Stradbally confident the famine will end

STRADBALLY’S victory over Bishopstown in the Munster club SFC semi-final may have shocked the football world but few in the Waterford camp would share that surprise.

A Waterford club has never won the provincial honour.

But selector Tom Cunningham, whose son Stephen scored their crucial goal on Sunday, believes that famine may end next month against either the Kerry or Clare representatives.

“We firmly believed in our ability to go to Páirc Uí Rinn and come away with a result,” said Cunningham.

“We will also be the rank outsiders in the final but we will be giving it our very best shot.”

Cunningham, a former player for club and county, said they were in action for a fourth successive weekend in the Bishopstown game and they went into that one “on a roll”.

“We really appreciated that support from so many of our own clubs, and hopefully we’ll have it again for the final,” he said.

Meanwhile, the result has been celebrated by county chairman Paddy Joe Ryan.

“All of us in Waterford know how good a team this Stradbally outfit is, after winning the county final for a fourth successive year, but I’m happy that after last Sunday people from outside Waterford will also have come to appreciate Stradbally’s worth.”

Meanwhile, there is a more expected look to the Leinster hurling final with James Stephens set to face the might of UCD, who crushed Coolderry.

The Kilkenny champions, who defeated Oulart-the-Ballagh, recognise the difficulty of the task ahead, according to manager Adrian Finan.

“We played Coolderry a few weeks ago in a challenge game, and it was tight. A daunting prospect, but we’re glad to be there anyway.

“We’ll reflect on it in the coming days, but UCD are a brilliant team, an inter-county side really.”

For all the stars in the UCD lineout, James Stephens are the side with the better history in the club championship.

UCD have never won the All-Ireland, the Kilkenny champions have done so on two occasions, 1976 and 1982.

“I don’t think tradition is a burden, it’s the opposite, an inspiration,” Finan added.

“The minute we came back in here after the county final, Peter Barry stood up and made a statement that this club has a great tradition in Leinster and in the All-Ireland championship.

“They’re very much aware of that tradition, and we’re now trying to mirror the success of 23 years ago.

“The Kilkenny championship is so intense that when you win it, it gives you such a sense of satisfaction. I think the lads are believing in themselves more and more, but they’ll need that to overcome the next hurdle.”