Winning Championship-Avoiding Relegation
There was a full round of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship played last weekend and the results have helped sort out some of the teams who will progress to the knockout stage. The relegation battle is a little more difficult to predict. Reigning kingpins Passage got their challenge back on track following a hiccup against Abbeyside the previous week, with a 3-18 to 1-18 win over Fourmilewater. The winners led 1-4 to 0-2 after ten minutes with Eoin Kelly reacting quickly to goal following a brace of points from Killian Fitzgerald. A Dermot Ryan goal for Fourmilewater in the 25th minute gave the Ballymacarbry outfit a way back in but Rory Walsh placed Conor Carey for goal number two for Passage which gave them a 2-11 to 1-9 lead at the break. The Passage goalkeeper was called into action on a number of occasions making superb saves from both Tommy Cooney and Shane Ryan while Conor Gleeson on county duty the previous week added two points. Passage continued to hold a slender lead throughout the second half despite a huge effort from their challengers but a goal from Rory Walsh sealed victory for the men from the fishing village and put them back on the road to qualification for the knockout stages. Championship favourites De La Salle are next up for the holders as they face off next weekend in Walsh Park. Fourmilewater will play Lismore in their final game of the group and nothing other than a win will keep them out of the dreaded relegation dogfight.
De La Salle despite the absence of John Mullane were too strong for Roanmore in Walsh park where the Stephen Street men confirmed their favourites position with a 2-19 to 0-11 win. A John Keane goal in the opening half saw De La Salle ease 1-8 to 0-7 ahead. Credit Roanmore they were battling hard particularly midfielder Gavin O'Brien who had contributed six of the seven first half points. Unfortunately for the Cleaboy outfit the county player was forced out five minutes into the second half with a recurring leg injury and with him went Roanmore's chances. A late goal from John Keane gave the scoreline a rather flattering look and Roanmore will be hoping that Gavin O'Brien is fit to face Abbeyside next weekend in Kill.
The last game of Group One saw Abbeyside face Lismore. This was a game that could have gone either way. Lismore had a good result over Roanmore the previous week while Abbeyside appear to be hitting form at the right time. Their win over Passage just seven days previously confirmed it. A goal from Padge Hurney in the opening quarter gave Abbeyside a 1-4 to 0-3 lead but two goals in as many minutes in the 26th for Abbeyside's John Hurney and in the 27th for Lismore's John Heneghan left just four points 2-5 to 1-4 at the break. There was still little between the sides throughout a close second half but inh the end goals did the damage for Abbeyside and they came out on the right side of a 3-12 to 1-15 scoreline.
By virtue of their win De La Salle lead the group with eight points. Abbeyside and Passage have four points while Lismore and Roanmore have three points each. Fourmilewater trail the group with two points but a few surprise results could change the group.
In Group Two Ballygunner lead the way and confirmed their place as one of the teams fancied by many to achieve ultimate success. On Sunday in Fraher Field they scored a big 1-25 to 1-7 win over Tallow. The opening ten minutes saw the teams level 0-2 apiece but the Gunners pulled five clear by the break 0-10 to 0-5. Leading 0-14 to 0-5 within ten minutes of the turnover a goal from Evan Sheehan gave Tallow a glimmer of hope. However a goal from Ballygunner Conor Power in the 40th minute gave the Knockboy outfit a cushion which they retained to the end outscoring the Bridesiders 0-11 to 0-2. The group frontrunners face Ballyduff Upper on Sunday next in Fraher Field while Tallow will play Ardmore knowing that a draw will suffice to keep them out of relegation. The seaside town have been finding the going hard since they came back up from the Intermediate grade and are bottom of the group at present. Mount Sion were the opponents last weekend. Following a jolting defeat to Ballygunner it was imperative that Sion got back on a winning trail and they did just that with a comprehensive 1-26 to 2-8 win over a depleted Ardmore side. The Mount Sion goal in the opening half gave the Monastery outfit a comfortable 1-15 to 1-4 halftime lead which was never subsequently threatened. Dungarvan put themselves right "in the mix" as they beat fellow Westerners Ballyduff Upper on a 1-18 to 1-11 scoreline. The Old Boro have amassed six points from their four games to date and if their young side can continue to perform there is no reason why they cannot cause a shock or two before the end of the competition. Dungarvan led 0-14 to 0-4 at the break and a goal in the 55th minute from Patrick Curran saw them safely home. Jamie Kearney had a goal for Ballyduff Upper right at the death. Dungarvan who play Mount Sion in their last game of the group in Walsh Park have six points each so it should be really interesting with the winner taking a better standing in Group Two.
