Confident Ballyduff take on champions

WITH Déise fans still celebrating last Sunday’s thrilling National Hurling League final victory over Kilkenny, the fans are likely to turn out in big numbers this weekend when all six first-round games in the league-style senior county championship will be played.

Champions Mount Sion are in action at Walsh Park this evening (7pm) against Jack Kennedy’s Ballyduff Lower. Ballyduff have already beaten Mount Sion in a league encounter and won’t lack confidence.

For Mount Sion, it’s the commencement of life without Allstar Eoin Kelly whose controversial transfer to intermediate club Passage East at the start of the year shocked the entire county. However, with Brian Flannery, Ken and Eoin McGrath, Tony Browne, Miceal White and Ian O’Regan, the backbone of the side remains strong.

Dungarvan’s Fraher Field houses an attractive double-header with Ballyduff Upper and Clonea going head-to-head in the opener (5.45pm) followed by the eagerly awaited meeting of Lismore and Fourmilewater (7pm).

The Ballyduff/Clonea game brings the intermediate champions of 2005 and 2006 into opposition with the odds heavily stacked in favour of a Ballyduff win.

Not nearly as cut and dried however, is the outcome of the second game, and while Lismore will be marginal favourites, they won’t need to be reminded of just how close they have been run by Fourmile in their recent meetings.

Lismore will, as always, look to Dan Shanahan and Dave Bennett to provide the inspiration, but their cause won’t be helped by the absence of long-serving Sean Daly, out with a back injury.

With Shane Walsh and Liam Lawler of the county panel pointing the way, the Ballymacarbry-based club looks certain to build even further on the exciting impact they’ve made on this championship for the last two years.

There’s another doubleheader at the Dungarvan venue tomorrow afternoon with De La Salle and Ardmore in opposition at 2pm followed by the meeting of Ballygunner and Abbeyside at 3.30pm.

Ardmore, powered by county goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy and the Prendergast brothers Declan and Seamas, will be fancying their chances, but the John Mullane-led city outfit, which also includes county panellists Brian Phelan and Kevin Moran and which reached the final in 2005, should prevail.

Ballygunner, beaten in last year’s decider, will be hoping to make a winning start to the campaign against a youthful but emerging Abbeyside who have yet to win the title.

It remains to be seen if the Gunners will start Paul Flynn who is returning after a lengthy injury absence.

Richie Foley may be Abbeyside’s lone county panellist but right through the team they have young hurlers laden with championship honours in the under age grades. They are well- capable and while the Gunners will be the marginal favourites, don’t rule out an Abbeyside win.

The Cappoquin venue hosts the sixth and final match at 6.30pm between Stradbally, led by county captain Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, and a Tallow outfit that includes his Waterford colleagues James Murray and Aidan Kearney. Stradbally reached the semi-final last year for the first time. In contrast Tallow found themselves battling against relegation, a battle they ultimately survived.

Stradbally should be favourites, but on their favoured Cappoquin patch, a hesitant vote is given to Tallow.