Sion ready to silence the big Guns

THERE’S no keener rivalry in Waterford than that between the big two, Mount Sion and Ballygunner, who have virtually monopolised the senior hurling Championship over the last 15 years.

They’ve won it 12 times between them in that time, and the only year in the 15 that neither contested the final — 1993 — Lismore edged out Passage East.

The fans will flock in their thousands to Dungarvan’s Fraher Field tomorrow (throw-in 3.30pm) for an eagerly awaited final.

Defending champions Ballygunner lost their opening group game against Stradbally back in April and were put to the pin of their collars to survive quarter and semi-final challenges by Ballyduff Upper and Lismore.

They’ve struggled mainly because of the injury problems that have denied them the services of their most influential player, Paul Flynn, and while he came off the substitutes bench on both occasions, he is visibly restricted by a thigh injury.

Without Flynn, Ballygunner are struggling, and it is to the credit of the great Fergal Hartley more than anyone else that they have battled their way, yet again, to the final. Hartley was immense at centre back and his duel with Ken McGrath should be intriguing.

“When you look back over the championship, it’s fair to say that both ourselves and Mount Sion have been lucky and we are grateful to be looking forward to another county final,” Hartley said. “We had a real battle to edge out Lismore in the semi-final and it will be no less intense in the final. If past games between us are a guide, this one will also go down to the wire.”

The Gunners also have injury concerns about midfielder Andy Moloney who retired injured in last weekend’s semi-final, but he is expected to play. Not so fortunate is full back Willie Kiely, who won’t play again until 2007 following a cruciate ligament operation.

Hartley apart, the Gunners will rely heavily on the experience of Alan Kirwan and Wayne Hutchinson in defence, the experience of Colin Kehoe with Moloney in the middle of the field, and the attacking flair of Shane O’Sullivan and Gearoid O’Connor.

While the Gunners are seeking to defend their title and win their 11th in the process, Mount Sion are bidding for a record 35th — a remarkable record for a club founded in 1932.

No doubting their potential, and any side bolstered by players of the class of Tony Browne, Ken, Eoin, and Roy McGrath, and Eoin Kelly must be respected. Kelly, however, is their one serious concern following his involvement in a traffic accident last week.

Ironically, he was left out of their team for the semi-final against Stradbally, but was still the one who pulled it out of the fire for Sion with a superb goal in the closing minutes.

Mount Sion manager Paraic Fanning says it “will be the survival of the fittest”.

“Another mighty battle between two teams whose rivalry is intense but whose respect for each other is equally so,” he says.

Fanning is adamant they will have to improve on their earlier displays if they are to topple the champions. “The final will be a real test of our true worth,” he said.

While Sion depend heavily on their big-name players they also have experienced campaigners in goalkeeper Iggy O’Regan, Brian Flannery, Anthony Kirwan, Miceal White, and Sean Ryan.

It’s a difficult one to call, but Mount Sion are given the vote to shade a thriller.

The curtain-raiser (1.45pm) is the junior hurling “A’ decider between Fenor and Lismore with Fenor seeking to end the nightmare of losing four finals in the last five years.