Top four senior seeds out in Walsh Park and Fraher Field this weeked
Mount Sion's Donal Power is tackled by Passage's Mike Hutchinson last weekend. Next up for the Monastery men are De La Salle on Sunday evening. Photo: Maurice Hennebry.
This weekend will see the top seeded teams in each of the four Senior Hurling groups in action as they take on the second seeded sides in their respective groups. In three of the groups the winners from last weekend’s games were the second seeded sides the exception being in Group C where Lismore came out on top against Dungarvan who can only qualify for the quarter finals with a win over champions Ballygunner on Saturday next.
This could well be the game of the weekend with an in form Clonea, fresh from an impressive win over Tallow, taking on a Roanmore side that has been challenging strongly at the semi-final and final stages of the championship in recent years.
With Billy Power and Kieran Power back in action and players returning from the county football squad, Clonea fielded a stronger side than that which lost to Lismore in the Division 2 league final and on Friday they expect to have county panellist James Power back on board. It is not entirely clear as to the position regading the requests of both Kill’s Ciaran Kirwan and Bunmahon’s Micheal Harney to ‘assist’ Clonea this year. Their requests were denied by the County Board but an expensive appeal was undertaken to the DRA in Croke Park which was upheld by that body and the case referred back to the Waterford County Board.
Clonea had hoped to have the players cleared in time for Thursday’s game but word is that the County CCC again rejected the request at a special meeting on Thursday last so it is unclear if that is the end of the matter. Either way the two players will not be involved against Roanmore and a statement will be awaited from the County Board on the subject.
Regardless, this game has all the makings of a very close contest. Roanmore have been preparing diligently for this championship and will be looking for big performances from their top men such as Conor Ryan, Billy Nolan, Rory Furlong, Cian Wadding, Chris Dempsey and Gavin O’Brien.
Jason Gleeson was in top scoring form for Clonea against Tallow and while he will not find it as easy here he remains a big threat in the Clonea attack with Kieran Power and Francis Roche while there is plenty of Power in this Clonea side with Billy, James, Mairtin and Ciaran all providing back up. It is a very open game with Roanmore’s experience at the knockout stages in recent years giving them an edge.
This clash between Western rivals should bring the crowd in early for the Fraher Field double header as both clubs have been knocking on the door in recent years.
Beaten by Ballygunner in last year’s semi-final Fourmilewater probably gave the Gunners their hardest game and will have their eyes set on taking the champions on again in the knockout stages. Abbeyside fielded a young side against Ferrybank last weekend and while Neil Montgomery remains out injured they retain an experienced back bone in such as Conor Prunty, Brian Looby,Michael O’Halloran and Michael Kiely.
Fourmilewater will be looking to their county players, Conor Gleeson, Jamie Barron, Tom Barron and Sean Walsh for big performances with young players such as Tholum Guiry, Aaron Ryan and Michael Morrissey also featuring strongly. At full strength Fourmilewater may have enough in hand to win here.
Champions Ballygunner look as strong as ever this year and will take some stopping as they chase down an 11th senior title in a row. Here they face an injury hit Dungarvan side whose form seems to have dipped from being regarded as serious contenders a couple of years ago.
Things may look up for the Old Burrough side when Darragh Lyons returns from abroad for the knockout stages but as things stand they will be looking to the Currans, Patrick, John, Cathal, Colm as well as Mikey Burke, Tristan Loftus and Joe Duggan to keep them in a contest against the champions.
Ballygunner’s strength in depth was demonstrated in the manner their Intermediate side, containing a rake of underage stars, eased to victory over Shamrocks last weekend. At full strength the champions are unlikely to show any real change from last year’s line up with players like Harry Ruddle, Cormac Power and Aaron O’Neill seeking to break into the first fifteen.
Dungarvan will give everything here but anything other than a decisive win for Ballygunner here would be a huge surprise.
Beaten finalists last year De La Salle will be seeking to go one batter this term as they commence their campaign against city rivals Mount Sion. The Monastery side held out to come through against Passage last weekend without looking particularly impressive and while they will be without the injured Stephen Roche this year they will be hoping to have Owen Whelan and Luke O’Brien back for Sunday’s game.
De La Salle have their successful minor and U-20 sides of recent years to build on with players such as Ryan Duke, Daniel Lalor, Conor Keane, Jack Twomey and Rueben Halloran coming through the ranks to back up such as Adam Farrell, Jake Dillon, Eddie Barrett and Jack Fagan.
Mount Sion will be looking to their experienced players such as Ian O’Regan, Austin Gleeson, Martin O’Neill, Mikey Daykin , Stephen O’Neill and Martin F. O’Neill to come good alongside the younger crop of P. J. Fanning, Alan Kirwan, Jamie Gleeson and Adam Regan.
Games between these teams are always close and this tie should be no different with De La Salle rated slight favourites to come out on top.
The Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship continues this weekend commencing with the clash of Brickey Rangers and Cappoquin/Tourin in Fraher Field at 7.30 on Friday. Both teams are unbeaten and this is a game that could go either way.
Lemybrien will host another double header on Saturday with Dunhill and Shamrocks meeting at 2pm. Both teams will be seeking to recover from decisive defeats last weekend. That game will be followed by the clash between Tramore and Clashnmore at 3.45pm.
There is no doubting what the big game is in this grade over the weekend with Ballysaggart and Ballygunner meeting in Fraher Field at 12.30 on Sunday. Followers will be reminded of the thrilling Intermediate final between the teams just a couple of years ago when Ballygunner came out on top after extra time. While this game will not decide the destination of the title this year it will give both sides an opportunity to assess just what lies in store come the knockout stages.
