Lismore beat Saint Anne's in an epic.

I have said it before and I am going to continue to say it will I have reason to stop, battles between Saint Anne’s and Lismore in the senior grade of Camogie within the county have become ‘must not miss’ affairs.

Over the past two years, the two sides have clashed in the League and Championship finals and in each of these games, very little have separated the two sides, with some of the game going right to the wire.

There is some that scoff at the idea of females kicking footballs, hitting a sliotar with a hurley or even playing handball. To some females have a roll in the GAA, but its not playing. To these people a woman’s roll is bringing children to and from training sessions or games or maybe even taking their turn to wash the jerseys every so often that is if they are not doing it the whole time as it stands.

In my view however, people that express such views be it in private or in public, are ignorant. Some, maybe all of these same people that express such views have never been to a ladies football or a Camogie game and if they were to attend one, they might be pleasantly surprised as the standard is far higher than most might expect.

Last Saturday’s County Camogie County Final at Lemybrien was a prime example of a quality game. 32 scores tells it own story.

A large portion of the scores may have come from frees, but does that really matter.

In the senior hurling county final twenty four hours later at Walsh Park produced thirty five scores, half of which came from placed balls. Did this fact take from the game? I think you will agree that it did not.

Sometimes when two evenly matched teams clash in a big game such as Saint Anne’s and Lismore, tactics come into place. Players and coaches have to ask themselves questions.

Both sides have a number of players that know how to rattle the net. For Saint Anne’s Karen Kelly, Zoe O’Donoghue and Jennie Simpson are top quality players. For Lismore, Ruth Geoghegan, Niamh Morrissey and Caithriona McGlone know where the net is.

When you have players of this standard playing and you see them running at your defence, you have to basic options. You try and stop them and you run the chance of conceding a free which could well be sent over the crossbar, or do you leave them off and attempt their luck for a goal. The first option is often the easier to take.

Lismore drew first blood in this game. Aoife Hannon pointed a free in the first minute.

However, Lismore were not long ahead as Karen Kelly operating in the half forward line for Saint Anne’s began to show her class.

She levelled matters soon after Aoife Hannon gave Lismore the lead, and she followed up with converting three further points to give the 2012 champions an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead.

Aoife Hannon from a free and Caitriona McGlone with the first score of the game from open play responded with points for Lismore to leave one between the sides, but a brace of frees from Karen Kelly soon had Saint Anne’s leading once more by double scores.

Aoife Hannon pointed from a forty-five to reduce Saint Anne’s lead and when Shona Curran pointed from play there was just one between the sides.  

Karen Kelly with twenty minutes played put some daylight between the sides, but a goal from Shona Curran soon afterwards had Lismore in front for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.

Back came Saint Anne’s again and Karen Kelly put over a brace of points to give the mid county side a 0-9 to 1-5 advantage and when Zoe O'Donoghue landed a brace of points before the break, it was looking good for Saint Anne’s, but Lismore just before the break pointed through Aoife Hannon to leave her side trailing 0-11 to 1-6 at the break.

What is said and done at the break can often have a huge effect one way or the other on the game. What Lismore did at the break certainty worked in the second thirty minutes.

Laura Buckley came in for Jennifer Kingston, Sinead Bennett replaced Sarah Prendergast. Marie Russell went from Centre Field into defence to keep a close eye on Zoe O’Donoghue, Aoife Hannon dropped back into the half back line and Laura Buckley and Shona Curran formed a new pairing in the centre of the field, with Aoife Houlihan and Sinead Bennett taking up positions in attack.

The second half was only moments old when the half time substitutes pay off the faith shown in them by the selectors.

Laura Buckley won the ball and laid it off to Sinead Bennett who in turn beat Rebecca Kavanagh for a second Lismore goal, giving them the lead for the third time in the game, one that they did not loose this time around.

Points from Johanna Houlihan and Aoife Hannon followed which gave Lismore a 2-8 to 0-11 lead and with confidence high now with Lismore, Aoife Hannon put over three placed balls to stretch her sides lead to six.

Saint Anne’s however came storming back, hitting the next four scores, three coming from the impressive Karen Kelly, the other from Sinead Cummins.

However it was Lismore that finished the game the stronger of the two sides as Aoife Hannon put over a hat-trick of frees and Johanna Houlihan landed one to give Lismore a 2-15 to 0-15 advantage at the sound of the full time whistle.

Lismore having retained the league final earlier this year and now the championship that they last won in 2011 go on and represent Waterford in the Intermediate Championship at provincial level.

First up for Lismore will be a trip to Cork to play Carrigaline who won the intermediate Championship in Cork last weekend, beating Tracton 0-9 to 2-2 after a replay after the two sides had earlier drawn 0-16 to 2-10, and before this beat Brian Dillon’s, Sarsfields, and Newtownshandrum before beating Blackrock in the semi finals. Earlier in the year the Cork side reached the intermediate league semi finals in Cork where they were beaten by Newtownshandrum.

Lismore will go into that game in a confident mood. While the Cork side will provide stiff opposition on their own grounds, Lismore two years ago having won the county senior final in Waterford went on to win the Munster Intermediate Final and in the All-Ireland semi finals they were somewhat unlucky to loose to the Galway champions at Fraher Field. With so many of that team available to them, you can’t but feel that experience at this level will have to count for something.

Lismore: Aisling O’Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Sandra Prendergast; Sarah Geoghegan, Shauna Kiernan, Jennifer Kingston; Aoife Houlihan, Marie Russell; Shona Curran, Ruth Geoghegan, Nicola Morrissey; Aoife Hannon, Caitriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan. Subs: Sinead Bennett for Sarah Prendergast, Laura Buckley for Jennifer Kingston, Sinead Walsh for Ruth Geoghegan. Rest of Panel; Shauna Fennessey, Rachel Knowles, Sarah Russell, Ber O’Keeffe, Niamh Molumphy and Grainne Kennelly

Scorers: Aoife Hannon 0-11, Shona Curran 1-1, Sinead Bennett 1-0, Johanna Houlihan 0-2, Caitriona McGlone 0-1.

Saint Anne’s: Rebecca Kavanagh; Bonnie Keating, Pauline Cunningham, Labhaoise Dunbar; Siobhan Kavanagh, Charlotte Raher, Claire Whyte; Jennie Simpson, Claire Murphy; Mairead Murphy, Sinead Cummins, Karen Kelly; Sarah Fitzgerald, Ciara Phelan, Zoe O'Donoghue. Sub: Bronwyn Grace for Sarah Fitzgerald. Rest of Panel: Ciara Keogh, Michelle McDonald, Catherine Queally, Lorna Cummins, Angela Flynn, Rachel Keane, Lorna Behan, Aoife Behan, Niamh Behan and Rachel McDonald.

Scorers: Karen Kelly 0-12, Sarah Fitzgerald 0-2, Sinead Cummins 0-1.

 

Passage secure first senior hurling County Final.

Sunday October 13, 2013 will long be remembered in the village of Passage and the other surrounding villages that stretch from the areas around Jack Meade’s Pub to Dunmore East.

Over the past few years, when the village of Passage and the surrounding villages hit the news headlines, it was often associated with tragedy, of which there has been a number in the area over the years.

However, Sunday October 13, 2013 made the headlines for much different headlines, headlines, which the people of the area will never tire of reading about, for that was the day at the fourth attempt that the local hurling club for the first time won the Waterford County Senior Hurling Championship.

Ten minutes into the second half of the game at Walsh Park, it looked as though it was all over for Passage. JJ Hutchinson had just struck a third goal for Ballygunner, to give them a seven point advantage on the score board. But credit to Passage, they refused to lie down and roll over they continued to fight hard.

With seven minutes of the game to play, again it looked as though it was all over for Passage as Ballygunner once again went seven points in front on the score board. Having to hit seven points for Passage in as many minutes without conceding seemed a difficult task for Passage. Even if they did hit the seven points, then they still would not win, they had to still hit another score to go in front, and then hope that the neighbours and great rivals would not score.

Former Kilkenny hurler Christy Heffernan speaking on W.L.R.fm at half time felt that if Passage were going to be in with a major shout if the game was close. I would love to have heard match commentator Kieran O’Connor press him a little and ask what was close. In most seven points down with as many minutes to play would be a little too wide a gap, but not to the men from Passage.

It took both sides a little time to settle in this game. The first score of the game did not arrive until the fourth minute; a free converted by Ballygunner’s Pauric Mahony.  Passage however were not long behind. Within a minute, they were level after John Whitty pointed from play.

Owen Connors edged Passage in front for the first time on nine minutes when he converted a free, but it was cancelled out four minutes later when Pauric Mahony converted from the ’65 metre line.

The first goal of the came on sixteen minutes when Stephen Power finished to the net after David O’Sullivan ran at the Passage defence.

The measure of a good side is how they response after conceding a goal, and Passage certainly responded in style.

Killian Fitzgerald hit a point on eighteen minutes and a minute later an Eoin Kelly free left one between the sides.

Nine minutes from the break, Passage went in front after Owen Connors after Conor Carey did well to field a puck out and in turn fed the ball to Connors.

Passage were now a point up, and it was Ballygunner’s turn to show how good they are.

They responded with a free converted by Pauric Mahony on twenty-four minutes, and the same player again from a free edged Ballygunner back in front two minutes later.

Three minutes from the break the sides were level once more when Owen Connors put over a free and before the break Pauric Mahony and Eoin Kelly landed points to send the sides to the dressing rooms locked at 1-6 a piece.

The second half began as the first ended.

David O’Sullivan sent Ballygunner in front two minutes after the restart, but within a minute Eoin Kelly had the side’s level once more when he converted a free, but the sides were not long inseparable as Stephen Power pointed on thirty four minutes to give Ballygunner a one point advantage.

Regular readers of what I have to say will know that I am not a fan of the short puck out in hurling. It’s my belief that when it happens it puts defenders under pressure straight away. A lengthy puck out however gives back a little bit of time to get into shape even if a puck out in the opponents half back line is lost.

Ballygunner’s second goal came as a result of one of a short puck out. Brian O’Sullivan won a Passage puck out and in turn quickly found Pauric Mahony who beat Eddie Lynch to give Ballygunner a four point advantage.

Pauric Mahony and Owen Connors swapped points before JJ Hutchinson finished to the net for a third Ballygunner goal to give his side a seven point cushion with forty minutes played.

Owen Connors, Pauric Mahony and Eoin Kelly traded scores over the following five minutes which game Ballygunner a six point advantage with a quarter of the game still to play.

Harley Barnes and Eoin Kelly were next to trade scores before Owen Connors and Brian O’Sullivan did likewise, and when Shane Power sent the umpire reaching for a white flag with seven minutes left to play, it was not looking good for Passage.

However, a show is as they say is never over till the fat lady signs and in the same way in sport a game is never over till the referee sounds his or her final whistle, something that was obviously instilled in the Passage team.

It’s sad to say, but here in Waterford we have many that do not always believe this. We have people who regularly head away from a game early. With minutes to go in Walsh Park, some feeling that the game was done and dusted with Ballygunner leading by seven points with as many minutes to play, some were seen heading towards the exits and up Keane’s Road, down the Paddy Browne Road and along the other exits from Walsh Park all hoping for a swift exit from the area before the main body of people exited from the ground and headed for their cars.

Those that did however missed the most exciting finish to a Waterford senior hurling championship in a long number of years, possibly the most exciting finish ever.

The last minutes of the game were totally controlled by Passage.

Jason Roche pointed to leave six between the sides with five minutes to play. Killian Fitzgerald and Owen Connors followed up with points to leave Ballygunner leading 3-13 to 1-15 with fifty nine minutes played.

On the hour mark, Owen Connors pointed to leave three between the sides, but the game was not over by any means.

Passage refused to throw in the towel and they were rewarded handsomely for doing so.

On the hour mark, step forward – Sean Hogan.

The autumn of 2013 will never be forgotten by this young man.

Throughout the year he was sent on for Passage in a number of their games and hit some crucial scores.

In September he was part of the victorious Waterford Minor panel that captured a first All-Ireland Final for the first time since 1948.

However, while it is great to win with your county, many will tell you to win with your club is an even bigger thrill. Many that have won honours in the past have said to win with those you went to school with, to win with those you meet in the pub, to win with those that you mean everyday as you go about your daily business, nothing equals it.

Over the year, Sean Hogan has hit some important scores, but not will ever prove to be more important as the one he scored in this game, beating Stephen O’Keeffe for a suburb shot to draw the side’s level.

Those of the approximate 5,000 that passed through the turn styles were not thinking about having to go back and do it all over again, possibly next Saturday and roaring on their respective sides all over again.

However, the fifteen players on the field for Passage at the time were harbouring no such thoughts. There was only one thing on their mind. They had come from seven points down with seven minutes to play to draw level and now there was only one thing on their mind, to press on for the winner.

And this is exactly what Passage did.

Almost from the resumption Sean Hogan won the ball and he found Conor Carey with a brilliant pass and the long serving Passage man blasted home past Stephen O’Keeffe.

It was mission accomplished. Passaged had hit ten points (2-4) in the closing minutes of the game to go in front.

When Tommy Sullivan brought this years championship to a conclusion, a roar never heard from any Passage support went up which was almost heard by those that remained at home on the day.

Passage now march on and will contest the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship for the first time where the winners of game between Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney and Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh.

Will Passage have a chance of winning that game and advancing to a Munster Final? They will be short for that game. It’s well documented that Noel Connors is moving abroad for a while and he will be a loss. But to answer the question, a while back, few gave Passage any chance of winning this year’s county championship. To many it was a straight dog fight between Ballygunner and De La Salle but neither came out on top. Passage are worthy winners of this years championship and having deprived some of the bigger guns within the county of taking home the Waterford News and Star Cup, others that are coming out across Munster and beyond will be sitting up and take notice.

PASSAGE: Eddie Lynch, Jason Roche, Mark Wyse, Joseph Upton, Stephen Mason, Noel Connors, Patrick Walsh, Killian Fitzgerald, John Whitty, Owen Connors, Conor Carey, Tommy Connors, Rory. Walsh, Eoin Kelly, Liam Flynn. Subs: Jason Flood for Joseph Upton, Sean Hogan for Liam Flynn; Joe McClean for Rory Walsh.

Scorers: Owen Connors 1-7 (0-6fs, 0-1 65); Eoin Kelly 0-5 (0-4fs); Conor Carey, Sean Hogan 1-0 each; Killian Fitzgerald 0-2; John Whitty and Jason Roche 0-1 each.

BALLYGUNNER: Stephen O’Keeffe, Stephen O’Keeffe, Barry Coughlin, Paul Coughlin, Shane Walsh, Wayne Hutchinson, Alan Kirwan, Philip Mahony, Harley Barnes, Shane O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, David O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan, Shane Power, JJ Hutchinson. Sub: Barry O’Sullivan for JJ Hutchinson.

Scorers: P. Mahony 1-7 (0-5fs, 0-1 65); S. Power 1-2; JJ Hutchinson 1-0; H. Barnes 0-2; D. O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Referee: T. O’Sullivan (Cappoquin).

Ballinacourty ease past The Nire into Co Final.

Next Sunday’s County Senior Football Final will be between Stradbally and Ballinacourty, after the latter defeated The Nire in the second of this year’s semi finals at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

A fine attendance were present all hoping for a better helping than what was served up a week earlier when Stradbally accounted for An Rinn, but such hopes were dashed.

The opening minutes of the game did prove to be enjoyable, but after Ballinacourty hit the first of their goals after just nine minutes, the games was all over as a contest.

The Nire on the night disappointed. However circumstances could have played a roll in this.

All year long injuries have hampered them and for this game, they were again unable to pick what would have been a first choice team.

Craig Guiry was out of the country, Shane Walsh who is hampered with injuries all year lasted just 39 minutes, Shane Ryan who has hugely impressed all year was ill and bringing Liam Lawlor who has impressed on the edge of the oppositions square over the past two or three years back into his own defence did not work as they would have hoped as it left then short of a match winner in attack.

Ballinacourty started this game well, hitting two points inside the opening two minutes of the game. The first, a Michael O’Halloran free was quickly followed up with an effort from Mark Ferncombe.

Brian Wall pulled a point back for The Nire on six minutes, but this was to be as good as it got for the side who had former Tipperary footballer Declan Browne on the line, as the eventual winners soon assumed supremacy.

Mark Fives restored Ballinacourty’s two point advantage on eight minutes, and a minute later that lead was further increased.

With nine minutes on the clock, Patrick Hurney played in a beautiful ball from the bank side of the field in front of The Nire goal. The ball lost height as it dropped in the square for anyone to catch it. Mark Ferncombe could have stuck a leg out to connect with the ball, but in doing so, the ball could have gone anyplace, so instead he threw himself on the ground and before it touched the ground he connected with his fist and guided the ball past Tommy Wall in The Nire goals.

Five minutes later, the same player had the umpire reaching for a green flag once more.

Liam Lawlor having come deep into his own side of the field attempted to play the ball out of defence, but his clearance was intercepted by John Hurney who found Ferncombe who finished to the net.

Brian Wall pulled a point back for The Nire just past the end of the first quarter of the game mark, but again they were unable to build on it.

On eighteen minutes, Patrick Hurney ran at The Nire defence but he was pulled down inside the large box and referee Tommy Sullivan had no option but to award a penalty.

Having scored two goals already and with the game as good as sown up despite the fact that there was twelve minutes of the half to play, there was ever going to be one player who was going to kick from twelve metres.

Mark Ferncombe sent the ball low and hard to Tommy Wall’s right, and he did well to push the ball onto the base of the upright and as the ball came back his way he was able to gather the ball and able to alleviate the danger.

Ballinacourty however did not have to wait long before they did have a third goal.

Nine minutes from the break, Jason O’Brien tried his luck at beating Tommy Wall in The Nire goal, and with the help of a deflection off the legs of Tommy Cooney’s left he did manage it.

Patrick Hurney put over a brace of points on twenty five and twenty six minutes which was followed by an effort from Mark Ferncombe to further stretch Ballinacourty’s lead with two minutes of normal time in the first half still to play.

Brian Wall did manage to kick two frees for The Nire before the break to send them in trailing 3-6 to 0-4, but they were to be mere consolation scores.

The Nire did start the second half well.

Brian Wall put in a Man of the Match performance. Without him, The Nire were going to be in a lot of trouble. He kicked three early second half points, two of which were from frees, to give his side some hope.

Gary Hurney responded with a point for Ballinacourty which was followed with efforts from Brian Wall and Darren Guiry to leave seven between the sides at the end of the third quarter.

On forty-six minutes, The Nire were somewhat unlucky not to have had that lead further reduced when Darren Guiry drew a good save from Stephen Enright in the Ballinacourty goals.

Jamie Barron pointed for The Nire on forty-nine minutes, but it was followed up with efforts from Michael O’Halloran from a free and then John Hurney.

Brian Wall and Gary Hurney traded scores with two minutes of the hour to play and with seconds of the hour to play, Brian Wall rounded off a good display by kicking a deserved goal.

Michael O’Halloran pointed for Ballinacourty seconds into the three added minutes at the end of the half and a minute later, Shane Briggs and Patrick Hurney combined well to find Mark Gorman and from close range, the half time substitute for first half goal scorer Jason O’Brien made no mistake.

Just before the end of the game, a miserable night for The Nire was made worse when they had JP Fitzgerald sent off on a straight red card.

The winners will have been extremely happy with this win, but they the could be found accused of pulling up in the second half, which if repeated next weekend against Stradbally in the decider, they could find themselves in a sport of trouble.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright: David Collins, Shane Briggs, Brian Looby; Conor Moloney, Sean O’Hare, Richie Foley; John Hurney, Gary Hurney; Mark Ferncombe, Mark Fives, James O’Mahony; Michael O’Halloran, Jason O’Brien, Patrick Hurney. Subs: Mark O’Gorman for Jason O’Brien (HT), Gavin Breen for David Collins (HT), Patrick Lynch for Richie Foley (34 mins), Shane Donovan for Mark Fives (57 mins), John Power for James O’Mahony (60 mins).

Scorers: Mark Ferncombe 2-2, Michael O’Halloran 0-3 (2 frees), Jason O’Brien, Mark Gorman 1-0 each, Patrick Hurney, Gary Hurney 0-2 each, Mark Fives, John Hurney 0-1 each.

The Nire: Tommy Wall; Justin Walsh, Maurice O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney; John Moore, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; Shane Walsh, Michael O’Gorman; Jamie Barron, Brian Wall, Seamus Lawlor; Darren Guiry, Liam Lawlor, Conor Gleeson. Subs: Dermot Ryan for Seamus Lawlor (16 mins), JP Fitzgerald for Shane Walsh (37 mins).

Scorers: Brian Wall 1-9 (0-5 frees), Jamie Barron, Darren Guiry 0-1 each.

Referee: Seamus Landers (Clashmore).

Saint Anne's and Lismore meet in what could be a cracker

There are so many big games on this weekend; it’s hard to get to them all.

One game I would love to get to see but wont get to see it is the County Senior Camogie Final between the holders Saint Anne’s and the current league champions Lismore.

These two sides have met in the last two league finals where the honours have gone to the Western side and in the county final last year which was played at Ardmore.

There can be no disputing that the two best sides in the county are involved in this game.

They have become fierce rivals over the past few years, and some great games have been fought out by the two and this one is expected to be no different.

The last big game between the two was the league final back in May.

That game was expected to be close and the players on both sides did not fail to deliver.

It was Saint Anne’s on that day that had the best of starts, going three points up with under ten minutes played.

Lismore however came roaring back into the game when Sinead Bennett got onto the end of a huge Aisling O’Brien delivery and shot to the net.

The measure of a good side is how they recover after leaving in a goal and in this game Saint Anne’s did so by goal of their own from the industrious Zoe O’Donoghue to restore a three point lead, one that went to six with time in the first half running down.

Lismore however finished the half the stronger of the two sides but went in trailing at the break, thanks to a second goal which came from Laura Buckley.

St Anne’s began the second half by hitting four points to ease themselves into a seven point lead, but with Shona Curran in outstanding form playing at centre back for the Heritage town side, Lismore came storming back.

Aoife Hannon too was in outstanding form. She hit eight points for the side in black and amber hoops over the course of the hour.

With the game all square with time almost up, it looked as though extra time or a replay was going to be needed to see where the Denny Buckley Cup would find a home, but in stoppage time, Caitriona McGlone while in control of the ball noticed that Marie Russell was in a better position to her. She laid off the ball to her and the inter county player made no mistake in sending the ball high over the crossbar to secure a win for Lismore.

Lismore will go into this game fresh from a good win over Galltir in the semi finals.

In that game Aisling O’Brien put in a player of the match performance between the posts and they will be looking to her again for inspiration again in this game.

Others that will be needed to produce big performances from will include Marie Russell, Shona Curran, Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan, Aoife Hannon, Caitriona McGlone and Johanna Houlihan. There could also be some good news for Lismore if Gráinne Kennelly is available for selection, while it remains to be seen if Laura Buckley will play any part.

Champions do not like loosing and Saint Anne’s will not want to in this game. They have some quality players, who have played a part with different Waterford teams in recent years.

Ciara Keogh, Charlotte Raher, Claire Whyte, Jennie Simpson, Mairead Murphy, Karen Kelly, Bronwyn Grace, Pauline Cunningham, Niamh Rockett and the deadly Zoe O’Donoghue will be amongst their most crucial players.

This is a game that is too close to call. Saint Anne’s will go into the game as the favourites, but favourites do not always win, even in a two horse race.

Battles between the two sides have become a bit of a must see in recent times. This one with so much resting in it could be the best battle yet between the two and is likely to attract a sizeable support for both sides to the Lemybrien venue, before some supporters of both sides make the mad dash to Waterford to support Dunhill in the Intermediate Hurling County final against Ardmore or to Fraher Field to support Ballysaggart against Colligan in the Western Junior Hurling Final.

Can Butlerstown's year get better?

Regular readers of this blog will know that I said recently, that Butlerstown Camogie Club were having a good year.

The club from the outskirts of Waterford City have this year won the Intermediate League and Championship and have also won the none county player league.

This weekend the side coached by Padraig Daniels move their year up another gear when they take on Croagh-Kilfinny from Limerick in the first round of the Munster Junior Club Championship at Butlerstown on Saturday at 2-30pm. (Please note the latest start time for the game).

The Limerick side have had an impressive run in the Intermediate Championship in Limerick, receiving a walkover from Clanmurice in the opening round of games.

In the semi finals they proved too strong for Murroe Boher in the County Semi final, winning on a 2-11 to 0-4 score line and in the county final against Ballybrown things were much closer, Murroe Boher winning this one on a 2-8 to 2-5 score line.

Butlerstown enter this game on the back of a good win (3-9 to 1-7) over Cappoquin in the County Final recently.

On that day Kate-Marie Hearne proved to be the winners top marks lady finishing the game with 2-7 of her sides tally.

Despite Cappoquin making the early running, once Rosemary Power and Kate-Marie Hearne hit points to level matters, Butlerstown soon got into a rhythm and once they did there was no turning back.

A goal before the break from Kate-Marie Hearne gave the eventual winners a 1-4 to 0-3 lead at the turn around.

In the second half, Kate-Marie Hearne continued to prove her class hitting off scores at every opportunity.

However, they could not pull away sufficiently from Cappoquin who had Jenny McCarthy in top form and Lauren McGregor hitting a goal, they were still in with a shout.

However, once the Corner-Stone ladies lost Roisin Cahillane, the game began to turn in Butlerstown favour.

At the time of Roisin Cahillane leaving the field for Cappoquin, Butlerstown were behind, but a Kate-Marie Hearne converted forty-five levelled matters.

The same player struck for her second goal of the game soon afterwards which gave the eventual winners a three point advantage one that was extended soon afterwards when the same player put over her six point of the game.

Nicola Fitzgerald added a third goal for Butlerstown late in the game which was followed with another Kate-Marie Hearne score.

Win, loose or draw, for Butlerstown it has been an outstanding year up to now. No doubt they will be confident that they can advance to the next stage of the competition.

Kate-Marie Hearne will once again prove to be vital to their hopes and if she shows the same form in front of goal as she did against Cappoquin, then the Limerick sides defence could be in for a busy hours work.

However, Butlerstown will not be over relying on Kate-Marie Hearne too much. They have some other quality players.

Deirdre Brennan shared goalkeeping duties on the inter county scene this past year with Aisling O’Brien. Vikki Falconer, Martina Cashin and Elizabeth McGrath have all played for the county in recent years as well at different levels, while the Nicola Fitzgerald and Rosemary Power could well prove crucial.

Butlerstown have shown themselves to be a good team all year, and no doubt the players will be looking for a big support on home soil on the day, especially from the people from the area around Butlerstown and from the wider Camogie Community.

 

Ballygunner and Passage clash for the second time in a County Senior Hurling Final

The Ribbons on this year’s Waterford News and Star Cup will be red. The only question is whether it will be white or black ones that will go with them.

For five months now, twelve months have slogged it out to see who will win the right to take the trophy home with them at the end of the playing year and now that we are down to two clubs, we should know barring the need for a replay by around 4-45pm on Sunday.

Ballygunner will go into the game as the favourites and adding to the dozen titles that they have already won at this level of hurling between 1966 and 2011, but under no circumstances should Passage who are appearing in their fourth final have their chances written off.

The two sides have clashed already in the championship and on that occasion, it was Ballygunner that came out on top, almost winning by double scores but the result of that game will play no roll in this game and nor should it as the two sides will start Sunday’s games locked on the score board at no score each.

Up to that point of the championship, Passage were going well, having dropped just one point in the league section of the competition, and were safely through to the knockout stages of the competition regardless of what would have happened in that game, while Ballygunner went into the game that anything other than a win could see them bow out of the competition if other results went against them.

This game has the makings of an intriguing battle between two well matched teams.

Both sides have a powerful score getter. For Passage, Eoin Kelly has averaged around eight points a game, while for Ballygunner Pauric Mahony has averaged about ten points a game.

Eoin Kelly and Pauric Mahony are not their respective sides only scoring threats however.

For Ballygunner, JJ Hutchinson, Shane and Brian O’Sullivan have also chipped in with impressive totals in the seven games which included one game which went to extra time that Ballygunner have played in this years championship while David O’Sullivan, Harley Barnes, Barry O’Sullivan, Conor Power, John McCarthy, Stephen Power, Shane Walsh as well as Paul and Barry Coughlin have chipped in with smaller but still crucially important smaller tallies on the score sheet.

For Passage, Eoin Kelly has been ably assisted with the scoring by the likes of Owen Connors, John Whitty and Killian Fitzgerald, while Sean Hogan, Conor Carey, Stephen Mason, Richard Hurley, Pa and Rory Walsh, Jason Roche, Mitchell Baldwin and Liam Flynn have struck important scores as well.

Throughout the field on Sunday, there could well be some interesting battles fought out. One of them well be between Noel Connors at centre back for Passage and Pauric Mahony at centre forward for Ballygunner, and the winner of this battle could well be the one whose side will climb the steps of the stand in Walsh Park to be presented with the winners trophy by County Board Chairman Tom Cunningham.

Barring any injuries or dip in form in any of the players on both sides, to pick the starting fifteen on both sides could well prove to be a simple enough task.

For Passage Eddie Lynch will start between the posts. Jason Flood, Mark Wyse and Joseph Upton will form the full back line, while Noel Connors will be at centre back. Jason Roche will start on one wing, but who starts on the other could be interesting. In recent games they have used Stephen Mason and Pa Walsh there.

Which ever of the duo that miss out on a wing back spot however will start in the middle of the field along side John Whitty.

In attack, Owen Connors would be expected to start at the number ten position, with Killian Fitzgerald expected to start in the middle and Conor Carey on the other side of the half forward line, but these two could well be changed.

In the full forward line, Eoin Kelly has proved to be a thorn on the side of many a full back line this year operating on the edge of the square while the final place could well be between Rory Walsh, Sean Hogan, Richard Hurley and Liam Flynn.

Ballygunner’s starting line out could have less ‘ifs and buts’ to it. Since they played Dungarvan in the penultimate round of games in the league section of the competition, they are unbeaten and in this time they have tended to stick to the same starting line out with just one or two changes to the team.

Stephen O’Keeffe will start in goals. In front of him will be Barry Coughlan and will be flanked by Stephen O’Keeffe and Paul Coughlan. Wayne Hutchinson will start at centre back and will have Shane Walsh and Alan Kirwan either side of him.

In the middle of the field will be Philip Mahony and Shane O’Sullivan and if they can get on top in this game, then that could well prove to be the winning and loosing of the game.

In attack, Pauric Mahony will be at centre forward and will have David O’Sullivan and Harley Barnes either side of him, but Gary Molloy could well also come into consideration.

Brian O’Sullivan and JJ Hutchinson could well start in the corners with the place in between likely to be fought out by Barry O’Sullivan and Stephen Power.

For me, while great progress is made this year in Passage under Peter Queally, this game is Ballygunner’s to loose. They appear to have the stronger team on paper and over the past few games appear to be the more settled side, making the minimum about of changes to their starting team.

They say if something is not broken, don’t try and fix it. Ballygunner appear to have got into a nice rhythm of late and therefore as much as I would love to see Passage win a first title, I expect Ballygunner to add a thirteenth to their roll of honour.

A place in Munster awaits Ardmore or Dunhill

This Saturday’s County Intermediate Hurling Final could prove to be a very interesting one.

There is some that will claim that to see Dunhill involved in it is no surprise, as many expected them to be in the eastern final alongside Portlaw, the sides that got relegated from the senior grade at the end of 2012 and the side beaten in the County Intermediate Hurling final last year.

To see Ardmore in the final, maybe for some is a little bit of a surprise as Cappoquin and Clashmore would have been expected to prove that little bit stronger than the men from the sea-side village.

However to have under-estimated Ardmore would have been foolish. The side managed by Nicky Keating have a nice look to them. They have some excellent players with inter county experience within their ranks and also some top young prospects and they showed in the West of the county how good they actually are.

Dunhill come into this game on the back of a good win over Portlaw in the Intermediate final recently.

Portlaw were a fancied side by many. They won last years title in the east of the county and while they lost rather heavily to an An Rinn side that had a considerable amount of work done under the guidance of Peter Power in the run up to the game.

Dunhill won the title twelve months earlier and in their year in senior, despite loosing a number of players that helped them lift the east and county finals in 2011, they acquitted themselves well and it could be said that they were somewhat unlucky to have found themselves relegated.

Shane Casey and Eamon Murphy will be their big treats going into the game. Both will start, one in each line of their attack and will prove to be a treat throughout to the Ardmore defence.

Any split moment where the Ardmore defence looses concentration could well be punished.

However, Dunhill are not just about the two men that have played with Waterford in recent years.

Tomás and Brian Dunbar have come through successful underage teams and are very good players. Jason Burns, Davin Phelan, Darragh Murray and Shane Behan are also players that will take some minding by the Ardmore players.

Ardmore’s big guns are well known to everybody. Clinton Hennessy as well as Declan and Seamus Prendergast have trilled us on many occasions over the past decade in the white and blue of Waterford.

Seamus Prendergast has proved to be the side’s top scorer in recent games and he will take some watching by the Dunhill defence this weekend, and not just from play as he is likely to punish Dunhill for any indiscipline from frees.

Cathal Hennessy, John and David Gartland as well as Richie and Wayne Hennessy have also impressed in recent games, while they have a real jewel in Seamus Keating. The mid centre field player in recent games has proven himself to be a quality player, and put in a man of the match performance last week against Clashmore in the Western Final.

It’s hard to pick a winner in this game. Both deserve to go up, but only one can.

Dunhill will have had a two week break since they beat Portlaw in the Eastern Final, while this is the third weekend that Ardmore will be involved in hurling action.

They say there is nothing like games coming on a regular basis. Three games in three weekends, you can’t beat that for consistency. However, a break is also nice to get.

Dunhill will come into this game a relatively rested team. Ardmore will not mind too much playing week after week if their winning run was to continue.