All-Ireland Final overshadows opening round of county championships
Ballygunner aren't in action on this the opening weekend of the 2024 Co. SHC but still the question will be asked at every game....can anyone stop the Gunners from lifting the News & Star Cup for an 11th year in a row? Photo: Inpho/Ken Sutton.
This coming weekend will see the opening round of Group games in the County Senior Hurling Championship while the eyes of all hurling followers will be focussed on what should be a great All-Ireland Final between Cork and Clare on Sunday next. Given the two teams involved we in Waterford will be looking on enviously and thinking of how different things might have been.
There was a time when the start of the county senior hurling championships was an occasion of excitement and speculation but that is no longer the case. Next weekend’s round of fixtures sees the second and third seeded teams in each of the four groups of three facing each other. The winners will most likely be seeded in the opening knockout round against the losers from another group that will decide who advances to a quarter-final or goes into the relegation playoffs.
The top seeded teams in each of the four groups will be in action the following week with Roanmore, De La Salle and Ballygunner confidently expected to advance to the quarter-finals with the clash between Fourmilewater and Abbeyside likely to be a very close affair in deciding top spot in Group D.
These teams met in the first round of the knockout phase last year with Clonea emerging decisive winners in Fraher Field on a score of 4-22 to 2-12. Tallow caused a mild surprise when the sides met in Division 2 of the All County League this year when reversing that result in Clonea on a score of 2-12 to 1-14. With teams fielding below full strength in league games too much should not be read into that result. Clonea fielded without a few key players in the group games last year but were back at full strength for the knockout games. Notable absentees in the Division 2 league final loss to Lismore were Billy and James Power as well as Kieran Power and while the latter will be available on Friday there may be some doubt about the others who might be travelling. The position regarding Kill footballer Ciaran Kirwan’s appeal to continue to assist Clonea was due to be clarified at a Croke Park meeting last weekend and a decision is awaited.
Tallow will again be looking to such as Tomas Ryan, Mark O’Brien, Ian Beecher, Ryan Grey and Jordan Henley to see them through here but even if short a few players Clonea have the back up in such as Willie Hahessy, Mairtin Power, Robbie Flynn, Jason Gleeson, Ciaran Power and Francis Roche to get the win here.
Ferrybank return to senior championship action on Saturday after a long absence and will be considered rank outsiders against an ambitious Abbeyside team in the opening game of this Walsh Park double header.
Surprise, but nonetheless deserving, winners of last year’s inaugural Premier Intermediate championship Ferrybank have since been hit by the departure of some key players abroad and consequently will be favourites for a short stay in the senior grade. They will be encouraged by some good displays in the All County League and players such as Mark O’Brien, Robbie Carew, M. J. Sutton, Shane Sullivan and Ryan Tierney will relish the challenge.
Abbeyside have been knocking on the door for some time and will be hoping for a breakthrough this year with county players Conor Prunty, Michael Kiely and Neil Montgomery to the fore though there is some doubt about Montgomery’s participation due to injury. Still they have strong back up coming through from underage ranks with such as Charlie Treen, the Callaghans and Billy O’Connell all with inter county experience at minor and U-20. A win for Abbeyside here.
The last championship meeting between these teams was in the 2021 quarter final that saw Mount Sion coming out on top by a single point. Games between the clubs tend to be close affairs and this is likely to be no different. Both sides have been working hard under new managements preparing for this championship and for the most part will not have too many changes from the teams that faced off in their last championship clash.
Passage will be looking to county star Mark Fitzgerald for leadership backed up by the experienced Eddie Lynch in goal, Calum O’Neill, Darragh Lynch, Gary Cullinane, Owen Connors, Noel Connors and Liam Flynn.
Mount Sion will miss the presence of the injured Stephen Roche but will be looking to other experienced players such as Austin Gleeson, Martin O’Neill, Mikey Daykin and Martin F. O’Neill backed up by Luke O’Brien, P. J. Fanning, Alan Kirwan, and Jamie Gleeson to see them over the line.
This promises to be a very close game between western rivals. Both teams were in Division 2 of the All County League with Lismore winning their head to head on a score of 2-24 to 2-18 before going on to beat Clonea in the league final. Lismore’s consistency throughout the league suggests they should be favourites going into this game but Dungarvan are a much more focussed side where the championship is concerned and will fancy their chances here.
This game could well develop into a shootout between top scorers Maurice Shanahan and Patrick Curran. Both players are potential match winners but the back up on both sides can also be decisive. Dungarvan will miss county senior Darragh Lyons who is expected to be back for the knockout stages but they have experienced campaigners in the Currans, John, Cathal and Colm as well as well as Gavin Power in goal, Joe Duggan and Michael Kiely.
Lismore appear to be a well balanced side this year with experienced players such as Iarlaith Daly, Jack Prendergast, Ray Barry and Paudie Prendergast backed up by younger players coming through. The momentum would appear to be with Lismore and they may just edge it here.
The Premier Intermediate Hurling gets under way next weekend with an attractive double header in Lemybrien where Ballysaggart, with all the Bennett brothers on board will be fancied to get their campaign off to a winning start against Dunhill.
The opening game will see Cappoquin/Tourin, beaten finalists last year to Ferrybank, seeking a winning start against an improving Tramore side.
Gr. A Fraher Field 5 pm Shamrocks V Ballygunner In the second Group A game a very strong Ballygunner second string should prove too experienced for a battling Shamrocks team in Fraher Field ahead of the Dungarvan/Lismore senior game.
