Big Night Ahead For Waterford Camogie All-Star Nominees

As we all know by this stage this year’s hurling and football All-Stars were presented at a function in the capital this evening. Going into the event we knew for the first year in a number of years that there would be no Waterford involvement on the night, apart from the presence of a small amount of people from the county at the function.

The same cannot be said of the 15^th Annual Camogie All-Star Banquet at the City West Hotel in Dublin on Saturday evening.

While Kilkenny and Cork lead the way when it comes to nominations, Kilkenny who were beaten in this year’s All-Ireland Final have 14 nominations while this year’s All-Ireland winners Cork strangely have just 12 nominations.

 The two sides beaten in the semi finals Tipperary and Galway have 5 nominations each, while Waterford have a very creditable four nominations, ahead of Dublin with 3 nominations and Offaly with 2.

For Waterford 2018 was a brilliant year for Waterford’s senior Camogie team even if team captain Shauna Kiernan or the teams vice captain Niamh Rockett got to raise aloft any silverware at the end of any of the three competitions which they were entered.

Waterford this year had Donal ‘Duck’ O’Rourke in charge and to say that the panel that he assembled responded to his methods would be an understatement.

From the off it was clear to a blind man that without any disrespect to those that came before him since coming up to the senior grade for the first time in 2018 that the panel bought into what the management team were trying to do with them and they did not fail to deliver.

Yes, the team finished empty handed, but it must be remembered that only one team can win any given competition, but this present Waterford panel which I for one hopes will be around for some time with some of the exciting young prospects coming through added to it in the next couple of years creating extra competition for the starting 15 places on the team.

In the league Waterford narrowly missed out on a place in the knockout stages of the National League finishing level on points with Limerick but losing out on a semi final spot on score difference as the two sides drew the head to head between the two counties.

In the Munster Championship Waterford played absolutely brilliant against the now All-Ireland Champions Cork in Modeligo. On the day certain calls went against the Waterford side and on another day you have to wonder what might have happened.

In the All-Ireland Championship after losing their first two games against Galway and Kilkenny, Waterford beat Limerick and Clare to secure third place in the table and so won a place in the All-Ireland quarter finals where they put it up to a more experienced Tipperary side at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and narrowly missed out on a win on the day.

The experience of the past twelve months going so near will surly spur on the panel next year to go that step further.

Camogie in Waterford is a game on the up and it is only fitting that after going close in 2018 that the side receives recognition and it does in the four All-Star nominations, and maybe it could be argued that Waterford were unlucky not to get even more nominations, but for now four nominations is something that Waterford will accept.

So who are the four Waterford nominations?

Gailltir club player Áine Lyng is nominated in the half back line. Áine it could be said is a veteran of the game having been around now for a number of years for both club and county with a break in the middle of her long service to both.

She helped Waterford reach the Junior All-Ireland Finals in 2009 and 2010 claiming a Soaring Star for her performances in both years. In total she has been nominated for five All-Stars. She missed out on Waterford winning the Junior All-Ireland Final in 2011 and the Intermediate Final in 2015 but since coming back into the fold she has added something different to the side.

Áine will be hoping to win a Munster Intermediate Final next weekend with Gailltir when they take on Cork side Éire Óg in the final at Cashel.

 Nominated in the middle of the field is 22 year old Lorraine Bray. Lorraine who is a member of the Cappoquin club is around the Waterford panel with the last number of year’s coming onto the scene between Waterford winning the Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland’s and has proved to be a very versatile player who has got better and better each year in the white and blue shirt.

Lorraine is someone that many will know about with some time having won a Minor All-Ireland in 2014 and an Intermediate final the following year. This is her first nomination for an All Star. To stress First is important as key observers of the game think very highly of the young lady for Melleray and are quick to point out that she is very much a player for the future.

Having seen my share of games this year I can’t think of too many players that have impressed more than Saint Anne’s Club player Niamh Rockett.

Niamh was the sides vice captain this year and lead by example in each and every game that she played in the white and blue and again in the green and red of her club. Like Lorraine Bray, Niamh is nominated for an All-Star for the first time this year, but is a player that is around now for a number of years having helped Waterford win Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland Finals in 2011 and 2015. Niamh is someone that fought against injuries that could have forced others to give up playing the game they love sometimes back, but hopefully her body allows here to continue for some time to come and that she will end up winning many more awards in the game for Club and County.

          One of the most prolific attacking players in the game with the past number of years is De La Salle club player Beth Carton. Beth burst onto the scene a few years back with a then newly formed De La Salle Club and quickly was invited onto the different underage Waterford teams, and in 2015 was part of the Waterford team that won a National League (Division 2) and Intermediate Championship double and since then has impressed in the senior grade.

           Beth is someone that has achieved so much in the game in recent years and sometimes it is hard to remember that she is just 20 years old. Beth won a Soaring Star (the All-Stars presented to those that play in the Intermediate and Junior grades at inter county level) back in 2015 and this is her second nomination for an All-Star.

Camogie All-Stars Awards 2018 sponsored by Liberty Insurance, nominees list:

Goalkeepers: Emma Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Aoife Murray (Cork), Sarah Healy (Galway).

Full-Back Line: Mary Ryan (Tipperary), Laura Treacy (Cork), Grace Walsh (Kilkenny), Shauna Healy (Galway), Catherine Foley (Kilkenny), Edwina Keane (Kilkenny), Sarah Dervan (Galway), Pamela Mackey (Cork), Colette Dormer (Kilkenny).

          Half-Back Line: Karen Kennedy (Tipperary), Hannah Looney (Cork), Hannah Hegarty (Dublin), Claire Phelan (Kilkenny), Róisín Egan (Offaly), Anne Dalton (Kilkenny), Davina Tobin (Kilkenny), Áine Lyng (Waterford), Chloe Sigerson (Cork).

Centre Field: Niamh Kilkenny (Galway), Gemma O’ Connor (Cork), Lorraine Bray (Waterford), Meighan Farrell (Kilkenny), Julia White (Cork), Libby Coppinger (Cork).

Half-Forward Line: Orla Cotter (Cork), Orla O’ Dwyer (Tipperary), Siobhán Flannery (Offaly), Katie Power (Kilkenny), Orla Cronin (Cork), Denise Gaule (Kilkenny), Amy O’ Connor (Cork), Anna Farrell (Kilkenny), Niamh Rockett (Waterford).

Full-Forward Line: Orla Beagan (Dublin), Carrie Dolan (Galway), Cáit Devane (Tipperary), Shelly Farrell (Kilkenny), Katrina Mackey (Cork), Michelle Quilty (Kilkenny), Beth Carton (Waterford), Grace O’ Brien (Tipperary), Siobhán Kehoe (Dublin).

Modeligo and Kilmacthomas’ Big Day Draws Near

          I am sure that most reading this will agree with me when I say that this year’s County Intermediate Football Final has two sides doing battle against each other at the Saint Mollerans Club Grounds in Carrickbeg on Sunday evening that few would have predicted a few weeks back let alone at the start of the championship.

Those associated with the Kilmacthomas and Modeligo Clubs will disagree with me in my opening statement and on this occasion I will allow them to do so, but I am sure there is numbers associated with both clubs who would have felt that they would win a divisional title this year, but I am sure they will agree that they maybe could not see their opponents this weekend as their opponents in a county final.

In the Eastern half of the county most would have expected the likes of Bunmahon beaten in last year’s Divisional Final and beaten in the County Final back in 2015 to push strong again this year, and even though they will be disappointed to replicate their 2017 finish to the championship last weekend, few myself included saw that result happen.

Saint Saviours relegated from the senior grade two years ago were many people’s favourite to go one step further than they did last year when they lost out to Dungarvan in the County Final, but they were to bow out this year at the semi final stages of the competition.

Kill and John Mitchell’s two traditional football sides were also expected to push hard for a place in the divisional and county finals this year as would De La Salle who played in the senior grade in recent years, while Newtown and Tramore would have been expected to be there or there about, but in the end it was Kilmacthomas that came out on top in the eastern half of the county and are involved in this weekend’s county final on merit.

Up west, it was much the same story. Ballinameela who were relegated from the senior status were spoken about from the off as the team to beat, and were expected to win a fourth Western and County Intermediate Football Double since 2009 and while they will be disappointed that their football year ended last weekend with a comprehensive defeat in the Western final, they still have something to play for having won the County Junior Hurling Final in recent weeks and will compete in the Munster Championship in two weeks time.

Colligan Emmets, Sliabh gCua who won last year’s Junior County Final, Geraldines and Ballinacourty’s second string side were all expect to push Ballinameela all the way as they did, all finishing above Ballinameela after the group stages of the competition.

But while it would not come as much of a shock result as Kilmacthomas winning in the East of the County, it was Modeligo that finished top of the pile after the group games and went on to win the divisional final last weekend, more people would have expected them to have a better finish in the hurling championship than in football, despite probably being a better footballing side than a hurling one.

The novel paring is surly going to attract a bumper crown to the Carrickbeg venue where the prize will be for the winners not just going on to play in the senior grade in 2019 but to represent the county in the Munster Club Championship where they will play the winner of Saturday’s Munster quarter final game in Kilrush between Kilrush Shamrocks from Clare and Kerry champions Kilcummin. These two sides play in Kilrush on Saturday afternoon at 1-30pm.  

Both of these sides will go into this game believing that they can make the step up to play in the senior grade in 2019.

Benji Whelan’s Kilrossanty side look to have a strong spine to their team which could well be the winning of the game for them with Niall Cronin in goal, Gary Kiely at full back, Peter Gallagher at centre back, Jack Dee and John Cleary in the middle of the field while Alan Fitzsimons could well be at centre forward and inter county player Adam Walsh at full forward.

Conor Prendergast has worked well with his charges since they were knockout of the hurling championship some weeks back and they may well prove to be a better footballing side than most would expect and should be able to call on different sets of brothers like the Troy’s, McCarthy’s, O’Donovan’s and Devine’s they could well prove to be a match for anyone if they were all to click on the one day.

Which of these teams will come out on top is hard to tell. Whichever does will celebrate well their win, but they won’t overdo the celebrations knowing that they have another big game coming up.

For most the outcome of the game is very much a 50/50 situation. Modeligo get the nod to win a first title to go with the first western title won last weekend, but expect Kilmacthomas looking for a first Intermediate title since they beat An Rinn back in 2001to push them all the way.

Late Surge Secures Fifth Title in a Row for Mourneabbey Over Gallant Ballymacarbry

Cork side Mourneabbey produced a strong finish to clinch a fifth Munster Senior ‘A’ Ladies Football Final at Cahir on Saturday afternoon last over a Ballymacarbry side who produced a very solid performance.

This game was held up for 45 minutes at the start of the game when corner back Treasa McGrath picked up a serious injury after just two minutes which necessitated the calling of an ambulance to the ground to have the player removed professionally for the attention that she needed.

The long delay on a freezing cold day must have asked the question of some should games be abandoned when a game is held up for so long as surly it is very difficult to for players to re-warm up and to play a game when a player has picked up a serious injury which might mean that minds are elsewhere and maybe therefore risking further injuries.

After the restart the Cork side started brightly as Brid O’Sullivan put over a free on 3 minutes and it was followed by a brace of scores from Doireann O’Sullivan.

However Ballymacarbry came storming back into the game with a hat-trick of scores from Sinead Ryan including a tenth minute goal in the middle of the three when she was picked out by Linda Wall and when in control of the size 4, she looped Meabh O’Sullivan for a deserved goal.

Points from Ciara O’Sullivan and Marie O’Callaghan followed for Mourneabbey to level matters with 13 minutes played, and they retook the lead with a brace of Doireann O’Sullivan scores early in the second quarter.

Points from Abbie Dalton, player that we could see feature for Waterford in the near future and Aileen Wall leveled matters once more before Sinead Ryan edged Waterford in front from a free on 28 minutes, but a similar score from Doireann O’Sullivan on the half hour mark saw the sides turn around locked at 0-8 to 1-5.

Ballymacarbry started the second half brightly as Abbie Dalton got her second score of the game within sixty seconds of the restart and Sinead Ryan followed up with a point and then hit her second goal of the game on 33 minutes which put her side 2-7 to 0-8 in front and looking good to win a first Munster Senior ‘A’ title since 2000.

The Cork side however soon began to show the experience they gained in winning four finals in a row previous to this latest one, as Doireann O’Sullivan kicked two scores one from a free before Ciara O’Sullivan leveled matters once more on 40 minutes with a brilliant goal giving Lauren Fitzpatrick no chance in the Ballymacarbry goal.

Sinead Ryan and Ciara O’Sullivan swapped scores before Abbey Dalton gave her side the lead once more with 11 minutes to play, but this was to be her sides last score of the game.

Doireann O’Sullivan hit two frees to edge her side back in front, before her sister Ciara put over two in a row to send the Cork side clear of Ballymacarbry and they sealed the win when Laura Fitzgerald pointed on the hour mark.

Mourneabbey: Meabh O’Sullivan; Eimear Meaney, Cathy Ann Stack, Aisling O’Sullivan; Sandra Conroy, Róisín O’Sullivan, Kathryn Coakley; Marie O’Callaghan, Brid O’Sullivan; Eimear Harrington, Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh O’Sullivan; Ellie Jack, Laura Fitzgerald, Doireann O’Sullivan.

Subs: Síle O’Callaghan for Aisling O’Sullivan, Anna Ryan for Doireann O’Sullivan.

Scorers: Doireann O’Sullivan 0-9 (6f), Ciara O’Sullivan 1-4, Brid O’Sullivan, Laura Fitzgerald (1f), Marie O’Callaghan 0-1 each.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Treasa McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Abbey Dalton; Kelly-Ann Hogan, Laura Mulcahy; Aileen Wall, Eibhlis Cooney, Shauna Ryan; Linda Wall, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan.

Subs: Becky Hogan for Treasa McGrath, Brigita Valuntaite for Shauna Ryan, Shauna Ryan for Eibhlis Cooney.

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 2-5 (3f), Abbey Dalton 0-3, Aileen Wall 0-1.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).

Ninth Title in Quarter of a Century for The Nire

Having won their first County Senior Football Crown beating Dungarvan in a never to be forgotten day at Cappoquin in 1993, The Nire marked the silver jubilee of that win yesterday evening at Fraher Field when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Kilrossanty side with two points to spare at the end of the hour.

Kilrossanty had not won a title at this grade since they beat The Nire in the 1989 final at the same venue, meaning their wait for their 16^th title now goes on for at least one more year, but they will know that this is something that will be put to right sooner rather than later.

2454 paying patrons passed through the turn styles for this game despite the 6pm throw in for a single game played on what was a cold night under the lights and there was few if any of this sizeable attendance which surly is the largest to attend a final in recent years as the outcome of this game was in doubt right to the final whistle despite both sides having their period of dominance.

Scores were hard won in this game where both defences were on top. It looked as if Kilrossanty were going to be dealt a huge blow and maybe have their hopes dashed on the quarter of an hour mark when they lost full back Paul Keating with what looked to be a nasty arm injury when he bravely put his body in the line blocking down what proved to be a rare goal scoring opportunity in this game as Conor Gleeson bore down on the Kilrossanty goal at the country end of the ground.

But the Kilrossanty management team had the resources with reshape their team bringing Stephen Prendergast one of the most versatile footballers in the county from centre forward to full back a position that he has played in many times since he first pulled on a Kilrossanty shirt playing underage football over two decades ago and sent Jack Whyte into attack.

 While it was the winners that were first to score in this game, Kilrossanty proved to be the better of the two sides in the opening half turning around with a 0-5 to 0-3 lead showing on the scoreboard as the sides headed to the dressing rooms at the break and they will be wondering had they not taken 12 minutes to score in this game and then to go from the 28 minute of the first half to the 56 minute of the game without scoring what the story might be at the end of the night.

Shane Walsh who had a quiet game by his standards on occasions like this opened the scoring on five minutes but his side had to wait another seventeen minutes for their next score even if they were creating chances in between.

At the other end once Martin Dunne had split The Nire uprights on twelve minutes the side in green and gold began to get on top in this game.

Paul Whyte who earlier this year looked as if he would never play for club or county again kicked the first of his four scores shortly after his side lost Paul Keating at the other end.

Six minutes later Tommy Prendergast kicked a delightful score from out on the left hand side of the field as his side attacked the town end of the ground with the aid of the crossbar after the size 5 bounced on the metal work over the head of Diarmuid Murphy.

Shane Ryan who missed some of this years championship but who was back in the team in recent weeks split the posts from a free on 22 minutes, but Paul Whyte with the score of the game, a huge free hit between five and ten metres outside The Nire 45 metre line, out of his hands put some two between the sides once more and when Patrick Cunningham followed up with a score from play four minutes later things were looking very good for Kilrossanty.

However, The Nire gave themselves a boost heading to the dressing rooms when Man of the Match Darren Guiry put over a free in added time at the end of the opening thirty minutes to leave just two between the sides at the interval.

The Town end goal at Fraher Field is often perceived to be the scoring goal and playing into it in the second thirty minutes of this game, The Nire were always on top.

All-Star hurler Jamie Barron kicked the opening score of the second half two minutes after the restart and when fellow inter county hurler Conor Gleeson followed up six minutes later the sides were level.

The next score was now going to be crucial and even through The Nire had to wait another eight minutes for it, it went their way as Darren Guiry with his left leg put over his second score of the evening to give his side the lead for the second time in this game and the same player two minutes later repeated the trick when his side were awarded what appeared to be a harsh free against Mark Prendergast which was moved into a much more scoreable position by referee Alan Kissane for descent.

It was at this stage that both sides began to send for reinforcements, introducing fresh legs and maybe fresh ideas and instructions from the team mentors onto the field of play.

With six minutes remaining Shane Ryan put over a free for his side but it was his last act of the game as he was immediately withdrawn by the Nire mentors having picked up an injury moments earlier and indicating that he was not in a position to continue in this game.

Paul Whyte ended almost half an hour without a score for Kilrossanty putting over a free four minutes short of the hour mark but it was followed with an effort from Shane Walsh one minute from time to leave three between the sides.

In the added time at the end of this game pilled on the pressure at the Country end of the ground but The Nire were prepared to do what they had too to keep their opponents at bay.

Paul Whyte struck his fourth of the game a minute into stoppage time and his side continued to mount pressure on The Nire who drew bodies behind the ball in a bid to keep the Kilrossanty attackers out.

Tholom Guiry was even prepared to take a second yellow card, one of eight handed out in this game to keep Kilrossanty out.

The Nire’s dogged defending as this game wore on paid off as they held out for a two point win to win their ninth title in 25 years and now got on to play Limerick side Adare at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon next in the Munster Club Championship, a game that they will feel that they can advance to the next phase of the competition from. 

 The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy; David Meehan, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; James McGrath, Tom Barron, Darren Guiry; Tholom Guiry, Craig Guiry; Jamie Barron, Dylan Guiry, Dermot Ryan; Shane Ryan, Conor Gleeson, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Ciaran Walsh for Dermot Ryan (52) Shane O’Meara for Shane Ryan (53), Conal Mulcahy for Craig Guiry (59).

Scorers: Darren Guiry 0-3 (3F), Shane Walsh, Shane Ryan (2F) 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Niall Walsh, Paul Keating, Mark Prendergast; James Whyte, Patrick Whyte, Barry Prendergast; Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne; Patrick Cunningham, Stephen Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte; Joey Veale.

Subs: Jack Whyte for Paul Keating (15), Michael Walsh for Donal Fitzgerald (53) and Alan Quinn for Jack Whyte (61).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 0-4 (4F), Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne, Patrick Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane

Clonea Power Way to Munster Semi Final

The strength of Club hurling in Waterford particularly in the lower grades of hurling in recent years has come on a great deal and nowadays we see more and more players from what once would be described as unfashionable hurling clubs particularly in the lower grades stake a regular place for themselves on all of the counties hurling teams.

In the last few years more success has come to clubs in the Intermediate and Junior grades when the different county champions go on to represent the county in Munster than what we have seen in the senior grade and on Sunday afternoon we once more saw how strong these grades are when we saw Clonea produce a quality performance to beat Limerick champions Garryspillane in the Munster Quarter final at Fraher Field.

Just short of 1000 paying patrons were present to see this game and it is fair to say that those that were present could not but be impressed the performance that Brian Greene’s side produced.

In the county final win over Clashmore at the same venue recently Clonea looked good and for this game they looked an even better side playing as a team more than as individuals as you might see at times in such games.

The Limerick side travelled to Fraher Field just over a week after they won the Limerick County Final and did so with the tag of favourites in the eyes of many to advance.

They played in the senior grade in the Treaty County up to as late as 2013 when they were one of a number of sides relegated from the top flight after sixteen years playing in the grade when the different championships in Limerick were restructured with less clubs playing senior and a new look Premier Intermediate Championship similar to what happens in Cork introduced for the clubs that were culled from the top tier of hurling and those promoted from what was the second tier at the time.

But in this game they never lived up to the billing as favourites and laboured to hit many of the scores which they did and when they did score many of them came from placed balls.

Clonea at the break in this game were four points (0-10 to 0-6) to the good and the Limerick side did their chance no good in the second half when they missed a penalty saved by Stephen Power three minutes after the restart and having half time sub Danny Hayes sent off on a straight red card on 47 minutes, four minutes after he had netted the first goal of the game.

The opening quarter of this game looked as if things would be tight as Billy Power and Colin Ryan swapped early scores from frees before Michael Curry and Jason Gleeson split the posts at the Town end for Clonea.

Donie Ryan followed up with a brace of scores for the visiting side before Ciaran Power and Donie Ryan once more swapped scores to level matters at four points each after sixteen minutes.

Billy Power and Donie Ryan swapped scores before Jason Gleeson and Colin Ryan did likewise to tie the scoring for the fifth time (0-6 each) with 24 minutes played.

But the Comeragh Men seemed to get a new lease of life before the break as they hit four in a row from Conor Dalton, Sean Clancy, the very impressive Jason Gleeson and Billy Power to go in at the break with a four point advantage.

Billy Power and Sean Clancy extended Clonea’s lead early in the second half before they won a 33 minute penalty when Martin Scurry fouled Danny Hayes inside the box and from the resulting one on one Stephen Power pulled off a good save going to his right to keep Colin Ryan’s effort out.

Billy Power and Colin Ryan swapped scores from frees before Jason Gleeson and Dylan O’Shea did likewise but from play.

Sean Clancy and Colin Ryan were next to trade scores before Robbie Power helped extend his sides lead on 41 minutes.

The Limerick side managed to cut the Clonea lead to four (0-16 to 1-9) on 43 minutes when Callum Sheehan who impressed in Garryspillane’s County Final win played in Danny Ryan who beat Stephen Power.

Robbie Flynn and Michael Sexton cut two points off the value of Garryspillane’s goal with 14 minutes remaining and a minute later Danny Hayes was sent to the line by Nathan Wall for something that was not apparent from the press box.

Often it is the side that has a disadvantage when it comes to numbers that prove to be the better of the two sides after a sending off but on this occasion it was Clonea who played some fantastic team hurling playing against 14 men.

Jason Gleeson and Michael Curry fired over points before Billy Power, Robbie Flynn, Billy Power again and Robbie Power all fired over scores to put their side well in control.

With two minutes remaining if there ever there was doubting what direction this game was going Clonea made absolute sure of their passage with a goal put in by Robbie Power from close range after Andy Dooley fumbled in his area and his defenders were not able to clear the danger before Clonea’s half time sub batted to the net from close range.

          Michael Sexton hit one final score for Clonea in this game who now go on to play Clare side Feakle at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon next where the winners advance to this year’s Munster Final.

Clonea: Stephen Power; Paul Drohan, Jack Nugent, Willie Hahessy; Martin Power, Martin Scurry, Robert Flynn; Martin Whelan, Jason Gleeson; Michael Curry, Ronan Cahill, Billy Power; Sean Clancy, Ciaran Power, Conor Dalton.

Subs: Robbie Power for Conor Dalton (HT), Michael Sexton for Jack Nugent (38), Aaron Gleeson for Sean Clancy (53), Liam Walsh for Martin Whelan (54), Paudie Hunt for Michael Curry (58)

Scorers: Billy Power 0-7 (4F), Jason Gleeson 0-5, Robbie Power 1-2, Sean Clancy 0-3, Robert Flynn, Michael Curry, Michael Sexton 0-2 each, Ciaran Power, Conor Dalton 0-1 each.

Garryspillane: Andy Dooley; Ciaran Bourke, David Ryan, Cathal Shanahan; Mark Quinlan, James Ryan, Gearoid Power; Colin Ryan, Michael Bourke; Michael O’Donnell, Donie Ryan, Ryan Tobin; Dylan O’Shea, Kieran Hickey, Callum Sheehan.

Subs: Danny Hayes for James Ryan (HT), Eoin Sheehan for Michael O’Donnell (HT), John Kerins for Michael Bourke (49), Roibeard O’Donovan for Mark Quinlan (57),

Scorers: Donie Ryan 0-5 (3F), Colin Ryan 0-4 (3F, 1 ’65), Danny Hayes 1-0, Dylan O’Shea 0-1.

Referee: Nathan Wall (Cork)

 

Goals Provide Devine Inspiration for Modeligo

          Modeligo are through to a first ever County Intermediate football Final after they beat a fancied Ballinameela side to capture a first Western Intermediate title whist appearing in their first final at this level.

Ballinameela were hotly fancied to come through from this game and win a third title at this level since 2009 and then go on to win the county title which would secure their senior status once more twelve months after dropping down after their second short stint in the top flight in the last decade but Modeligo had worked hard in the build up to this game and fully deserved their win in this one.

Come this time of the year when duel clubs are in contention for more than one title it must be very difficult. All year clubs are left without meaningful games for much of the summer and then come late autumn the successful clubs are severally penalised as they have to rotate between codes with only a short space of time between games and this is something that could well have affected Ballinameela who two weeks ago win the County Junior hurling final and a week later qualified for this final beating Ballinacourty’s second string side.

The side in green and white opened the scoring in this game with a point from Jamie Troy inside a minute of the throw in and they followed it up with a hat-trick of scores from the very impressive Shane ‘Shiner’ Troy including one after some good work by Sean O’Donovan in the build up.

Ballinameela’s first score came from Kevin Phelan from a fisted effort and followed it up with an effort from his brother Brian to leave just two points between the sides after nine minutes.

Points from Shane Troy, Sean O’Donovan and John Devine followed for Modeligo before Conor Buckley pointed for Ballinameela on 16 minutes to leave just four between the sides (0-7 to 0-3).

Modeligo in this game showed a terrific hunger and they extended their lead with former inter county player from Justin McCarthy’s time in charge of the Waterford senior hurling team Pat Fitzgerald pointed and they put themselves into a very good position going into the second half when five minutes from time Tom Devine from a quick free finished past James McGrath to give his side a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Modeligo continued where they left off at the start of the second half as they hit early points from Mick Devine and Michael Troy to extend their lead before Michael Culloo put over a free.

 Modeligo soon upped their game and they were always on top for the remainder of the game as Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy and Keith Hickey with a delightful score all raised white flags while Tom Devine had the umpire reaching for a green flag eight minutes from the end.

 Ballinameela hit a goal three minutes from the break, Brian Phelan the player responsible for the waving of a green flag but for them it was to put a mere gloss on the scoreboard on this occasion.

Ballinameela will be disappointed with this defeat to their neighbours and will be even more disappointed with the margin of victory on the board on the night, but they know that for now the year is not over and they will work hard in the coming days and weeks to prepare for their Munster Club Championship fixture.

For Modeligo there will have been lots of celebrations after this game, but they will die down very quickly as the year is not over yet.

There is a trip ahead for them to the city to play Kilmacthomas in a county final this weekend that nobody in their wildest dreams could have predicted a few weeks back let alone at the start of the championship some months back now.

That game for most will be a real 50/50 clash and both will feel that they can add to their roll of honour and while most will argue that whichever of the two does go up to play in the senior grade for 2019 is likely to come straight back down for now neither side will be too worried about what others are thinking about what will happen next it, it is what happen this year that is all the matters now.

Modeligo: Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’Donovan, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean Hennessy, Sean O’Donovan, Niall Browne; Rian Reddy, Mick Devine; John Devine, Shane Troy, Jamie Troy; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Pat Fitzgerald.

Subs: Keith Hickey for Niall Browne, Pa Walsh for Pat Fitzgerald, Gavin Dalton for Michael Troy, John McGrath for Jamie Troy, Cian Byrnes for Nicky O’Donovan.

Scorers: Tom Devine 2-0, Shane Troy 0-5 (1f), Pat Fitzgerald 0-2, Sean O’Donovan, Mick Devine, John Devine, Jamie Troy, Michael Troy, Keith Hickey 0-1 each

Ballinameela: James McGrath; Cian Culloo, Michéal Shine, Keelan Looby; Paul Curran, Davey Phelan, Paidi Prendergast; Lorcan Looby, Kevin Phelan; Liam O’Brien, Brian Phelan, Donagh Looby; Conor Buckley, Mikey Phelan, Jim Curran.

Subs: Micheal Culloo for Mikey Phelan, Shane Flavin for Donagh Looby, Rob Shine for Jim Curran, Michael Kiely for Liam O’Brien, Shane McGovern for Cian Culloo.

Scorers: Brian Looby 1-1, Kevin Phelan, Conor Buckley, Michael Culloo (f) 0-1 each

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan

 

Clonea Look to Bounce Past Garryspillane

Munster Club Championship hurling comes to Dungarvan on Sunday afternoon when Waterford champions Clonea and Limerick champions Garryspillane do battle at Fraher Field with the game having a 1-30pm throw in.

Clonea advanced to this game by virtue of beating Clashmore at the Shandon Road venue two weeks ago, while the Limerick side qualified last weekend when they proved too strong for Bruff at Kilmallock.

Callum Sheehan proved to be the hero of the hour for the County Limerick side last weekend as he netted a goal in each half helping his side record a 2-12 to 0-12 victory.

That win means that Garryspillane will re-enter the senior championship in the Treaty County for the first time in five years after they were relegated after different championships in the County were restructured with fewer sides allowed to compete in the senior championship, back in 2014 when 8 teams formed a new look Premier Intermediate Championship. Prior to their relegation in the new look championship Garryspillane had played Senior Hurling for 17 years after winning the Intermediate championship back in 1996.

Clonea too will compete in the Senior Championship next year after over a decade away from top flight hurling, in which the side from under the Comeragh Mountains twice contested the County Intermediate final, losing to Dungarvan in 2009 and last year to An Rinn.

Apart from the already mentioned Callum Sheehan veteran Donie Ryan, a brother of former Limerick player TJ who is the team’s manager played an integral part for the winning side landing eight points, six of which came from placed balls, while TJ’s son Colin gave a solid performance in the middle of the field.

The Bouncers were 1-7 to 0-5 in front at the break in that game and with twelve minutes of the game remaining they looked to be out of sight as they were 2-11 to 0-5 in front.

The winners however took their foot off the gas at this stage and once Bruff had scored their first score of the second half with eleven minutes remaining they hit a total of eleven scores in those closing minutes, conceding just the one, something that may have given the Clonea management team plenty of home going into this weekends game if they can keep a close eye on the Limerick sides attacking players and also proving to be very disciplined.

Clonea in their County final win over Clashmore showed the same guts and determination as Bruff in the Limerick County Final last week, except for them that determination paid off as Clonea hit two late scores (1-1) to win this game by three points when it looked as many inside the sizeable contingent at Fraher Field were going to win a maiden Intermediate Hurling County Final.

Clonea went into that game as the warmest of favourites but they were made to work hard by Clashmore and as time ticked down it looked as if it was going to be second time unlucky in twelve months having lost out to An Rinn in the final twelve months ago.

This is an experienced Clonea side as Garryspillane will find out when they take to the field. Whether the Limerick side had the chance to see Clonea in the County Final is unknown as the Championship’s in Limerick ran very late as a result of Limerick reaching and winning this year’s All-Ireland Final.

If they did see their opponents play then they will know that there is some fine hurlers in the Clonea side, including the likes of Billy Power who impressed hitting seven points in the county final, but also the likes of Robbie Power and Ronan Cahill who netted the goals in their win over Clashmore, while the likes of Jason Gleeson, Stephen Power, Willie Hahessy, Robert Flynn, Martin Scurry and Michael Curry will need careful watching.

This is a game that will need finishing on the day and the two sides will be fancying their chances of progressing to a meeting with Clare side Feakle next weekend.

Garryspillane’s experience of playing in the senior championship in Limerick should stand to them but while Clonea’s players as hurlers will not have played much in Fraher Field because of the divisional divide that exists in Waterford, they have done so plenty of times with Rathgormack in football and will know every blade of grass in the field, and if they were to draw as big as support as they had in the County Final recently proving to be the sixteenth man on the day, they are good enough to advance.

Near Neighbours Modeligo and Ballinameela Do Battle for Western Glory

Just as is the case in the east of the county on Friday evening two neighbouring club’s clash in the Western Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday evening at Fraher Field, except this time the two clubs are even closer in proximity as the two parishes are separated by the N72 as it runs in an east-west direction through West Waterford.

When Modeligo and Ballinameela clashed in the group stages of this year’s Intermediate Football Championship back in July Modeligo ran out convincing winners on a 1-15 to 0-9 score line at the Cappoquin venue, a result that no doubt made some sit up and take notice.

Modeligo are a club that have always produced some good footballing sides, but most of these good teams played in the Junior Championships, and when they run out onto Fraher Field on Saturday evening for this final, they will be doing so for the first time at this level.

The same cannot be said of their opponents in this one, for Ballinameela in the last decade have won this championship three times, in 2009, 2012 and again in 2015 when they beat Bunmahon after a replay, and before this they won the competition on three other occasions, 1979, 2003 and 2007 and have appeared in the final a number of other occasions.

They will head into this game as favourites, and head into this game on the back of winning the Junior County Hurling Final recently and therefore will come into this game very fit and with confidence high.

Last weekend Ballinameela they had  two point win over Ballinacourty’s second string side in their semi final and the Modeligo support present to see the game will have gone home believing that they can win a first ever Western Intermediate Football Championship in their maiden appearance in a final at this level.

In that game while Ballinameela were always on top in what was a very low scoring game turning around with a 0-3 to 0-1 lead showing on the scoreboard and looked they would pull away from their opponents in the second half when Mikey Phelan slotted past Kevin Dwane in the Ballinacourty goal.

But they allowed their opponents come back into the game when Aaron Beresford slotted home a penalty seven minutes short of the hour mark, which was followed with a brace of scores from substitute Eoin Kiely to leave just one point between the sides.

But Ballinameela were able to hold off the challenge of Ballinacourty and when Rob Shine kicked a score on the hour mark it sealed their sides passage to this Saturday evening’s final.

Modeligo are through to the final with a few weeks since they got the better of another neighbouring side Sliabh gCua in the first semi final.

That game in the first half proved to be a close encounter as the sides turned around at 1-3 each but in the final quarter Modeligo were able to pull away with Tom Devine’s goal on forty two minutes proving crucial. Since then it was football that Modeligo had all their concentration on while their opponents this weekend had to juggle their attention between the two codes.

This like the Eastern Final twenty four hours earlier could well go right to the wire, where little separates the sides at the end of the sixty allotted minutes.

Ballinameela in this game will be looking to the likes of the Phelan brothers, the Curran brothers, Paudie Prendergast, Liam O’Brien, Conor Buckley and Rob and Michael Shine to see then through in this game, while Modeligo will be looking to the different sets of brothers on their side, the likes of the Devine’s, the McCarthy’s, the Troy’s and the O’Donovan’s as well as goalkeeper Thomas Walsh to pull off big performances if they are to capture a first title at this level.

So who will win? If experience count’s then it has to be Ballinameela, but if hunger that count’s Modeligo looking for a first title will win.

But whether it is hunger or experience that comes to the boil, only one will win. I am sure that in the event that both sides will have agreed to play extra time on the night, especially with the Waterford champions due to play in the Munster Championship on November 11 against either Kilrush Shamrocks from Clare or Kilcummin from Kerry coming up and a county final date also has to be found between now.

Living just over a mile from the Modeligo border and seeing so many of their players come through playing with Naomh Brid, I would love to see them win on Saturday evening, even if Ballinameela would be the fancied teams. Maybe this is an occasion where you allow the heart to overrule the head.

Experienced Bunmahon Battle Emerging Kilmacthomas For Intermediate Football Title

Near neighbours Kilmacthomas and Bunmahon clash in the final of this year’s Eastern Intermediate Football Championship on Friday evening at the St. Molleran's Ground in Carrickbeg where it is expected that a close and interesting battle will be fought out.

          Bunmahon are a club that are regular participants in this stage of the championship, they reached the county final three years ago when they narrowly lost out to Ballinameela after a replay and last year they again reached the Eastern Final where they narrowly lost out to a Saint Saviours side who had been relegated from the senior grade at the end of the previous year.

Kilmacthomas this year are under the guidance of Benji Whelan who recently was appointed as the Waterford Senior Football Manager and they have played well under one of their own to reach this year’s divisional final, with some who are watching the championship in the East of the county believing that they have done so a year or two ahead of what many would have expected them to do so.

Both sides are through to this stage of the competition after semi final wins last week.

Bunmahon were first to qualify for the divisional final by virtue of gaining revenge for their defeat in the divisional final last year, beating Saint Saviours who lost out to Dungarvan in the county final last year, winning 2-7 to 0-8 at Dunhill, while later the same evening in a local derby clash at the Saint Mollerans Club grounds in Carrickbeg Kilmacthomas had a double digit victory over their next door neighbours Newtown.

There is nothing like two neighbouring sides meeting in a divisional or county final and the meeting of these two neighbouring clubs no doubt will bring out the best in each other on Friday evening.

Bunmahon are the more experienced of the two sides at this level, but that will not deter their opponents in this game who will go into this game believing that they can get one over on their neighbours and will look to the earlier game in the competition between the two sides for much of their confidence, a game that ended in a 2-8 to 0-14 draw.

Kilmacthomas have a very strong spine to their team which is likely to have Niall Cronin start between the posts, Gary Kiely at full back, Peter Gallagher in front of him, Jack Dee and John Cleary in the middle of the field, while Alan Fitzsimons is likely to start at centre forward and Adam Walsh who has played senior football for the county is likely to be at full forward and could well prove to be the side’s main score getter on the night if given opportunities.

Bunmahon will be able to pick from a number of players that went so close to winning a county title after winning the championship in the east of the county back in 2015 and that experience you feel would have to stand to them.

Players lie Eoin Fitzgerald, Kieran Roche, Jonathan Fenton, Niall and Patrick Queally, Michael Harney, Richie Walsh, Ciaran Buckley, Conal Queally, Dylan Power and Shane Dwan have done this all before and would love to add to their collection of medals.

This is a game that could well go right to the wire and be as close as the earlier game between the two sides and it might be no surprise to learn that the allotted hour might not be enough to find a winner.

Football for whatever reason has often suffered in the east of the county and this game could well give the game a boost in the eastern half of the county and whichever them comes out on top will have reached the county final on merit.

For me, Bunmahon who are favourites will win this title and therefore go on and play either Modeligo or Ballinameela in the final, and if they were to come out on top in that game in the coming weeks they will add to a number of traditional footballing sides in the middle of the county who will compete in the senior championship next year.