Waterford stars ready to report for club duty following Banner heroics

ALL but two of Waterford’s heroes in the outstanding Munster Championship victory over Clare last Sunday, are in action this weekend in the first round of the County Senior Hurling Championship.

Dungarvan’s Fraher Field houses a triple header on Sunday afternoon, while there’s a double-header at Walsh Park, including the debut of Fitzgibbon Cup winners Waterford Institute of Technology.

The Cappoquin venue hosts the remaining game on Sunday evening (7.30pm) when Ardmore and Ballyduff Upper are in opposition.

The first ever appearance of WIT will be eagerly awaited and their game against Ballyduff Lower at Walsh Park (2pm) should bring the fans out in force.

If they can call on their Fitzgibbon Cup-winning panel they will be firm favourites to advance against an opposition that will be looking to county panellist Jack Kennedy to provide the spark.

In the second game at the venue (3.30pm) Abbeyside mark their return to the top flight with a searching test against a De La Salle opposition that will parade its three county stars, goalkeeper Stephen Brenner, defender Brian Phelan and Allstar forward John Mullane.

Abbeyside will be without several players who helped the club to win the intermediate title last year, and De La Salle will be firm favourites to advance.

Champions Mount Sion, who are seeking a hat-trick of title wins, get the action underway at Fraher Field (1.30pm) when they are expected to account for Comeragh Gaels, a group side drawn from the Colligan, Kilgobinet and St Mary’s clubs.

Mount Sion are backboned by the McGrath brothers Ken and Eoin, Tony Browne, Eoin Kelly, Brian Flannery, Ian O’Regan and Anthony Kirwan and anything other than a comprehensive win for them will be a major surprise.

The meeting of Ballygunner and Tallow (2.45pm) could be the game of the round, and while the Gunners will be favourites they can brace themselves for a major challenge from Tallow.

They will rely heavily on county defender James Murray and panellists Paul and David O’Brien, together with former St Colman’s Harty Cup and All-Ireland Colleges medal-winners Paul and Aidan Kearney.

The Gunners may not be the power of old, but with Paul Flynn, Andy Moloney and Shane O’Sullivan leading the charge, and former county stars Fergal Hartley, Stephen Frampton and Billy O’Sullivan still hugely influential, they should never be underestimated.

In the remaining game (4pm), Lismore, led by Dave Bennett and Dan Shanahan, will be odds on favourites to account for Stradbally, whose hopes will be heavily pinned on their county star Michael Walsh.

The meeting of Ardmore and Ballyduff Upper at Cappoquin (7.30pm) is difficult to call, with Ardmore marginally favoured to garner the spoils.

They will include the Prendergast brothers, Seamas and Declan, in their ranks while Ballyduff will be without county full-back Tom Feeney following his transfer to Cork club Sars.