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Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Hurling quarters full of promise
WITH all due respects to those clubs who haven’t made it, the quarter-final line up in the county senior hurling championship is as near to perfect as you could ever want it to be. Expect some titanic encounters then this weekend as the last eight battle for further survival that will take the quartet of victors into the penultimate round in the title race in a few weeks time.
At the outset of the campaign I described this as the most open championship in years——and potentially the most exciting too.
We have indeed had some rousing games so far, but now that the real business end has been reached we can really expect the sparks to fly.
And the probable champions?
Realistically it could be any one from five or even six of those still standing.
VENUES
With Walsh Park out of the reckoning because of ongoing improvement works——they seem to be taking for ever to complete—the naming of venues for the four quarter finals was never going to be as straight forward as would otherwise have been the case.
However for the Kill club its definitely the case of “an ill wind…” as it will now host its first ever senior hurling quarter final when Mount Sion and Ballyduff Lower lock horns in what is definitely a David versus Goliath clash in the truest sense. This one goes ahead on Saturday with a 2.30 start and the expectation is that it will bring the biggest ever attendance to Kill for a club game.
That same afternoon Fraher Field hosts a mouthwatering doubleheader—Lismore against De La Salle and the all-city clash of titleholders De La Salle and their great rivals Ballygunner.
The remaining quarter final goes ahead on Sunday evening with Cappoquin the setting for the West division’s own “little All-Ireland’’ between next door neighbours Ballyduff Upper—-champions of 2007—-and Tallow who last reigned supreme in the top flight almost a quarter of a century ago.
There’s a 5.30 start to this one and my advice to the fans is to be there in plenty of time because the capacity of the venue is likely to be taxed to the limit.
THE OUTCOMES?
No disrespect to Jack Kennedy and company in Ballyduff Lower, but just about the only cut and dried forecast on the face of things would seem to be their joust with Mount Sion.
The Monastery go into this one on the back of a one hundred per cent record from their five group games, while Ballyduff have just squeezed through with only one win and a draw from their five outings.
That contrasting form cannot be ignored, and while Ballyduff will relish their role as underdog it will be an upset of monumental proportions if they can manage to clip ‘Sion’s wings.
With Tony Browne fit again after his bout of tonsillitis and ready to lead by example, and with Ken McGrath also showing a welcome return to something approaching his best form last time in the defeat of the “other’’ Ballyduff, everything points to a Mount Sion win.
FRAHER FIELD DOUBLEHEADER
Saturday’s doubleheader at Fraher Field just tingles with excitement and we can expect several thousand fans to converge on the famed Shandon venue. Lismore and Abbeyside kick start the action at 4 0 clock followed by that city local derby between De La Salle and the Gunners (5.30).
Either game would be a hugely attractive “stand alone’’ one, but having them paired on the same bill is an added bonus for the fans. Expect a feast of hurling thrills over the two hours of action.
Difficult to call—-both of them, and don’t be at all surprised if one, or indeed both, of them were to throw up inconclusive results. Put another way—-a draw or draws and back on another day for the replays. Stranger things have happened, believe me.
If I must “come clean’’ however my leanings are towards an Abbeyside victory over Lismore, more especially with the expected and welcome return to the Villagers starting line up of Gary Hurney. Having to still wait for that elusive first title win in the grade must be gnawing away at them, but with the great Joe Deane now coaching them this could well be their year.
The De La Salle-Gunners showdown is another game of limitless possibilities and potential. A clash of the titans in the truest sense, and most probably too the survival of the fittest. De La Salle, toan extent, have huffed and puffed their way into these quarter finals, losing last time out in a thriller to Lismore.
The Gunners on the other hand have an unblemished record in the groups stage with five wins from five starts speaking very loudly indeed for the progress the side is making under the guidance of Cork’s Ger Cunningham.
A rip roaring local derby is in prospect with the Gunners possibly the marginal favourites. Champions die hard however and I retain just a sneaking fancy for ’Salle.
WIDE OPEN
The Sunday evening game pits Ballyduff Upper, champions two years ago, against next door neighbours Tallow, and if this one doesn’t fill the Cappoquin venue then no other ever will.
These rivals have a mightily healthy respect for one another and from the “off’’ we can expect both of them to throw themselves totally into the fray. On the Tallow side the magical scoring exploits of young Tomas Ryan (7-5) in his last two championship games) will very obviously make him a closely marked man, but it would be unwise in the extreme for Ballyduff to concentrate all o their minds on just trying to curb the flying corner forward.
This Brideside outfit is laced with quality players of the calibre of “Ringo’’ and Paul Kearney, Paul O’Brien, James Murray, and Will Henley to mention just a handful. At the top of their form they are capable of fashioning victory against any opposition.GoodnewsforBallyduff is that Stephen Molumphy will be in the side along with his brothers Pat, Tom, and Michael whose return after a lengthy injury lay off is a massive boost all round. Add in goalkeeper Adrian Power, Seamas and Brendan Hannon, the Kearneys, and John Twomey, and its not difficult to fully appreciate the all round strength of the Reds.
Whatever the outcome don’t expect much more than a score or two dividing them at hour’s end. A tentative vote to Ballyduff.
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