Pauric Mahony injury mars opening weekend
Reigning JJ Kavanagh Senior Hurling champions Ballygunner, back on the championship trail, got the perfect start to their opening game against Ballyduff Upper as Brian O'Sullivan goaled within a minute. Leading throughout they held a six point lead at the break 1-9 to 0-6 before coming clear of their West Waterford opponents on a final score 2-18 to 0-9. No doubt their form has put them very much in the favourites position to retain the title. The big talking point at the end however, was an injury suffered by their talisman Ballygunner and Waterford star Pauric Mahony who was removed to hospital by ambulance during the course of the game which saw a delay some seventeen minutes. The Ballygunner star who was the star of the Allianz National League winning campaign and finished joint top scorer (1-90) with Corkman Patrick Horgan will unlikely see action again this year as the news filtered through that he had fractured his shin and would be facing an operation over the weekend. A cruel blow to the young start and a huge loss to both his club and the county. This column would like to take this opportunity of wishing Pauric a speedy recovery.
Beaten 2014 county finalists Mount Sion, were in action in Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon as part of a double header. The Monastery outfit faced newly promoted Cappoquin who in 2014 went on to clim a Provincial title and were back in the Premier grade with high hopes. An early point apiece from Stephen Roche and Cappoquin's Shane O'Rourke saw alively opening. Cappoquin goalkeeper Donal O'Rourke played his part within the opening ten minutes as he brought off two superb saves but he was finally beaten on the quarter hour as a Martin F O'Neill 65 metre deceived the defence and ended up in the net 1-4 to 0-1 The town on the Blackwater saw their defence breached again three minutes later as Richie Roche set Austin Gleeson free and the county start blasted home. Leading 2-7 to 0-4 at the break Mount Sion seemed in control although the freetaking of Cappoquin forward Shane O'Rourke was keeping them in touch. It was the worst possible start to the second half for the 2014 Intermediate champions as Bill Walsh raced through for goal number three 3-9 to 0-4. Mount Sion forwards Sean Ryan and Martin F O'Neill kept the score board ticking along but goal number four from O'Neill in the 43rd minute ended the game as a contest. Sion went on to close out the game with a 4-18 to 0-7 win. A chastening experience for Cappoquin but one which I'm sure will be of considerable experience in the coming months.
In the opening game of this Sunday afternoon Abbeyside came out two point winners over Fourmilewater. Goals from Patrick Hurney and Mark Gorman gave the winners impetus and no matter how hard the lads from the Ballymacarbry area tried, they just never seemed to capitalise on chances. Centre forward and former Waterford intercounty star Liam Lawlor was always a threat for the vanquished but some just did not perform as we know they can. No doubt both Abbeyside and Fourmilewater are well capable of improved form so maybe this was just opening game blues.
De La Salle and Tallow played out a 2-12 to 1-15 draw on Friday evening as a Paul O'Brien goal in the dying minutes gave the Bridesiders a share of the points. A goal for the city outfit from Eddie Barrett following good work from Jake Dillon saw De La Salle edge ahead and when Jamie Sage added a second in the 16th minute saw them six points clear 2-3 to 0-3. Leading 2-6 to 0-8 at the break the superb point scoring of Tommy Ryan, Paul Kearney and Robert O'Sullivan kept the West County outfit in touch. De La Salle with points from Brian Phelan, Adam Farrell and Barrett opened a seven point lead in the second half as the Tallow wides mounted but again they still clawed themselves back to within two as time began to ebb away. Farrell added a point but then that dramatic late goal for Tallow from midfielder Paul O'Brien tied the game. Justice done as neither team deserved to lose.
There was a dramatic end to the game in Walsh park on Sunday evening between Passage and Roanmore. Sean Hogan and Stephen Mason gave Passage an earely lead but a goal from a one on one penalty and two pointed frees from Billy Nolan saw the Light Blues ahead. Killian and Brendan Fitzgerald added a brace of Passage points but the ever accurate Nolan continued to find the target and saw his team 1-5 to 0-5 ahead at the break. The second half was very much in the same vein as the first with Nolan the catalyst for Roanmore with his accuracy from frees. Passage introduced Eoin kelly midway through the half and it was to prove a fruitful move. Points from Owen Connors and Sean Hogan brought the lead back to the minimum 1-7 to 0-9. Probably the best game of the weekend as both teams, hungry for success, gave everything. Eoin Kelly, booked within minutes of coming into the action was the catalyst for the final comeback for Passage. The former All-Star rifled over to level with time ticking down and in the final minute he secured a free which Owen Connors converted. The final scoreline 0-11 to 1-7 saw Passage garner the points while Roanmore will bemoan chances that went as they say "abegging".
The final game of the weekend saw a youthful Dungarvan complete a three point 0-13 to 0-10 win over Lismore although the Old Boro hplayed part of this game with fourteen players following the dismissal of Sean Ryan. No doubt both teams will still have a say in the makeup of the quarter finals.
HURLING FIXTURES
Another round of the JJ Kavanagh Senior Hurling championship is down for decision this weekend. On Friday evening Tallow and Ballyduff Upper will play in Lismore at 7.30pm. Saturday sees a double header in Fraher Field with Ballygunner meeting Fourmilewater at 6.30pm and De La Salle versus Abbeyside at 8pm.In Group Two Passage face Dungarvan at 7pm in Walsh Park while Sunday at the same venue t 2pm Mount sion will play local rivals Roanmore. The final game of the weekend will see local rivals Lismore and Cappoquin meet in Ballyduff Upper at 7pm.
COACHING AND GAMES DEVELOPMENT NEWS
In conjunction with Waterford Teachers Centre a GAA Summer Course for Primary Teachers will take place in Colaiste Cathal naofa Dungarvan from Wed 1st -Fri 3rd july. Bookings for this course can be made through Waterford Teacher Centre.The Munster U15 Super 10's will take place on Sat 30th May. This is a 10 a side blitz with panels of 12. A Hurling and Gaelic Football blitz will take place in Waterford with the blitz winners going forward to Munster Finals on Sat 13th june. All players will receive Munster Super Touch Training Top.
KELLOGG'S GAA CUL CAMPS
Online bookings are now available for this year's Kellogg's GAA Cul Camps. There are 35 camps running in July and August with all clubs in the county involved. Aplication forms have been sent to clubs.
