All to play for ahead of last round of games in league section of senior hurling championship this Sunday

This Sunday promises to be a big day for all twelve clubs competing in this years county senior hurling championship.

Twelve clubs set out some months back in a bid to win this years News and Star Cup, and already six of that twelve have secured their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

While six clubs have secured their place in the quarter finals of this years championship, every club this weekend have a must win game for one reason or another, as final places in the table will decide who plays who in the next in the competition.

The four teams in Group A in this years championship advancing to the quarter finals are already known. Ballygunner, Passage, Dungarvan and De La Salle have all reached the quarter final places, but who finishes where in the group can still change.

At the other end of the group Portlaw and Ballyduff Upper have not won any of their four games played to date and the two meet to see which of the two will secure their senior status for another year and which will have to win a relegation play off game in the coming weeks.

In group B Fourmilewater and Roanmore have reached the quarter finals, but all four of the remaining teams, Mount Sion, Abbeyside, Cappoquin and Tallow still have a chance of advancing to the quarter finals while for one of them they will have play either Ballyduff Upper or Portlaw in a relegation play off.

The Group B games have a 2pm throw in on Sunday afternoon with games pencilled in for Cappoquin, Lemybrien and Fraher Field.

At Cappoquin, Fourmilewater and Abbeyside will do battle.

Fourmilewater will know going into this game that if they avoid defeat in this game they will win the group and therefore get what is in effect perceived to be the easier of the quarter finals, but looking at the four sides in group A there is no easy game going to come from that group.

They had to work hard last week to overcome the challenge of Cappoquin, but what it showed was the fighting spirit that is within the group not giving up till the final whistle is blown.

Abbeyside are set to play without John Hurney in this game as he was sent off last weekend against Mount Sion and are also without Mark Ferncombe who missed the last few games with injury. The loss of one would be a big one for Abbeyside. The loss of both is huge.

Abbeyside will know that they have to get something. Should they loose Sunday by a big score and Cappoquin and Tallow were to record a good win, then Abbeyside could be drawn into a relegation play of, but that is unlikely to happen as their score difference is superior to that of the two clubs further west.

Fourmilewater will get the nod to win this game, but Abbeyside despite missing players could make it very difficult for them.  

Mount Sion have had an indifferent start to this years championship but look to be coming good at the right time.

They had a good win last weekend against Abbeyside even without the suspended Martin O’Neill and his inclusion this weekend will strengthen them somewhat for this game.

Tallow were in last years county final but this year have not looked like a side that were going to do the same this year.

The Bride siders know that they have to win this game and even if they do win it might not be enough to spare them having to play a relegation play off.

These two sides meet at Lemybrien. As pointed out Mount Sion appear to be coming good at the right time and get the nod to win here.

The third game in group two takes place at Fraher Field.

For a long number of years Roanmore struggled somewhat in the senior championship but always did enough to secure their status for the following year.

This is the second year in a row that they have qualified for the knockout stages which shows the club is moving in the right direction.

Cappoquin did well to retain their senior status last year and this year they set a target of reaching the knock out stages.

The majority of the current Cappoquin team have come from successful underage teams in recent years. From watching Cappoquin down the years I have noticed that as the year goes on, and the longer they remain in contention in a competition, the better they seem to get. This was often at underage level however where it is often a little easier to instil confidence into a team, so it will be interesting to see will it transfer now to the adult grade.

Roanmore are often a very difficult side for anyone to beat and have pulled off wins in recent years that few expected of them. This is a game that could go right to the wire, but something is telling me, maybe it is knowing more what they can do, Cappoquin could emerge winners here.

In Group A games are pencilled in to start at 3-30pm at Walsh Park, Carrickbeg and Fraher Field.

Ballygunner and Passage meet at Walsh Park, where the winners will top the group.

Reports last week suggested that Ballygunner even without up to four first choice players looked very impressive when playing Dungarvan. Both sides had qualified for the knockout stages of the championship ahead of that game and the question has to be asked, how much of an effort did Dungarvan really put in during that game as they had a lot of their players involved in a delayed 2015 County Under 21 Final last Tuesday evening, and may have been holding something back for that game.

Passage last weekend had to work hard to overcome the challenge of Portlaw and a week earlier also worked hard to beat Dungarvan in the Sargent Cup Final at Fraher Field. There is nothing like a local derby game to bring a performance out in a side and we can expect both of these sides to go for it in this game.

Ballygunner have dropped just one point from eight so far in this championship to date, that a draw against De La Salle. While Peter Queally’s charges will put work hard as they have in their last few games, if Ballygunner are at full strength in this one, its hard not to see them win.

Dungarvan and De La Salle meet at Carrickbeg on Sunday afternoon. Both of these sides clashed in the relayed 2015 County Under 21 Final at Carriganore on Tuesday evening and a number of players from both sides will be in action again here. It’s a big ask to ask player to line out in there big games in just over a week.

De La Salle last weekend had a comfortable win over Ballyduff Upper but at times were made to fight very hard as at times no more than two pucks of the ball separated the sides on the score board.

Both sides have some quality players to pick from. Its suggested that Dungarvan might not be able to pick a full strength squad and that would suggest that De La Salle will win, but Dungarvan often love it when they are written off. If there is going to be a draw in this weeks games it could well be in this one.

What could be the big weekend of the game this weekend is the clash of Portlaw and Ballyduff Upper in what is a play-off to see who will avoid a relegation play off against a side from group B.

While both have yet to win a game in this years championship, there was signs last weekend that both could be nearing their best.

Portlaw made it very hard for both Dungarvan and Passage in the championship to date, and will feel that they can do the same this weekend.

Ballyduff have be struggling with injuries all year but last weekend Kevin Casey got some game time in late on in the game and if he starts this time around it will be a major plus to the side from the far west.

Portlaw will know having a much better score difference to Ballyduff Upper that a draw will be good enough to ensure that they are playing senior hurling next year. In the like of Paul Power, DJ Foran, Noel Kelly and Blake O’Connor they have the players to get a result, but Ballyduff Upper in the likes of Tom Feeney, Seamus Hannon, Shane Kearney, Mikey Kearney and Eoghan Murray also have the players to help them to a first win in this years competition.

Who will win here is anyone’s choice. It could go right to the wire. The Ballyduff players are more accustomed to playing at Fraher Field and therefore they get the nod to win and ensure that they are playing senior hurling again in 2017

Back to back titles for De La Salle.

These are exciting times for Camogie in Waterford.

Over the past number of years we have seen the club achieve a lot on the underage front.

Gailltir in particular have performed remarkably well at Féile na Gael over the past few years.

On the Inter County front we have seen Waterford win titles at Under 14, Under 16 and Minor levels.

We have seen Lismore win an All-Ireland Club Final and contest another final.

For many seeing Waterford win National League (Division two) and an All-Ireland Intermediate Final was the highlight of the great work put in within the county when  it comes to the game. To others, seeing Waterford compete in Division One of the league and in the Senior All-Ireland Championship this year was an even greater achievement than what was achieved in 2015.

Along the way there are some remarkable stories to tell. One such story is of the De La Salle Club.

They are only playing in the adult grades for two years and already have won the Junior and Intermediate titles.

They will play in the senior grade next year where they will face strong opposition in the likes of Lismore, Gaultier, Cappoquin and Saint Anne’s but from what we have seen from the side in white and red shirts, they will be serious challengers to their more experienced opponents, which all goes well for Camogie within the county.

While records will show that Dungarvan/Brickeys combination lost this game by eighteen points, there can be no disputing that this is a good side and it is only a matter of time before they are playing amongst the giants of the game within the county at senior level.

Right throughout this team there is some good players to pick from. They their quota of players that have played for the county at different levels as well on the colleges scene and have the medals to prove it.

Players like Kayleigh Veale, Taylor Murray, Kate McGrath, Katie Ferncombe, Caoimhe McGrath, Kaiesha Tobin, Dawn Power, Aisling Baumann and Molly Curran are all quality players, that will look to help this side to go one step further next year.

But last Saturday’s County Intermediate Final at the WIT Sports Campus in Carriganore was all about one team.

On the day De La Salle were outstanding. Beth Carton was outstanding on the day and hit 2-11 of her sides tally of 7-11, 1-8 of which came from placed balls.

While Beth Carton gets many of the headlines when it comes to games that she plays in, this is by no means a one woman team.

Brianna O’Regan is a brilliant young goalkeeper who no doubt will soon establish herself as the number one keeper within the county.

Elsewhere throughout the team they also have plenty of other stars. Taylor Healy, Rachel Butler, Niamh Murphy, Courtney Healy, Caoimhe Drohan, Katie O’Keeffe and Chloe Dempsey are all players of note, and sooner rather than later we will see many of them join team mates Beth and Brianna on the senior inter county set up.

On a weekend when it rained goals across the county, this game was no different. Chloe Dempsey hit the first of her sides seven goals on four minutes following up from a Ann Marie Tutty save from a Beth Carton effort.

Eight minutes later De La Salle had the ball in the Dungarvan/Brickeys net for the second time, after some good work by Ciara Twomey in the build up.

Beth Carton hit two more goals to give De La Salle a 4-5 to 0-4 a lead that stood at 4-6 to 1-4 at the break after Kaiesha Tobin finished to the De La Salle net.

Ciara Twomey kicked to the net for goal number five for De La Salle, and Aisling Madigan hit goal number six giving her side a 6-11 to 1-7 lead with five minutes still to play.

Ciara Twomey completed the route moments later to help her side win back to back county titles, but the side will know that the step up to the top flight next year will show how good the side is. One thing is for sure, from what we have seen from them in recent years, they are not going to be out of their debt, and it would not be a major surprise if they made it three titles in a row this time next year such is the talent that is in this set up.

De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Katie Ryan, Taylor Healy, Ciara Flynn; Rachel Butler, Niamh Murphy, Colette Hogan; Courtney Healy, Caoimhe Drohan; Ciara Twomey, Beth Carton, Katie O’Keeffe; Emma Fitzgerald, Chloe Dempsey, Liz McEnaney. Subs Used: Rachel Daniels, Becky Roche, Aisling Madigan, Patricia Farrell.

Scorers: Beth Carton 2-11, Ciara Twomey 2-0, Chloe Dempsey, Katie O’Keeffe, Aisling Madigan 1-0 each.

Dungarvan/Brickeys: Ann Marie Tutty; Kayleigh Veale, Sibeal Duggan, Taylor Murray; Clodagh Curran, Kate McGrath, Katie Ferncombe; Alice Hahessy, Caoimhe McGrath; Kaiesha Tobin, Dawn Power, Aisling Bauman. Isabel Wade, Molly Curran, Michaella Moran. Subs Used: Caoimhe Denmead, Amy O’Riordan.

Scorers: Kaeisha Tobin 1-2, Dawn Power 0-4, Aisling Baumann, Molly Curran 0-2 each, Clodagh Curran 0-1.

Thirty fifth County Final in a row for Ballymacarbry

A question to begin with.

What is the most successful club in any sport in the G.A.A.

I am sure a number of clubs will come to mind straight away from different counties. But I am sure when it all boils down, few if any can compare with the Ballymacarbry Ladies Football Club.

Formed in 1970, the club has won 35 of the last 35 County Senior Ladies Football Championships. That’s right, 35 out of 35. I am sure that few if any other clubs in any other county can compete with this record.

Yes, there may be times when the number of clubs playing senior from the number of available clubs within the county at the time might be small, but records show that over the past 35 years when it comes to the County Roll of Honour the name Ballymacarbry appears after the County Senior Football Championship in each of the last 35 years.

There most recent title was won on Sunday afternoon last when they overcame the challenge of near neighbours Comeragh Rangers at Kilmacthomas.

There was some, myself included that expected this game to be a close fought encounter. When the two sides had met in the championship earlier this year, both sides settled for a share of the spoils.

Comeragh Rangers are a much younger club than Ballymacarbry and in the last number of years they have invested a lot of time and energy in promoting the game under the southern slopes of the Comeragh Mountains. They have had players that played for the county at different levels with pride and distension. Players like Nora, Ann and Ciara Dunphy have worn the county jersey with pride over a number of years, and they also have some exciting young prospects, the likes of Keeley Corbett-Barry, Emma, Aoife and Katie Murray and Shauna Dunphy who are young and exciting prospects who already have achieved a great deal within the game.

They will feel that it is only a matter of time before that they can end the dominance of Ballymacarbry within the county at this level, and if they continue to believe it can happen, they can make it happen.

But it wont be easy.

This is a class Ballymacarbry act.

When they won their first final they had Michael Ryan, the former Waterford Ladies Football and Waterford Senior Hurling manager over the side. A Ryan link was also involved in the most recent win as Catherine Ryan, Michael’s wife, who herself was no mean footballer was a selector on the team and daughters, Michelle, Louise and Sinead who are also fine footballers were all playing on the team.

As pointed out already, this is a class Ballymacarbry team and this class can be found right throughout the side.

Lauren Fitzpatrick, Ballymacarbry’s net minder has played in the colours of Tipperary on the inter county scene. So too has corner back Treasa McGrath.

The side has also have players that worn the white and blue of Waterford. Karen and Michelle McGrath will need no introduction to supporters of Ladies Football. Neither do the Wall Sisters, Linda, Mairead who captained the side this year and their younger sister Aileen Wall who is one of the finest players to play on the intercounty scene in recent years.

At the break, Ballymacarbry were well up in this game as they turned around at a very wet Kilmacthomas venue leading 1-7 to 0-0).

Marian Ryan who finished top scorers for the winners with six points opened the scoring in this game on twenty seconds, and the side from the west of the county hit further points through Marian Ryan again, Sinead Ryan, Lauren Guiry and Michelle Ryan before Aileen Wall had the football in the Comeragh Rangers net for the first time on twenty four minutes, after a Marian Ryan free fell kindly to the crafty forward.

In the time that remained Michelle Ryan and Marian Ryan with her third of the game hit further points to give the winners ten point advantage at the break.

Both sides in the second half shared five scores each, but for the winners two of their five scores resulted in green flags.

Marian Ryan as she had in the first half began the half scoring two points, both from frees to stretch her sides lead to twelve.

Eibhlis Cooney hit her sides second goal of the game after some good work by Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan in the build up and they opened up an eighteen point lead (3-9 to 0-0) soon afterwards when Kelly Ann Hogan set up Sinead Ryan.

While the final score line to some suggests different, there is very little between these two great rivals.

The sign of a good team is not giving up no matter how far you are behind and in the final quarter of this game, Comeragh Rangers proved to be the better of the two sides on the score board as they hit points from Ruth Kirwan (two), while Geraldine Power, Shauna Dunphy and Aoife Dunne hit one each and Ann Dunphy was unlucky not to have hit a consolation goal for her side.

Ballymacarbry in this time hit just one score from Marion Ryan and her side now goes on to play Tipperary side Brian Borus, in the Munster B, semi final next month. The two sides met in the Munster B Final last year and the game resulted in a win for Ballymacarbry.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Teresa McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Becky Hogan; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Laura Mulcahy; Louise Ryan, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall, Eibhlis Cooney, Linda Wall; Marian Ryan, Sinead Ryan, Lauren Guiry. Subs Used: Kelly Ann Hogan, Maeve Ryan, Brigita Valuntaite, Michelle O’Gorman, Sadhbh Hallinan.

Scorers: Marian Ryan 0-6, Sinead Ryan 1-1, Aileen Wall, Eibhlis Cooney 1-0 each, Michelle Ryan 0-2, Lauren Guiry 0-1.

Comeragh Rangers: Coleen Power; Nora Dunphy, Ciara Dunphy, Caroline Murphy; Mairead Power, Marie Power, Keeley Corbett-Barry; Emma Murray, Eibhlin Power; Aoife Murray, Katie Murray, Geraldine Power; Kate Hahessy, Ruth Kirwan, Shauna Dunphy. Subs Used: Ann Dunphy, Aoife Dunne, Cora Murray.

Scorers: Ruth Kirwan 0-2, Geraldine Power, Aoife Dunne, Shauna Dunphy 0-1 each.

Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers clash in Senior Ladies Football County Final and Dungarvan and Na Déise battle in Junior Final

This years County Senior Ladies Football County Final takes place on Sunday afternoon in Kilmacthomas and not for the first time in recent years, neighbours Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers will be doing battle.

In previewing last years final on here, I felt that it could have been a very close final. Two attempts were needed to find the winner of last years final which Ballymacarbry eventually won to claim a 34^th successive final which has to be some sort of record.

The first game had to be abandoned after a lengthy delay following an injury to one of the Comeragh Rangers players and in the re-fixture a week later, Ballymacarbry showed all their experience to win out at the Dungarvan Club Grounds.

If I felt last years final was going to be close, I can’t but feel the same this year. The two sides already met recently and shared 2-7 to 1-10 draw.

That result will have both clubs going into this Sunday’s clash at Kilmacthomas in a confident mood and will spur them on to go that little further this time out, and to take home with them the Edith Kennedy Cup.

The Club in Ballymacarbry is one of the oldest in the county, being founded in 1970 four years before the Ladies Football Association was founded. On the other hand, the Comeragh Rangers Club is a relatively new one as it was founded in 1999.

The two sides go into the game with plenty of experience that they can count on. But its not just experience that both are built on, both have also invested time and energy into the youth of their respective areas in recent years and they have produced some very good players, some of whom could at this stage be classed as experienced as well.

To those that follow Ladies Football within the county, many of the Ballymacarbry side will need no introduction.

They have players of high ability right throughout their side. Michelle, Louise and Sinead Ryan, Linda, Mairead and Aileen Wall as well as Michelle and Karen McGrath as regulars in the Waterford senior team and have between them won a considerable amount of medals with both Club and County.

No team is complete with eight players, even if they are of the standard already mentioned. Lauren Fitzpatrick and Treasa McGrath are also key to Ballymacarbry and both have played for Tipperary. Throw in the likes of Laura Mulcahy, Becky Hogan, Becky Desmond, Marion Ryan and Lauren Guiry and you can see that this Ballymacarbry team is indeed a very good one.

If Ballymacarbry have a team build on experience and youth, the same can be said of Comeragh Rangers.

Just as some of the Ballymacarbry players are household names, the same could well be said of Comeragh Rangers.

Nora, Anne, Ciara and Shauna Dunphy have all played for the county and have won honours in the white and blue shirt of Waterford. So too have the brilliant Murray triplets, Emma, Aoife and Katie.

And just as is the case with Ballymacarbry, Comeragh Rangers are not a complete side with their most recognisable faces.

They too have some experienced and young players in the likes of Aisling Hahessey, Geraldine, Mairead and Eibhlin Power as well as Aoife Dunne who are all top class players.

The side from the Eastern Side of the county also will be able to call on the experience of many of the players that helped Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-on-Suir earlier this year to win the Senior ‘A’ All-Ireland final.

This game could go right to the wire. It may not even be decided on the day. Those on the line will also play a roll. Both management teams will have to keep a close eye on what is happening and be able to make any necessary changes at the right time. Should Joe Murray along with Declan Hahessey and Stephen Fitzgerald be not able to react to what Mike Guiry, Catherine Ryan, Gerry McGrath, Áine Wall and Caitriona Casey do and vice versa then the game could be won easily for one side or the other.

The game in Kilmacthomas on Sunday afternoon has a 1pm throw in. Who will win this game? Right now, I wish I knew so that I could find a bookie that would take a few Euro off me and me of them in return.

Before this game, the County Junior A Final between Dungarvan and Na Déise will take place at the same venue with the game having an 11am throw in.

Dungarvan were relegated from the Junior ranks last year for this years competition and will be looking to go back up at the first time of asking, while Na Déise appeared in last years Final and looked as if they were going to capture the title against Comeragh Rangers second string side but were hit for a couple of late goals near the end.

They will be looking to go that one step further this year and make up for the disappointment of twelve months ago and will see what can be done if they do go up as their opponents last year, who won the Junior B Final in 2014 went on to contest the Intermediate Final within the county in recent weeks.

Just as in the case with the senior game, both of these sides have nice blend of young and experienced players.

For the Old Boro, Lauren McGregor and Ciara Hurley would have played for the Waterford senior team this year and their experience is going to be vital as will players like Aisling Baumann, Aoife Nagle and Beckie Hurley.

For Na Déise Mary Kate Morrissey and Bronagh Condon would have played for the Waterford Senior team while Trisha Kiely would have done so in the recent past while the likes of Mary Kate Curran and Abbey Dalton are players that we will see and hear a lot more about in the next few years.

Like the senior game between Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers which follows this one, expect Dungarvan and Na Déise to fight out a terrific battle which could well go right to the wire.

The winner of both finals go on to represent Waterford in the Munster Club Championships in the coming weeks.

Understrength Ballinacourty too strong for depleted The Nire

Ballinacourty produced a very strong second half showing at Fraher Field on Friday evening last to overcome the challenge of The Nire in the fourth round of games in this years County Senior Football Championship.

Both of these sides were without players that would normally have played in this game. The eventual winners were short up to four players while The Nire were short the services of seven players that they normally would have started.

Early in the game despite The Nire missing the greater number of first choice players started the brighter of the two sides and with seventeen minutes played, things were looking good for them as they held a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage on the scoreboard.

The Ballymacarbry based club opened the scoring on three minutes with a Shane Walsh point and the same player followed up two minutes later with another from a free.

Patrick Hurney registered Ballinacourty’s first score of the game on seven minutes but in the next ten minutes, The Nire hit a brace of Darren Guiry scores and another from a Shane Walsh free to give his side a four point lead.

The games first goal came quickly after Shane Walsh’s second score of the game. Ballinacourty attacked The Nire goal from the kick out and when Michael O’Halloran found Gary Hurney in front of the Nire goal, the former Inter county duel player made no mistake in beating stand in keeper Stephen Ryan. And when Richie Foley pointed two minutes later the sides were locked together on the score board.

Points from John and Patrick Hurney on twenty two and twenty three points edged Ballinacourty in front for the first time which was followed with Dylan Guiry and Patrick Hurney swapping scores to keep two between the sides.

In first half added time The Nire proved to be the stronger of the two sides as two of their more experienced players on the night, firstly Shane Walsh from a free and then Jamie Barron from play put the ball between the uprights to send the sides to the dressing rooms locked 1-5 to 0-8.

If the first half was an even affair, the same could not be said of the second half as Ballinacourty proved to be the better of the two sides, and in the course of the thirty plus minutes played held The Nire to just three points.

Gary Hurney and Richie Foley pointed in the opening two minutes of the half to give their side a two point lead which was halved soon afterwards when Ciaran Looney pointed for The Nire on thirty five.

The Nire looked as if they were going to go back in front on thirty six minutes as Kenny Brazil tried to beat Stephen Enright in the Ballinacourty goalkeeper but the established number one keeper in the county did brilliant to keep the size five from hitting the net behind him.

Shane Walsh did level matters a minute later when he put over another free for his side but this was as good as it got for them.

Within a minute of Shane Walsh’s score Ballinacourty opened a good lead on their opponents. Shane Briggs attempted to put over the cross bar but his effort came crashing high off the upright and fell to James McGrath who as he was about to catch the ball, slipped allowing Neil Montgomery to slip in and beat Stephen Ryan from close range.

Points from Richie Foley and Gary Hurney helped establish a 2-9 to 0-10 lead for Ballinacourty with forty six minutes played, and a minute later it looked curtains for The Nire as Shane Donovan attempted his luck for a third Ballinacourty goal but his shot flashed across the face of the goal and went wide.

A brace of Patrick Hurney scores and one from Michael O’Halloran had Ballinacourty well in front (2-12 to 0-11) by the time James McGrath hit his sides last score of the game with five minutes remaining.

Michael O’Halloran hit the last score of the game on sixty one minutes to record a comfortable eight point win but on another day The Nire will feel that it could well be their day even without the seven regulars they did not start with as either side of Michael O’Halloran’s point, Thomas O’Gorman blasted across the face of the Ballinacourty goal when he was played through and just before the full time whistle Stephen Enright again did well to keep a Keith Guiry effort out.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Conor McCarty, Brian Looby, David Collins; John Elstead, Shane Briggs, John Hurney; Seán O’Hare, James O’Mahony; Richie Foley, Patrick Hurney, Neil Montgomery; Shane Donovan, Gary Hurney, Michael O’Halloran. Subs: Michael Maher for Neil Montgomery (51), Mark Fives for John Hurney (53), Evan Collins for Richie Foley (58), Patrick Lynch for Brian Looby (60).

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-5 (2f), Gary Hurney 1-2, Richie Foley 0-3, Neil Mountgomery 1-0, Michael O’Halloran 0-2, John Hurney 0-1.

The Nire: Stephen Ryan; James McGrath, Thomas O’Gorman, Jake Mulcahy; Seamus Lawlor, Maurice O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney; Ciaran Looney, Shane Walsh; Dylan Guiry, Craig Guiry, Jamie Barron; Keith Guiry, Darren Guiry, Kenny Brazil. Subs: Diarmuid Murphy for Kenny Brazil (52), Justin Walsh for Tommy Cooney (52), Conal Mulcahy for James McGrath (57).

Scorers: Shane Walsh 0-5 (4f), Darren Guiry 0-2, Dylan Guiry, Jamie Barron, Ciaran Looney, James McGrath 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane

Passage Late Late Show helps secure Silverware

As the signature tune to the Late, Late Show was starting on RTE1 last Friday evening, a Late, Late Show of a different sorts was unfolding at Fraher Field in Dungarvan.

Passage East Hurling Club are no strangers to late fightbacks coming from behind to pull off a victory that few if any could have seen as the game neared its closing minutes.

Who will ever forget the way they won their first and so far only County Senior Hurling Championship back in 2013. Seven points down with as many minutes to play against their near neighbours Ballygunner, they staged a remarkable fightback at Walsh Park and won the game by three points hitting some crucial goals near the end of the game.

On Friday evening they did it again.

This time the setting and the competition was different but the outcome was the same, and just as in 2013 their fightback was reward with silverware going back to the club on the banks of the River Suir just before it flows into the Atlantic Ocean down river at Dunmore East.

Dungarvan in this game played without three players that were due to be part of the Waterford Under 21 panel on the following day while Passage were as near to full strength as you could imagine.

When the sides clashed in the championship earlier this year it was the Old Boro side that ran out winners and without their three under 21 inter county players many were wondering how much they would affected.

Early in the game it looked as if Dungarvan were going to be up against it in this game, as they went under by four points within ten minutes of the game starting.

Killian Fitzgerald opened the scoring with a brace of frees on two and three minutes, before Adam Roche put over from play which Killian Fitzgerald followed up with another pointed free on nine minutes.

Dungarvan however were soon into their stride and on thirteen minutes Cormac Curran on free taking duty in the absence of younger brother Patrick put over a free which was followed with a Ryan Donnelly effort from play.

Cormac Curran landed another free on sixteen minutes and when Liam Ryan followed up with a score from play to level matters with twenty minutes played.

Ryan Donnelly edged Dungarvan in front for the first time on twenty two minutes before Killian Fitzgerald levelled matters once more. Cormac Curran and Killian Fitzgerald swapped scores inside a minute of each other before Dungarvan went in front once more with a brace of Cormac Curran frees which meant that his side went to the dressing rooms at the break leading 0-8 to 0-6.

By the end of the third quarter of this game the Old Boro side had edged five points in front on the scoreboard.

Killian Fitzgerald with another free and Eoin Healy traded early scores in the second half which was followed by a Hat-trick of scores from Cormac Curran between the thirty fourth and thirty seventh minutes, two of which were from frees and one from play to give Dungarvan a 0-12 to 0-7 lead.

In the following seven minutes things proved to be a tight affair as Liam Ryan and Sean Hogan swapped scores which was followed by Cormac Curran and Patrick Flynn doing likewise after the latter was only on the field a few seconds.

Richard Hurley pointed for Passage on forty six minutes which was quickly followed with another Cormac Curran score and with eight minutes remaining Liam Flynn pointed for the eventual winners.

There was questions been asked would this game go to extra time if the game was to end in a draw or would there be a replay. With an 8-30pm start on what was a wet day few if any would have wanted the game to go to Extra time and it would have been interesting to see how many would have stuck around if the game did end in a draw and the sides had to play extra time.

The possibility of the game ending in stalemate grew even closer six minutes from time.

Those that are regular attenders of games at Fraher Field when played under lights would have you wondering was their some sort of curse in defending the country goal.

A few weeks back we saw Tallow and Abbeyside play at the same venue. During the course of the game a high cross field ball from under the stand was dropped in around the Abbeyside goal that evening and as the ball fell at the far post it appeared that the Abbeyside defending players lost sight of the flight of the ball while looking up at the lights and the ball went into the back of the Abbeyside net.

There is some that says that history does not repeat itself but it did here. From under the stand around the middle of the field Killian Fitzgerald sent in a high dropping ball around the Dungarvan goal and with the Dungarvan defence trying to keep and eye on the ball as it dropped while looking into the lights somehow if went straight to the net.

In soccer, the colour of the ball is often changed when games are played under lights and maybe the same could happen in hurling as looking up into the lights in hurling at times the white sliotar is hard to see. Maybe we could see a red, pink or orange sliotar used for night games soon but that is for another day to decide.

With just one point between the sides in Dungarvan’s favour, Passage drew level on fifty six minutes when Patrick Flynn hit his second score of the game which was followed with an Eoin Kelly point which game his side the lead for the first time since Ryan Donnelly edged Dungarvan in front on twenty two minutes.

Another former inter county player Jamie Nagle pulled the sides level again on fifty seven minutes and now people were defiantly asking would the game go to extra time or a replay if needed.

However there was no need for such questions to be asked as Callum O’Neill blasted low and hard for Passage past Daren Duggan on the hour mark to give his side a three point advantage and in added time Killian Fitzgerald from play secured victory was going to go to Passage when he put over his final score of the game.

Passage: Eddie Lynch; Darragh Lynch, Jason Flood, Gary Cullinane; Adam Roche, Stephen Mason, Richard Hurney; Noel Connors, Pa Walsh; Mitchell Baldwin, Sean Hogan, Killian Fitzgerald; Liam Flynn, Eoin Kelly, Owen Connors. Subs: Patrick Flynn for Stephen Mason (44), Callum O’Neill for Richard Hurley (54).

Scorers: Killian Fitzgerald 1-7 (4f), Callum O’Neill 1-0, Patrick Flynn 0-2. Adam Roche, Sean Hogan, Richard Hurley, Liam Flynn, Eoin Kelly 0-1 each.

Dungarvan: Darren Duggan; Luke Egan, Michael Kiely, Joe Allen; John Curran, Kieran Power, Eoin Healy; Gavin Crotty, Conor Sheridan; Jamie Nagle, Colm Curran, Liam Ryan; Sean Ryan, Cormac Curran, Ryan Donnelly. Subs: Aaron Donnelly for Gavin Crotty (Blood sub 27-half time), Aaron Donnelly for John Curran (Half Time), John Curran for Ryan Donnelly (41).

Scorers: Cormac Curran 0-10 (8f), Ryan Donnell Liam Ryan 0-2 each, Eoin Healy, Jamie Nagle 0-1 each.

Referee: Noel Kelly.

Stradbally remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship

Stradbally had to fight hard to ensure they remained unbeaten in this years County Senior Football Championship on Sunday afternoon last at Fraher Field against Clashmore, where they had a three point win.

The all important score of the game came five minutes from time. Clashmore were playing their best football of the game at this time but they lost corner back Kieran Connery on a black card for a foul on Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh in the middle of the field.

And while they prepared Mark Nugent to come on, as his replacement, the resulting free was taken fast and sent in to Robert Ahearne in front of the Clashmore goal and the towering forward made no mistake in beating Darragh Curran from Close range.

It was Clashmore that were first out of the traps in this game when Brian O’Halloran put over a free after three minutes.

The reigning champions however came storming back and hit points through Jack Mullaney, Shane Ahearne and a brace from Eoin O’Brien to go 0-4 to 0-1 up after ten minutrs.

Edmund O’Halloran cut the Stradbally lead to two before Declan Allen hit Clashmore’s final score of the opening half on twelve minutes.

The Cove Men however would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Robert Ahearne with a fisted effort on seventeen minutes followed with efforts from Tommy Connors and another from Robert Ahearne ensured that Stradbally went to the dressing rooms leading 0-7 to 0-3.

The standard of football played in the third quarter by both sides was very poor, but the sizeable attendance would have to ask how much of this was down to the very strong wind which blew throughout making it difficult for two sides who can play good football at times to do so.

Just two points were shared in the third quarter of the game. Eoin O’Brien was first to score on thirty-nine minutes and four minutes later Brian O’Halloran put over a free to keep four between the sides.

For ten minutes of the final quarter the best football of this game was played by both sides.

Edmund O’Halloran pointed on forty-five minutes which was followed by a Tadhg De Búrca effort to leave two between the sides.

Shane Ahearne made it a three point game when he pointed on forty-seven minutes, but when Fintan Breathnach, Tadhg De Búrca and Brian O’Halloran pointed between forty eight and fifty one minutes the sides were level for the first time since the fifth minute.

Robert Ahearne followed up with a point a minute later and when the same player finished to the net five minutes from time it was looking good for Stradbally.

Brian O’Halloran put over a free three minutes from time which gave The Still Men some hope but it was quickly followed with another Shane Ahearne free.

Clashmore brought the scoring to a close a minute into added time when Brian O’Halloran put over another free, but it proved to be but a mere consolation score.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Luke Casey, Kevin Lawlor, Cathal Cusack; Paddy Kiely, Shane Lannon, Tony Grey; Michael Walsh, Tommy Connors; Daniel Weldon, Robert Ahearne, Jack Mullaney; Paul Tobin, Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Subs: Christopher Casey for Eoin Cunningham (45).

Scorers: Robert Ahearne 1-3; Shane Ahearne (1f), Eoin O’Brien 0-3 each, Jack Mullaney, Tommy Connors 0-1 each.

Clashmore: Darragh Curran; Shane Russell, Ciaran Burke, Kieran Connery; Aidan Trihy, Tadhg De Búrca, Seán O’Connor; Seán Bourke, Jason Seaward; Edmund O’Halloran, Brian O’Halloran, Declan Allen; Paul O’Connor, Sean Fleming, Paddy Fitzgerald. Subs: Fintan Breathnach for Paul O’Connor (42), Phil Dee for Seán O’Connor (43), Gavin Dower for Paddy Prendergast (51), Mark Nugent for Kieran Connery (55 Black Card).

Scorers: Brian O’Halloran 0-5 (4f), Edmund O’Halloran, Tadhg De Búrca 0-2 each, Declan Allen, Fintan Breathnach 0-1 each.

Referee: John Condon.

Déise Blitz Galway to Win Under 21 Hurling Title

A new generation of hurlers were inspired when Waterford won the All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Final in 1992 to go on bigger and better days in the next two decades and expectations are that the same will happen in the coming years after Waterford blitzed Galway to win this years Under 21 Final at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.

From the first puck to the last the side managed by Sean Power proved to be the better of the two sides.

When the two counties clashed in the Minor All-Ireland Final in 2013, it needed a point from Tom Devine late in the game to inspire Waterford to victory.

Expectations this time around that this meeting of the two sides would be even tighter and there was even some that were not happy that Waterford went into the game as the clear favourites, a title that seldom if ever sits well on the shoulders of any Waterford side.

Both sides made changes to the sides that had beaten Dublin and Antrim in the semi finals at the same venue a few weeks back.

Tony Ward brought Vincent Doyle and Sean Linnane into the team after impressing in their sides win over Dublin after coming on as subs, with Fintan and Cian Burke the players to miss out.

The Tribesmen also were able to start with Conor Whelan who was reported to be a doubt for the game after sustaining an injury over Dublin while Sean Power was able to restore Jordan Henley between the posts after he missed out in the semi final where he was replaced by Gavin Power. Team manager Sean Power was also able to start with Tom Devine who underwent a pre match fitness test following reported concerns that he was carrying an ankle injury.

Waterford qualified for the All-Ireland Final with a series of impressive results over Clare, Tipperary and Antrim and again impressed in this one.

Those expecting a closely fought contest (myself included) would be left disappointed as Waterford proved the old adage that goals win games was true as they hit five past the Tribesmen, three in the first and two in the second half, Stephen Bennett hitting two, while younger brother Shane as well as DJ Foran and Patrick Curran all hit one each.

Waterford had a dream start to this game as DJ Foran hit the first goal of the game inside forty seconds of the start, after some good work by William Hahessey in clearing out of defence.

Brian Molloy opened Galway’s account with pointed free on four minutes, and followed up with another point this time from play two minutes later.

Patrick Curran edged Waterford two in front on seven minutes when he put over his first score of the game from a free, before the same player put Waterford three in front this time with an effort from play which was followed with another Brian Molloy free after Austin Gleeson was booked for a high challenge on Sean Linnane.

Patrick Curran put over another free on eleven minutes, and when the same player followed up with 1-1, the goal coming on twelve minutes after he was picked out by DJ Foran, Waterford were in cruise control.

Stephen Bennett hit the first of his goals on fourteen minutes, after some good work by Patrick Curran, which was followed by another point from the impressive Dungarvan club man which gave Waterford a 3-5 to 0-3 lead with sixteen minutes showing on the clock.

Kevin McHugo and Mickey Kearney swapped points for their respective sides, before the Ballyduff Upper Club man hit his second of the game to give Waterford an impressive twelve point lead with seven minutes of the first half still to play.

Tom Devine and Brian Molloy swapped points before Austin Gleeson gave Waterford a thirteen point lead with a pointed free on twenty eight minutes.

Brian Molloy with another free cut Waterford’s lead to twelve on the stroke of half time, and in added time Waterford restored a thirteen point advantage, going to the dressing rooms 3-10 to 0-6 in front when Austin Gleeson put over his second of the game following a good pass from Darragh Lyons.

Galway needed a good start in the second half if they were going to get back into this game.

They hit points from Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan, Brian Molloy, another from Linnane and Eanna Burke to cut Waterford’s lead eight seven minutes after the restart, but it was goals that the Tribesmen needed if they were to get back into contention in this game.

Patrick Curran hit Waterford’s first score of the second half with a free, before Eanna Burke hit his second of the game to leave his side trailing 3-11 to 0-12 with forty-eight minutes played.

Waterford hit a fourth goal a minute later when Stephen Bennett sent the ball across the face of the Galway goal and younger brother Shane flicked to the Galway net from close range to effectively kill off any chance that Galway had of getting back into this game.

Patrick Curran who was brilliant throughout for Dungarvan pointed with eight minutes remaining to give Waterford a clear Four goal advantage (4-12 to 0-12) on the score board.

Eanna Burke and Patrick Curran swapped scores to keep twelve between the sides with four minutes of the hour remaining, and a minute later Waterford rattled the Galway net for a fifth time when Stephen Bennett, pulled an Austin Gleeson sideline cut out of the sky and finished to the net from a tight angle, giving Waterford a fifteen point lead.

While Galway did pull a point back through Conor Whelan, it was Waterford that closed the scoring with a Shane Bennett point on the hour mark, and three minutes into added time Man of the Match Patrick Curran put over a free from the half way line to give Waterford a sixteen point victory.

Waterford: Jordan Henley; William Hahessy, Conor Gleeson, Darragh Lyons; Míchéal Harney, Austin Gleeson, Conor Prunty; Mark O’Brien, Shane Bennett; Colm Roche, Tom Devine, DJ Foran; Michael Kearney, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran. Subs: Adam Farrell for Tom Devine (56), Dermot Ryan for Darragh Lyons (57), Billy O’Keeffe, for Micheal Harney (60), Barry Whelan for William Hahessy (61), Peter Hogan for Shane Bennett (61).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 1-9 (0-6f), Stephen Bennett 2-0, Shane Bennett 1-1, DJ Foran 1-0, Michael Kearney, Austin Gleeson (0-1f) 0-2 each, Tom Devine 0-1.

Galway: Cathal Tuohy; Conor Jennings, Darragh O’Donoghue, Declan Cronin; Vincent Doyle, Shane Cooney, Sean Loftus; Darragh Dolan, Dan Nevin; Kevin McHugo, Brian Molloy, Sean Linnane; Thomas Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Eanna Burke. Subs: Eamon Brannigan for Thomas Monaghan (half-time), Jack Grealish for Kevin McHugo (42), Fintan Burke for Dan Nevin (55), Cian Burke for Sean Linnane (60), Adrian Morrissey for Darragh Dolan (60).

Scorers: Brian Molloy 0-6 (0-3f), Eanna Burke 0-3, Sean Linnane, Conor Whelan 0-2 each, Kevin McHugo 0-1.

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny)

Stradbally remain unbeaten in Senior Football Championship with win over Kilrossanty

Stradbally made it three wins from three games in this years senior football championship at rain lashed Fraher Field on Sunday evening and in the process secured their place in the knockout stages of this competition possibly as the top seeded team in group A after a win over Kilrossanty who went into the game themselves with a one hundred per cent win record from their three games played prior to this game.

Not for the first time, Shane Ahearne finished the game as the top scorer for the reigning champions, kicking ten points, half of which came from placed balls.

For Kilrossanty, the depended on Paul Whyte to provide much of the inspiration in front of the Stradbally goal hitting 1-7, of which like Shane Ahearne for the Cove Men, half came from placed balls.

At the break in this game the winners held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage on the score board and when they kicked a goal at the midway point in the second half to go five points in front it looked as if they were going to record a comfortable win over their near neighbours.

It was Stradbally that had the best start to this game as Robert Ahearne hit the first score after just twenty seconds and while Paul Whyte would level before the second minute had passed on the stopwatch, Stradbally would soon go three in front as Shane Ahearne put over a hat trick of points, the first two from frees and then a fisted effort with nine minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne swapped scores before Pa Cunningham blasted across the face of the Stradbally goal with twenty minutes played.

Paul Whyte and Shane Ahearne again traded scores before Tommy Pender and Shane Ahearne did likewise. The towering Stradbally man it could be argued with his chance could have seen the size five go under the bar rather than over.

Kilrossanty however would go to the dressing rooms just three behind when Alan Quinn put over the Stradbally crossbar in the second added minute at the end of normal time in the half.

The Rossies began the second half the better of the two sides as Paul Whyte landed a brace of frees in the space of sixty seconds, before Shane Ahearne increased his sides lead to two on thirty six minutes with a good score.

Paul Whyte was causing Stradbally all sorts of trouble and it was only when the Cove Men moved Tony Grey on him after Whyte and Kevin Lawlor had swapped points that the influence of the Kilrossanty man was somewhat curbed.

Ger Power blasted to the Kilrossanty net on forty five minutes after the ball was cleverly worked into him from the middle of the field and when he found himself one on one with Darren Mulhearne he made no mistake.

Shane Ahearne from a free kicked Stradbally six in from putting over a free on forty seven minutes, but within a minute, the Cove Men’s lead was halved when David Power soccer style finished to the net from close ranged after Eoin Cunningham fumbled what looked to be a harmless delivery.

Three minutes later the sides were level after the ball was played into the Stradbally goalmouth and Paul Whyte was able to get in front of Tony Grey to catch and plant the ball past Eoin Cunningham from close range.

Kilrossanty however never led in this game. Just as had happened in the opening half when Kilrossanty drew level, Shane Ahearne upped the anti and hit a brace of points on fifty five and fifty seven minutes, the first from play the latter from a free to give his side a two point cushion.

In the first minute of added time Paul Whyte put over another free to leave just the minimum between the sides. His side needed to win the kick out and work it back in quickly from the Cunningham’s restart, but typically Stradbally in the time that remained, they did not allow their neighbours any chance of note to get something from this game.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Paddy Kiely, Shane Lannon, Kevin Lawlor; Tommy Connors, Tony Grey,  Cathal Cusack; Michael Walsh, Jack Mullaney; Robert Ahearne, Ger Power, Paul Tobin; Daniel Weldon, Shane Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Sub: John Coffey for Eoin O’Brien (H.T).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-10 (5f), Ger Power 1-0, Robert Ahearne, Paul Tobin, Kevin Lawlor 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Barry Prendergast, Mark Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Paul Keating, Stephen Prendergast, Pa Whyte; Tommy Prendergast, Niall Walsh; Joey Veale, David Power, Alan Quinn; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte, Pa Cunningham. Sub: James Whyte for Mark Prendergast (10).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-7 (0-4f), David Power 1-0, Tommy Prendergast, Alan Quinn 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Affane).