Minor championship race ready for the off
The Waterford minor hurling championship will get underway this evening (Wednesday). Photo: INPHO
With the divisional championships having commenced last weekend and ten weeks of minor championship games in four divisions getting under way tomorrow (Wednesday) clubs are facing into twelve weeks of intense activity that will see the hurling season ended for most by mid-September and then it will be straight into the football championship season.
The minor championships are graded in three divisions of eight teams in each and a fourth division of seven teams. The seven rounds of each division will be played on consecutive Wednesdays commencing tomorrow with the top four teams in each Division qualifying for the knockout stages that will follow on.
With the U-15 championships continuing on Monday nights some clubs will have players on both teams and also engaged with county development squads in the same week. Three clubs, Ballygunner, Roanmore and Tramore will field second string teams in lower divisions.
The first named team in each fixture will have home venue with tomorrow’s games starting at 7.30 pm.
Division 1 – Ballygunner v Ballyduff Upper, Dungarvan V De La Salle, Abbeyside V Brickey Rangers, Mount Sion V Roanmore Division 2 – Clonea V St. Saviours/Ferrybank, Erins Own V St. Patricks, Lismore V Tramore, Passage V St. Marys.
Division 3 – Cappoquin/Tourin V St. Olivers, An Gaeltacht V Cois Bhride, Fourmilewater V Ballygunner B, St. Mollerans V Clan na Gael.
Division 4 – Ardmore V Tramore B, Clashmore V Portlaw/Ballyduff, Roanmore B V Naomh Brid, Stradbally a bye in first round.
In Division 1 defending champions Ballygunner will again be odds on favourites to retain their title with the strongest challenges expected to come from fellow city sides De La Salle, Mount Sion and Roanmore. The champions will be far too strong at home to Ballyduff Upper while De La Salle will be expected to come through away to Dungarvan. Newcomers to Division 1 Brickey Rangers suffered a heavy defeat to Abbeyside when the teams met in the Minor League but the big first round game tomorrow will be the clash between Mount Sion and Roanmore. Both sides will feel they can challenge for the title this year and there has been little between the teams coming up through the juvenile grades. Roanmore took part in the minor league without their county players and scored a big win over Abbeyside in the final.
Division 2 – Passage scored an impressive win over St. Patricks in Division 2 of the minor league and will start favourites here but there should be very little between the teams with the first round results telling much.
Division 3 – Ballygunner should have a strong B team in this division but there could well be a few surprises in this division.
Division 4 – Stradbally have a bye in the opening round but they will be fancied here with Portlaw/Ballyduff likely to be the strongest challengers.
