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Wednesday, 9th May 2012

Waterford Minor hurlers travelled to Ennis on Wednesday of last week for the opening round of the Provincial campaign and came home with a superb 1-20 to 3-13 victory. Over the last two years Clare have been the dominant force in the grade and fully expected that the three-in-a-row was within their grasp. Now with a losers group I'm not saying Clare cannot come in the back door but on the evidence of this display Waterford are certainly in the mix. Like any home venue, Cusack Park has itself been a daunting venue when facing Clare. However on this occasion when the need arose it was the young lads from the Deise who came through albeit after extra time and an unnerving extra seven minutes at the conclusion. The Deise and their opponents served up a cracking contest from start to finish. The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges leading 1-8 to 1-6 at the break, Darragh Flynn having scored the Deise goal midway through the half. There was never going to be much between the sides. Level 1-19 to 3-10 at the end of normal time having given their all, it must have seemed like punishment for both outfits to have to face into another twenty minutes. Patrons on the edge of their seats stuff. Throughout the extra periods it was still impossible to seperate two finely matched outfits. The visitors did have the better of the early exchanges in the first period and led by two points at the break. Waterford fought back and as time ticked over the added twenty minutes Cathal Curran put Waterford ahead once again. We then had to endure an added seven minutes injury time and I must admit, there was some justification for added time, before gaining what was a magnificent win. Waterford forwards Stephen Bennett (0-7), Miceal Harney (0-4) and Darragh Flynn (1-2) had been instrumental in keeping the scoreboard ticking along.

Waterford now march on to a Munster semi-final where they will face Tipperary. The latter had an overwhelming 6-21 to 0-11 win over Kerry and that after the Kingdom had registered the opening score. However that all pales into the past for Waterford and Tipperary as they face into what will surely be a tremendous encounter.

DOMESTIC ROUNDUP

The opening round of the Waterford Senior hurling championship proved quite informative as most games went as predicted. Opening proceedings on Friday evening championship favourites De La Salle had a resounding victory over a very lacklustre honour laden Mount Sion with a comfortable 3-16 to 1-13 win. Goals from Paidi Nevin and Jake Dillon in the opening half set Stephen Street on their way and perhaps showed why the pundits have shortlisted De La Salle for outright victory. As for Mount Sion, they will surely improve. Their track record suggests so.

In Fraher Field on Friday evening Passage got their year off to a flyer with a hard fought 1-13 to 0-15 win over Ballyduff Upper. The representatives from the fishing village will be hoping that All-star Noel Connors gets back to full fitness quickly. They might well be the team coming in "under the radar".

Champions Ballygunner without the services of county star Paudie Mahony had just about enough to see off a determined challenge from Abbeyside on a 0-17 to 0-12 scoreline. Stephen Power was the key to the win with a personal haul of twelve points. Incidentally it now looks as though county forward Mahony may well be out until the conclusion of the competition.

Leading 2-9 to 0-2 at the break thanks to goals from Shane Ryan and Jamie Barron, Fourmilewater proved too strong for city side Roanmore as they came out on the right side of a 3-12 to 0-7scoreline. The men from the Ballymac area have been so close to making the breakthrough in recent years, 2012 might just open the door for them.

Intermediate champions in 2011, Dunhill, faced Tallow beaten senior finalists of 2011, in their opening game and although they made the Bridesiders fight all the way they ended six points adrift 2-16 to 1-13.

A Maurice Shanahan goal proved the undoing of Dungarvan as Lismore came away with a three point win 1-20 to 1-17 in a cracker of a tie. Indeed Dungarvan may well feel they were unlucky as they were reduced to fourteen men for much of this game. The Old Boro will surely learn from the experience and with the huge amount of work at underage level it will not be long before the conveyor belt begins to reap rewards. As for Lismore they upheld the favorites tag and no doubt as in the past two decades will be there or thereabouts.

WATERFORD KELLOG'S CUL CAMPS 2012

The ever successful Kellog's Cul Camps will commence in early July and as usual it is expected that there will be a huge takeup in all quarters. The opening round of camps will take place from July 2nd to 6th in the following;

Area and Coordinator

Ferrybank Rosemary Heffernan 087-7982990.

Abbeyside/Ballinacourty Carmel Power 087-2598923.

St Saviours Noel Reidy 087-9715037

Ballyduff Lower Jenny Dempsey 086-3905619.

Ardmore Claire Keevers 085-7299880.

Roanmore Danny Murphy 087-1222391.

John Mitchel's Kieran O'Connor 086-8350951.

The second round of camps will appear in next week's edition.

RHYTHMFEST

I'm reliably told that tickets are selling fast for the Rhythmfest in Fraher Field Dungarvan on the weekend of Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July. The opening evening (Saturday) will see The High Kings headline supported by Bressie with a full lineup of acts. Sunday will see the Grimes twins, internationally known as JEDWARD, headline what is sure to be a fantastic evening of music and entertainment. Indeed the whole weekend has a brilliant entertainment feel to it. You have been warned tickets are moving fast.