FOOTBALLERS FALL TO BANNER
The opening round of the Allianz National Football League in Fraher Field Dungarvan was most disappointing from a Deise perspective as the home side went down 3-10 to 1-9 to a bright Clare outfit. Local manager Niall Carew was ever hopeful that this game would see Waterford secure the two points on offer and set them on their way for the upcoming challenges in the division. At the end there is no doubt the visitors deserved their win and the home side will have to recharge as they face Tipperary this weekend.Waterford were slowly into their stride with the visitors opening the scoring and a goal from Martin O'Leary had them 1-1 ahead early in the tie. Paul Whyte one of the few Waterford lads to impress opened the Deise account with a point after 12 minutes and added a second but much of the early possession was not being converted to scores. Waterford did manage to settle and points from Shane Briggs Declan Allen and a brace from Tony Grey left them just two behind at the break 1-5 to 0-6. Clare however had served a warning most particularly David Tubridy who was instrumental in much of their attacking play. The home side opened brightly in the second half but were rocked back in the 48th minute as Shane McGrath goaled to leave them 2-6 to 0-7. Waterford seemed to have a lot of work to claw back the lead. Dual player Podge Collins had a Clare point and though they hit a number of wides the Deise were fighting a determined cause. The visitors got in for goal number three in the final ten minutes and the game was over as a contest. Despite that Paul Whyte did add a goal for Waterford but it was too little too late. The object for manager Niall Carew and his squad is to focus on the upcoming game against Tipperary and a win will certainly put the bandwagon back on track. A loss and the Deise will be fighting an uphill battle.
BALLYSAGGART GO FOR GOLD
Waterford and Munster champions Ballysaggart enter the cauldron of Croke Park on Saturday next as they face Kickhams Creggan in the All-Ireland Club Junior Hurling Final. Whatever way one looks at it this has been a remarkable twelve months for the village outside Lismore. Perhaps one of the smallest -population wise- in the association their drive and determination along of course with their skill has seen them on the verge of creating history as the first Waterford club to annex a club All-Ireland.
WHAT OF KICKHAMS
The Antrim club from the edge of Lough Neagh boast seven hundred members (the population of Ballysaggart is 250) and have been in existence since 1924. In their Provincial final they beat a fancied Craobh Rua from Armagh 0-13 to 1-7 then accounted for Fullen Gaels 2-10 to 1-8 in the All-Ireland semi-final. Gaels are Uk champions from Warwickshire. One might easily dismiss a junior team from the UK but at your peril. Fullen Gaels were in the final in 2013 and this year beat a very impressive Ballinamere of Offaly. The Offaly team had beaten Kilkenny opposition Lisdowney in the Provincial final and incidentally Kilkenny teams had won ten of the previous Junior hurling titles. Get the drift. Kickhams have a very dangerous forward division where Oran McCann has been their ace marksman, The Antrim man will be well supported by Conleth McGrehaghan and Conor Small. Incidentally it was a fortuituous goal from Small in the semi-final that saw Kickhams on the road to victory.
BALLYSAGGART DETERMINATION
Throughout the present campaign Ballysaggart have shown grit and determination. In the domestic championship they were put to the "pin of their collar" not least against Modeligo but sheer willpower saw them through. That Munster campaign again saw them cast as outsiders against both Grenagh of Cork and Feenagh/KilmeedyLimerick but they came through and are now in position to take the ultimate award. From goalkeeper Matty Meagher to corner forward Tom Bennett this team will lack nothing in the determination stakes. The full back line of Bobby Ryan, Kieran Fennessy and Daniel Devine have been watertight and outside them Barry Munrphy, Eugene O'Brien and Caileann O'Gorman will hope to drive the play forward. In midfield Christy Murphy and Kieran Bennett will keep the engine room fire burning at all times while up front is where this side excels. It is likely that the magnificent Stephen Bennett will start on the edge of the square with Tom Bennett and Ronan Walsh in the corners. Outside them the superb Shane Bennett, Darren Meagher and Kenneth Cashell will make life very difficult for the Kickhams backs. It is however possible that manager Adrian Meagher will decide, as he has done before, to play both Stephen and Shane Bennett in the front line of attack as a twin strike force. Whatever way it falls Kickhams are going to have their hands full for over sixty minutes. If required substitutes Michael Kearney, Stephen Hale, Feargal Meagher and Paudie Hale will not be found wanting as they showed when called into action in the semi-final. I believe history will have been created on Saturday and Ballysaggart will be celebrating an All-Ireland hurling title. Go to it lads the county is right behind you.
