may lie.

However the opposite is also through. Many of the players will know Davy and what to expect of him and of Clare.

In his three and a half years involved with Waterford, Davy for much of the time used ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan A’ only. It will be interesting to see has he come up with second or third plan if things are not going right for him and his charges. If he does not have another plan, then surly the Waterford players will know exactly the best way to counteract what Davy will try and serve up.

There is many that are arguing that when the team is named later this evening (June 14), that it could contain a number of players with little or no Championship experience. I for one don’t think this is going to happen.

Davy in his time with Waterford did name a team in 2010 that included many players that made their championship debut. But this was against a Limerick side that was far from their strongest side and Waterford almost caught out. I don’t think Michael Ryan, Sean Cullinane and Ken McGrath will take such a change and will opt for as much experience as is possible.

It can be taken as a four gone conclusion that Stephen O’Keeffe will make his championship debut in goals. In front of him, Liam Lawlor is expected to fill the full back position with Aidan Kearney on his right. After a long lay off Noel Connors is reported to be going well in training and if fully fit, expect him to line out at left corner back, but if the selectors are not prepared to gamble on him, expect the position to go to either Philip Mahony or Stephen Daniels.

Michael Walsh has to start at Centre back. Some are suggesting that Tony Browne may be carrying some sort of injury picked up since Mount Sion lost to Fourmilewater in the Club championship recently. If fully fit, the Mount Sion man has to start at right half back and there is a good chance that Wayne Hutchinson could start on the other wing, but Philip Mahony and Stephen Daniels could also come into the reckoning.

In the Middle of the field, it’s my view that the selectors will go for experience and versatility and name Kevin Moran and Stephen Molumphy at eight and nine.

There is some saying that Eoin Kelly will start at Centre Forward, but my view is he will start on the wing. For me, the centre forwards position will be filled by Maurice Shanahan who could cause consternation in the Clare defence if selected there with his pace, height, strength and eye for the posts. There is plenty of options open to the selectors for the other wing forward position but I would expect the final call to rest between Seamus Prendergast and Martin O’Neill with youth possibly getting the not and experience to be sprung from the bench if needed.

I don’t think its going to be too hard to second guess the selectors with the naming of their full forward line. Shane Walsh has to start at full forward and if he is not flanked by John Mullane and Gavin O’Brien it will be a major surprise.

Something Waterford have going for them in this years championship is a strong bench. Ian O’Regan, Darragh Fives, Richie Foley, Jamie Nagle, Eoin McGrath, Dean Twomey, Shane Casey, Paul O’Brien and Thomas Ryan are players not yet having got a mention and who if called upon are players that will not let the side down.

The bookies are making Clare the favourites for this game, something that must be music to the ears of Waterford. Waterford often play their best hurling when the bookies make them second favourite in a two horse race and I believe that they will again show up the bookies here, winning by a margin bigger than most would think they will, maybe with Clare needing two pucks of the ball to get something from the game.

G.A.A. Officials will have to start listening to Ken McGrath and his likes.

The fact that G.A.A. Officials in recent days defended what they charge to gain entry to their games is something that was expected.

When there is something to be defended in the G.A.A. officials at times are very quick to do so and often do so using more spin than any political representative would even dream of using.

Two years ago, Waterford’s John Mullane came out and called on officials to lower the cost that they charge patrons to see games.

This past week, Ken McGrath went public and told the Munster Council that the €30 they were charging some fans to go and see the upcoming Munster Semi Final between Waterford and Clare was too much.

The Munster Council and indeed Boards up and down the country however seems to think what they charge patrons to see their games is fair. They will even tell you that there is discounts available by buying tickets through the clubs as opposed to from Championship Sponsors, through Ticket Master or even tickets they make available to the general public themselves, but these discounts are very small.  

On the Munster Council’s face-book page recently, I tried to engage in a debate with whatever official that was on line that night on their pricing structures.

The usual spin was quickly brought out. I was told as if I did not know already, so much from each gate goes back to the clubs through grants for various developments.

While much of these grants are welcome by clubs and very necessary, you have to wonder is there a need for so many to be paid out.

In recent years Hurl Walls have seem to become the in and must have thing. Earlier this year, a club official within Co Waterford pointed out that a wall their club had built cost in the region of €18,000, much of which was obtained through a Munster Council Grant.

The funny thing about it is that I have passed this clubs grounds on a number of occasions and never once have seen anybody inside or near the Hurl Wall. Could it be that I have passed it at the wrong time in the day?

I don’t know how many walls there is in Co Waterford let alone Munster or even across Ireland as a whole, but would be interested to know how many are actually used on a frequent basis as opposed to a regular one.

Some time back, I spoke to a man who played senior hurling for Waterford in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He played with one of the smaller clubs in the county but was no mean hurler in his day, learning the skills of the game in the day’s pre indoor hurling halls and pre hurl walls.

When he heard of the money given out each year through grants to clubs he had a number of questions to ask. He mentioned areas where ball alleys were built (indoor and outdoor) down the years and asked why clubs were not using them to help develop the skills of young players. He was of course correct. His own Club in the past year or two have built a wall at their grounds which is by and large mainly unused while a handball alley lies again largely unused a short walk away (even for me) from the G.A.A. Field.

This year G.A.A. Officials up and down the country are getting the clearest indication yet that the prices they charge have to be seriously looked at.

On WLR fm’s morning Current Affairs Programme – Deise Am, a few weeks back was contacted about the prices charges the Waterford G.A.A. Board charge to see their senior hurling and football games. The caller in question pointed out what he was charged to go and see a programme of games over one weekend. He pointed out that he felt this was above and beyond what was a fair price and said that he would not be attending any more games until the competitions were near their conclusion.

The Gaelic Grounds in Limerick has a capacity of around 49,000. The recent Munster Junior and Senior Football double header involving Waterford and Limerick attracted a capacity of just over 2,000. In the attached photo, the number of empty seats behind the junior team having their photo taken is clear to be seen.

Semple Stadium in Thurles holds just under 54,000 people. For the recent double header involving Tipperary and Kerry in Football and Tipperary and Limerick in hurling) a programme that saw the two beaten finalists in last years All-Ireland finals attracted an attendance of 22,068.

And what about the biggest eye opener of them all.

Croke Park holds 82,000. Dublin are All-Ireland Football Champions. A few years back when they played at Croke Park it was nearly easier to pick the six winning numbers in the Lotto than it was to get a ticket to see the game.

Dublin alone would bring a support of between seventy and seventy-five thousand people.

When they played Louth in the Leinster Senior Football Championship recently on the same day as Wexford and Longford played also in Croke Park, 31,570 people parted with their cash, meaning less than half the ground was occupied.

The G.A.A. every time they are quizzed about their admission prices are very quick to point out that what they charge to gain admission to games is in line with what a person would pay to see Munster or Leinster in the Heineken Cup or for a person to see a champions league game.

Let these sporting bodies charge as they see wish. The G.A.A. had its day when they could name its price for people to see their games and people would pay it. Times are different now.

The day is coming when Rugby and Soccer bodies will have to lower their prices as well. If they refuse to lower them just as the G.A.A. are doing now, it would be interesting to see what will happen.

What G.A.A. Officials have to realise and fast is that they are charging above what fans can afford. What it costs fans to get to games has also risen, but the G.A.A. don’t want to hear this, and will tell you that they are not responsible for these extra costs, which in truth they are not, but these costs plus the cost to gain entry to grounds means that people are keeping what they have in their wallets deep inside the pockets.

Right now, there is two dates in the year when the G.A.A. can justify what they do charge, the All-Ireland Hurling and Football final days. The way the championships are structured in the past two decades mean that the Munster Hurling Final day cannot be included as a date when the G.A.A. can really charge what they can. All-Ireland Final day is now the only dates where demand for tickets outstrips what the G.A.A. can supply.

However, it’s not always right to criticise the G.A.A so lets finish on a complementary note and some praise for some.

The West Waterford G.A.A. Board have made a very brave call this year and has prised admission to their games very competitively.

I have to admit, I have not attended many of the Divisional games in the West of the County in recent times, but have heard some of figures collected at the gates mentioned and am pleasantly surprised.

Later in the year, when the accounts of the Board are made public, it will be interesting to go through them and figure out roughly how many people attended each game. Right now from what I am hearing, its looking promising and where as people right around the country are not attending games, they are doing so in West Waterford.

So well done to the officers of the West Waterford G.A.A. Board and hopefully other boards will examine what you appear to have done and will follow suit.

The Nire and Clashmore March On

The Nire and Clashmore became the first clubs to reach the quarter final stages of this years County Senior Football Championship when they recorded victories over Ballinacourty and Dungarvan at Fraher Field on Saturday evening last.

The Nire were the first team to book their passage to the knockout stages of this years championship when they had a comfortable 1-13 to 1-5 win over County Champions Ballinacourty. A Mark Ferncombe goal from a penalty just five minutes into the game cancelled out two early points for the victors, but the champions never capitalised on the score and there was only going to be one winner on the day. A Seamus Lawlor goal on eleven minutes helped The Nire to a 1-9 to 1-1 half time lead, and while The Nire eased up somewhat in the second half, Ballinacourty having introduced Gary Hurney who helped improve the look of the Ballinacourty side, had left themselves with too much to do.

The second game on Saturday afternoon saw Clashmore record a comfortable 2-10 to 0-9 win over Dungarvan. Early goals from Cillian O’Keeffe and Sean Fleming set them on their way and lead 2-5 to 0-4 at the break. Clashmore after establishing a good early lead seemed to pull up somewhat at the break and you can’t but feel if they had to, they could have won this game by an even greater margin.

Three games were played on Friday evening. Saint Saviours and Rathgormack clashed at Kill. Saint Saviours went into this game having lost their two games to date and ended their loosing run here against a Rathgormack side who had won their two previous games. Both sides on the night settled for a draw, having also been inseparable at the break.

Two games were played at Fraher Field on Friday evening. Ardmore and Gaultier fought out the first game. First half goals from Kenny Murphy and Seamus Prendergast helped Armore to a 2-5 to 0-6 lead and when underage international rugby international Seamus Keating added a third in the second half there was no doubting as to what the final outcome of the game would be.

Stradbally’s recent run of good results over neighbours Kilrossanty continues after the two clashed in the second game at Fraher Field on Friday evening. When Stradbally play you can always expect a low scoring tight affair to be fought out and this game was no different. At the break Stradbally that lead 0-4 to 0-2, and while Kilrossanty faired out slightly better in the second thirty minutes they were unable to edge out the Cove-Men at the end of the hour who had one point to spare.

Owing to An Rinn’s involvement at the Comórtas Peil competition in Donegal, their game with Brickeys did not go ahead this weekend and will be slotted in between rounds four and five.

Results from the past weekend

The Nire 1-13 Ballinacourty 1-5

Clashmore 2-10 Dungarvan 0-9

Saint Saviours 0-9 Rathgormack 0-9

Stradbally 0-8 Kilrossanty 0-7

Ardmore 3-10 Gaultier 0-11.

 League Tables

Group One

The Nire          3          3          0          0          +33      6

Rathgormack  3          2          1          0          +6        5

Ardmore          3          2          0          1          0          4

Ballinacourty   3          1          0          2          -1         2

St Saviours     3          0          1          2          -18       1

Gaultier           3          0          0          3          -20       0

Group Two

Clashmore                  3          3          0          0          +16      6

Stradbally                    3          2          0          1          +15      4

An Rinn                       2          2          0          0          +8        4

Kilrossanty                  3          1          0          2          +1        2

Brickeys                      2          0          0          2          -11       0

Dungarvan                  3          0          0          3          -29       0

Next Fixtures 29 June at 7-30pm

Ardmore V Rathgormack in Kill

Saint Saviours V The Nire in Kilmacthomas

Gaultier V Ballinacourty in Walsh Park

An Rinn V Clashmore in Ardmore

Dungarvan V Kilrossanty in Stradbally

Brickeys V Stradbally in Lemybrien