Mullane must be at his best if dark horses Ballyduff are to be overcome

CLUB championship action continues apace in Waterford this weekend with five senior hurling games scheduled.

There are two games apiece tomorrow evening at Fraher Field and Walsh Park, with the latter venue certain to house a huge attendance. In the opener (6.30pm) De La Salle face Ballyduff Lower.

John Mullane and county colleague Brian Phelan, will have to be at their inspirational best, if Ballyduff are to be overcome. Ballyduff are dark horses with county panellist Jack Kennedy, former county star Pat Fitzgerald, and the O’Leary’s in their side. Mullane’s class could be the decisive factor.

The second Walsh Park tie, a derby between champions Mount Sion and arch-rivals Roanmore (7.45pm), may be the game of the weekend.

Sion, seeking a hat-trick of title wins, have an awesome line-up, including Ken and Eoin McGrath, Tony Browne, Eoin Kelly, Ian O’Regan, Seán Ryan, and former county stars Brian Flannery and Micheál White.

Roanmore will relish this tie, especially after their performance when defeating Fourmilewater in the first round. The talents of Ger Quinlan Daniel and Laurence O’Neill along with Trevor Flynn could test the champions. The two Fraher Field games (6.30pm and 7.45pm, respectively) are in the losers’ group, with the 2003 intermediate champions Abbeyside marginally favoured to beat Stradbally, who will include Michael Walsh in their ranks.

The meeting of Tallow and Fourmilewater will be a much closer affair. James Murray, Paul and David O’Brien and the Kearney twins Paul and Aidan will spearhead Tallow’s challenge. Their opponents, who reached the semi-final last year, have players with inter-county experience, including Brian Wall, Liam Lawlor, Rory Rice and Shane Walsh.

On Sunday at Fraher Field (7.45pm) group side Comeragh Gaels take on WIT in the last game of the losers group. At full-strength, the Fitzgibbon Cup holders, competing in the championship for the first time, would be fancied to keep their title challenge alive. However, they must improve from their clash with Ballyduff Lower.