Another big weekend lies in store for G.A.A.
Clubs in Waterford with two of the counties champions set to compete in Munster
Championship action.
Passage recently won their first Munster
Championship at Senior Level make their provincial debut at this level of
hurling when they take on Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh at the Gaelic Grounds
in Limerick on Sunday afternoon.
The Limerick side are one of a handful of
clubs that can boast a 100% record at this level of hurling, having never lost
a game, but this fact is somewhat disguised as they recently only won their
second county final, haven won their first title back in 2011.
The Limerick champions will go into this game
in a confident mood and are the clear favourites to advance to the Munster
Final where the opposition will be provided by Cork Champions Midleton or the
Clare Champions who are yet to be found.
However, Waterford sides often revel with the
underdogs tag attached to their backs and they will not leave the Limerick
sides dictate things the way the bookies are expecting.
At the start of the year, few if any would
have given Passage any chance of securing a first Waterford News and Star Cup,
but under Peter Queally, they have improved all year and are worthy holders of
the trophy.
The Limerick side are a side that will be
expected to feature some very good players.
They however will have to make changes to the
team which started their quarter final win over Tipperary champions
Loughmore-Castleiney as full back Kieran Breen was dismissed on a straight red
card two weeks ago and therefore misses this game.
David Breen, Jason O’Brien and Pat Gleeson
are also expected to play vital roles in this game, but the players that
Passage will have to keep a very close eye on are inter county pair Shane
Dowling and Kevin Downes.
Just like Na Piarsaigh, Passage are expected
to have to make changes to their county final winning team.
After the game, Inter county player Noel
Connors went abroad for a number of weeks and he is expected to be unavailable
for this game which will be a massive blow to the chances of Passage.
Liam Flynn and Richard Hurley are also
reported to be carrying injuries and if they along with Noel Connors were to
miss the game it would further dent the chances of Peter Queally’s charges.
However, no team is made up of one or two
players, and Passage will be able to call on some tried and tested players that
have played a part in winning a first county final recently to fill any voids. Players
like Sean Hogan, one of Waterford’s victorious All-Ireland winning minor team
have come on for Passage in many games throughout the year and played a vital
part, including scoring a late crucial goal against Ballygunner and if he was
to play a role from the start in this game, he wont let the side down.
Passage’s key player could well be Eoin
Kelly. The former inter county hurler over the year has hit some impressive
scores throughout the year, but there is some that would suggest that we have
not seen the best of him this year, and maybe it could be apt that we will see
him show exactly what he can do and in doing so win his side a place in a first
Munster Club final.
Passage will go into this game as the
underdogs and in the eyes of many if they were to get something from the game
it would be a major eye-opener, but maybe no so in Waterford, because we have
seen all year, that Passage can hold their own with what are perceived to be
better sides.
While Passage will be doing battle in
Limerick, another of Waterford’s County Champions – De La Salle will be in
action at Walsh Park.
Seamus Quirke’s charges last weekend drew
with Tipperary champions Ballyporeen at Clonmel after extra time meaning the
two sides will have to do it all over again to see who will play the Cork
Champions in the semi finals.
De La Salle last weekend played much of the
game with a numerical disadvantage having had centre back Thomas Kearney sent
off in the first half having collected a second yellow card.
At the break in that game, the Gracedieu men
held a 3-1 to 1-2 advantage at the break, Mitchell Casey and Jake Dillon with a
brace getting the goals. The latter started that game on the bench and went on
for the injured Paddy Kennedy and will be looking to start this time around
after his impressive contribution.
In the second half, the South Tipperary club
proved to be the better of the two sides despite Ian Cantwell hitting a fourth
goal for the side in white and red, as inter county footballer Conor Sweeney
showed his class bringing his side level and then into the lead with time
almost up, but a late Oran Keevers sent the game to extra time.
Both sides in extra time hit two points each
in the first extra period of ten minutes and in the second ten minutes period
with tiredness setting in, neither of the sides was able to find the score that
would have won them the game.
Playing in Walsh Park, a ground that De La
Salle will be very familiar with, will have to be a slight advantage for them,
and are given a tentative vote to advance to the next round of the competition.
A third big game is also scheduled for Sunday
afternoon, which could well attract a good attendance to Fraher Field.
Dungarvan and group side Saint Carthage’s are
set to clash in the Western Under 21 hurling final, a game which taking
conditions into consideration could well prove to be one of the games of the
year.
Both sides go into this game in fine form. Both
sides in their respective semi finals hit their opponents for seven goals.
Dungarvan against Abbeyside were the first of
the sides to have seven green flags waved, something that Saint Carthage’s
repeated last weekend when they beat fellow group side Comeragh Gaels in their
semi finals and in the quarter finals they again hit a very impressive tally
against Clashmore.
Both sides have some fine players to choose
from, suggesting that a good game lies in store.
For the Old Boro, Darragh Duggan, Kevin Daly,
Colm and Cathal Curran, Rian Crotty and Ryan Donnelly would be expected to be
amongst their key players, but they could well have to line out without the
brilliant Patrick Curran who broke his hand three weeks ago in his sides Minor
County Final loss to De La Salle at Walsh Park and if he was to miss out on
this game, despite his very young age, it would be a massive blow to his sides
chances.
Saint Carthage’s also have some quality
players in their line out.
The Barry brothers from Lismore – Sean, Ray
and Stephen are all fine players as are the Bennett’s Kieran, Shane and Stephen
from Ballysaggart. Through in Paudie and David Prendergast and there is some
considerable quality to be found in the Saint Carthage’s lineout.
This is a game that could go right to the
wire. It is one where the backs on both sides will have to be at the very top
of their game as there is plenty of danger to be found in the two respective
forward lines. The two teams also have two of the best young goal keepers around,
and they too will have to be at the top of their game if their side is to
advance.
This is the kind of game that the officers of
the Western Board could well be secretly hoping would go to a replay. If it
did, it would not be a major surprise. However, only one side can advance to a
county final in the coming weeks.
If Patrick Curran does miss out as suggested
for Dungarvan, it will make the group side the slightest of favourites to
advance to the county final. Even if the younger of the four Curran brothers
that have played senior hurling for Dungarvan this year is available, a
hesitant vote could be given to the group side to advance, with the Barry’s and
Bennett’s (with Stephen in particular) expected to play vital rolls.
