Ballyduff Upper and Fourmilewater meet for the second year in a row in the county senior hurling championship at Cappoquin in what could prove to be one of the ties of the round.
When they clashed at the same venue last year Ballyduff came out on top by 1-17 to 0-16. Things could prove to equally as tight here and it would be no surprise if the victors were different.
Stephen Molumphy will be the main danger on the Ballyduff side, but they are by no means a one-man team. Ex-county full-back Tom Feeney is likely to start at centre-back, and behind him Pa and Tom Molumphy are defenders of note.
In attack Pa, Shane and Jamie Kearney are all match-winners on their day and will cause the Fourmilewater defence problems. Brendan Hannon, meanwhile, is one of the best free-takers in the business.
A major downer for the 2007 champions is the news that star goal keeper Adrian Power missed last week’s NHL game in Cork because of a knee injury and could be out for a few weeks.
Fourmilewater could well cause a shock or two. Brian Wall is to many a surprise omission from the Waterford panel, having never let the county down in any position he was asked to play.
Like Ballyduff Upper, Fourmilewater are not a one-man team. Liam Lawlor was part of the Waterford set-up last year, and should start at full-back. In front of him Rory Rice could start at centre-back. As an underage player, he promised a lot and could prove to be a vital cog in the Fourmile’ wheel, while alongside him could be a rising star in Paul Horkan.
Shane Walsh could start at centre-forward with other attackers of note being Wall and the promising Richie Fenton and Thomas Walsh, who are likely to share the responsibility from frees.
