De La Salle gunning for glory

TOMORROW’S Waterford senior hurling final may not be a David versus Goliath confrontation, but it most definitely is a meeting between seasoned championship campaigners and the new kids on the block.

The sheer novelty of the Ballygunner-De La Salle pairing will bring the fans to Walsh Park in their thousands, with the Gunners favourites to capture their 10th title at the expense of a De La Salle outfit in quest of an historic first.

Ballygunner and county final day almost go hand in hand in the Decies. They’ve contested nine of the last 10 deciders, winning five of them. On the downside of that impressive record however, they have been beaten in the last three when arch rivals Mount Sion were the victors on each occasion.

In stark contrast De La Salle are making their first appearance in the final since the club was founded 78 years ago. They’ve been there or thereabouts several times in the past but had to wait until this year to make the big breakthrough.

That came about compliments of a sensational semi-final victory against a Mount Sion outfit that was chasing a fourth title on the trot. Given the difficulty they’d encountered in defeating unfancied Ardmore and Fourmilewater in earlier rounds, no one gave De La Salle a realistic chance against the champions, but proving yet again that the championship is indeed a great leveller, they played out of their skins to pull off a shock but deserved one -point victory.

“If we can repeat that performance tomorrow then we must have a great chance,” De La Salle chairman Seamas Quirke said. “Everyone is in the right frame of mind, our preparations couldn’t have gone better, and we believe we can again upset the odds.”

Derek McGrath will take his place in attack alongside prolific scorer James Quirke and the man De La Salle will look to most of all - the irrepressible John Mullane.

The good news for Ballygunner is that Paul Flynn, plagued by injury for so long, will figure at full forward.

The All-Star came on as a semi-final substitute against Lismore and his brace of goals dramatically altered a game that seemed to be drifting away from them.

“Paul’s inclusion from the start this time will give everyone a massive lift,” said Gunners chairman Pat O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan’s son Darragh is likely to lose out as a result, but three other members of the clan - Rory, Shane and Billy, who captained their last winning side in 2001 - will be key members of the team.

This may be the first meeting of the clubs in a senior final but they’ve built up a great rivalry in all grades over the years. The smart money will undoubtedly be on the Gunners, and while they justifiably carry the favourites tag, it would be unwise to understate De La Salle’s chances of creating history.