Stradbally and The Nire to meet in County Senior Football Final for the seventh time

For the seventh time since 2002, the county senior football championship will be decided by a clash between Stradbally and The Nire.

There can be no doubting that these two sides have dominated the football scene in Waterford over the past decade and a half.

Stradbally have won eight finals since the turn of the Millennium and appeared in three other finals.

Their opponents this weekend have won three finals since the Millennium year and have appeared in five other finals, making them the second most consistent team in this period, behind the Cove-men.

Battles between the two down the years have been closely fought battles. In three of the County Final clashes between the two, a kick of the ball separated the sides, and in the other battles between the two, seven points has proved to be the winning margin between the sides, that coming in 2004 when Stradbally won fourth of their five in a row finals, winning the game on a 2-8 to 1-4 score line.

While winning margins between the two in finals has often been small, along the way there have been occasions when the two sides could not be separated and should this latest clash of the two be just as close few if any would be surprised.

The most recent clash of the two in a final came in 2012. On that occasion a replay was needed to decide a winner and even then it needed a late David Grey score for Stradbally to help them to a 1-8 to 0-10 win.

This clash is the second between the two this year.

They clashed at Fraher Field in the third round of games in the league section of the competition, a game that The Nire won 3-11 to 3-6.

On that occasion all the drama enfolded in the last five minutes of the game. At the break, The Nire held a comfortable 1-7 to 0-4 lead, the goal coming half way through the half, Shane Ryan fisting to the net from a Jamie Barron pass.

The winners hit a second goal ten minutes into the second half when Diarmuid Wall finished to the net to give his side a 2-9 to 0-4 lead and ten minutes later they had stretched their lead by one to 2-11 to 0-5.

With five minutes of the hour remaining, Michael Sweeney finished to The Nire net after he was put through by Christopher Casey.

A minute later, it was Christopher Casey’s turn from goal provider to goal scorer after he was put through by Kevin Lawlor.

The Nire broke the momentum in Stradbally’s flow with a Liam Lawlor goal one minute from the hour mark after he was set up by Keith Guiry who intercepted Michael Walsh, and while Stradbally would add a third goal through John Coffey it proved to be a mere consolation score.

Going on the respective form of the two sides in the semi finals, Stradbally will go into this weekend’s final as the favourites.

They had a good but hard fought win over holders Ballinacourty, while The Nire had a narrow win over An Rinn and in the process failed to score for the last twenty plus minutes of the game.

Both sides would be expected to field along familiar lines for this game but they could well be a number of positional changes to both sides.

Against An Rinn, Shane Ryan finished top scorer for The Nire with four points, two from placed balls, with Shane Walsh and Liam Lawlor chipping in with two points each with Brian Wall and Tommy Cooney also getting on the score sheet.

They will be looking for big performances from these players once more and will also require big performances from other players if they are to capture the Conway Cup for the first time since 2008.

Stradbally on Saturday evening last relied on Shane Ahern to kick seven of their scores. Robert Ahern was the next highest scorer with a goal while David Gray and Tommy Connors also go on the scorer sheet. If they are to win this weekend they will need these and other players to be on top of their game.

Regular readers of what I have to say will be only two well aware that when sides meet in recent proximity in the same competition, I often tend to favour the side that lost the first day to win the second clash.

Will I change my rule of thought for this game and say that The Nire will record a second win over Stradbally this year. If you are a Nire supporter, as much as I would like to see the club next door to my own win as I did last week with Modeligo, I think for The Nire to win here they will have to put in the best performance they have put in for a long time.

In recent battles between the two at this stage of the competition, Stradbally have the upper hand over The Nire. Stradbally have won five of the six finals between the two. On many of these occasions, they were prepared to do so by a small margin and will again this time around.

The Nire’s only victory over Stradbally in a county final came in 2005 when they won 1-5 to 0-3, a result that stopped Stradbally win a first ever five in a row of senior football championships in Waterford.

Should Stradbally win on Sunday afternoon they will move to within one title of the record nineteen titles won by Dungarvan. While most will be aware that Stradbally may not be as strong a side as they were a few years ago, there is still some great hunger within the club. Some of the team have some mileage on the clock, and somewhere in the back of their minds they might be thoughts of dropping down to play in the junior grade where the same demands would not be on them for a few years before hanging up their boots, but if they were to be part of a winning team on Sunday afternoon such thoughts may well be put to the furthermost past of the mind for another year or two.

Modeligo prove too strong for Bunmahon

The nominations for this year’s different players and club of the year along with the other various awards presented by the Waterford GAA County Board are set to be announced in the coming days or weeks.

To be honest, sometimes trying to second guess those charged with selecting the various winners and even the final three, four or five contenders is a difficult task. Often the winners are well received and at times the winning list takes a little thinking about.

Last year, many were somewhat dismayed for example that Ballysaggart were not amongst the final three in contention for the Club of the year.

I know it is not the case, but sometimes when the winners are announced you can’t but feel that the judging was done on the result of one or two games.

Whoever is named winners of the different awards this year I am sure will be winners on merit. Owing to circumstances beyond my control this year I cannot stick my head out and pick the top three or five adult and underage footballers and hurlers, but I will stick my head out and say that if Modeligo are not in the final running for the position of club of the year then I will be shocked.

Over the past twenty years or so some great work has been put in by the older members of the club with the youngsters in the area, working with them in the local community centre over the winter months and in the summer months with the local Naomh Brid Club.

On Sunday afternoon last the fruit of that hard work was reaped when the club won the County Junior Hurling final for the second time in six years and now will go on to represent the county in the Munster Club Championship over the coming weeks.

Modeligo have a hard act to follow in Ballysaggart. For many years Waterford’s interest in the Munster Club Championship at Intermediate and Junior level was more than disappointing.

But Ballysaggart changed all that last year when after winning the Western and County Junior Hurling finals they went on to win the Munster Final on a never to be forgotten December Sunday afternoon in Mallow and then went on to play the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park which would end in a draw but lost the replay in Mullingar.

There is some that will tell you that Modeligo are a more all round better team than what Ballysaggart were. Modeligo may not have a Stephen Bennett operating on the edge of the square to put up a high score in each game but what they do have is a bigger number of players who can register smaller amount of scores, and at the back marshalled by former inter county player Pat Fitzgerald they are a strong outfit. Another plus for the side heading into the Munster Championship is that the likes of Paudie McCarthy, Pa Walsh, Sean Hennessy, Tom Cashman who all started in the stand on Sunday afternoon are all experienced players.

Modeligo went into the game with Bunmahon as the warmest of favourites. This is often a dangerous tag to have on your shoulders going into any game, but it did not effect Modeligo, who won this game with ease and maybe could have won it by a lot more than they did on the day.

The opening exchanges of the game were close. Kieran McCarthy opened the scoring on three minutes, and extended that lead when Patrick O’Donovan pointed moments later.

In the Eastern Final Fionn Buckley proved to be Bunmahon’s main score treat and he opened their account in this game with a pointed free on eight minutes.

Bunmahon two minutes later had the chance to pull level when they won what appeared to be a easy free, just over thirty metres from goal, but slightly more than half way between the upright and the sideline. Fionn Buckley’s effort went wide of his near upright. Had it gone between the uprights, would we have got a different result to the game, we will never know, maybe the final result might be closer.

Both sides swapped scores through Jamie Troy and Fionn Buckley to keep two between the sides, but efforts from Jamie Troy and younger brother Michael with a brace gave Modeligo a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Modeligo in the second quarter upped their game a gear and at the break they held a -13 to 0-5 advantage.

Jamie Troy and Patrick O’Donovan hit points early in the second quarter for the side in green and white but Michael Harney would pull one back from a free to leave five between the sides with twenty-one minutes showing on the score board clock.

Two of the three O’Donovan brothers Nicky and then Patrick as well as Jamie Troy all hit scores for Modeligo before Ciaran Buckley hit Bunmahon’s fourth of the game with four minutes of the half remaining.

Modeligo however would finish the half without dropping the pace. Jamie Troy hit a point only for it to be cancelled out with a Fionn Buckley effort but Modeligo would hit the last score of the half through Michael Troy.

Holding an eight point lead coming out for the second half, Modeligo did not ease up in their attacking play.

Jamie Troy put over a brace of early points and then he did brilliantly to pick out Tom Devine with an excellent pass on forty minutes and from close range the winner of an All-Ireland Minor Medal and winner of All-Ireland ‘A’ and ‘B’ Colleges medals made no mistake.

Modeligo still refused to let up and they went fourteen points in front when Kieran McCarthy pointed a minute after Tom Devine’s goal. Within second’s Modeligo went even further in front when Michael Troy cut in from the stand side of the field towards the road goal and smashed a second Modeligo goal past Bunmahon net minder Pa Queally.

A brace of Tom Devine points followed seconds apart to give Modeligo a 2-18 to 0-5 lead with the game now entering its final quarter.

Bunmahon reduced Modeligo’s lead by two when Michael Harney and Fionn Buckley scored but the scores were soon cancelled out with efforts from Sean O’Donovan and Man of the Match Jamie Troy.

Bunmahon’s last score of the game came from the stick of John Roche eight minutes from time.

Modeligo still refused to take their foot off the accelerator and they hit late scores from Jamie Troy, Patrick O’Donovan who put over three of his sides last five scores of the game and Tom Devine to help Modeligo to what was a comfortable 2-25 to 0-8 victory.

Modeligo: Donal O’Keeffe; John McGrath, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean O’Donovan, Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy; Kieran McCarthy, Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’Donovan, Jamie Troy, Pa Donovan; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Rian Reddy Subs: Pa Walsh for Kieran McCarthy (BS), Louis Queally for Nicky Donovan, Pa Walsh for Kieran McCarthy, Sean Hennessy for Rian Reddy, Paudie McCarthy for Robbie Buckley, Richie McGrath for John McGrath

Scorers: Jamie Troy 0-9 (3F), Patrick O’Donovan 0-6, Tom Devine, Michael Troy 1-3 each, Kieran McCarthy 0-2, Nicky O’Donovan, Sean O’Donovan 0-1 each. 

Bunmahon: Pa Queally; John Fenton, Tommy Power, Martin Malone; David Crowley, Patsy Casey, Niall Queally; John Roche, Ciaran Buckley; Micheal Harney, Finbarr Power, Conal Queally; Richie Walsh, Fionn Buckley, Dylan Power. Subs: Ricky Power for Niall Queally, Kieran Roche for Patsy Casey, Dylan Power for Richie Walsh, Brendan Murphy for Finbarr Power, William Harney for Charlie McKeown.

Scorers: Fionn Buckley 0-4 (1f), Michael Harney 0-2 (2f), Ciaran Buckley, John Roche 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Cappoquin/Affane).

Cappoquin back as a senior hurling club for 2015

Down the years, clubs in Waterford as well as up and down the country have undertaken a research of the Club’s history, or had someone to do it for them, and the final product coupled with photographs have been put together in book form and often sold as a fundraiser for the club.

I am not sure if a History of the Cappoquin/Affane Club and the clubs prior to their merging in the 1960’s has ever taken place. If one has not ever been done, I know for a fact that there is plenty in the area well equipped to putting it together and that it would be well received locally and in the wider GAA community especially those that have connections with the Corner-stone Club down the years but maybe no longer reside in the area.

Should one have been put together, another chapter would have to be added in the near future as the club on Sunday afternoon last won its first piece of major silverware in hurling at adult level since the 1970’s when they beat Saint Saviours in this years Intermediate Final at Fraher Field, and will now take their place in the senior championship for the first time since they lost it in the 1990’s.

Since then, Cappoquin have gone close to going back into the senior championship but it was not to be, as along the way they fell to defeats in games they were expected to win.

The work to begin preparations for their return to the senior grade will not begin when they return to training for their upcoming Munster Championship game, nor will it begin in the late winter or early spring months when they return to training for the 2015 championships.

The work began in the 1990’s when the likes of the late Mick Lacey a member of the Waterford Senior Hurling winning team in 1959 and the then Curate of the Parish Fr Connie Kelleher seeing that the required work was not being put in got players to the GAA field when previous to this the bulk of the work with the youths in the area was being done by the local soccer clubs.

However the real work began to begin towards the end of the 90’s when Michael ‘Magoo’ Murray and Tommy O’Sullivan began to take charge of the clubs youngest players. They would later be joined by the likes of Fintan Murray and Billy Tobin amongst others.

Cappoquin went into Sunday’s game as the clear favourites in the eyes of many. But for long sections of this game they were made work very hard for their win by a hungry Saint Saviours team.

Most reading this will be aware that I never got to play in a competitive game of hurling, but it has not stopped me taking a keen interest in the game down the years.

There is some that feel that unless you have played the game you are not qualified to speak out on certain things within the game.

Forward’s often get all the credit when a team wins a game, but I think if I had the chance to play I may have been a back, my height would have restricted me on becoming a goal keeper, but it is these positions I often look to when I watch a game and down the years some of the best players I have seen are those that have filled the shirt numbers one to seven.

One of the best of these is former Cork goal keeper Donal Óg Cusack. Many people have strong views on the Cloyne Club man, but one thing regardless of our views on him is that for many years he was one of the best in the game of his era.

People speak of legacies when players retire or die and the same is often done of Politicians.

When it comes to Donal Óg his legacy is possibly the short puck out, something I am sure that most will know is something I hate.

Over the years modern day coaches have looked at other teams play and decide when they see something done that works they decide that they must introduce it into the game plan of teams they are coaching.

The unfortunate thing about the short puck out is that while it worked for Donal Óg Cusack and it worked for Cork, for the majority of teams it does not work and when it goes wrong it puts a team under a lot of pressure.

On Sunday afternoon Saint Savours had a game plan. From the restart after the ball had gone behind the goal post they were finding, the same one or two players who were often dropping short were to be found and on more than one occasion, the plan went wrong but it was still persisted with.

To me, hurling is a simple game but is often made very complicated. The main aim or tactic should be to get the ball from your own end of the field to the other in a quick as possible way and that is often done hitting a long straight ball down the field. Hitting a long straight ball it should be remembered does not always mean landing it into your centre forward or full forward. A long straight ball can also be hit to the wing or corner forwards.

In the 30 plus hours since the end of Sunday’s final I still cant but help wondering had Saint Saviours more often than not played a more direct long ball game would they have won, as they possibly had the more physically built forwards, something that can be got naturally for hurlers by playing football at a fairly serious level.

Cappoquin had a good start to this game with Man of the Match Shane O’Rourke and then Shane Coughlan splitting the posts from a ’65 and from play respectfully by the fourth minute.

After Shane Coughlan’s score Saint Saviours attacked the Cappoquin goal and got the ball into John Paul Jacob who made no mistake in beating Donal O’Rourke who was back between the posts for the Corner-Stone men after missing the Western Final win over Ballinameela through injury.

Shane O’Rourke hit his second of the game to draw Cappoquin level bit the side from just off the Cork Road exiting Waterford city (or entering, depending on what direction you are travelling) would not be long behind as John Paul Collingwood and Nicky Jacob put over scores to give them a two point advantage.

Cappoquin at times seemed intent in going for goals in this game and on thirteen minutes they tried their luck for the first time. Keith Landers with a ground strike, something that we don’t see enough of in the modern game had his goal bound effort taken off the line by Kieran Murphy and when the ball was brought out of defence by the side in Black and White stripes, it was worked down the field and when it came to Dan Connors he made no mistake in extending his sides lead.

Shane O’Rourke pulled a point back for Cappoquin, and shortly afterwards they missed another chance to have a green flag waved when Andy Molumby crashed his shot off the crossbar and under pressure the Saint Saviours defence was forced to play the ball over their own end line conceding a ’65 which Shane O’Rourke converted to leave one between the sides.

Andy Molumby levelled matters and Shane O’Rourke followed up with a point on twenty four minutes to give Cappoquin the lead once more.

Saint Saviours fought back to level from an Adam Brophy free and when the same player pointed from between his own ’45 and ’65 metre line, they were back in front, a lead that went to two points thanks to an effort from John Paul Jacob on twenty nine minutes.

Had Saint Saviours gone to the dressing rooms leading few would have complained. However it is important to keep going till the loud shrill of the referee’s whistle is sounded to end the half or the game and credit to Cappoquin they kept going and were rewarded with virtually the last puck of the half when Shane Coughlan finished a Keith Landers pass past Derrick Murphy for his sides first goal of the game which saw them retire with a 1-7 to 1-6 advantage.

Saint Saviours began the second half by drawing level courtesy of another Adam Brophy free on 32 minutes.

Second later Cappoquin had another chance of a goal, a long ball was played into the inside forward line where Killian O’Sullivan opted to try and kick the ball to the net but he failed to get the required power into the shot and it was cleared by the Saint Saviours defence, but when the ball fell to the same player a moments later, he made no mistake in splitting the posts.

Saint Saviours were back on level terms on 38 minutes when Adam Brophy again scored from a free.

On 41 minutes Cappoquin stole a huge march on the city side. County Minor Andy Molumby attempted his luck for a second Cappoquin goal but his effort was kept out by Derrick Murphy in the Saint Saviours goal making a good save but he was powerless to stopping Killian O’Sullivan rattle the net for a second Cappoquin goal.

This score proved decisive as Shane O’Rourke and Keith Landers landed points for Cappoquin but John Paul Jacob pulled one back as Cappoquin lead 2-11 to 1-8 heading into the final quarter.

Cappoquin went 2-14 to 1-9 in front with 12 minutes to play, but a 21 metre free which was cracked to the net by Adam Brophy who proved there is nothing wrong with the current penalty ruling if the ball is struck right followed by a Dan Connors point left four between the sides with six minutes to play.

The Saint Saviours support inside the ground must have been wondering if their side could do as Passage did in the 2013 senior final and hit a run of late scores that would record a win that few expected.

But Cappoquin would finish the game the stronger of the two sides.

Shane Coughlan and Adam Brophy traded scores which was followed with efforts from Shane O’Rourke (2), Andy Molumby and Killian O’Sullivan secured a 2-19 to 2-11 victory.

Cappoquin: Donal O’Rourke; Kevin Looby, Colm Looby, Timmy Looby; David Cahillane, Conor Murray, Shane Murray; Paul Murray, Finan Murray; Shane O’Rourke, Keith Landers, Andy Molumby; Shane Coughlan, PJ Curran, Killian O’Sullivan. Subs: Colin Landers for PJ Curran, Patrick Morrissey for Shane Coughlan, Paudie Landers for Killian O’Sullivan

Scorers: Shane O’Rourke 0-12 (5f, 2 ’65), Shane Coughlan 1-3, Killian O’Sullivan 1-2, Andy Molumby, Keith Landers 0-1 each.

Saint Saviours: Derrick Murphy; Brian Quinn, Kevin Boland, Darren Tuohy; Paul Holohan, Kieran Murphy, Peter Crowley; Adam Brophy, Joseph Phelan; Dean Crowley, Nicky Jacob, Dan Connors; Shaun Corcoran, John Paul Jacob, John Paul Collingwood. Subs: Brian Jacob for JP Collingwood, Keylin Cassidy for Paul Houlihan, Stephen Whelan for Nicky Jacob

Scorers: Adam Brophy 1-5 (1-4f, 1 ’65), John Paul Jacob 1-2, Dan Connors 0-2, John Paul Collingwood, Nicky Jacob 0-1 each.

Referee: Michael O’Brien (Portlaw).

 

Ballinacourty and The Nire fancied to retain winning ways in Senior Football Quarter Finals

They, whoever they are, often say if something is not broken, then don’t try and fix it.

This weekend, the Waterford G.A.A. County Board have pencilled in the two semi finals of this year’s JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Senior Football Championship, with the two games set to take place at Fraher Field on Saturday and Sunday evening.

This year the same four teams have qualified for the semi finals this year as last year. No real surprise there as they were the top and second seeded teams in the two groups in the league section of the competition.

In the past five years three of the teams in action this weekend have qualified for the semi finals four times, the odd man out – The Nire who lost in the quarter finals to Stradbally in 2010.

For what its worth, here is a question for you. Is the Waterford Senior Football Championship broken? Some may take offence to the word broken, I don’t know why, but for me, when I use it, I am wondering is there a better way we can run the championship.

For me, the answer is yes, and while this piece is to do with football and this weekend’s semi final’s the same very much so could apply to hurling.

The first question to be asked is do we have 12 senior football (and hurling) teams in Waterford. For what it is worth, I don’t think we have. Having said this, I am wondering if clubs will vote to cut the numbers playing in the championship. The answer could be summed up by saying Turkey’s don’t vote for Christmas each year.

So if clubs are not going to vote to cut the numbers playing championship (in my view), then how can we improve the way we run out championship.

Having a county senior football league and a league style championship to me does not really work. Maybe we should be thinking about making the championship a knockout one.

Maybe we could think about putting the twelve teams playing senior into one group in a league, which would guarantee each club eleven games. That is one more game that clubs are currently guaranteed in the current County Leagues and League style championship.

We could well have league semi finals and a final, but the biggest prize on offer to the top four teams in the league would be a bye to the quarter finals of a knockout championship.

For the teams that finish from fifth to twelfth, there is two available ways of conducting the first round draw for the championship, the first and possibly the one that clubs would go for given such an option would be that the fifth placed team would play the twelfth, the sixth play the eleventh and so on. The second option would be that the names of the teams that finish from fifth to twelfth would all go into a hat and they would be randomly drawn out.

For the quarter finals, the top four teams in the league would be seeded and could not meet each other. The names of these clubs would go into one hat or bowl, the four first round championship winners into another hat or bowl with one team drawn out from bowl one and play a team from bowl two. The semi finals would be an open draw.

However, we cannot really talk about what could be for now and have to put up with what we have.

The first semi final this weekend on Saturday evening see’s last years champions Ballinacourty take on Stradbally their near neighbours and the side they recorded a much easier win over in last years final than most had anticipated.

Ballinacourty have qualified for this year’s final with a 100% win record, while Stradbally qualified having lost just one of their games, that against group two winners The Nire.

Ballinacourty in the quarter finals had a very easy win over Saint Saviours in Fraher Field. That came after a number of week’s void of any championship games. While they won last weekend, they would no doubt have preferred to have a much tougher battle as they always knew that they faced a much tougher battle this weekend, and could possibly have done with a sterner test.

Ballinacourty at this stage are a very experienced outfit. They are set to be without John Hurney who is a big loss from any team. However, they have a big pick to choose from and will have plenty of options open to them to fill in.

Stephen Enright is one of the best goal keepers in the business, not just in the county and will start once again between the posts for Ballinacourty.

In front of them, the Ballinacourty selectors will have the option of playing different players in different positions. Conor Moloney, Sean O’Hare, Shane Briggs, Richie Foley, Brian Looby, David Collins, Ronan Sheehan and Gary Breen are all options available to them in defence.

In attack, Sean O’Hare, Gary Hurney, Shane O’Donovan and Jason O’Mahony are amongst the management teams options while in attack, Ballinacourty are at their most dangerous been able to call on the likes of Gary Hurney, Patrick Hurney, Mark Ferncombe, Jason O’Brien, Michael O’Halloran, Mark Fives and Mark Gorman are all options and all know only too well where the posts are and are able to put the ball over and under the crossbar.

What Stradbally have achieved since the turn of the Millennium is remarkable. Eight county finals out of fourteen is an excellent return. For a while people spoke of the players that had won five, six or seven medals. May of these players have retired from the game, but there is still some who were around in the early days of the sides great run of success still about.

Stradbally may not have set the underage scene alight in the past two decades or so, but they have a great knack of bringing players through to the senior team which is what should be happening. And in the last couple of years, they have managed to bring some new exciting prospects through.

This year they are without one of their finest servants in the past decade or so – Tony Grey who picked up a serious injury earlier this year. Tony is a player that is undervalued by some at times. In the modern era, where wing backs and even corner backs break into the other half of the field and kick some important scores, Tony is one of the best at it.

Up to now, he is hardly missed from the side as apart from the defeat to The Nire, Stradbally have had things relatively easy up to now.

However it is from here on in that all remaining sides will want all of their best players out on the field where experience could well prove to be vital around some of the younger players on view.

Stradbally will possibly go into the game against Ballinacourty fielding a team that will be similar to that which beat Kilrossanty in the quarter finals.

Eoin Cunningham will be between the posts. Jack Mullaney, Kevin Coffey and Andy Doyle could form the full back line with Shane Lannon, Michael Walsh and Luke Casey playing in the half back line.

Paddy Kiely will start in the middle of the field where he will be joined by one of Robert or Shane Ahern.

Ger Power, John Coffey and Tommy Connors could well be the half forward three-o, with Robert or Shane Ahern operating on the edge of the square with Michael Sweeney and David Grey on either side of him.

The second semi final this weekend on Sunday evening will see the two sides beaten in last years semi final do battle against each other.

Over the past few years, An Rinn has shown great promise, but they have yet to make the breakthrough their efforts deserve.

The Gaeltacht club in the past four years have made the quarter finals, making them possibly the most consistent of sides outside of the sides considered to be the top three within the county.

This is the second year in a row that they have reached the semi finals. The last time they had a finish to match it was almost a century ago. Last year they hosted the Comortus Peil competition, reaching the final of it loosing out to Ghaoth Dobhair from Donegal. An Rinn made the Donegal side fight very hard to record that win which again shows the progress they are making.

For this weekend’s game with The Nire, An Rinn could well field along the lines of their quarter final win over De La Salle.

Tomás Ó Cadhla will be between the posts. In defence, Cillian Ó Murchadha, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Shane Ó Cuirrin, Jamie de Barúin, Tadhg Ó hUallachain and Noel Ó Murchadha will fight it out for the six defensive positions.

In the middle of the field Ferdia Ó hAodha and Cathal Ó Cuirrin could well again prove to be their partnership and in attack Lorcan Ó Corraoin, Ferghal Ó Ceallaigh, Billí, Donie and Christy Breathnach, Ferghal Ó Cuirrin, and Liam Ó Lonáin will be fighting it out for place for places.

The Nire will go into this weekend’s semi finals as one of two teams with a 100% win record.

They are without a competitive game now in a number of weeks. Their quarter final win over Rathgormack was played a few weeks back now. No doubt they have played a challenge game or two since, just to keep ticking over, but as good as these games can be at times, nothing beats competitive games on a regular basis.

They will possibly line out along familiar lines meaning Tom Wall will be between the posts, with Justin Walsh, Jack Guiry, Thomas and Maurice O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney, Diarmuid and Brian Wall as well as Seamus Lawlor in front of him.

The middle of the field paring could well be between Michael O’Gorman, Craig Guiry and Shane Walsh, with the one loosing out winning a place in attack along side the lines of Dermot Ryan, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson, Shane Ryan, Keith Guiry, Stephen Ryan and Liam Lawlor.

Both semi finals could well go down to the wire. There is a possibility that winners in one or both games will not be decided inside the sixty allotted minutes.

To say with confidence that one team over the other will come though from the two games is not easy. However, with two of the teams going into the game with a 100% win record, both Ballinacourty and The Nire have to regarded as favourites but the chances of An Rinn and Stradbally cannot and should not be written off too quickly.

Modeligo and Cappoquin fancied to be Junior and Intermediate Hurling Champions

We already know that Ballygunner will represent Waterford in this year’s Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship after their somewhat easy win over Mount Sion in last weekend’s County Final at Walsh Park, and this coming Sunday evening barring the need for a replay, we should know the clubs that will represent the county in the Intermediate and Junior grades, after the two respective county finals take place at Walsh Park.

For anyone at the start of the year, even the start of this years championships in late April or Early May to head into their favourite bookies shop and to correctly predict the teams that would be involved in this weekend’s games would have been a bold move and they are no doubt rubbing their hands with glee in the past few days.

The Intermediate final between Cappoquin and Saint Saviours is one that few would have predicted. The Junior final between Modeligo and Bunmahon is one that even fewer could have predicted.

However how unpredictable the final pairing proved to be, the four sides in action this weekend are there on merit and all four clubs could well bring a large gathering of support both from their respective parish’s and from neighbouring parishes to Fraher Field well before the 1-30pm throw in for the Junior game on Sunday afternoon.

Modeligo’s place in this weekend’s junior final was only confirmed last weekend when they beat neighbours Colligan at Fraher Field in what was a rather one sided final.

Colligan would have gone into that final as the favourites. They were in the final again twelve months ago, but were beaten by a Ballysaggart side that went on to win a County and Munster final and were only beaten in the All-Ireland Final after a replay.

Modeligo who are coached by the former Ballyduff Upper and Waterford hurler Pa Kearney at the break held a 0-12 to 0-6 lead at the break, and while Colligan faired better in the third quarter, getting to within four points (0-15 to 0-11) at one stage, they were powerless to stopping Modeligo going on to win by double score’s (1-19 to 0-11).

Bunmahon secured their place in the final a week earlier, when they beat neighbours Fenor who have the Kill players rowing in behind them this year when it comes to hurling.

Fenor just like Colligan in the Western Final would have been favourites to win this final, but as we all know, favourites do not always oblige those that back them.

The first half proved to be an even enough game with both sides retiring at the break locked at five points each.

Fenor started the second half in whirlwind fashion hitting four points in a row, but the game would take a turn.

They say to be championship winners you need a bit of luck along the way and Bunmahon certainly had a major slice of luck.

In the second half of the third quarter, Bunmahon’s Charlie McKeown attempted his luck for a point, but his effort dropped short and while Ray Hennessy in the Fenor goal was alert enough to see what was happening he allowed the dropping ball to slip from his grasp and fall into the empty net behind him.

Before the third quarter was over, Bunmahon were again using up their luck. Bunmahon won a free that the Fenor players felt should have gone their way and after the usual protests died down, the ball was brought forward a very generous ten metres, and former Waterford minor stood over the ball and his effort from distance again eluded Ray Hennessy in the Fenor goal and dropped behind him for the second time in the game.

Bunmahon will go into this game as the underdog, but they wont mind. They will feel that there is a win there for them if they really want it.

Michael Harney will no doubt be their stand out players, but they wont be just looking for him for inspiration in this game. Fionn Buckley struck four points in the eastern final and the mid county side will once again be looking for him to be accurate in his shooting of any place balls given to him to strike this Sunday.

Charlie McKeown the scorer of their first goal against Fenor, Conal Queally, Tommy Power, Patsy Casey, Richie Walsh and Ciaran Buckley are others they will be looking to help them secure a rare title.

Modeligo’s main man could well prove to be another member of the Waterford Minor All-Ireland winning team from 2013, Tom Devine. In fact we could see him be paired alongside Michael Harney and if this was to prove to be the way, then those that pay the admission fee could be in for a terrific battle.

But like Bunmahon, Modeligo are not a one man team. Pat Fitzgerald was a member of the Waterford Senior Panel while Justin McCarthy was the Waterford manager and was retained for a short while by Davy Fitzgerald.

There is a number of brothers in the side that could also have a big bearing on this game including Brian and Kieran McCarthy, Pa and Sean O’Donovan have played underage hurling for Waterford and will be joined by younger brother Nicky, the Troy name is always associated with Modeligo and this panel has Shane, Jamie and Michael. Thomas (Tyler) Walsh joined the club from Fourmilewater this year and is a player to keep an eye on. Interestingly it will be a big weekend in the Walsh household this weekend as Thomas’ older brother Patrick (Jr) will be playing a part with Clonkill against Saint Bridget’s in the Westmeath Intermediate Hurling final at Cusack Park in Mullingar on Saturday. Others to keep an eye on for Modeligo could be Pa Walsh, Sean Hennessy and Louis Queally, younger brother of top jockey Tom.

The main game of the weekend when it comes to hurling at Fraher Field this weekend will be the meeting of Cappoquin and Saint Saviours in the Intermediate final.

Cappoquin and hurling have always gone side by side. Down the years they have always provided some excellent players to various Waterford sides.

Those involved with the Corner-stone Club have always worked hard to promote the game and will continue to do so for some time.

Some years back after a lean spell, the likes of Michael (Magoo) Murray and Tommy Sullivan got involved with the teams younger teams and their work is now beginning to shine through, even if those that started the work have now decided to take a seat in the back-benches. And it is not just in the Cappoquin Club that their work can be seen, as players from the surrounding clubs have had players involved in such competitions like the Mass Lane Cup, and playing in such competitions where the emphasis is on enjoying yourself and learning the skills of the game rather than winning.

Saint Saviours may well be known as a football club but it may come a surprise to some younger people that not too long ago the Ballybeg based club was a duel senior club. This it should be pointed out was a remarkable achievement as while a duel club they lost some of their better players, including some of their best hurlers to rival clubs.

However, the refused to throw in the towel and people like Noel Reidy and Tony Corcoran put in many hours work promoting hurling and football amongst the youth of the area and they winning the Eastern Final recently and reaching this weekend’s final pays dividends for all the hard work put in over the past few years.

Nicky Jacob who was part of the Waterford Senior panel a few years back may be their best known hurler, but he is ably assisted by the likes of Adam Brophy, Peter Crowley, Joey Phelan, John P. Jacob, JP Collingwood, Kevin Boland and Dan Connors.

Cappoquin last won the Intermediate championship in the mid 1970’s and remained a senior team till the mid to late 90’s.

Since then they have often gone close to winning back a place on the higher rungs of the hurling ladder in Waterford, but to now, have failed to do so.

They have some excellent players in their ranks. Donal (Duck) O’Rourke has played underage hurling for Waterford in the past. He missed the sides western final win over Ballinameela and will be hoping he is fit to take back the number one shirt for this game. If he does not, Darren Curran will again prove to be an able deputy. No Cappoquin team would be complete without a Murray involved and for this game they will be able to call upon the likes of Fionan, Paul, Shane and Conor. Colm and Kevin Looby will be in the full back line and they will hope to have brother Timmy alongside him after he missed the win over Ballinameela.

Andy Molumby a member of the Waterford minor team this year will be expected to be involved but it remains to be seen if another inter county minor from this past year Aaron O’Sullivan will be involved, however his older brother Cillian could well feature.

PJ Curran at full forward could well prove to be a danger to the Saint Saviours last line of defence while in front of him Keith Landers could also play a major team as could one of the side’s older players Shane Coughlan.

Since the turn of the Millennium, while only one club (Ballyduff Upper) from the western division have won the senior championship, the intermediate and junior championships have been dominated by the clubs from the western end of the county.

In Intermediate, the title gone to the western champions on eight occasions, (Ardmore – twice, An Rinn – twice, Dungarvan, Ballyduff Upper, Abbeyside and Fourmilewater).

In Junior matters are even better for the west as eleven times the cup has gone to clubs in the western division (Ballysaggart – twice, Ballinameela, Tourin/Glen Rovers, Modeligo, Lismore, Brickeys, Kilgobinet, Geraldine’s, Ardmore and Clashmore).

For the record, the sides to win from the Eastern division in Intermediate are Dunhill, Roanmore, Passage, Clonea, Portlaw and Ballyduff Lower, while in Junior Butlerstown, Ballydurn and Tramore have won.

Something is telling me that the west’s good run in these competitions will continue this coming weekend, but should one or both of the clubs from the Eastern end of the county come out on top, they would be wordy winners.

O’Sullivan goals help’s Gunners to Championship number 13

Ballygunner are Waterford Senior Hurling County champions for a thirteenth time and have gone joint second with Erin’s Own on the Roll of honour after easing to a 2-16 to 0-9 win against Mount Sion in Walsh Park.

Twelve months ago, Ballygunner again reached the final where they played neighbours Passage who trailed by seven points with as many minutes to play against their more famous neighbours, but the Gunner’s on that occasion had to settle for second best as Passage struck with a late barrage of scores to draw level and then go in front with a late goal to win their first title.

However this time around, the Gunners made no mistake as they lead from the off, hitting two goals in the first quarter of this games, scores that would set them up for a thirteen point victory, the second biggest winning margin between the two in a county final, only bettered by Mount Sion who won the clash between the two in the Millennium year on a 1-21 to 0-9 score line.

Played in front of what many would say was a disappointing 3,206 spectators the winners blitzed their opponents in the second half, outscoring the Monastery Men eleven points to two to win the game with some ease.

The victors played with a strong breeze at their backs in the first half, at the turn around they held a 2-5 to 0-7 lead. The expectation was with the wind at their backs for the second half Mount Sion would come storming back into the game but it never happened.

Ballygunner got off to a storming start to this game. Pauric Mahony put over a brace of early points before Man of the Match Brian O’Sullivan who finished with 2-2 to his name on the score sheet cracked the first of his goals on seven minutes, reacting quickest to a Pauric Mahony free that dropped short of its intended target.

Mount Sion hit back with points from Ian Galgey and Richie Roche to leave Brian O’Sullivan’s goal separating the sides but this was to prove to be as good as it would get for Mount Sion.

Pauric Mahony notched on his third point of the game on thirteen minutes and when Harley Barnes found the impressive Brian O’Sullivan moments later, the Ballygunner corner forward made no mistake in beating Ian O’Regan in the Mount Sion goal for the second time in this game.

Mount Sion staged a purple patch in the minutes that followed with Martin O’Neill putting over three points in a row to leave four between the sides.

Pauric Mahony gave Ballygunner a double score (2-4 to 0-5) lead on twenty minutes.

Mount Sion would just about shade the final ten minutes of the half on the score board, outscoring their cross city rivals 0-2 to 0-1, Martin O’Neill hitting a brace of score’s for Mount Sion with Pauric Mahony sending the umpire reaching for the white flag for Ballygunner between O’Neill’s brace which game Ballygunner a 2-5 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

People often talk about the advantage of playing with the wind and in particular in the second half when the sides are starting to tire, but the simple truth is while the wind is often a help to a side, the wind has yet to be engraved on a trophy as the championship winner.

In Ballygunner’s case at Walsh Park playing with the wind did not phase them in any way as they proved to be without question to be the better team on the day.

Mount Sion had good goal scoring opportunities after the break, through Ian Galgey, Tony Browne and Austin Gleeson, but they could not beat Stephen O’Keeffe. With these missed chances went any real chance Mount Sion had of extending their lead on top of the Roll of Honour when it comes to Championship wins.

Pauric Mahony opened the second half scoring with a point for Mount Sion which was cancelled out soon afterwards with an effort from Martin O’Neill.

Barry O’Sullivan with a brace and in between Harley Barnes landed points for Ballygunner which gave them a 2-9 to 0-8 lead with thirty-six minutes played.

Martin O’Neill pulled a point back for Mount Sion on forty-one minutes but it would prove to be his sides last score of the game.

The last seven scores of the game all went to a dominant Ballygunner side. Pauric Mahony gave his side a seven point cushion with seventeen minutes remaining. JJ Hutchinson landed a brace of points which gave Ballygunner a nine point lead with eleven minutes still to play.

Top scorer Pauric Mahony landed points for the Gunners on 51, 54 and 58 minutes to give his side a 2-15 to 0-9 lead.

Man of the Match Brian O’Sullivan rounded off the afternoon’s scoring on the hour mark when he had his second white flag of the afternoon raised to go with the two green ones he had raised in the first half.

Ballygunner will now play Clare Champions Cratloe who won their second Banner Championship at the weekend end  they easily accounted for Crusheen, at the end of the month in the quarter finals of the Club championships at a Waterford venue (most probably Walsh Park) with the winners going on to play the Tipperary champions on the weekend of November 9 at a home venue for Ballygunner or Cratloe.  

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Alan Kirwan, Barry Coughlin, Stephen O’Keeffe; Philip Mahony, Wayne Hutchinson, Shane Walshe; Harley Barnes, Shane O’Sullivan; Pauric Mahony, Barry O’Sullivan, David O’Sullivan; Brian O’Sullivan, JJ Hutchinson, Conor Power. Subs: Peter Hogan for Conor Power, Conor Sheehan for Barry O’Sullivan, Barry O’Sullivan for David O’Sullivan, Stephen Power for Barry O’Sullivan, Robbie Cunningham for Alan Kirwan, Gary Molloy for Harley Barnes.

Scorers: Padraic Mahony 0-10 (0-7 fs, 0-1 65); Brian O’Sullivan 2-2; JJ Hutchinson 0-2; Barry O’Sullivan and Harley Barnes 0-1 each.

MOUNT SION: Ian O’Regan; Mark Hoban, Christopher Ryan, Stephen O’Neill; Michael Gaffney, Austin Gleeson, Owen Whelan; Martin O’Neill, Stephen Roche; Tony Browne, Eoin McGrath, Martin F O’Neill; Richie Roche, Sean Ryan, Ian Galgey. Subs: Peter Penkert for Christopher Ryan, Kenny Stafford for Sean Ryan, Michael Daykin for Richie Roche, Gavin Carroll for Martin F O’Neill.

Scorers: Martin O’Neill 0-7 (fs); Richie Roche, Ian Galgey 0-1 each.

Referee: Martin Curran (Sean-Phobal)