Waterford GAA thread - mod warning post #1 and #51

Semi final weekend DLS vs Abbeyside today and Ballygunner vs Passage 2morrow

Looks set to be another DLS vs Ballygunner final but ya never knw. Abbeyside doing ok this season and will give it a right go. Passage also love playing Ballygunner who were very unconvincing in there QF win over Roanmore, there could be a shock in that game.

Eastern hurling junior final between ballydurn vs Tramore takes place tomorrow

Abbeyside 0-14- DLS 0-13 FT

So Abbeyside provide a shock by beating match favourites DLS. Congrats to Abbeyside great for the club

Abbeyside 0-14 De La Salle 0-13

Abbeyside qualified for their first senior hurling county final since 2008 and remain in the hunt for their first ever senior title after edging out last year’s beaten finalists De La Salle by the minimum margin in Fraher Field this evening.

This game will not go down in the annals of Waterford hurling classics. It was a dour hard-fought game largely dominated by both defences and with a wides tally which exceeded the number of scores obtained. However, with the gap between the sides never exceeding three points, it was a gripping affair which kept the attention of the sizeable attendance on a cold evening.

Abbeyside had first use of the stiff breeze blowing into the country goal, but De La Salle had the better of the early exchanges. Abbeyside came more into it as the game progressed, and were three points in front (0-10 to 0-7) at the interval. That lead should have been greater, but their wides tally (6) was double De La Salle’s and they wasted several easy point chances with unsuccessful attempts at goal while De La Salle goalie Shaun O’Brien brought off one good stop from a Neil Montgomery shot.

De La Salle came out for the second half with Eoin Madigan in at centre forward, replacing Tonto Douglas. They immediately set about hauling back Abbeyside’s lead, which they managed in just five minutes, and at that stage only one result looked probable. However, at this stage their radar went askew, and they began to shoot wide after wide while Abbeyside were struggling to get a foothold in the exchanges.

De La Salle did manage to get ahead on a couple of occasions, but despite shooting numerous wides themselves, and again failing to convert several possible goal scoring chances, Abbeyside showed commendable spirit to force themselves back into the lead which they held to the end, with De La Salle continuing to fail to find the target (they had 12 wides in all in the second half). I thought referee Tommy O’Sullivan might have allowed one more play after Abbeyside substitute Eoin Kiely shot wide in the third minute of extra time, but he called time on the puckout to great celebrations among the relieved Village supporters.

De La Salle may feel that they should have won this game, given their second half wides tally, but over the entire game their wides total (15) was just two ahead of Abbeyside’s. Abbeyside will also look to the numerous goal chances they created, whereas De La Salle only managed one shot at goal, stopped by Stephen Enright, during the entire game.

Abbeyside’s inexperience showed frequently, especially as the exchanges became more frantic as the second half progressed, when poor decision-making let them down time and again. In the last ten minutes in particular, they won a lot of good ball in the middle third and used it very poorly. However, they showed great heart and fighting spirit, something we haven’t always seen from teams from the Village over the years.

Full forward Mark Ferncombe was Abbeyside’s leading player, with three excellent points from play to add to five converted frees. County players Kevin Moran, Shane McNulty and Jake Dillon (especially in the second half) were prominent for De La Salle, but I thought their outstanding player was full back Ian Flynn (who was listed as a subtitute in the match programme).

Whoever wins tomorrow’s semi-final will be listed as favourites to win out, but ultimately semi-finals are about winning, and the final will be another day.

Abbeyside: Stephen Enright; Seán O’Hare; John Elstead; Conor Prunty (0-1); David Collins (0-1); Darragh McGrath (0-1); James Beresford; Maurice Power; Patrick Hurney (0-1); John Hurney; Seán Whelan Barrett (0-2); Tiernan Murray; Mark Ferncombe (0-8, four frees, one 65); Neil Montgomery.

Subs (all second half, in order of introduction): Richie Foley for Tiernan Murray; Tom Looby for John Hurney; Seán Daly for Maurice Power; Eoin Kiely for Patrick Hurney.

Richie Foley is just back after a long absence with a cruciate injury.

De La Salle: Shaun O’Brien; Conor Giles Doran; Ian Flynn; Michael Doherty; Shane McNulty; Jake Dillon; Tom Moran; Eddie Barrett; Páidí Nevin (0-2); Kevin Moran; Adam Farrell (0-1); Cormac McCann (0-2); Eddie Meaney (0-1); Thomas Douglas; Shane Ryan (0-7, four frees, one 65).

Subs: Eoin Madigan for Thomas Douglas (ht); Seán Carton for Adam Farrell (I think), late in second half.

upthedeise16 wrote: »

Prunty has been Peter Queallys go to man all year, picks up the oppositions main man in each game but they are lucky to have David Collins at centre back who I thought was outstanding today. Ritchie is only back from a cruciate injury, wouldn’t have 60 minutes in him

Hope he commits to Waterford next season as I think he will be a star

upthedeise16 wrote: »

Prunty has been Peter Queallys go to man all year, picks up the oppositions main man in each game but they are lucky to have David Collins at centre back who I thought was outstanding today. Ritchie is only back from a cruciate injury, wouldn’t have 60 minutes in him

Delighted for Abbeyside to get over the line. A lot of work going on there at underage including James Murray helping out there as a coach. Prunty is a beast of a man and if he stays injury free can be a huge asset to the county set up. Queally has got the most out of them and wouldn’t it be great if they pulled it off and won their first senior hurling title.

Deisegodeo wrote: »

Some win for Abbeyside, you could see what it meant to them at the final whistle, imagine the celebrations if they can win the final and secure their first county title.

On the game itself, while not a classic, it was very enjoyable. A real battle where every single ball was fought for and scores were hard earned. In fairness, those were the terms I'm sure Abbeyside wanted the game to be played on, they are a huge physical team who battle for everything, with plenty of good hurlers too. They will give Ballygunner/Passage plenty of it in the final at the same venue in a few weeks. The more I see of Conor Prunty the more impressed I am, looks like a right player, hugely physical but mobile and can hurl too.

As regards DLS, they will wonder how they left this behind them. They got well on top in the second half and went in front, and looked like they would kick on from there. But the wides they hit were desperate, I think their last 3 shots to level the game in the closing minutes were all wide. It was Abbeyside's day, epitomised by a clear wide being given as a point for Abbeyside in the first half.

Well done again to Abbeyside, the county final will be a big occasion with a big crowd at Fraher Field in a few weeks. Waterford hurling needs that, maybe even needs a new name on the cup. I certainly wouldnt begrudge it to them.

Is it definitely Fraher Field? The programme says Walsh Park but I know it’s every second year, and 3 years ago Tallow played in Walsh Park and 10 years ago, Abbeyside-DLS was in Fraher? It’s a major advantage to Abbeyside if it was in Fraher, although judging by that first half, Ballygunner look to motoring very well, 0-15 to 1-3 ahead

Ballygunner 3-23- Passage 1-4 FT

So passage will give BG a game ???

Huge win and it's hard to knw if Abbeyside can stop them

Jjjjjjjbarry wrote: »

If Abbeyside even give them a game, they'll be doing well!?

For a club as successful as Ballygunner, they have a very poor following? I remember the "home game" v Sixmilebridge last year and it seemed like it was Sixmilebridge and neutral Waterford fans at it. Same today, bit of a cheer when Passage entered the field and the odd isolated clap for Ballygunner. Not sure where the sunshine supporters are because if they're not already out they never will be.

Most people living out the dumore road aren't from the area. I know a lot of people out that direction and very few care much about hurling no mind ballygunner.

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

Ballygunner is still a huge club with large playing numbers, are in a position to field 2 teams in many age groups. No reason why they shouldn’t be able to generate big support. Especially for a big local derby. When they first won 3 in a row in the 90s the bandwagon was as big as any.

They do have big numbers underage but as was said a lot from the area are from outside and are really only following their own child's games. Also Ballygunners total dominance in recent years has lessened the attractiveness of the senior hurling championship as a whole. In the nineties the Ballygunner/Mount Sion rivalry made for enthralling viewing.

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

Ballygunner is still a huge club with large playing numbers, are in a position to field 2 teams in many age groups. No reason why they shouldn’t be able to generate big support. Especially for a big local derby. When they first won 3 in a row in the 90s the bandwagon was as big as any.

Huge club alright, at the blitz's they'd have 5 and 6 teams.Fair play to them.

Gaultier should have a hurling team though. Might spread the numbers out(and ballygunner a football team of course)!

deiseach wrote: »

But there is a reason. It would be interesting to know what it is.

NB if anyone wishes to contribute, can they please refrain from 'they're not Real GAA Men unlike us at CLG Anonymous' arguments. That only ever ends up in one place.

Maybe they're bored. They're on course for a 5 in a row and just beat a team by 25 points in the semi.

In an urban area where parents are wondering if they'll trek across the city to bring their kids, things like the weather and the facilities actually have a big impact. So can other sporting events might be going on.

If Ballygunner is just a place where your 10 year old kid goes down to for their Saturday activity, as opposed to something you grew up with and have ongoing family and community links to, it's a fairly easy decision to go do anything else that might be going on rather than sit on a wet timber bench in Walsh Park/Dungarvan for an afternoon.

hardybuck wrote: »

Maybe they're bored. They're on course for a 5 in a row and just beat a team by 25 points in the semi.

In an urban area where parents are wondering if they'll trek across the city to bring their kids, things like the weather and the facilities actually have a big impact. So can other sporting events might be going on.

If Ballygunner is just a place where your 10 year old kid goes down to for their Saturday activity, as opposed to something you grew up with and have ongoing family and community links to, it's a fairly easy decision to go do anything else that might be going on rather than sit on a wet timber bench in Walsh Park/Dungarvan for an afternoon.

It might be as simple as that. I seem to recall big crowds at their games around the turn of the millennium. They've only missed two county finals in the 21st century. There won't be any excitement in the 'parish' like there will be in Abbeyside.

Teebor15 wrote: »

They do have big numbers underage but as was said a lot from the area are from outside and are really only following their own child's games. Also Ballygunners total dominance in recent years has lessened the attractiveness of the senior hurling championship as a whole. In the nineties the Ballygunner/Mount Sion rivalry made for enthralling viewing.

Yeah the Ballygunner/ mount sion rivalry from the early 90s right into the 2000s was unreal. Serious intensity to those games, I know fellas from other counties who used to come down to those games. Could go over board at times, a few unsavoury incidents too, but always big crowds at those games.

I'm fairness, around that time Lismore had a class team too, just couldn't get over the line and win a county title. They could beat mount sion but couldn't beat Ballygunner, amazing that They have never beaten the Gunners in senior championship.

Definitely good for a championship to have a few teams with genuine title aspirations.

Deisegodeo wrote: »

Yeah the Ballygunner/ mount sion rivalry from the early 90s right into the 2000s was unreal. Serious intensity to those games, I know fellas from other counties who used to come down to those games. Could go over board at times, a few unsavoury incidents too, but always big crowds at those games.

I'm fairness, around that time Lismore had a class team too, just couldn't get over the line and win a county title. They could beat mount sion but couldn't beat Ballygunner, amazing that They have never beaten the Gunners in senior championship.

Definitely good for a championship to have a few teams with genuine title aspirations.

I know there were only 3 real contenders (even though Passage got to a final) at the time but weren't those great years in the closing stages of the Waterford club championships.
All-Stars & hurlers of the years on teams, the likes of Daly, the Prendergast's, Bennett, O'Sullivan, Dan of Lismore, Flynn, Hartley, Frampton, Fives, Mahony, O'Sullivan, Foley of Ballygunner, the McGraths, Kelly, Greene, Kirwan, the Browne's of Mount Sion, fantastic hurling, sendings off in most games, referees nearly being attacked, genuine dislike between the teams, close & tight battles (although a few finals were one-sided) and teams going on to be very competitive in Munster and going to support them all as a Waterford hurling fan.
Lismore were so unlucky not to win more after 93, never seemed to get the rub of the green but they were entertainers and by far the best in the west at the time.
In fairness to all the other clubs, they all closed the gap up to this period of dominance of Ballygunner and while it was great to see Passage, De La Salle, Ballyduff Upper win titles, I still see the mid/late 90's and early 2000's as the best time for club hurling in Waterford and when we saw the biggest crowds in Walsh Park.
Again as a neutral, my abiding memory is of being in the stand of Walsh Park and looking over at the bank and kids in red & black sitting out on the wall and shouting, "Gunners, Gunners". Ballygunner had a huge following which they seem to have lost.