Football Championship surprise packets

Wednesday, 2nd May 2012

GAA notes by The Villager

The second round of the JJ Kavanagh Waterford Senior Football championship concluded last weekend and it has already seen a few surprise results. Indeed some of the so called less fancied teams appear to have made a terrific start and if this form continues then, perhaps, there may well be a winner outside the fancied Ballinacourty, Stradbally and Nire who between them have dominated the past decade. In Group One Nire share top spot with Rathgormack on four points. Nire had a successful weekend with a 2-10 to 1-4 win over Ardmore while Rathgormack beat Gaultier 1-9 to 0-9. In the third game of the group reigning champions Ballinacourty got their season back on track with a comprehensive 2-10 to 1-3 win over St Saviours.

In Group two real surprise packets Clashmore/Kinsalebeg are joint top with Ring following two wins apiece in the championship thus far. The former unbeaten in two had a 3-4 to 0-8 victory over Rodaithe na Brice while An Rinn also undefeated defeated had a 1-14 to 2-7 win over Kilrossanty. Beaten by Clashmore in their opening encounter, Stradbally, came right back to form with a resounding defeat of Dungarvan on a 3-17 to 0-8 scoreline. The football championship now takes a break as hurling takes centre stage for the next couple of weeks.

AND NOW FOR THE HURLING

This weekend sees the opening round of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship and there really are some mouthwatering games in prospect. On Friday in Walsh Park, beaten 2012 finalists De La Salle will face their city rivals Mount Sion in what could very well be one of the games of the championship and, this just the opening round. Both teams have been showing solid form in both the League and Sargent Cup so on the face of it while the Stephen Street outfit may start slight favourites, it could very well go either way. This game goes ahead at 7.30pm.

Also on Friday at Fraher Field, another two teams with their eyes very much on the coveted News and Star Cup, Ballyduff Upper and Passage will cross camans. Here again are two teams who have graced the competition over the past number of years and believe me, they will both see an opening win as absolutely vital. Have no doubt Ballyduff Upper and Passage are both capable of having their name engraved on the trophy come October. Another 7.30pm start and sure to bring out the crowds.

On Saturday there is a double header in the Old Boro with Fourmilewater and Roanmore set to start proceedings at 6pm followed by the clash of Abbeyside and reigning champions Ballygunner. The opening game is certainly fraught with intrigue. Fourmilewater are well capable, on their day, of putting it up, no, beating the best in the county but that little word "consistency" keeps rearing it's ugly head. Perhaps this 2012 could be their year. Their opening game is the typical banana skin. Roanmore since coming up from the Intermediate ranks have being putting together a blend of young and experienced players. A win for either team will give their championship ambitions a massive boost.

The second of this double header will feature Abbeyside and Ballygunner. I guess it would be foolhardy to even try and predict a winner. Abbeyside so close in recent years against a team with winning pedigree. Can Abbeyside get their season off to a magnificent start or will the experience of the Gunners again come to the fore. Get there and find out.

Sunday evening in Fraher Field will again feature two games with contrasting teams in both. The opening game will see Lismore, so often so close to adding to their successes of 1991 and 1993 face a Dungarvan side who have made rapid improvement since returning to the senior ranks. Lismore will probably start favourites but in recent games and more particularly at under age the Old Boro have a lot of young talent with a winning habit. In the second game Dunhill the Intermediate champions of 2011 will throw down the gauntlet to Tallow who deservedly contested the Senior final of 2011. The representatives from East Waterford will look on 2012 as a year of consolidation but really when the chips are down and a win or two "under the belt" then, of course the bar begins to rise. As for Tallow, you can be pretty sure they will want to get back to a county final and having savoured the "big day" will want to repeat it. Their first priority is to begin with a win.

As in previous years there will always be a surprise or two and if we only knew which ones I for one would be writing the column from Barbados, Hawaii or some such place courtesy of the oddsmakers.

DEISE DRAW

The second in the 2012 series of the ever popular Deise Draw was hosted by Gaultier GAA Club on friday last which saw Trevor Galvin from Dungarvan GAA scoop the top prize of ten thousand euro. Among the other big winners on the night Darren Knox from Erins Own and Aoife Kiely from Stradbally both collected a thousand euro. With lots of cash prizes it is your opportunity to become a member. For just ten euro a month it only takes a call to your local GAA club.