Waterford's Captain Fantastic, twenty four months to remember.

On October 31, 1990, ‘Captain Fantastic: My Football Career and World Cup Experience’ was published by O’Brien Press.

The book by Mick McCarthy told the inside story on the World Cup finals from the captain of Ireland s best ever soccer team.

The greatest moments from Italia 90, the thrills and disappointments were recalled by the Irish Captain whose family hails from the Tallow area of the county.

Mick in the book gave us an inside into the Irish camp from Malta to Rome and tells how Ireland prepared for their greatest ever sporting challenge.

The whole Italia 90 experience was recalled. Stories were told of the games played by ‘Jack’s Army’ at Cagliari, Palermo, Genoa and Rome. Tales of the players on and off the field were told. The unforgettable home received by Jack and the team was recalled.

Mick McCarthy was one of Ireland’s most important players, even if he was far from the Nation’s best ever player. He had a club career that began at his hometown Barnsley in then England’s Fourth Division and which culminated in being named Captain of the Ireland team at a period when Soccer was at an all time high on this Island.

Mick McCarthy towards the end of his career became known as the title of the book suggests ‘Captain Fantastic’.

On Sunday afternoon next, as we all know Waterford take on Galway in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final. It will be the fourth time that Waterford has appeared in the final. Wins were recorded in 1929 and 1948 but defeat was Waterford’s lot in 1992.

The first Waterford man to emerge from under the Cusack Stand on this Sunday will be team Captain Kevin Daly. The Dungarvan man over the past twenty four months has proven himself to be a top quality hurler and could be called Waterford’s Captain Fantastic.

Sometime after next Sunday, win, loose or draw, when all the hype dies down, the players will sit down each by themselves in their own time and think about the journey they have had and for the Dungarvan Man he will have to agree that the past two years were indeed a bit of a rollercoaster.

At the end of 2011 he was part of the Coláiste na Déise side that came through the group stages of the Dr Harty Cup, loosing just one game, against Midleton CBS at Ardmore.

After the Christmas Break in the schools, he was part of the combined colleges team that beat St Flannan’s at Tipperary Town in the quarter finals of the competition despite playing the whole game with fourteen players as team Captain Kieran Power was dismissed for an incident before the game started.

In the semi finals, the combined colleges were pitted with fellow Waterford side De La Salle College at Fraher Field. They say history does not repeat itself, but we know it does, and for the second game in a row, the combined West Waterford Colleges side had their numbers cut before the game started, this time it was full forward Kevin Daly that was banished to the stand before the game started for an incident spotted by the umpires who must have seen more than the large attendance in the stand saw as most would have agreed that a yellow for the Dungarvan Club man would be more than sufficient.

Despite again playing the whole game with fourteen men, the Dungarvan CBS and St Augustine’s College combination proved too strong for the city side to advance to the final.

Kevin missed the 2-14 to 1-10 win over Nenagh CBS in the Harty Cup Final at Cashel as a result of his sending off against De La Salle.

For the All-Ireland quarter final against Kilkenny CBS the Dungarvan man was back in contention for a place, but started on the bench, before coming on for Michael Kiely. After a very slow start by the Munster Champions, they settled as the game went on. Some strong players were sent on during the course of the game which strengthened the side and at the end of sixty minutes they had earned a draw. However in the extra twenty minutes played, it was the Kilkenny side that proved to be the better of the two sides and ran out winners 2-12 to 1-12.

The Dungarvan man’s year was not over however. He was part of a very young Dungarvan side that surprised man in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship, going all the way to the final, the clubs first appearance in the decider since 1951 but on the day they had to settle for second best against a stronger and more experienced De La Salle side.

A week later however, Daly and Dungarvan were back in Fraher Field for the County Minor ‘A’ Hurling Final, where the Old Boro came out on top in a 2-21 to 4-13 thriller against Saint Carthages.

After a long season with his club, Kevin Daly did not have much time to rest as he was back in action with Dungarvan CBS and Dungarvan Colleges in the Munster Senior Colleges Championships.

The two college sides with Daly playing a pivotal role for both sides, came through the group stages, and eventually reached the Munster Final of both competitions. In the Munster ‘B’ Colleges final (Corn Phadraig) Dungarvan CBS came out on top 1-22 to 1-15 after extra time in Golden on February 16 and just over a week later, Dungarvan Colleges with Daly playing in the centre of a strong half back line, proved no match for Our Lady’s from Templemore at Tipperary Town, winning 2-21 to 1-11.

Both sides again came through the All-Ireland series of games. Dungarvan Colleges again with Daly playing a key role beat Kilkenny CBS in the All-Ireland Final (1-12 to 1-7) at Semple Stadium on April 6, and just over a week later, he again stared for Dungarvan CBS in their All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ Final against St Mary’s from Belfast, winning 3-18 to 1-5 at Navan.

Again little time was given to the players to recuperate from a long Colleges season, as the County Minors were soon in action. In the days before the game against St Mary’s from Belfast, Daly and a number of other Dungarvan CBS team members were part of the Waterford team beaten by Tipperary in the Munster Championship.

A play off with Clare soon followed before the players had a break for the Leaving Cert and were back in action again as soon as the exams were over, taking on Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn. A first ever underage win on Cork soil set up a Munster Final with Limerick which ended in stalemate, and in the replay which followed, Waterford lost out to the Treaty men.

A game against Antrim quickly followed which proved to be a one sided affair and then a rare Croke Park win against Kilkenny was achieved in the All-Ireland semi final which set up this weekend’s game with Galway.

Throw in the fact that the Dungarvan man was also part of John Kiely’s plans with the Minor Footballers. He was part of a Waterford panel that trained once before beating Limerick in Fraher Field in the Munster Quarter Finals which set a Munster semi final against Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium and with little work done in the period between the game with Limerick and the game with Kerry, Waterford nearly pulled off a shock result in the Lions Den, loosing out 1-12 to 2-6.

He was part of the Dungarvan team that played five games in the group stages of the Senior Hurling Championship before the Old Boro were somewhat unlucky to bow out before the knockout stage of the championship began.

Take into consideration that Dungarvan have reached the semi finals of the Western Intermediate Football Championship playing six games to do so, the County Minor Hurling Championship is in progress and there is also the Under 21 Hurling and Football Championships, and you will agree it has been a long twenty-four months for the Dungarvan Man.

He will no doubt want the year to continue for a little longer yet, but when it does come to an end he will get some bit of a deserved break, before it all starts all over again.

It has been a fantastic last twenty four man. It can get even better. If Shortly after 2-30pm on Sunday he is leading Waterford up the steps of the Hogan Stand and he the first Waterford man to shake the hand of Archbishop Dermot Clifford who will be presenting the Cup to the winning Captain, the Dungarvan man can quite rightly consider himself to be ‘Waterford’s Captain Fantastic’.

 

Waterford seek third Minor All-Ireland Glory.

Appearances by Waterford at Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day, its possibly fair to say are a bit like hens teeth.

This Sunday, our Minor Hurlers for only the fourth time since 1929 appear in a final at G.A.A. headquarters, meaning, win loose or draw it is a day that should be remembered for a long time, one that will have to be recorded in the pages of history.

Waterford’s previous All-Ireland final appearances at Minor level have come in 1929, 1948 and 1992. The gaps between the appearances mean that no player that has played for Waterford in the latter two finals was born when the side previously played in the final.

If this trend was to continue, the players that will be taking to the field on Sunday afternoon will be coming to the end of their club careers the next time Waterford will appear in a final, but something is telling me that with the standard of players we are producing in Waterford right now, that the way might not be too long before Waterford are back in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day.

In 1929, Waterford had the likes of the Jimmy and Jackie Goode from Dungarvan in the team that went on to make a name for themselves on a bigger stage.

When Waterford next played in an All-Ireland (1948) it was the likes of Mick Flannelly who was the Waterford Captain on the day, Mickey O’Connor and Tom Cunningham that were the starts of the team. Just like the men of 1929, these and others from that team went on to make a name for themselves on the bigger stage.

When Waterford last appeared in a minor All-Ireland (1992), it was Tom Feeney, James O’Connor, Anthony Kirwan, Derek McGrath and Paul Flynn that were the Waterford players that in the years ahead that went on to make a name for themselves.

Have no doubt, win loose or draw this weekend, Waterford are going to have stars emerge from the present panel and if some do not go on to forge a name for themselves on a bigger stage, it will come as a major surprise to many.

Waterford to reach this stage of the competition has played seven games, and to reach this stage of the competition they had to play all four other teams from Munster which must be a record of sorts.

In the seven games that Waterford has played to date, twenty-five different players have been used by the selectors. This may seem a rather high number as most teams in recent years to win the final would have used approximately nineteen or twenty players, but the fact that Waterford have used a much higher number would show the talent that Waterford management have available to them and also show that any player can come in and do a job for the side if required.

Waterford’s ability to score cannot be questioned. Of the twenty five players used in the championship this year (which included two different goalkeepers), fifteen different players have got on the score sheet.

The Fifteen players that have scored for Waterford this year have shared twenty goals and one hundred and eleven points between them. At the opposite end of the field, Waterford has left eight goals and one hundred and twelve points past them.

Going into this weekends game, the Waterford selectors will have every confidence in their charges and this the way it could be, but if they have one worry it is that they have conceded a high amount of score able frees. We are told that Waterford are working on not conceding such frees in training, and if this is the case, then you have to feel that Waterford have an outstanding chance of winning on Sunday.

Waterford’s path to this years All-Ireland final began back on April 11 when Tipperary were visitors to Walsh Park.

For much of the first half in this game, Waterford looked to be the better team and would be advancing to a Munster Semi Final appearance with Limerick.

The home side lead 0-7 to 0-5 at the half way point in the first half, but at the break they trailed 1-10 to 1-9.

In the second half lead by the impressive Josh Keane, the Premier Men proved to be the better of the two sides and ran out winners with six points to spare to set up a Munster semi final meeting with Limerick while it was the qualifiers for Waterford.

On May 1, Clare were visitors to Fraher Field for a play-off game to see who would play Cork in the semi finals.

Waterford easily accounted for a fancied Clare side at Fraher Field at the second time of asking after the original fixture was called off at the same venue two weeks earlier as a result of strong winds which blew over the area on the night the game was to be played.

In an even first half, at the end of thirty minutes, Waterford proved to be the better of the two sides and retired at the break holding a 1-10 to 0-8 advantage.

However in the second half, Waterford proved to be well on top as Stephen Bennett hitting two and Cormac Curran one goal to Conor Gleeson’s first half strike to run out easy winners.

The Munster Semi Final was not played until after the Leaving and Junior Certs were completed.

On June 26, Waterford travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn for a game that proved to be an historic one for Waterford as a first ever victory for the Déise County in underage Munster Championship Hurling played on Cork soil was recorded.

The rebels got off to a rip roaring start in this game and lead 1-7 to 0-1 with just seventeen minutes on the clock. Waterford however despite the poor start were to finish the game the stronger of the two sides.

Trailing 1-7 to 0-4 at the break, Waterford came out for the second half putting 2-1 past Cork in the opening minutes of the half.

The remainder of the game proved to be an even encounter and it was no surprise when the game was brought to its conclusion, that the sides were locked 2-12 to 1-15 to send the game to extra time.

Two minutes into extra times Cork had a player sent off after collecting a second yellow card, something that was to have an effect on a tiring Cork team.

At the break in Extra time, the home side lead 1-18 to 2-14, but Waterford outscored the home side 1-5 to 0-2 in the second added ten minute period, Waterford’s goal coming from Substitute DJ Foran.

Waterford had to travel to Limerick on July 14 to play a Limerick side that had beaten a fancied Tipperary side at the semi final stages of the championship in this years final.

Waterford had to withstand a late surge by Limerick playing in front of a huge home local support came from behind to get a share of the spoils.

Waterford for much of the game proved to be the better of the two sides, and lead at the break by three points.

As they had done in the previous game with Cork, Waterford got the second half off to a flying start as Stephen Bennett put the ball in the Limerick net to extend Waterford’s lead.

With ten minutes to play, it looked as though Waterford were going to win rather easily, but Limerick’s late surge, which saw them see Ronan Lynch and Tom Morrissey rattle the Waterford net.

The replay took place on July 23, and many in Waterford had hoped that as Waterford travelled to Limerick for the drawn game that the replay would be played at Walsh Park or Fraher Field but the Munster Council fixed the game for Thurles.

Farcical scenes were witnessed before the game, when a late surge of fans turned up minutes before the game was to start and with only one stand open, supporters after getting inside the stadium trapped across the field to get entry to the Old Stand.

Limerick ahead of the game made some astute switches to their defence before the game in a bid to cut off the danger that the Waterford attack possessed and it worked as they raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Waterford hit back with goals from Stephen Bennett and Adam Farrell which left Sean Power’s men trailing 1-7 to 2-2 at the break.

The second half proved to be one where the ball went from end to end. Waterford took a 3-7 to 1-13 lead when Stephen Bennett crashed a second goal to the net and when the Ballysaggart man raised a third green flag it looked as though victory was going to be Waterford, but for the second successive game Limerick put in a late surge to run out winners.

Defeat for Waterford meant that the side were out again the following Sunday afternoon in the All-Ireland quarter finals against Antrim.

This was a game where Waterford was always on top in. Austin Gleeson a player that is getting rave reviews for his performances in the Waterford shirt this year was once again on top of his game and helped Waterford to a 0-11 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Waterford in the second half continued to be the better of the two sides as Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett both hit a brace of goals for the Munster side.

The game ended prematurely after a neck injury was suffered by Antrim’s J McCurdy forcing the Ulstermen to concede the fixture, in agreement with referee Justin Heffernan while waiting for an Ambulance to arrive at the venue.

The First of this year’s All-Ireland semi finals was played in Croke Park on August 11 against Kilkenny.

The Cat’s were expected to provide stiff opposition for Waterford, and so it proved to be.

First half goals from Adam Farrell and DJ Foran proved to be the difference between Waterford and Kilkenny in the first of this year’s All-Ireland minor hurling semi finals at Croke Park.

Waterford lead by two at the break 2-5 to 0-9, as the side south of the Suir proved to be the slightly better of the two sides, as Kilkenny were only staying in the game thanks to the unerring shooting of Alan Murphy from frees.

Waterford not for the first time this year had a very good start to the second half when Michael Kearney and Patrick Curran put over scores to extend Waterford’s lead.

However Kilkenny refused to throw in the towel and with eight minutes of the second half played only one separated the sides in Waterford’s favour.

With Twelve minutes of the game to play, just two points separated the sides and shortly afterwards it looked as though Waterford would be in trouble when Shane Bennett was ordered off after collecting his second yellow of the game.

Kilkenny however did not have a numerical disadvantage for too long as Eoin Kenny was sent off on fifty four minutes after he collected his second yellow of the game following a foul on Austin Gleeson.

DJ Foran put Waterford three up with as many minutes to play, but Liam Blanchfield responded with a similar score for Kilkenny but in the time that remained The Cats were unable to what they had scored and Waterford ran out two point winners.

Waterford’s opponents Galway are a site that will have to be respected. Since Waterford last appeared in an All-Ireland Final at this grade of hurling, the Tribesmen have appeared in fourteen finals, half of which resulted in wins for the side from the Western Province.

For most of these finals, Galway had Mattie Murphy in charge and he is again in charge this year. He is a hugely experienced manager and knows what it takes to win at this level. He has also served two stints in this time as manager of the Galway Senior Hurlers, winning six Connacht Senior hurling finals, but more importantly won two National League Finals. He also served as manager of the Mayo senior hurlers for a spell over a decade ago.

Galway’s first game in this years championship was against a Laois side easily beaten by Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

Galway secured their passage to the semi final stages of this years championship with a nine point defeat of the Midlanders.

In the first half, Laois put it up to Galway, and only trailed 0-9 to 0-7 at the break, but the Midlanders were somewhat unfortunate not to have been in front at the break as they had a Joe Campion goal on twenty one minutes ruled out.

Galway made a good start to the second half as Conor Whelan rattled the Laois net on thirty eight minutes. Laois did hit back and closed the gap to one at one stage but Galway hit the last eight scores of the game to win the game with some ease.

Controversy surrounded their semi final win over Limerick, as Hawk-Eye when called upon indicated that a Barry Nash effort that did go between the posts was shown on the screens around the stadium as a miss.

Aside from this, the game proved to be a cracker which at half time saw the sides retire locked at 0-8 a piece.

With a minute to go in Normal time, the sides were still level (0-15 a piece), but Galway looked as though they were going to claim victory when they pointed, but Limerick responded with a late point to force the game into extra time.

At the end of the first extra ten minute period, the Tribesmen held a 0-19 to 0-18 advantage, and when they added scores from Conor Whelan, Ronan O’Meara and Eanna Burke in the second ten minutes, there was no doubting as to what the final outcome of the game would be.

A Waterford team is not going to be named for at least another twenty-four hours. However, it is not expected that Sean Power and his selectors will make many surprising moves ahead of the game.

Gavin Power is expected to continue between the posts. Kevin Daly looks set to captain the team from the full back position and be flanked by William Hahessy and Cian Leamy.

Austin Gleeson, for many the real star of the team should well start at Centre back. Shane Bennett be at left half back and on the opposite side, the spot could well be between Tom Devine and Michael Harney.

In the middle of the field, one of the spots is likely to be taken by which ever from Tom Devine or Michael Harney that does not get a wing back position and Mark O’Brien.

At Centre Forward, it is expected that Colm Roche will get the nod, and he should be flanked by Portlaw’s DJ Foran and Adam Farrell, while the inside forward line should consist of Stephen Bennett on the edge of the square with Patrick Curran and Michael Kearney either side of the Ballysaggart Club man.

Having used twenty five players to date in the championship, Sean Power and his selectors have proven that they do have the potential to cause a surprise or two in the naming of the team.

However, when it comes to starting this weekend, of those that have not been named already, there are only three or four players that could realistically be considered as players who could be set to start, with Conor Gleeson and Cormac Curran the players most likely to win a place in the starting fifteen. The question is, if they do, at whose expense would it be?

Some great work is done with the promotion of hurling in Waterford over the past number of years. In recent years, some rewards have been achieved for this work. The ultimate pay off would be for Waterford to win a third All-Ireland final on Sunday afternoon, something that wont happen easy, but is something that is very doable.

 

 Waterford’s Path to the All-Ireland Final

11 April           Waterford 1-15           Tipperary        2-18     in Walsh Park

1 May              Waterford 4-18           Clare               1-10     in Fraher Field

26 June            Waterford 3-19           Cork                 1-20     in Pairc Ui Rinn (After Extra Time)

14 July             Waterford 2-19           Limerick          2-19     in Gaelic Grounds

23 July             Waterford 4-8             Limerick          1-20     in Semple Stadium

28 July             Waterford 4-20           Antrim             1-9       in Ashbourne

11 August        Waterford 2-12           Kilkenny           0-16     in Croke Park

 

Waterford Minor Hurling Panel

1.         Gavin Power               Dungarvan

2.         William Hahessey       Clonea                        

3.         Kevin Daly                  Dungarvan                 

4.         Cian Leamy                 Ballyduff Upper        

5.         Michéal Harney           Bonmahon                  

6.         Austin Gleeson           Mount Sion                

7.         Shane Bennett             Ballysaggart               

8.         Mark O’Brien              Ferrybank                   

9.         Tom Devine                Modeligo                    

10.       Adam Farrell               De La Salle                

11.       Colm Roche                Shamrocks                  

12.       DJ Foran                     Portlaw                       

13.       Patrick Curran             Dungarvan                 

14.       Stephen Bennett         Ballysaggart               

15.       Michael Kearney         Ballyduff Upper        

16.       Sean Clancy                Clonea                        

17.       Sam O’Neill                Erin’s Own                 

18.       Paul O’Connor            Clashmore/Kinsalebeg

19.       Conor Gleeson            Fourmilewater            

20.       MJ Sutton                   Ferrybank                   

21.       Cormac Curran            Brickey Rangers         

22.       Barry Whelan              Tramore                      

23.       Sean Hogan                 Passage                       

24.       Edmond O’Halloran   Clashmore/Kinsalebeg 

25.       Jack McCarthy            De La Salle

26.       Billy O’Keeffe            Ballygunner

27.       Peter Hogan                Ballygunner

28.       Shane Ryan                 De La Salle

29.       Christy Breathnach     An Rinn

30.       David Prendergast      Lismore

31.       Paul O’Toole               Roanmore

32.       Dermot Ryan              Fourmilewater

33.       Craig Brown               Erin’s Own

34.       Michael Cronin           Ardmore

Manager:       Sean Power                 Mount Sion

Selectors:        Kieran O’Gorman       Lismore

Wayne Power              Ballyduff Upper

John Treacy                 Passage

Physio:            Anthony Flanagan

First Aid:        Christopher Power and Tony Madigan.

Last eight are known in Waterford Senior Football Championship.

The Quarter finals of this years County Senior Football Championship were confirmed today with the playing of the last round of league games in group two, with the games in group one played on Saturday evening.

County Champions Stradbally have reached the last eight of the competition with a one hundred present record after they easily accounted for Kilrossanty at Fraher Field.

Despite going a point down early in the game, they had a great start to this game, putting the ball in the Kilrossanty net on four minutes. Robert Aherne sent in a testing ball around the Kilrossanty goal which looked as though it was going to be easily cleared by Kilrossanty, but the ball took two massive deflections of Barry and Mark Prendergast before beating a stranded Darren Mulhearne in the Kilrossanty goal.

Kilrossanty received a huge blow on the quarter of an hour mark when they lost Stephen Prendergast with a serious injury.

Despite he not been on the field and also short the services of Paul Whyte, they played their best football after Prendergast was helped from the field until the break and went in front after Patrick Cunningham hit a goal on twenty seven minutes and extended that lead moments later when Niall Walsh pointed.

However, they retired at the break trailing as Stradbally were able to hit a late well worked goal at the end of the first half to lead 2-4 to 1-6 at the interval.

In the second half it was all one way traffic as Michael Walsh, Christopher Casey, David Grey, Paddy Kiely, Shane Aherne and John Coffey all landed scores, with Kilrossanty’s sole response coming from William Brazil.

A 2-15 to 1-7 win for Stradbally despite playing to their best will have got people to sit up and take notice, while Kilrossanty who are also through to the quarter finals could find themselves in a lot of trouble if they don’t have Paul Whyte back for the next day, especially with Stephen Prendergast out.

At Kill, Clashmore came out on top in a very close game with Gaultier.

The side from the west of the county were through to the knockout stages of this years championship ahead of this game while defeat for Gaultier means that they will be contesting this year’s relegation play off.

The Barony men at the break lead 1-2 to 0-4 in this game, the goal coming from the very impressive coming from JJ Hutchinson who smashed a penalty past Declan Hickey in the Clashmore goal after he was fouled by Ciaran Bourke.

Clashmore began the second half as brightly as they began the first, hitting early points through Aidan Trihy and John Prendergast.

Ian Power hit a second Gaultier goal after he was picked out by JJ Hutchinson which gave Gaultier a 2-4 to 1-6 lead.

However, Clashmore were to end the game slightly the stronger of the two sides, to win by a point and with Brian O’Halloran coming back into contention for a place in their starting team after a long lay off with injury and if they can get Sean Fleming home from his Army duties, Clashmore could well prove to be one of the teams to watch in this years championship.

At the WIT campus in Carriganore, Saint Saviours proved too strong for Ardmore and in the process won a place in the knockout stages of this year’s championship.

The Ballybeg based outfit over the hour showed to be the hungrier side and in the end were worthy 1-15 to 2-5 winners.

The winners had a tonic start to this game and went five points to one up by the end of the first quarter with their scores coming from Seamus Byrne, Brian Power, Joey Phelan and Adam Brophy.

Ardmore however never let them get too far in front and were rewarded for doing so on twenty eight minutes, when hit the first goal of the game from the Penalty spot after John Gartland was upended and Clinton Hennessy made no mistake.

Leading 0-7 to 1-3 at the break, the City side began the second half well with points from Peter Crowley and Anthony Jacob.

Ardmore levelled matter on forty one minutes when John Gartland beat Paul Holohan.

Saint Saviours on the night proved to be the better of the sides, and they were rewarded for their efforts on forty-five minutes when Brian Power goaled to give them a 1-11 to 2-3 lead.

The final quarter proved to be an even enough battle but Ardmore needed a goal to get something from the game but never looked like getting one.

At Fraher Field on Sunday, Ballinacourty without ever reaching the heights that they can, proved to be forever too strong for Brickeys.

Brickeys had a great start to this game and lead 0-3 to 0-0 after just eight minutes.

But from here on in, there was only one team in contention, as Ballinacourty went in a the break with a 1-9 to 0-4 advantage on the scoreboard, the goal coming from Jason O’Brien who was quickest to react to a Michael O’Halloran side line kick that landed in front of the Brickeys goal.

Ballinacourty in the second half were in total control. Brickeys never really looked a side that would trouble their opponents who in the end ran out comfortable 1-20 to 0-6 winners.

At Stradbally, Shane Walsh made his return to action from a long lay off with injury coming on as a sub and finished the game with a tally of three points.

Rathgormack never looked a side that were going to trouble The Nire who at the break held a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage.

In the second half, without ever having to move up through the gears, The Nire stayed on top and although they conceded a late goal through Jason Gleeson who beat Thomas Wall with a well drilled low shot past the inter country reserve keeper, the score failed to ignite Rathgormack. Brian Wall kicked the last scores of the game for the Nire who ran out winners on a 0-12 to 1-5 score line.

Bushy Park was the place to be on Sunday afternoon.

There was those that felt that if there was going to be a shock result (of sorts) it was going to come between An Rinn who were short a number of their regular players and last years intermediate champions Ballinameela.

A goal on nine minutes from John Stack after he was quickest to react to the rebound after Tomás Ó Cadhla did well to deny Conor Buckley gave Ballinameela a 1-0 to 0-2 lead. An Rinn hit back with the next two scores of the game, but they went in trailing 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

The second half proved to be a low scoring affair as both sides struggled with their shooting in front of goals.

With five minutes to play, it looked as though An Rinn were going to win meaning Ballinameela were going to end up in a relegation battle, but a point from Jim Curran five minutes from time gave Ballinameela a share of the spoils and with it a place in the quarter final stages of this years championship.

In the quarter finals, there is a clash of the Champions as last years Senior and Intermediate champions clash. Back in 2010, Stradbally and Ballinameela clashed in the semi finals of the championship and it looked as though Ballinameela were going to cause a massive shock when they kicked a late goal to go in front in added time at the semi final stages of the competition, but Stradbally from the restart attacked the Ballinameela goal and kicked a point to send the game to a replay, which Stradbally won rather easily at Cappoquin.

The Nire and Kilrossanty meet in a repeat of a clash at the same stage of the competition last year. On that occasion, the sides finished all square after extra time and in the replay, it was The Nire that came out on top.

There is an all Western clash with the meeting of Clashmore and An Rinn in a game that could prove to be the tie of the round while Saint Saviours who are battling with relegation with the past number of years will take on a fancied Ballinacourty side.

The relegation play off this year is between Gaultier and Brickeys. Both of these two sides will know that they are capable of doing better than they have all year, and will be going all to secure their place in the senior grade in 2014.

Details of the fixtures are expected to be announced in the coming days.