Reigning League Champions take on County Champions in Fraher Field show down.

They met twice last year in big finals and it proved to be honours even.

Lismore emerged as winners on a 2-10 to 2-9 score line in last years final at Fraher Field and when the same two sides clashed in the County Final at Ardmore some weeks later, the rolls were reversed as the Mid County side ran out winners on a 1-12 to 0-9 score line.

In last years league final, the two sides were as evenly matched as the final score line suggests.

At the break the sides were all square. Shona Curran gave Lismore an early lead with a point, but Saint Anne’s hit back with 1-1, both scores coming from the stick of Zoe O’Donoghue.

Although Lismore through Shauna Kiernan pulled a point back, the mid county side soon stole a huge march on the side from the Heritage Town as Zoe O’Donoghue cracked home her second goal of the game.

Trailing by five points, Lismore cut Saint Anne’s lead with points from Ruth Geoghegan and Shauna Kiernan before Shauna Kieran struck Lismore’s first goal of the game.

Zoe O’Donoghue soon had Saint Anne’s back in front before Aoife Hannon with a brace edged Lismore back in front by a Niamh Rockett just before the break pointed for Saint Anne’s to ensure that the sides would retire at the break locked at 2-3 to 1-6.

Lismore at the start of the second half began very brightly. Ruth Geoghegan hit a second goal for the side in Black and Amber to which Shauna Curran and Nicola Morrissey added points to give Lismore five point lead with a quarter of the game still to play.

The sign of a good team is how they fight back after a spell when their opponents are on top and Saint Anne’s showed exactly why they are a top side as Jennie Simpson and Zoe O’Donoghue landed a brace of points to bring them back into the game.

Duel inter county star (Camogie and Ladies Football) Shona Curran hit over a free with time ticking down to draw the sides level and in added time Nicola Morrissey ensured that the Denny Buckley Cup, put up in honour the father of Lismore Captain Laura Buckley, and played for the first time would find a home on the banks of the Blackwater.

When the sides clashed at Ardmore a few weeks later it was Saint Anne’s that emerged 1-12 to 0-9 winners.

The league champions for that game went into the game minus the services of Aisling O’Brien, Grainne Kenneally and Ruth Geoghegan through Injury.

Even minus these players who would be a loss to any side, Lismore put it up to the eventual winners and at the end of a very low scoring first half, they held a 0-3 to 0-2 advantage.

The second game saw the pace really hot up.

Jennie Simpson was without doubt the Mid Counties most important player in this game and it was a thirty metre free ten minutes from time by her that proved to be the most crucial score of the game as it gave Saint Anne’s a 1-6 to 0-5 lead, putting some day light between the sides.

Both sides for this latest battle between the two are likely to be short some of their leading players.

Grainne Kennelly is out for Lismore as is Ruth Geoghegan. Also expecting to be missing is Caitriona McGlone who is sitting exams in the coming weeks. For Saint Anne’s Pauline Cunningham is out with an injury while Niamh Rockett is also understood to be carrying an injury.

However, there is still plenty of talent that will be on show for those that make their way to Fraher Field for a 6pm throw in on Saturday evening.

Lismore should be able to call upon the likes of Aisling O’Brien, a top class goal keeper Shauna Kiernan Nicola Morrissey, Laura Buckley and Aoife Hannon who are all inter county players, while for Saint Anne’s Zoe O’Donoghue and Karen Kelly could well prove to be a handful in attack with Jennie Simpson and Mairead Murphy also expected to play key rolls.

While Lismore and Saint Anne’s will fight out the main game of the weekend, it is not the only game to be played in Fraher Field this weekend. Prior to the Senior Camogie League Final, Brickeys and Butlerstown will do battle in the Intermediate final which also could prove to be a fascinating battle.

Fixtures.

Intermediate Camogie League Final: Butlerstown V Brickeys in Fraher Field on May 18 at 4-30pm.

Senior Camogie League Final: Lismore V Saint Anne’s in Fraher Field on May 18 at 6pm.

There is a familar look to S.H.C. with just two rounds played.

Four games in the second round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh and Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship were played over the weekend with games ending along expected expectations.

Two games were played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening and resulted in victories for city pair De La Salle and Mount Sion.

In the opening game apart from the first ten minutes when An Rinn put it up to them, De La Salle always looked like they were going to win this game. Dean Twomey helped set up Jake Dillon on eight minutes for a well taken goal and the rolls were reversed late in the opening half as Dillon set up Dean Twomey for a goal which helped the reigning senior Champions to a 2-9 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Two quick fire goals inside sixty seconds as the third quarter of the game helped extend De La Salle’s lead considerably and although An Rinn did manage some late scores they proves to be mere consolation scores and help put a gloss on their half of the score board.

The second game was a much more even game.

Abbeyside at the break held a 1-12 to 1-10 advantage. Their goal came very early in the game when a long ball into the Mount Sion goal mouth saw Ian O’Regan caught out with a blinding sun and Patrick Hurney finished to the net with ease.

Mount Sion however were not long behind as on eight minutes Sean Ryan set up Stephen Roche for a well taken goal which levelled matters at 1-2 a piece.

During the course of the game Mount Sion goal keeper Ian O’Regan made three top class saves to deny Abbeyside goal chances and those that will have people wondering with the Munster Championship game with Clare drawing ever closer, if the goal keeping position is as clear cut as some people are suggesting.

Towards the end of the game Mount Sion’s Ian Galgey picked up a serious injury which looks as though it will rule him out for a considerably large portion of the year.

Ballygunner recorded their first championship win of the year this past weekend when they accounted for Roanmore with some ease at Walsh Park.

Brian O’Sullivan hit the Gunners goal in a 1-20 to 0-11 victory. The game was marred by a melee early in the game that had up to 30 players involved in it.

In Cappoquin, Fourmilewater came out on top against Tallow. Both sides finished the game with fourteen minutes as Tallow’s Aidan Kearney and Fourmilewater’s Jamie Barron were send off in the third quarter of the game.

Tallow played with a strong wind in the first half but trailed at the break 2-5 to 0-8, both Fourmilewater’s goals coming from the stick of Jamie Barron.

The first came on eleven minutes when he gave Shaun O’Sullivan in the Tallow goal no chance with a powerfully driven shot the second coming on twenty minutes from the penalty spot after Craig Guiry was fouled.

Tallow began the second half well and won a penalty of their own two minutes into the second half but Thomas Ryan saw his effort saved by Brendan Lawlor.

The dismissal of Kearney and Barron on forty minutes was more of a blow to Tallow than Fourmilewater as the extra room in the Tallow full back line allowed Shane Walsh and Conor Gleeson more space to run at the goals.

Fourmilewater won a third penalty late in the game which Shane Ryan on free taking duty in place of Jamie Barron popped over the bar which helped his side to a 2-11 to 0-13 victory.

The games between Ballyduff and Lismore in Tallow and Dungarvan and Passage in Walsh Park were postponed due to bereavements within the Ballyduff and Dungarvan Clubs.

A win is a must for some clubs in this weeks Senior Hurling Championship games.

Six games were played in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship last weekend, each ending in outcomes that hardly came as a surprise to many.

The twelve teams are back in action this week in the second round of the league section of the competition and while there is three more rounds to go in the league section of the competition, for a number of teams if they were to loose this weekend it could well prove to be a long summer.

Of the six ties down for decision,  two of the fixtures this weekend see sides that won last weekend square up to each other while two other of the fixtures see sides that failed to win last weekend take on each other.

The County Board have broken with tradition somewhat this weekend. Over the past few years’ games are predominantly played at Fraher Field or Walsh Park but this weekend in addition to the county ground and its secondary ground, games are also set to be played at Cappoquin and Tallow.

Two games are down for decision in Fraher Field.

Reigning Champions De La Salle take on the current Intermediate Champions An Rinn in the opening game at 6pm.

Last weekend, De La Salle for much of the game looked as if they were going to go under to Ballyduff Upper but a late Jake Dillon goal gave De La Salle much confidence going into the last few minutes and they eventually ran out winners by five points.

An Rinn last weekend played their first game in the senior ranks since they were relegated at the end of 2009. Against Tallow they came up against a side that looked well organised and eventually ran out winners with a little to spare.

While there can be no doubting, An Rinn have some fine hurlers, it could be argued that they are more of a football club than a hurling club and as they are now a duel senior club they will have to find a balance between the two codes, something very few clubs in Waterford can do over a number of years.

When the sides met in 2009, it was the then reigning champions that ran out winners, and you would expect them to do the same this time around.

The second game on Saturday evening at Fraher Field sees Abbeyside take on Mount Sion.

Last weekend both of these had contrasting results.

Mount Sion recorded a three point win over Ballygunner at Walsh Park while Abbeyside were well beaten by Passage at Fraher Field.

Abbeyside played last week without Richie Foley. While no one player makes up a whole team, to miss a player of his ability would be a body blow to any side. He did make his way out of the stand for the last few minutes of the game and some had a feeling that he might be thrown in so as to try and get something from the game but the selectors opted against doing so.

Whether he plays any part in this week’s game remains to be seen. If he is not fully fit and was to aggravate the injury that kept him out of action all year, it could mean that he would be out for a much longer period and therefore the selectors must ask themselves, with three more games to play after this weekends round of games are they better off holding off throwing him in until he is fully fit and playing an influential role in a game rather than loosing him for a considerable time longer.

Last weekend Mount Sion in their win over Ballygunner were best served by rising stars Austin Gleeson and Stephen Roche. They also have some good young players coming through such as the two Martin O’Neill’s and Ian Galgey and then they have a young player at the back by the name of Tony Browne who over the past few years as defied his critics and has shown that he is as good as ever.

After winning last weekend, confidence will be high in the Mount Sion set up and you have to feel that they have it in them to record a second win this weekend.

There is a double header at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon.

Roanmore and Ballygunner get the ball rolling at 2pm.

Both of these sides lost last weekend so a win for both this weekend is a must.

Roanmore in there game against Dungarvan looked poor. Their star player was clearly carrying an injury and played a very small part in the game before he was taken off mid way through the second half.

On the day they struggled somewhat for scores. Laurence O’Neill was their top man on the day hitting 1-3 of his sides 1-9 with Daniel Murphy hitting 0-3.

If they are to survive another year at the top, they will have to put up bigger scores in the games they play and will also need to get more players on the score sheet. While the above mentioned Laurence O’Neill and Daniel Murphy are always likely to hit their three of four scores in every game, if Gavin O’Brien is not 100% fit or is well marshalled, then it is hard to see where the bulk of their scores will come from.

If there was a surprise last week it was Ballygunner loosing to Mount Sion. The outcome of the game was the same as the quarter final meeting between the same sides last year so it was hardly a surprise.

Pauric Mahony finished as top scorer for the Gunners last weekend and he is likely to finish with a good tally of scores this weekend.

Right throughout the Ballygunner team they have some very good players from Stephen O’Keeffe in goal, Alan Kirwan at full back, Shane Walsh, Philip Mahony and Barry Coughlan in the half back line, Shane O’Sullivan can play in the middle of the field or in attack while the likes of Brian O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson, and the already mentioned Pauric Mahony amongst others know where the posts are.

Ballygunner won’t be too put out over last weekends result. They know that they have it within them to reach the knockout stages of the championship, and should move a step closer to doing just that this weekend with a win here.

The second game at Walsh Park sees Passage take on Dungarvan.

Both of these sides recorded impressive wins last weekend and will want to keep their winning run going this weekend. In doing so they will move a step closer to the knockout stages of the championship, as four points which the winner will have after this game would normally be good enough to give a side a place in the last eight of the competition.

Last week between then the two sides hit nine goals. This week it will be interesting to see how many if any they will score.

Dungarvan hit five past Roanmore. Patrick Curran hit 2-1 on his debut for Dungarvan after coming on at half time.

Many of the players playing senior this year will have seem him play but few will have played against him and he could prove to be a handful for most defences this year as they will have to work out what is the best way to stop him.

Of course Dungarvan are not just a one man team. His brothers Cormac, Cathal and Colm are also fine players. Last week they shared 3-12 of Dungarvan’s tally of 5-15. Through in the likes of Gavin Crotty, Jamie Nagle, Ryan Donnelly, Shane Kearney and Kevin Daly and you can see some of the quality that Dungarvan have at their disposal.

Passage has plenty of talent to choose from. Last weekend, Eoin Kelly was their top man. He hit 2-5 and was involved in a number of other scores. Noel Connors at full back is back to his best after injuries last year, Killian Fitzgerald, Mark Wyse and Conor Carey can also play key rolls in a game while Sean Hogan who came on as a second half sub last week is an exciting prospect.

This could well prove to be the game of the weekend. It is one that could go either way, buy Dungarvan get the not to win, but a lot will depend on how well they can keep Eoin Kelly out of the game for as long as possible.

Fourmilewater and Tallow clash at Cappoquin on Sunday evening. Both of these sides began last week with a win and will look to extend that run.

This could well prove to be a very entertaining game. Fourmilewater are strong in attack while Tallow could well prove to be tough to break down at the back.

At the other end of the field, the winning and loosing of the game could well be decided by two players. Tallow’s Thomas Ryan, a player I have watched many times for a long number of years is a player that I think very highly off and was shocked somewhat towards the end of last year when I heard that he was omitted from the Waterford panel that were going into training for the Waterford Crystal Cup and the League, while Liam Lawlor is another player that I have been Watching for a number of years, all-be-it for a little less time than Thomas Ryan and am very impressed with.

Last weekend, Jamie Barron hit eight points for Fourmilewater and they will be looking to him to hit a similar if not higher return this weekend. Shane Ryan also impressed last weekend playing at corner forward, finishing with three points while Conor Gleeson, a player that many view as having a bright future hit a point after coming on as a sub in the last five minutes and he will be looking to start this weekend.

Thomas Ryan last weekend finished with 2-4. He is a player that knows where the posts are and will punish teams when given a chance. In Robert O’Sullivan and Evan Sheehan they also have players that know where to find the posts and will needed them to chip in with a few more scores this weekend to help take the weight of Thomas Ryan’s shoulders to be the main score getter.

At the back it’s great to see Aidan ‘Ringo’ Kearney back in the side. Over the past few years he has suffered his share of injuries. He looked to be coming back well last year but got injured played for Waterford against Clare and was then ruled out for the rest of the year.

Their half back line last week was made up of Mark and David O’Brien as well as James Murray. There is a lot of experience there between them and they could prove to be difficult to break down. Paul O’Brien in the middle of the field last week could just as easily be pushed up the field and if he was then he will take watching.

To pick a winner from this game is difficult put Fourmilewater gets the not to collect the points on offer.

The final game of the weekend sees near neighbours Ballyduff Upper take on Lismore in Tallow.

What a pity that this could not be played as a double header with the Tallow and Fourmilewater game in Cappoquin. To have the three clubs from the far west of the county descent on the Corner-stone venue along with the Fourmilewater fans could see a good attendance pass through the turn-styles, but it is not to be.

When these two sides have clashed over the past few years they have played out some good battles and this game is likely to be no different.

Both of these sides lost last weekend and they will not want to loose any further ground as they will know to do so will mean that they will find it tough to win one of the four quarter final places available from the group.

Ballyduff last week were somewhat unlucky not to have got something out of the game with De La Salle.

The Kearney’s were in fine form for the side from the West Waterford/North Cork border last week hitting 1-10 of their sides 1-13 with Michael finishing as the teams top scorer with 0-6.

Towards the end of last year Tom Feeney was missing some of his side’s games but last week it was great to see him back in the side and doing what he does best. Adrian Power and Stephen Molumphy were also in the side and helped there side greatly out. Brendan Hannon who is the side’s free taker over the past nearly two decades started on the sideline last week and it remains to be see if he will start once more as a sub and be sprung as some sort of an impact sub.

Lismore last weekend looked impressive at times against Fourmilewater.

Maurice and Dan Shanahan hit nine points out of 1-13 while name sake Jordan Shanahan hit 1-3 and showed signs that he is someone that we could see a lot more of as the year goes on.

Seanie Barry between the posts is now the side’s number one, having taken over from Brendan Landers who is the side’s manager this year, despite the fact he is a player that would be one of the first names on the team sheet for many other sides.

They also have good prospects in the likes of Ray Barry, Shane Heaphy and Paudie Prendergast and if they were in top form this year, they could well take beating.

Stephen O’Keeffe was sent off last weekend (somewhat harshly) in the eyes of some and is set to miss this game, so changes will have to be made to their team this weekend.

This is a game that could go either way. Down the years there is great rivalry between the two clubs as brothers have often found themselves attached to different clubs.

Lismore are the slightly fancied team to win this weekend, but it could well prove to be close, maybe very close.

   

No surprise results in opening round of games in S.H.C.

Six games were played in the first round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship over the weekend with none of the six games throwing up any surprises.

Ballygunner and Mount Sion got the ball rolling on Friday evening at Walsh Park.

When the sides met at the quarter final stages of the championship in 2012 it was Mount Sion that came out on top and while Ballygunner went into this latest battle between the two city sides, Mount Sion were not wrote off by anyone.

It was Mount Sion that hit the ground running, and at the break they held a 0-14 to 0-7 advantage.

Pauric Mahony proved to be Ballygunner’s leading tallies man on the day hitting ten points for his side but he was powerless to stopping his side going under twenty points to seventeen. For the winners they were best served by rising stars Stephen Roche and Austin Gleeson.

Two games were played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

In the opening game Passage came out on top hitting 4-15 past Abbeyside who hit 1-15 themselves, a tally that is often good enough to win most games.

Former inter county hurler Eoin Kelly was literally on fire for Passage in this game hitting 2-5 for his side and was involved in setting up many of his sides other scores.

First half goals from John Whitty, Eoin Kelly and Killian Fitzgerald helped Passage to a 3-8 to 0-9 lead at the break. Goals in the second half were hit by a second goal from Eoin Kelly in the second half helped Passage to a comfortable win in this game, who if they can keep up their form up over the coming weeks and months could have a say on where the Waterford News and Star Cup will find a home come October. A Patrick Hurney goal fro Abbeyside proved to be a mere consolation score, but did help improve their score difference which could well prove crucial at the end of the league phase of the competition.

The second game on the cards on Saturday evening was the clash between Ballyduff Upper and De La Salle.

The current champions were given a real fright in this game and were made fight right to the end to secure an opening round win against the side that were involved in a relegation play off last year.

Ballyduff Upper at the break held a 1-9 to 0-9 lead, the goal coming on sixteen minutes when former Waterford captain Stephen Molumphy did well to set up Shane Kearney.

Inside the closing ten minutes of the game Ballyduff Upper held a one point lead. They won themselves a twenty metre free all-be-it from a very tight angle and rather than try and put it over the bar, they opted to try and work the ball into a more favourable position but they were caught out.

De La Salle cleared the ball and sent it down field where Dean Twomey split the posts to level matters. A Jake Dillon goal for De La Salle quickly followed to send his side three points clear. Points from John Mullane and Jake Dillon followed to help De La Salle recorded an opening round 1-18 to 1-13 victory.

In the first game played at the Shandon Road venue on Sunday afternoon, last years runners up recorded a massive 5-15 to 1-9 win over Roanmore.

Dungarvan were always on top in this game. First half goals from Cormac Curran and Jamie Nagle helped Dungarvan to a 2-8 to 1-4 lead at the break, the Roanmore goal coming in stoppage time courtesy of Laurence O’Neill.

Dungarvan introduced Patrick Curran for his Senior Championship debut at the break and he had one to remember hitting a point inside twenty-five seconds of coming on and later hitting a brace of goals. Cormac Curran hit his second goal of the game for Dungarvan early in the second half.

The second game at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon saw Fourmilewater take on Lismore. This game was expected to be close and the two sides did not fail to disappoint.

The games only goal came on eight minutes, Dan Shanahan set up young Jordan Shanahan who impressed in this game to smash the ball past Brendan Lawlor.

The remainder of the first half remained evenly poised and after thirty minutes of hurling it was Jordan Shanahan’s goal that separated the sides as Lismore retired holding a 1-7 to 0-7 advantage.

Fourmilewater began the second half brightly. Maurice Shanahan and Jamie Barron hit early scores for their respective sides before Dermot Ryan and Jamie Barron hit points to leave just one between the sides.

Alan Lawlor levelled matters for Fourmilewater and which was followed with points from Diarmuid Wall and Shane Walsh which gave Fourmilewater a two point lead.

Lismore fought back however and on sixty minutes the sides were all square but three minutes into stoppage time Jamie Barron put over a long range free to give his side a 0-17 to 1-13 victory.

The final game of the weekend was played in Cappoquin on Sunday evening. Last years Intermediate champions were expected to put it up to Tallow who had a disappointing year last year having reached the final twelve months earlier.

First half goals from Thomas Ryan and William Henley helped the Bride-siders to a 2-6 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

A second Thomas Ryan goal early in the second half helped in no small part to a 3-8 to 0-10 victory.

Games in round two of this year’s championship take place this coming weekend, following which sides that lost this weekend could find themselves in a lot of trouble if they don’t win in round two.

Who will take the Waterford News and Star Cup off De La Salle.

Round one of this years County Senior Hurling Championship takes place this coming weekend with games to be played at three venues across the county.

City giants Ballygunner and Mount Sion get this years championship underway on Friday evening at Walsh Park.

Two games are down for decision at Fraher Field on Saturday evening. Abbeyside and Passage get proceedings under way at 6pm and is followed ninety minutes later with the clash between reigning champions De La Salle and Ballyduff.

Three games are on the cards for Sunday. Fraher Field again stages a double header; the first game sees Roanmore take on last years beaten finalists Dungarvan in the first game of the day and is followed with the meeting of Fourmilewater and Lismore which could well prove to be the game of the weekend.

The last game in the first round of games takes place at Cappoquin on Sunday evening when Tallow and last years intermediate champions An Rinn clash with the game having a 7pm throw in.

So who will win this years Waterford News and Star Cup. Right now its hard to tell as there is at least five or six teams who will feel that they have a very realistic chance of winning, with at least two or three others that are not far off the mark and who are capable of beating anyone on a given day.

De La Salle:

Last years champions were dealt a hammer blow last week when Stephen Daniels, one of their outstanding players over the past four or five years picked up a serious injury while playing a challenge game with the Waterford Senior Hurlers against Offaly.

He is set to miss most if not all the year and will leave a major void in the team. With Eoin Madigan and Conan Watt set to sit out the first round or two of games with injuries, it further weakens their team and will give confidence to the teams that they are set to play in the opening round of games.

These injuries will mean that Kevin Moran will be more important than ever in their own half of the field while in attack John Mullane and Jake Dillon will be the players that they will look to most for inspiration.

Dungarvan

Can last years beaten finalists repeat what they achieved last year and go that step or two further.

Whether they will do as good as they did last year  depends on what lessons that their youthful set up have learned. There is a theory that some have which states that to win a final you have to loose one first. De La Salle did it a few years ago and have won three finals since loosing with a young teams and now people are wondering can Dungarvan do the same.

Last year they looked for Gavin Crotty, Shane Kearney and in particular Jamie Nagle for leadership and they turned up trumps. They will need the threeo who are possibly the three most senior members of the first choice team to show the same leadership this year and will need others to do likewise.

They have some exciting young players coming through from their minor team last year like Ryan Donnelly, Kevin Daly and Patrick Curran. They have accumulated a lot of experience over the past few weeks playing against some of the best college sides in the country in helping Dungarvan Colleges and Dungarvan CBS to win All-Ireland Finals. Can they now play to the same level as they did on the colleges scene against players with considerably more experience. The next few weeks will tell.

Fourmilewater:

After a number of years knocking on the door and becoming the nearly team of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship, Fourmilewater made a major break through last year and reached the semi final stages of the championship where they lost our to Dungarvan.

The question just like in the case of Dungarvan after going so close last year can they go that step or two further this year.

They have players of the highest order in Liam Lawlor and Shane Walsh while Jamie Barron as made the break through to the inter county set up and in the games he has played as acquitted himself well. They are able to call on Conor Gleeson this year and is a player to look out for going into the future, not just in hurling but in a variety of sports.

If there is a weakness in the Fourmilewater team it could be in their full back line. If they are willing to rob Peter and pay Paul, playing Liam Lawlor at number three and maybe Brian Wall at six, then they in my view could go a long way in 2013.

Mount Sion:

Mount Sion last year reached the semi final stages of the championship which surprised some. They are a side that are said to be in transition. Many of the players that helped them win the last of their record thirty five titles are no longer playing but the likes of Tony Browne, Ken and Eoin McGrath as well as Ian O’Regan, all very experienced players are still available to them.

They have some good young players coming through in the likes of Ian Galgey and Martin O’Neill, both who have played for the county in recent years.

Add in the likes of Stephen Roche and Owen Whelan and you can see the standard of player that the Monastery Men are bringing through.

Its hard to see them adding to their Roll of Honour this year, but one thing you never do with Mount Sion is to write them off.

Ballygunner:

Ballygunner last year had a very disappointing year. While they reached the knockout stages of the championship, they did so not as easily as they did in previous years, and when they lost out to Mount Sion at the quarter final stages of the championship, many were somewhat shocked.

They have some considerable talent in their panel. They have Stephen O’Keeffe, Pauric Mahony, Shane O’Sullivan, Barry Coughlan and Brian O’Sullivan currently with the senior inter county team.

Outside of the five, throw in the likes of Wayne Hutchinson, Alan Kirwan, Harley Barnes, Ian Kenny and Stephen O’Sullivan, and you can see why the ‘Gunners’ in the eyes of many are the side that are most likely to challenge De La Salle for this years title.

Lismore:

Lismore are knocking on the door for some time now, but have not added to their three County Final’s since they won early 90’s.

They went out of last years championship at the quarter final stages of the championship, going under to De La Salle by the smallest possible margin despite getting wrote off by many ahead of the match when it became known that Maurice Shanahan would not be playing because of suspension.

Lismore’s biggest problem seems to be in the last number of years is get as many players firing on all cylinders on the one day. If and when this does happen then someone will get a hurling lesson from them.

Abbeyside:

Four or five years ago, Abbeyside looked like a side that were going to make a major breakthrough in the senior hurling championship. They reached the final in 2008 but were beaten by De La Salle and since then they have slipped back some what.

There may be a good reason for this. In the same time they are knocking on the door of the football championship, winning a number of titles, and maybe like many before them are finding it difficult to find a balance between the two codes.

They are in a very tough group this year and could well find it difficult to get out of it, especially if they miss Richie Foley for any lengthy period of the competition. Their opening game against Passage is going to be crucial to their chances in 2013, with it and it’s a case of Tuas maith leath na hOibre, but if they were to go under, they are playing catch up and will have a number of tough games to come.

Tallow:

The Bridesiders are the surprise team of the championship with the past two years. In 2011 they reached the county final and recorded some good results on route, but last year they were shocking to say the least, and were somewhat fortunate to make the last eight of the competition.

What Tallow side shows up in 2013 remains to be seen. Questions would have to be asked of those over the team last year, especially when it came to picking the team. They had a number of players that were playing in positions that appeared to be alien to them and after loosing Aidan Kearney mid way through the league stages of the competition, they found it very difficult to replace him as he was playing well up to that point.

If they can field a full strength side from the off this year which could include the likes of Thomas Ryan, James Murray, David and Paul O’Brien etc. they will be a match for most. A lot will depend on the form of Thomas Ryan, a player I have seen come up through the ranks from under ten at the Ballyduff Tournament. If he was to hit a few early scores in each game be it from play or placed balls, then there is no reason why they can’t reach the knockout stages of the championship.

Passage:

The side have acquitted themselves well since coming up to the senior ranks six years ago, culminating in reaching the semi finals of the championship in 2010. Since then however they have slipped back some what, reaching the quarter final stages of the championship in 2011 and missing out on a place in the knockout stages of the competition last year.

They have some quality players in the likes of Eoin Kelly, Noel Connors, Killian Fitzgerald, Mark Wyse and Tommy Connors.

Eoin Kelly and Noel Connors missed key games for them last year which was possibly the difference in them not reaching the knockout stages of the competition.

If they were to be able play a full part in every game in 2013, there is no reason why they cant reach the quarter final stages of the competition at the very least and from there, anything can happen.

Roanmore:

When a club reaches the senior ranks, their main target or hope for the next year or two is to try and retain their senior status, something that Roanmore have done since winning the intermediate county final in 2010. Now however, they have to show that they are capable of moving up to the next level and make an all out bit to reach the last eight of the championship.

There best results last year was a draw against Tallow and a win against Dunhill who were relegated one year after winning the Intermediate title.

In Gavin O’Brien they have a player of some quality. The question has to be asked and its only Roanmore that can fully answer it, do they over rely on the young forward. Most would suggest they do and have a point when they argue that if he is kept quiet they will struggle for scores.

Its hard to see them battling it out for a place in the last eight of the competition. Most would see them as one of the favourites to be relegated this year, but maybe such claims can be used to spur them on to prove their doubters wrong.

Ballyduff Upper:

The side from the North Cork/West Waterford border side won the Waterford News and Star Cup in 2007 but last year they needed to withstand the challenge of Dunhill in a relegation play off to retain their senior status for 2013.

They are set to be minus the services of Stephen Molumphy for a considerable portion of this year and he will be a major loss to them, and with uncertainty about the availability of Adrian Power, it could be another tough year for the side from the Village.

Many of their player now regarded as veterans, the emergence of the likes of Cian Leamy, Michael Kearney and Kevin Casey manages to bring down the average age of the team some bit.

They have one of the smallest pools of players not just in the county, but in the country, as they are surrounded by the likes of Lismore, Ballysaggart, Araglen, Ballygiblin, St Catherine’s, Kilworth, Fermoy, Castlelyons, and Tallow, and if they suffer injuries, which they are reported to be carrying going into this weekend’s round of games, then it could be another long year for them.

An Rinn:

An Rinn are back playing Senior Hurling having last done so in 2009 when they were relegated after just one season in the top flight.

They did well last year to come out of a very difficult Western Intermediate Hurling Championship ahead of the likes of Cappoquin, Tourin, Ardmore and Clashmore who many believe would have been a head of them in the pecking order to reach the top flight of hurling within the county and then went on to beat a disappointing Portlaw side in the county final.

They brought in Peter Power late last year and he set his seal on the team helping their first touch etc.

Last year they had a solid half back and centre field pairing which helped them to win first the western and then county finals, but they will have to be even more solid in the senior ranks if they are to help their club to retain their status for 2014.

Donie Breathnach is likely to be their stand out player, but Liam Ó Lonáin will also be crucial to their hopes as will Christy Breathnach who was key to both Dungarvan Colleges and Dungarvan CBS in their recent successes.

They have what they will see as a favourable opening game against Tallow which if they win will go a long way towards helping retain their senior status but if they loose, it could be a long difficult year, especially as they are a duel senior club. The club is hosting the Annual Comortas Peil competition at the end of the month and they will want to do well in that. If this is the case, they will have some considerable amount of preparation put in with the footballs in the past number of weeks and it remains to be seen what workload they have done in hurling.