Another huge weekend looms in the déise

It appears in recent weeks within the Déise County that no sooner has one big G.A.A. past us when another one comes along.

Last weekend we saw Stradbally advance to a tenth County Senior Football Final in twelve years and saw The Nire advance to a semi final meeting with Clashmore in the same competition after they beat Kilrossanty after a quarter final replay.

In hurling, we saw Butlerstown make up for the disappointment experienced in 2011 by beating Geraldines in the Junior County Final and to round it off we saw De La Salle win a third County Senior Hurling Final in five years at the expense of Dungarvan who were featuring in their first final since 1941.

This weekend there is big games down to be played at Kill, Walsh Park and Fraher Field.

In the Minor ‘B’ Hurling championship two semi finals are down to be played. At Kill at 3pm on Saturday, Passage and Clonea meet in the first of the games. This grade of competition proved to be very close in 2012 with just two points separating the table toppers in the league section of the competition from the fourth placed team. At 6pm at Fraher Field Cappoquin take on Erins Own.

Clonea and Erin’s Own proved to be the slightly better of the two sides in the league section of the competition and get the nod to advance to the final.

Three games are down for decision in Walsh Park on Saturday.

First up is the meeting of Tallow and Kilmacthomas in the junior final at 1-15pm.

Kilmacthomas appear to have had it all too easy in the Eastern Championship and won many of their games with ease. Playing in such a competition will possibly have done the mid county side little or no good and it’s hard to know going into this final how good they are.

Tallow has had an impressive run in this year’s championship. They have played in ten games, loosing just one, a League Final against Modeligo who won by three points. In the Championship semi finals they beat their neighbours Shamrocks at the second time of asking and in the western final they beat a fancied Affane side.

Tallow will go into this game with the better knowledge of where their strengths and weaknesses are. Two years ago they reached this stage of the championship and having played in what is a traditionally close intermediate football championship in the west of the county should stand to them in this game and get the nod to move back up again for 2013.

The middle game at Walsh Park on Saturday is the County Junior Football ‘Intermediate Attached’ final between De La Salle and Ballinameela. This is a grade where little is known about either side. It’s anticipated that both sides will have a mix of youth and experience with the final outcome likely to go either way.

The final game at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon is the County Intermediate Football Final which coincidently is between Ballinameela and De La Salle.

Ballinameela won this grade in 2009 and played in the senior championship for two years, reaching the semi finals of the competition in their first year back playing senior after a number of years in the lower grades.

This year in the western championship along with Ballinacourty they proved too strong for most and it was no real surprise that they won the championship recently.

Many people will be rooting for De La Salle in this final. It would be a great achievement to win a county football final a week after they won the county senior hurling final.

They have gone close to winning the competition a number of times in the last decade and a half and surely it is only a matter of time before they do.

Many argue that if Waterford is to have a future in football it needs as many clubs in and around the city area competing at the top. For a long time now Saint Saviours and Gaultier have been keeping the flag flying with Tramore coming up as well for a short stint in the senior ranks.

De La Salle is one of these clubs that could do a football a lot of good, especially around the city area if they were to win promotion. This is a game that could well go either way. Its one of these games where the heart says one thing (De La Salle) but the heat says another (Ballinameela).

The final game to be played on Saturday is the second semi final of the senior football championship between The Nire and Clashmore at Fraher Field.

This is a game that could well prove to be a memorable one for the right reasons. Both sides have some good footballers and which ever were to advance to the county final against Stradbally will be worthy of doing so.

The two sides could go into this game with different mind sets. The players lining out for the Nire have played a lot of games recently. If they have not been wearing the yellow and blue shirt of The Nire they’ve been wearing the Blue and White of Fourmilewater.

While we all look for games to be played, playing week in, week out eventually catches up on you. In 2008, Ballyduff Upper played six games in the senior hurling championship in seven weeks and in the last of these games they did look a tired team.

In recent weeks some of The Nire/Fourmilewater players have looked a little tired. It has been a long season for many of them with both club and county. However, the win over Kilrossanty last weekend should instil some new life into them.

In recent years some great work has been done within the Clashmore club. They have put a lot of work into their underage set up and it’s beginning to pay off now with some fine young players coming through.

They were unlucky to be relegated in 2009 from the senior grade but bounced back up at the first attempt in 2010.

To say with a degree of certainty that one of these sides over the other is going to win is a difficult thing. The Nire have been playing some very good football all year while Clashmore have developed a habit of hitting goals at crucial points in the game.

The Nire get the nod to win in this game but it could be very, very tight.

Two games take place on Sunday at Fraher Field.

First up is the meeting of Saint Cartages (Lismore and Ballysaggart) and Dungarvan.

From a very early age there is always great rivalry between these sides and it is expected to show in this game.

Both sides have some very good young players. During the week some players from each side opted not to line out with Blackwater Community School and Dungarvan Colleges in the Dr Harty Cup in a bid to try and save themselves from picking up any possible injuries ahead of this game.

The Division one championship at minor level this year was very close, with little separating more than half the teams taking part.

It’s no surprise that the best two in the league section of the competition have reached the final. Dungarvan had the slightly better campaign in the league and they get a hesitant vote to win this game.

The final game of the weekend is the meeting of An Rinn and Portlaw in the Intermediate Hurling County Final at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon.

This is another game that could go either way.

Portlaw did not have a great start to the year, but as the year progressed, they have put together a series of results that saw them reach and win the Eastern final in recent weeks.

An Rinn while they have not looked impressive this year, are winning games and that counts for a lot.

Portlaw have in recent years won some underage finals. They have some good young players who if they were to move up a grade would be able to hold their own against many opposition players.

An Rinn in 2009 played in the senior hurling championship and did remarkably well. They more than held their own against clubs like De La Salle who months earlier had played in an All-Ireland Club Final in Croke Park.

They may go into the game as the fancy of a sizeable number of people, but they won’t be taking anything for granted until close on 5pm on Sunday.

 

Weekend Fixtures:

 

Saturday:

Junior Football Proper County Final in Walsh Park at 1:15pm Kilmacthomas v Tallow - Referee: John Condon (An Rinn)

Junior Football Intermediate Attached in Walsh Park at 2:45pm De La Salle v Ballinameela - Referee Des O'Leary (Erins Own)

Minor Hurling Division 2 semi-final in Kill at 3pm- Passage v Clonea - Referee Tim O'Byrne (Erin’s Own)

Intermediate Football County Final in Walsh Park at 4-15 De La Salle v Ballinameela - Ref Martin Curran (Old Parish)

Minor Hurling Division 2 semi in Fraher Field at 6pm - Erins Own v Cappoquin - Ref Timmy Organ (Abbeyside)

Co. Senior Football Semi final in Fraher Field at 7:30pm - Clashmore/Kinsalebeg v The Nire - Ref Tommy O'Sullivan (Affane)

Sunday:

Co. Minor Hurling Division 1 Final in Fraher Field at 2:00pm - St. Carthage’s v Dungarvan - Ref Thomas Walsh (Fourmilewater)

Co. Intermediate Hurling Final in Fraher Field at 3:45pm - An Rinn v Portlaw - Ref Paul Foley (Ballygunner)

Weather pays its toll in round three of Dr Harty Cup

Despite some inclement weather, five game in round three of this year’s Dr Harty Cup competition went ahead today.

In group one De La Salle retained their unbeaten start to this year’s competition after they beat St Colman’s from Fermoy in a top of the table clash at Fraher Field in Dungarvan.

The Waterford City side were always on top and ran out comfortable winners on a 3-15 to 0-6 scoreline.

The other group one clashes involving Castletroy and Clonmel CBS as well as Kerry Colleges and Ard Scoil Ris were amongst those that did not go ahead.

In group two, just one game went ahead. Blackwater Community School from Lismore retained their 100% record in tact with a 1-13 to 0-7 victory over Abbey CBS from Tipperary town at Clonmel.

In group three, Thurles CBS also made it two wins from two games after they beat Midleton CBS 0-13 to 2-3, while the game between Nenagh CBS and Hamilton High School from Bandon failed to take place.

In group four, the 2012 champions Dungarvan Colleges (formally Colaiste na nDeise) suffered their first loss in this years competition when they went under to Saint Flannan’s from Ennis on a scoreline of 0-16 to 2-9 at Dr Morris Park in Thurles, while Doon CBS recorded their second win in this years competition when they beat Saint Caimin’s from Shannon on a 1-21 to 2-10 scoreline.

 

Group One.

De La Salle College       2        2        0       0       9-36   1-12    +48    4

Saint Colman’s              3        1        1        1        2-44   5-39   -4       3

Árd Scoil Rís                1        1        0       0       2-14   0-8    +12    2

Clonmel CBS                  1        0       1        0       0-13   0-13   0       1

Castletroy College         1        0       0       1        0-8    2-14   -12     0

Kerry Colleges              2        0       0       2        3-15    8-46   -46     0

 

Group Two.

Blackwater C.S.              2     2        0       0       4-33   0-15   +30    4

West Limerick Colleges   2     1        1        0       2-35   2-30   +5      3

Our Lady’s Templemore 1     0       1        0       1-18    1-18    0       1

Abbeys CBS                     2     0       0       2        1-19    2-30   -14     0

Charleville                       1     0       0       1        0-8    3-20   -21     0

 

Group Three.

Thurles CBS                   2        2        0       0       1-29   3-12    +11     4

Hamilton High School  2        1         1        0       1-33    5-19   +2      3

Midleton CBS                2        1        0       1        3-21    0-22   +8      2

Nenagh CBS                 2        0       1       1        3-18     1-31    -7       1
Colaiste Chriost Rí       2        0       0       2        3-19   2-36   -14     0

 

Group Four.

Saint Flannan’s           2        2        0       0       2-41   3-14   +24    4

Dungarvan Colleges    3        2        0       1        8-34   1-40   +15    4

Doon CBS                      3        2        0       1        4-50   8-32   +6      4

Saint Caimin’s               2        0       0       2        2-21    4-33   -18     0

Gael Colaiste Mhuire   2        0       0       2        4-14   4-41   -27    0

EDIT: League tables updated on 18/10/2012 after Hamilton High School and Nenagh CBS drew their game.
 

A third title in five years for De La Salle

De La Salle will play Newmarket-on-Fergus or Cratloe in the Munster Club Semi Final as the Waterford representatives after they won a third county final in five years at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon, easily accounting for Dungarvan.

Dungarvan went into this final in more than hope than expectation. They had a very young team, the average age of the starting team was not yet 21 with three of the starting fifteen still minors.

5,500 people entered the ground to see this game all hoping that Dungarvan’s young team would at least make a game of it, as the two previous finals proved one way traffic. Unfortunately, this final did go down the same road, and many will not be wondering what potential damage the defeat might have done to the Dungarvan players in the long term.

If Dungarvan can bounce back next year and have another good year, without maybe winning the title, then there is the possibility that the Waterford News and Star Cup will find a home in the Old Boro in the coming years, but if they don’t have a good year in 2013, then the road towards getting the chance to win a first title since 1941 could be a long one.

From an early stage in this game the writing was on the wall as far as Dungarvan was concerned.

Within three minutes of the games starting De La Salle were four points to the good. Jake Dillon gave them the lead on two minutes when he converted a free and seconds later John Mullane after a good run picked him out and from close range he gave Darren Duggan no chance in the Dungarvan goal.

Both sides traded scores over the following minutes. Cormac Curran pointed for Dungarvan on four minutes. Jake Dillon from a free, Sean Ryan, Jake Dillon from another free and Jack Kennedy all raised white flags to give De La Salle a 1-4 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes.

Cormac Curran pulled a point back for Dungarvan and moments later Stevie Brenner did well to keep out a Ryan Donnelly effort and from a resulting ’65 Cormac Curran pointed to leave just Jake Dillon’s third minute goal between the sides after fifteen minutes.

Cormac Curran put over a brace of frees to leave just one between the sides and it was beginning to look that a shock result could well be on the cards. But this was as good as it got for Dungarvan.

John Mullane and Paudi Nevin pointed inside sixty seconds of each other and when John Mullane, Jack Kennedy and Jake Dillon followed up with subsequent scores, De La Salle lead by double scores.

Colm Curran hit a point for Dungarvan on twenty seven minutes after he was set up by older brother Cormac, but points from John Keane and Dean Twomey were registered to give De La Salle a 1-11 to 0-7 lead at the break.

De La Salle at the start of the second half came out all guns blazing. Within five minutes of the restart they had hit points courtesy of Bryan Phelan, Eddie Barrett, John Mullane and John Keane to give them a 1-15 to 0-7 lead.

Dungarvan responded with three points in a row from Cormac Curran but if they were to get back into this game they had left themselves with a lot to do and needed to get far more of their forwards in with a chance of scoring, and not to be relying on Cormac Curran to strike placed balls.

Shane McNulty, Bryan Phelan, Jake Dillon and John Keane hit points inside a eight minute spell to give De La Salle a 1-19 to 0-10 lead with eleven minutes to play.

Ryan Donnelly pulled a point back for Dungarvan with ten minutes to go after some good work by Gavin Crotty and moments later Stephen Daniels got between the posts and Colm Curran as he shot for goal to deflect the ball out for a ’65 from which Cormac Curran made no mistake.

De La Salle at this stage appeared to be starting to take a tighter pull on the reigns. They had the game won and did not inflict the damage that they could have on Dungarvan in the closing minutes even if they did add points from Shane McNulty and Paudi Nevin in the closing minutes which helped the city side to a 1-21 to 0-12 victory.

   
De La Salle: Stephen Brenner; Conan Watt, Ian Flynn, Stephen Daniels; Bryan Phelan, Kevin Moran, Eoin Madigan; Eddie Barrett, Dean Twomey; David Greene, Jake Dillon, Paudi Nevin; John Mullane, Jack Kennedy, John Keane. Subs: Shane McNulty for David Greene, Oran Keevers for Eoin Madigan, Chris Sheehan for Conan Watt, Jamie Sage for John Keane, Thomas Kearney for Eddie Barrett.

Scorers: Jake Dillon 1-4 (0-4 frees), John Keane, Jack Kennedy, John Mullane 0-3 each, Bryan Phelan (2 frees), Paudie Nevin, Shane McNulty 0-2 each, Eddie Barrett, Dean Twomey 0-1 each.

 

Dungarvan: Darren Duggan; Kevin Daly, Derek Barry, Luke Egan; Shane Kearney, Kenny Moore, Conor Sheridan; Jamie Nagle, Sean Ryan; Eoin Healy, Gavin Crotty, Cormac Curran; Colm Curran, Ryan Donnelly, Cathal Curran. Subs: Karl Duggan for Conor Sheridan, Mickey Power for Cathal Curran, David Houlihan for Ryan Donnelly.

Scorers: Cormac Curran 0-9 (0-7 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Sean Ryan, Gavin Crotty, Colm Curran 0-1 each.

 

Referee:  Michael Wadding (Roanmore).

Stradbally into tenth final since 2001.

Stradbally are through to a tenth County Senior football final since 2001 after they dethroned Ballinacourty at the semi final stages of this years competition at the semi final stages at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

This was a game that most expected could go either way, with slightly more favouring Stradbally than Ballinacourty, and most anticipating that little would separate the sides.

In the end, six points separated the sides in Stradbally’s favour, but it was a case of two halves, and defiantly a case of game where goals win games.

The first half was bossed by Ballinacourty. They had numerous chances to score in the opening thirty minutes but failed to take a number of them, most crucially when a goal looked on.

Gary Hurney opened the scoring with a point on two minutes, but three points from Niall Curran followed to give the Cove Men a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with eight minutes played.

Within seconds of Curran hitting his third in the game, Ballinacourty had a good chance to raise a green flag. Mark Ferncombe laid the ball off to Jason O’Brien who was in a good position, but he laid it off to Gary Hurney who was in a more difficult position. His shot was saved by Oliver Costello and on the rebound the ball trickled wide of the post.

Gary Hurney and Shane Ahearne swapped points to keep two between the sides by the twelfth minute mark and on twenty minutes Niall Curran shot on the volley over the bar after a good pass from John Hearne.

On twenty four minutes Patrick Hurney took a quick free kick and found Sean O’Hare who kicked a good score to keep Ballinacourty in touch. Gary Hurney put over a free on twenty-six minutes to leave just one between the sides and moments later Gary Hurney was set up by Sean O’Hare but his shot at goal was blocked and on the follow up Mark Ferncombe and Mark Gorman also had chances blocked.

A minute from the end of normal time in the first half, Maurice Power lost the ball coming out of defence and with Ger Power bearing down on goal he opted to send the ball over the bar to extend Stradbally’s lead.

Ballinacourty however retired only a point behind after Jason O’Brien put through Shane Briggs to get his name on the score sheet.

Stradbally began the second half in whirlwind fashion. A high ball was caught by Shane Ahearne in and around the Ballinacourty goal and from close range he made no mistake to rattling the net.

The same player on six minutes pointed to give Stradbally a 1-7 to 0-5 lead but it was followed with efforts from Gary Hurney and Niall Curran to keep five between the sides.

Mark Gorman was set up by Gary Hurney on forty minutes and five minutes later a pointed free from Gary Hurney meant that there was just three between the sides.

The same player followed up with a brace of points to leave one between the sides and it was beginning to look that despite some bad misses by Ballinacourty in the opening half that a second attempt would be needed to separate these two rivals.

Points from Niall Curran, Shane Ahearne and Robert Ahearne restored a four point lead for Stradbally with as many minutes to play.

Points from Patrick Hurney and Robert Ahearne followed to keep four between the sides, but once Niall Curran finished an Andy Doyle pass to the net on fifty-nine minutes there was going to be no disputing the final outcome of this game.

Gary Hurney hit a point for Ballinacourty on the hour mark but it was a mere consolation score.

 

Stradbally: Oliver Costelloe; Tony Grey, Kevin Coffey, Trevor Costelloe; Shane Lannon, Eddie Rockett, Andy Doyle; Michael Walsh, Paddy Kiely; John Hearne, Ger Power, John Coffey; Niall Curran, Shane Ahearne, Robert Ahearne. Subs: Stephen Cunningham for John Hearne, David Grey for Ger Power, Trevor Curran for John Coffey, Tommy Connors for Shane Lannon, John Coffey for Niall Curran.

Scorers: Niall Curran 1-6 (0-1 free), Shane Ahearne 1-3 (0-1 free), Robert Ahearne 0-2, Ger Power 0-1.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Maurice Power, John Phelan, Martin Lavin; Conor Moloney, Patrick Lynch, Richie Foley; Sean O’Hare, Mark Fives, Patrick Hurney; Jason O’Brien, Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe. Subs: John Power for Jason O’Brien, James Mahony for Mark Gorman, Gavin Breen for Patrick Lynch.

Scorers: Gary Hurney 0-8 (0-4 frees), Sean O’Hare, Shane Briggs, Mark Gorman, Patrick Hurney 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane (Dunhill).

 

The Nire march on

The Nire have advanced to this years County Senior Football Semi Final and a meeting with Clashmore next Saturday evening after they overcame the challenge of Kilrossanty at the second time of asking at Fraher Field on Saturday evening last.

When the sides clashed three weeks ago, they played out possibly the best game of football played in the county with a number of years. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of this battle.

For much of the game it looked as if it was not going to be settled inside sixty minutes. For much of the game no less than a kick of the ball separated the two sides and a goal was always going to prove very important.

Shane Ryan opened the scoring after two minutes of this game, putting the ball between the uprights.

Barry Prendergast looked as if he was going to level matters four minutes later, but his effort dipped at the last second and it needed an important touch from former inter county goalkeeper Tomas Wall who put it off the woodwork to keep the ball from rattling the net.

Kilrossanty had to wait till the twelfth minute to hit their first score which came off the boot of Paul Whyte from what was a very tight angle.

Seconds later, Kilrossanty had the chance for a second goal. Attacking the Country end of the ground, David Power from the stand side of the field sent a soccer style kick along the ground in the direction of the Nire goal but narrowly went wide.

Brian Wall gave The Nire the lead once more on twenty-two minutes when he put over a free, but it was a short lived one as Paul Whyte put over a free with the aid of the upright five minutes from the break.

Liam Lawlor and Darren Guiry combined to draw a good save from Darren Mulhearne moments later. A minute from the end of the opening thirty Seamus Lawlor added a point for The Nire and shortly afterwards Kilrossanty received a body blow when Michael Kirwan was ordered off on a second yellow card.

In added time at the end of the first time, Jamie Barron and Joey Veale kicked points for their respective sides before Brian Wall kicked a free to give The Nire a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage at the break.

Both sides started the second half by kicking early points. Paul Whyte hit the range first when he hit a free from out near the sideline and seconds later, the impressive Shane Ryan restored The Nire’s two point advantage.

Paul Whyte from another free and the industrious Liam Lawlor kicked points inside a minute of each other to keep two between the sides, but two points from Paul Whyte followed to level matters after forty-three minutes.

As the game entered its final quarter, the Nire attacked the Kilrossanty goal and a Jamie Barron effort was not properly dealt with and as the ball rebounded high off one of the Kilrossanty players, Shane Ryan soared into the air and punched the ball to the Kilrossanty net for the games only goal.

Michael O’Gorman hit a point for The Nire which proved to be their last score of the game some twelve minutes from time.

Paul Whyte hit his seventh point of the game on fifty one minutes and shortly afterwards Paul Keating kicked a point to leave two between the sides.

Strangely, the Kilrossanty mentors removed Paul Keating from the field shortly afterwards.

 

The Nire: Tom Wall; Justin Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman; John Moore, Martin Walsh, Seamus Lawlor; Michael O’Gorman, Shane Walsh; Brian Wall, James McGrath, Jamie Barron; Darren Guiry, Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan. Subs: JP Fitzgerald for Jamie Barron, Richie Fenton for Shane Walsh, Connie Power for Darren Guiry, Craig Guiry for Brian Wall, Diarmuid Wall for John Moore.

Scorers: Shane Ryan 1-2, Brian Wall 0-2 (2 frees), Seamus Lawlor, Jamie Barron, Liam Lawlor, Michael O’Gorman 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Paul Hayes, Mark Prendergast, Kevin Delahunty; Michael Kirwan, Stephen Prendergast, Niall Walsh; Tommy Prendergast, Paul Whyte; Kieran Power, Barry Prendergast, David Power; Alan Quinn, Owen Cummins, Joey Veale. Subs: James Coade for Kieran Power, Paul Keating for Mark Prendergast, Michael Walsh for Owen Cummins, William Brazil for Paul Keating.

Scorers: Paul Whyte 0-7 (7 frees), Joey Veale, Paul Keating 0-1 each.

Referee: Pat Casey (Affane).

D Day in the Déise

Last May twelve teams set out in search to see which will win the right to have their name engraved on the Waterford News and Star Cup.

This Sunday, barring the need the need of a replay, we will know what name does go on the trophy, as De La Salle and Dungarvan do battle at Fraher Field.

Prior to the championship commencing, Dungarvan along with Roanmore and Dunhill were regarded as rank outsiders. Some bookies were reported to be offering odds as much as 100/1.

So if Dungarvan do win on Sunday and if you were to see some people walking around with a broad smile on their face, there is every chance that they have either visited one of the bookie shops in or around the town or they are on their way to do so.

This is Dungarvan’s first final appearance since 1951 in a county final and you have to go back another ten years for their last championship success.

Contrast that to De La Salle. They won their first final in 2008 and added to it in 2010. On both occasions Munster titles were also added to their roll of honour.

In March 2009 they contested the All-Ireland Club final at Croke Park on Saint Patrick’s Day where they had to settle for second best against Galway champions Portumna and after winning the 2010 finals, they were beaten in the All-Ireland semi final after extra time against Galway champions Clarenbridge.

Both sides in this years County Final are built around successful underage teams.

In the late 90’s and right throughout this present Millennium De La Salle have been winning underage titles. They have been making people sit up and take notice of some of the exiting underage teams that they have put together.

Success was achieved in all age groups up through the years and it was only a matter of time before that it manifested its way into the clubs senior team which currently includes a number of players from these different successful underage teams.

Dungarvan too have brought through some excellent underage players.

In the early years of the last decade the Dungarvan delegates at a western board na nÓg meeting shocked many by asking if they could play division two under 12 hurling for a year or two in a bid to reshape the way the club were going.

After much toing and froing it was agreed to accept the request and the Old Boro Club have not looked back.

Both sides this year have proven to be very consistent.

Lismore beat Dungarvan in Round One of the league section of the championship and apart from a draw against Abbeyside in round three of the league section of the competition it was wins all the way.

De La Salle has had a similar route to Sunday’s final.

The only blip in their run to Sunday’s final was a five point defeat to Fourmilewater in the second round of the league section of the competition.

Since the knockout stages of the championship kicked in, it’s hard to work out which team has done best.

Dungarvan as expected had a win over Tallow in the quarter finals and in the semi finals they beat a fancied Fourmilewater side.

De La Salle in their quarter final clash with Lismore struggled. Lismore were without four players that were key to them in recent years and whether De La Salle under estimated the challenge of Lismore on the day, or if Lismore upped their game more than most would give then credit for, it’s hard to know.

Against Mount Sion in the semi finals the 2008 and 2010 champions again struggled. Although Mount Sion had beaten a fancied Ballygunner side in the quarter finals, it was expected that De La Salle would have too much for them, but it was only in the closing stages of the game that they were able to pull away and add the scores that secured their passage to Sunday’s final.

Heading into this weekend’s final there is something telling me that we have not seen the best of De La Salle yet this year.

There can be no doubting the potential there is to be found throughout their team, but Dungarvan should not be ruled out of contention even if they are the underdog.

This is a young Dungarvan side.

The likely starting line up has an average age of just over 20 years, with Jamie Nagle the Daddy of the team at the age of 26.

There is some out there that firmly believe that you have to loose a final to win one. De La Salle lost the 2005 final and came back a better team as a result.  

De La Salle are a seasoned outfit. Like Dungarvan they have some very good young players, but they also have players like Bryan Phelan and John Mullane who are experienced leaders and know what it takes to be a winner.

For me De La Salle are going to win on Sunday. I don’t think we have seen them at their best yet this year. Maybe Sunday might be the day when we do or get near to their best.

My only hope is that they don’t win by a margin that could kill off the confidence built up in the Dungarvan team in recent years.

A big crowd is expected in Fraher Field on Sunday. Patrons no doubt will be encouraged by the County Board officials to get into the ground early as the stand will fill fast.

Those that do get to the ground early on Sunday should be served up an entertaining curtain raiser.

Butlerstown and Geraldines clash in this year’s junior final with the game having a 2pm throw in.

Last year Butlerstown were in the final as well and three games were needed before Ballinameela won the game.

Geraldines are somewhat a surprise package in this year’s final. Many in the west expected Ballysaggart to be their but the Aglish based outfit are now their on merit.

They have been involved in a number of close games this year and have a winning aggregate of about three points in their seven games played to date.

Butlerstown have been scoring goals for fun this year. In seven games they have hit a very impressive 26 goals up to this weekend and have a winning aggregate margin of about seventeen points.

This to me suggests one this, a Butlerstown win, but there is no such thing as a four gone conclusion in a two horse race.