Waterford Senior Hurling and Football teams named for this weekends games.

Waterford Senior Hurling manager Michael Ryan has named a strong team to play University of Limerick in the first round of this years Waterford Crystal Cup Tournament, which will be played at the WIT campus in Carriganore on Sunday afternoon.

Stephen Daniels will start between the posts for Waterford. In front of him Stephen Daniels, Liam Lawlor and Noel Connors will form the full back line while Lismore’s Padraig Prendergast is joined by Michael Walsh and Kevin Moran in the half back line.

Richie Foley and Shane O’Sullivan are named in the middle of the field, while in attack Dean Twomey, Seamus Prendergast and Ray Barry form the half forward line while the inside forward line will consist of Jake Dillon, Shane Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan.

Manager Michael Ryan also confirmed what most could have predicted after John Mullane had said he would not be involved with Waterford in 2013 that Kevin Moran will be the captain of the senior hurling team for the year ahead with Noel Connors named as the vice captain.

Meanwhile, Waterford Senior Football Manager Niall Carew has named the same team as he named last week for the game against University of Limerick in the McGrath Cup to play Tipperary.

Stephen Enright is named to start between the posts. Tadhg Ó hUallachain, Stephen Prendergast and Conor Phelan are named in the full back line with Tony Grey, Shane Briggs and Ronan Cahill named to start outside them.

In the middle of the field Tommy Prendergast and Sean Dempsey are again named to start while in attack the six players named to start are Conor McGrath, Paul Whyte, Maurice O’Gorman, John Wall, Patrick Hurney and Gavin Nugent.

Last weekend prior to the game with UL, Niall Carew made a number of changes to the team and if he and Michael Ryan with the hurlers were to make some changes to the teams named over the past twenty-four hours, it would not the most major of surprizes that we could see this year.

Waterford Senior Hurlers game with UL in the Waterford Crystal Cup has a 2pm throw at Carriganore, while at the same time in Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary Town the Waterford Senior Footballers will play Tipperary in the McGrath Cup semi finals.

 

 

Another Déise great calls it a day.

The news that John Mullane has decided to retire from Inter County Hurling at the age of 31 is something that will sadden many not just in Waterford but in all areas around the world where people have an interest in hurling reside.

The news that the De La Salle man has retired from inter county hurling is something that will not come as a surprise to many as some had a feeling after seeing John go to the Waterford Supporters inside Semple Stadium after Waterford bowed out of the 2012 championship that he would not be back in 2013.

An ever present in the Waterford set up since making his debut against Limerick in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, John quickly became a firm favourite with the Déise supporters and with hurling supporters in general.

After breaking into the Waterford team he helped his county win their first Munster Final since 1963 in 2002 and went on to add further Munster Final medals to his collection in 2004, 2007 and 2010 as well as winning a National League medal in 2007. He also won five All-Stars in his time as a Waterford hurler.

Unlike many hurlers of the modern era, John Mullane was never a regular on Waterford underage teams. He was what many would describe as a late developer and began to make a name for himself in his late teens. A perfect example if you want to call it that, to any young hurler who often finds himself over looked when it comes to the selection of underage teams of what could happen if they keep working away at their game.

Selected at right corner forward in his senior championship debut by then Waterford manager Gerald McCarthy, in the opening quarter of the game he caused consternation in the Limerick defence but had to retire early after he picked up an injury.

He played in his first Munster Final in 2002 which Waterford won 2-23 to 3-12 against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and twelve months later Waterford were back in the final, this time against Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

In the 2003 decider, the De La Salle man became one of only a hand fist of players to score a hat trick of goals in a Munster final but still finished on the loosing side. The year however would end on a high for Mullane as despite going out of the All-Ireland series against Wexford, he done enough over the course of the year to win the first of his five All-Star awards.

Waterford were back in the final again in 2004 again against Cork at Thurles. This game is widely regarded by many as the greatest Munster Final of all time. Although Waterford won the game 3-16 to 1-21, the game ended in a disappointing not for John as only minutes into the second half he was sent off for an off the ball incident involving Cork corner back Brian Murphy.

Waterford minus John Mullane in the team took on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi final, the Nore-siders having to reach this stage of the competition through the ‘Back Door’ after Wexford beat them in the Leinster Final, but on their return to the Jones’ Road venue ran out winners on a 3-12 to 0-18 scoreline.

Over the next two years John Mullane and Waterford had little success but they bounced back in 2007 with a bang.

A National League was captured; the first since 1963 was captured in early summer when Waterford beat Kilkenny 0-20 to 0-18 at Thurles.

Waterford beat Limerick in the Munster Final later in the summer on a 3-17 to 1-14 scoreline, having beat Cork in the semi final some weeks earlier. This was the year that Cork were short a number of their most crucial players after they picked up suspensions as a result of the famous “Semple Gate” incident against Clare in the quarter finals of the championship.

Waterford played the rebels again later in the summer in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals. The sides played out a 3-16 to 3-16 draw at the end of July and a week later when the sides clashed for the third time in the championship in the year, Waterford won out 2-17 to 0-20.

Waterford had just a week’s break before they played Limerick in the All-Ireland semi final. Having to play three big games in successive weeks took a lot out of the team and the Shannon-siders won the game 5-11 to 2-15.

The 2008 championship began with Waterford loosing to Clare which was followed by the removing of Justin McCarthy as team manager. Former Clare goal keeper Davy Fitzgerald was brought in to replace him and he lead the side to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day through the qualifiers but the Déise side lost 3-30 to 1-13 with John Mullane one of a few Waterford players that could say he was entirely happy with his performance on the day.

Waterford were back in another Munster Final in 2009 in which Tipperary came out on top through the qualifiers Waterford reached the All-Ireland semi final where Kilkenny again came out on top, this time on a 2-23 to 3-15 scoreline, but the year again ended on a high for the De La Salle man as he won his second All-Star award.

The De La Salle man won his fourth Munster Final medal in 2010. Waterford and Cork reached the provincial final at Thurles, which ended in stalemate. The replay was played the following Saturday evening again in Thurles where it became the first Munster Senior Hurling Final to be completed using the lighting at Semple Stadium.

After seventy minutes, the sides could still not be separated and in extra time Waterford lost John Mullane with an Injury. However his replacement Dan Shanahan proved to be the Waterford hero hitting the extra time winning goal.

In the All-Ireland semi final Waterford met Tipperary who won the game 3-19 to 1-18 after which Liam Sheedy’s men went on to beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

2011 saw Waterford contest another Munster Final, this time against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Confidence was high going into this game amongst many of the Waterford support. Waterford hit nineteen points in this game, a tally often good enough to win many games, but Tipperary also managed to hit nineteen points and added seven goals to it to record one of the most one sided Munster Final results in three decades.

Waterford recovered after this defeat with a good win over Galway in the All-Ireland quarter final, but Kilkenny were again waiting for Waterford in the long grass and recorded a 2-19 to 1-16 victory.

2012 saw Waterford make the journey Leeside for another Munster Final for Waterford and John Mullane. The defeat of 2011 to the same opposition was on the back of the minds of many of Waterford Supporters heading into this game who hoped that the same thing would not happen.

Waterford put in a much better display in 2012 but lost the game 2-17 to 0-16. Next up for Waterford was Cork in the All-Ireland quarter finals at Thurles. Waterford lost the game 1-19 to 0-19, John Mullane’s 49^th and last Championship game in the white and blue shirt of Waterford.

While John Mullane may have called a day to his inter county career, no doubt we will see him in the white and red of De La Salle for some time to come and see him add to the three County and two Munster medals that he has on his sideboard and hopefully it wont be too long till we see him do what he does best in Croke Park and that before he hangs up his hurley for good we will see him climb the steps of the Hogan Stand after an All-Ireland Final.

John Mullane’s Honours to date.

1 National League Medal: (2007)

2 Munster Senior Club hurling medals; (2008, 2010)

3 County Senior Hurling medals; (2008, 2010, 2012)

4 Munster Senior Hurling medals; (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010)

5 All-Stars (2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

 

Dungarvan Colleges are into Dr Harty Cup semi finals

Dungarvan Colleges are through to the semi finals of this year’s Dr. Harty Cup after a hard fought 0-14 to 0-10 win over Blackwater Community School from Lismore at Fraher Field at the quarter final stages of this years competition.

Conditions for this game were testing throughout. The field cut up very quickly and fog in the vicinity of the field resulted in players found it hard to adjust, but as the game progressed it did get somewhat better.

As expected, a huge crowd descended upon Fraher Field with some estimating an attendance of between 1,500 and 2,000.

Dungarvan had the better of the early exchanges with Patrick Curran hitting a brace of points in the opening minutes only for David Geary to strike back with a brace of scores for the Lismore outfit.

Patrick Curran who was one of a number of players involved with the Dungarvan outfit that helped them win the 2012 final that was involved again in this game. He gave them the lead on eleven minutes but a brace of scores from placed balls both from the stick of David Geary gave the Lismore side the lead for the first and only time on seventeen minutes.

Points from Patrick Curran and his namesake Cormac followed within a minute of each other to send Dungarvan Colleges back into the lead on twenty four minutes.

Kieran Bennett pointed for Blackwater Community School on twenty six minutes, before two points for Dungarvan Colleges followed in quick succession.

The short quick puck out is something that most will be aware of if they read match reports over the past four or five years is something that I am totally against. Patrick Curran pointed for Dungarvan Colleges on twenty eight minutes but once Darragh Lyons gained procession of the ball following a short quick puck out, it was only going one place as the holders of the famous trophy went two points up.

However, just a single score separated the sides at the break after David Geary from a ’65 in added time at the end of the first half found the range with the last puck of the half.

Leading 0-7 to 0-6 at the break it was first blood to Blackwater Community School in the second thirty minutes as Darragh Lyons put over an eight point for the holders on thirty two minutes only for Kieran Bennett to pull the defecate back to one a minute later.

The winning and loosing of this game happened in a six minute spell in the middle of the second half.

Patrick Curran put over frees on forty-one and forty four minutes to give Dungarvan Colleges a three point lead and when Darragh Lyons, a delightful Colin Dunford effort and another Patrick Curran score n forty-seven minutes it was beginning to look good for the holders.

The Lismore outfit were not going to give up without a battle and points from Cian Leamy and a brace from David Geary brought them right back into contention.

However this was as good as it got for them. Tadhg Bourke put over a ’65 two minutes from the hour mark to five them a deserved four point lead and while the Lismore men were to finish the game with fourteen men after the dismissal of David Geary on a straight red card it came too late to have any further impact in the outcome of the game.

Meanwhile in other quarter final games played today, Our Lady’s from Templemore had a 2-5 to 0-10 victory over Midleton CBS at Cahir and in the semi finals they will play Ard Scoil Rís from Limerick who had a 0-14 to 1-6 victory over Doon CBS at Bruff.

Dungarvan Colleges however will have to wait a little longer to see who they will play as the fourth quarter final between Thurles CBS and Castletroy College will not be played until tomorrow (January 17).

Dungarvan Colleges: L Power; M Cronin, B Looby, L Looby; T Bourke (0-1 ’65), K Daly, T Devine; C Dunford (0-1), M Harney; C Breathnach, P Curran (0-8 5 frees), E Crotty; C Curran (0-1), D Lyons (0-3), S Keating. Sub: D Gartland for E Crotty (41 min).

Blackwater Community School: S Barry; J Ring, C Roche, P Hennessy; C Murray, S O’Brien, N Fives; C Leamy (0-1), P Coleman; S Bennett, D Geary 0-6 (4 frees, 2 ‘65’s), A Crawford; M Kearney, D Meagher, K Bennett (0-3). Sub; A O’Sullivan for N Fives (51 min).

Referee: N Cosgrove (Tipperary).

Busy year lies ahead for Camogie in the Déise

What could potentially be a long and hopefully successful year for Waterford Camogie begins on February 24 when the County’s Intermediate side play their first league game of the year away to Meath.

Two weeks will pass before the side will be back in competitive action with another away game this time against Galway who were beaten in last years All-Ireland Intermediate final against Derry who needed two attempts to beat the Tribes Ladies.

On March 16 Waterford play their only home game in their five games when Wexford travel to play the Déise Ladies and on March 31, Waterford are away to Limerick.

Waterford round off the league with a game against Antrim, who beat Waterford to win the Junior Premier All-Ireland final in 2012. Because of the distance between the two sides, this game will be played at a half way venue, most possibly in the Dublin or Meath area.

Any play off needed to determine who will contest the semi finals is pencilled in for April 14 with the semi finals fixed for the following week.

Should Waterford reach the final and if Waterford Senior Hurlers were also to reach the final of the National League, some Waterford Supporters will have to make their mind up as to where they will travel to as both the hurling and Camogie finals are scheduled to take place on May 5 with a replay in the Camogie if needed pencilled in for a week later.

In the championship, Waterford reached the semi finals of the championship last year in their first year playing at this grade, loosing to Galway by four points.

With the experience amassed by the team in the last few years, reaching three junior All-Ireland finals in a row and the semi finals of Intermediate last year, if Waterford can add to their panel this year creating extra competition for places, then Waterford could well find themselves playing in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day.

Waterford have been drawn in a group of five along with Cork and Kilkenny’s second string teams as well as Limerick and Antrim, with Galway, Tipperary, Meath and Wexford playing in the opposite group.

In the first round of games, Waterford has a bye, meaning that their first game will be an away game with Cork on June 29.

Once the games do start in the championship they come thick and fast. Kilkenny cross the Suir for a game on July 6 and a week later Waterford are on the road for a game with Limerick and on July 20 Waterford are scheduled to play their last game in the league stages of the championship when they take on Antrim at a half way venue to both.

The semi finals of the championship are pencilled in for August 24 with any replay due to be played a week later.

This years All-Ireland finals are fixed for Croke Park on September 15 with any replayed if required pencilled in for October 6.

In Minor, the All-Ireland Championship is pencilled into take place between late March and late April.

Waterford’s first game at this grade is a home game against Dublin and their second group game is an away game in the mid-lands against Offaly.

In under 16, the championship is pencilled in to take place between late June and late August.

Waterford’s first game is a home game against Westmeath which is followed with a game away to Cork in the second series of games.

Next up is two games against Ulster opposition. Games against Armagh and then Derry are pencilled in for a venue considered to be half way between the two counties.

 

Waterford Camogie Fixtures for 2013:

 

National League:

24 February     V Meath (A)

10 March        V Galway (A)

16 March        V Wexford (H)

31 March        V Limerick (A)

7 April             V Antrim (Half way venue)

14 April           League Play off

21 April           Semi Finals

5 May              League Final

12 May            League Final Replay

 

Intermediate Championship

29 June            V Cork (A)

6 July               V Kilkenny (H)

13 July             V Limerick (A)

20 July             V Antrim (Half way venue)

24 August        All-Ireland Semi Finals

31 August        All-Ireland Semi Final Replay

15 September All-Ireland Final

6 October        All-Ireland Final Replay

 

Minor Championship

24 March        V Dublin (H)

30 March        V Offaly (A)

6 April             Play offs

13 April           All-Ireland Semi Finals

27 April           All-Ireland Final

11 May            All-Ireland Final Replay

 

Under 16 Championship

23 June            V Westmeath (H)

30 June            V Cork (A)

7 July               V Armagh (Half way venue)

14 July             V Derry (Half way venue)

28 July             Play offs

10 August        Semi Finals

18 August        Semi Final Replay

25 August        All-Ireland Final

1 September   All-Ireland Final Replay

 

Fixtures may experience slight changes.

 

8 to become 4 in Dr Harty Cup

The quarter finals of this year Munster Senior ‘A’ Colleges Hurling Championship for the Dr Harty Cup take place on Wednesday and Thursday of this week which are likely to attract some considerable attention.

The game between Dungarvan Colleges who are the holders of the trophy and Blackwater Community School from Lismore at Fraher Field in Dungarvan is likely to attract some considerable attention from clubs from mid Waterford into North-East Cork with almost every club in between represented on one side or the other.

Dungarvan Colleges qualified for the last eight of the competition after topping group four of the group stages of the competition. They along with Doon CBS and Saint Flannan’s from Ennis finished on six points from their four games but top the group having had the better scoring difference of the three sides.

Blackwater Community School also reached the last eight of the competition winning three of their four games. They had reached the knockout stages of the competition ahead of their last game in the league stages of the competition which they lost to Our Lady’s from Templemore.

The holders will go into this game as the favourites. The Lismore College lost the County Senior Hurling semi final before Christmas against Dungarvan CBS. With Saint Augustine’s College added to their selection for this game they should be somewhat stronger.

Blackwater Community School are reported to be without Stephen Bennett for this game. If it proves true, then it will be a major blow to their chances, but who ever would come into the side instead of him and the rest of the team will be anxious to prove that they are a not a one man team and will look to cause a shock as some would see it, something that they are more than capable of doing.

The winner of the Dungarvan Colleges and Blackwater Community School will have to wait twenty four hours to see who they will play, as the clash between Thurles CBS and Castletroy College has been deferred by twenty four hours and will not take place at Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary Town on Thursday at 1-30pm.

Many will see but one outcome to this game. Thurles CBS are often seen as one of the stronger sides not just in Tipperary but also in Munster.

In the group stages of the competition, they won all four of their games in the league section of the competition with wins against Midleton CBS, Nenagh CBS, Hamilton High School from Bandon and Colaiste Chriost Rí.

However, they would be very foolish to under-estimate their opponents in this game.

Castletroy Colleges in their last league game beat De La Salle to knock the Waterford City side out of the competition. This win will give them confidence going into this game as De La Salle in the eyes of many were one of the most fancied sides to do best in this years competition.

Our Lady’s from Templemore and Midleton CBS clash at Cahir.

The Templemore College side topped group two of the league section of the competition thanks to a win over Blackwater Community School in their final game in the group stages.

Midleton CBS needed to avoid a defeat against last years Runners up Nenagh CBS to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

Last year they were fancied by many to go further than they did, bowing out of the competition to De La Salle at Cappoquin.

They will have many of that team still available to them for selection and of the teams that qualified for the knockout stages of the competition havening finished in second place in their group, have possibly the best chance of reaching the next phase of the competition.

The last two teams out of the hat when the quarter final draws were maid paired Ard Scoil Rís who won the competition in 2010 and 2011 against Doon CBS at Bruff.

The Limerick City side will go into the game as the favourites, drawing players from the city area and its hinterland as well as possibly pockets of County Clare.

They will go into this game as the favourites but like many of the other sides carrying the mantle into this weeks games they will have to be warned against compliancy.

Doon CBS won the Munster ‘B’ Senior Hurling Championship in 2012, beating Dungarvan CBS in the final, and in this season’s ‘A’ competition they have performed remarkably well complementing last time out with a big win over Saint Flannan’s from Ennis which dumped them out of the competition on scoring averages.

Dungarvan Colleges, Thurles CBS, Midleton CBS and Ard Scoil Rís are the teams that most will fancy to advance to the next phase of the competition, but under no circumstances should the chances of Blackwater Community School, Castletroy College, Midleton CBS and Doon CBS should be written off.

Meanwhile, three of the Munster Senior ‘B’ quarter finals are down for decision this Wednesday. Kilmallock take on Rochestown College from Cork in Mallow, St Jospeh’s from Tulla take on Borrisoleigh at the Na Piarsaigh Club Grounds in Limerick and Pobal Scoil na Tríonóide from Youghal take on the Patrician Academy from Mallow in Waterglasshill. All three games as in the case of the Dr Harty Cup have a 1-30pm start.

The fourth quarter final between Dungarvan CBS and Colaiste an Rísigh from Ennis play at Leahy Park in Cashel on January 23. This game is put back one week owing to Dungarvan CBS involvement with Dungarvan Colleges in the Dr Harty Cup.

Carew gets debut win with Waterford

Waterford Senior Footballers secured a victory for Niall Carew in his first game in charge of the team with an extra time win over University of Limerick in the quarter finals of this years McGrath Cup at the WIT Campus at Carriganore.

The Kildare man has only been in charge a few weeks but has wasted no time in putting in place his plans for the year.  He along with his backroom team have introduced a number of new players to the Senior Inter County Football scene and re-introduced a number of players who were part and parcel of the set up in the recent past.

It was the students that got off to the better start in this game racing into a four point lead with ten minutes played.  Alan Moloney twice pointed for the students in these opening minutes with Ed Walsh and Liam McGovern also getting their names on the score sheet.

Darren Guiry on his debut pulled a point back for the home side and from here to the break it was predominantly Waterford that were in charge of the games proceedings.

Paul Whyte pointed for Waterford before Alan Moloney hit his second of the game.

Paul Whyte and Darren Guiry hit their second scores of the game. Gavin Nugent pulled the sides level before Moloney scored again for the visitors but the sides went in all square as Gavin Nugent just before the break hit his second score of the game.

Waterford began the second half as they had ended the first half by taking control of the game.

Gary Hurney and Paul Whyte gave Waterford an 0-8 to 0-6 lead only for Moloney to pull one back for the students.

Gary Hurney who will miss Waterford’s opening games in the National Football League due to a suspension carried over from 2012  soon put Waterford two points in front.

The Students entered a Purple Patch. Ed Walsh pulled Waterford’s lead back to one with a point before substitute Denis Keoghan hit a brace of scores to give his side a one point lead with time ticking down.

From a young age, coaches should be coaching the players of the future the importance of playing right to the final whistle and in this game it was clear to see why.

Trailing by a point with the seventy minutes played, Waterford never threw in the towel and two minutes into added time they got rewarded for doing so as Tony Grey hit a point to send the game to extra time.

In the extra twenty minutes, it was Waterford that proved to be the hungrier of the two sides and has been seen time and time again the side that did prove to be the hungrier were rewarded with a passage to the next phase of the competition.

Gary Hurney and Shane Ahearne hit points for Waterford only for John O’Rourke pulled one back for the students. The Home side however turned around two points to the good as Tony Grey once more broke forward to hit his second point to give Waterford a 0-13 to 0-11 lead.

Gary Hurney hit a brace for the home side to give then a four point lead early in the second half of extra time, but Alan Moloney, the students best player on the day pulled one back to leave just three between the sides.

The students needed a goal at this stage to be in with a chance of getting something from the game, but the Waterford defence remained watertight and just before the end, Shane Ahearne hit his second score of the game to secure a victory for Waterford on a 0-16 to 0-12 scoreline.

Waterford are now away to Tipperary next weekend in the semi finals.

Waterford will go into the game as the underdogs against the Premier Men who knocked the reigning champions – Cork out of the competition at the quarter final stages of the competition, but Niall Carew’s charges will not be too put out by how the bookies thing they will fair in a two horse race.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Martin Scurry, John Hurney; Tony Grey, Shane Briggs, Ronan Cahill; Tommy Prendergast, Shane Ahearne; Maurice O'Gorman, Patrick Hurney, Paul Whyte; Darren Guiry, Gary Hurney, Gavin Nugent. Subs: Conor Phelan for Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Liam Ó Lonáin for Darren Guiry, Conor McGrath for Gavin Nugent, Stephen Prendergast for John Hurney, J McGrath for Martin Scurry, Sean Dempsey for Ronan Cahill, John Wall for Tommy Prendergast.

Scorers: G Hurney 0-5 (1f), P Whyte 0-3 (2f), G Nugent, D Guiry, T Grey, S Ahearne (1f) 0-2 each.

UL: Rory Byrne; Martin Tierney, Thomas Clancy, Brian McGuire; Luke Mulligan, Niall Fitzgerald, Dean Ryan; David Niblock, Kevin Canty; Liam McGovern, Alan Moloney, Gavin Ryan; John O'Rourke, Shane O'Callaghan, Ed Walsh. Subs: David Dolan for Gavin Ryan; Denis Keohane for Shane O'Callaghan; John Spillane for Dean Ryan (78).

Scorers: A Moloney 0-6 (2f, 2 '45'), E Walsh, D Keohane 0-2 each, L McGovern, J O'Rourke 0-1 each.

Referee: Brian Tyrell (Tipperary).

Waterford look for winning start under Niall Carew

Niall Carew will have his first competitive game in charge of Waterford this coming Sunday afternoon when they take on University of Limerick at the WIT Campus in Carriganore at 2pm.

The former Kildare selector was only appointed as Manager shortly before Christmas despite his predecessor John Owens standing down after a defeat to Wicklow in the All-Ireland Qualifiers at the end of June.

This is a competition that both sides would be hoping to improve their recent record in.

Since 2005 when the competition was revamped and the third level colleges in the province as well as Cork and Kerry were admitted to the competition the two sides have played twenty five games in the competition between them.

University of Limerick have played one more game than Waterford winning five of their thirteen games while Waterford have won just three of their dozen games.

For both sides, 2009 was their best year in the competition. Waterford played three games in that years competition reaching the semi final stages of the competition where they lost to the Limerick College side. The Shannon-siders played four games that year to reach the final where they suffered a 1-13 to 0-6 defeat to Cork.

The two sides have met twice since the competition was revamped and on both occasions the students came out on top.

The Waterford management team on Thursday night named the team that will play UL, but its fair to say by the time the game starts on Sunday afternoon, there will be some possible positional changes with maybe some changes in personal also in the starting XV.

Stephen Enright is set to start between the posts. Tadhg Ó hUallachain, Stephen Prendergast and Conor Phelan make up the full back line with Tony Grey, Shane Briggs and Ronan Cahill starting outside them.

In the middle of the field Tommy Prendergast makes a return to the Inter county Scene and will be partnered by Colligan’s Sean Dempsey.

In attack Conor McGrath, Paul Whyte and Maurice O’Gorman make up the half forward line while John Wall, Patrick Hurney and Gavin Nugent make up the full forward line.