Lismore will need another big display from Maurice Shanahan against Mount Sion. Maurice was deservedly named in the Sunday Game’s team of the year last weekend.
GROUP ONE…
Abbeyside v Ballyduff Upper
(Saturday, Lismore, 5pm)
Abbeyside have shown contrasting form in this years Championship. They began well with wins over Fourmilewater and De La Salle by two and three points respectfully but since then, they’ve lost to Tallow by five points and last time out to Ballygunner by 11.
Ballyduff Upper began this years SHC poorly, losing their opening three games but last time out they recorded a morale-bossting two-point win over De La Salle.
That win will give Ballyduff confidence going into what is set to be a well-contested fixture – so expect both of these sides to go all out for the win here.
Abbeyside could advance to the quarter finals if they avoid defeat, but ideally need a win. For Ballyduff, a win may not prove enough to secure a last eight spot as they’ll need Fourmilewater to do them a favour against De La Salle.
Verdict: Abbeyside.
Ballygunner v Tallow
(Saturday, Bushy Park, 5pm)
Both of these sides are safely through to the quarter-finals so the only thing at stake here for both sides is top spot in Group One, thus securing what is perceived to be the easier of the games come the quarter finals.
Tallow are having their best season since they appeared in the County Final back in 2011 at Walsh Park where they were well beaten – by Ballygunner.
They started the year drawing with De La Salle and then got the better of both Ballyduff and Abbeyside before losing for the first time in this year’s SHC last time out against Fourmilewater by a single point.
Ballygunner have won three from four and lost only once, in round three to De La Salle by two points.
Both sides have in-form players aplenty at present, but one expects the champions to come out on top here.
Verdict: Ballygunner.
De La Salle v Fourmilewater
(Saturday. Fraher Field, 5pm)
What a game this could prove to be at Fraher Field on Saturday evening as both go in search of the win they both need to ensure that they reach the last eight of the Championship.
The Ballymacarbry based blubs are currently the best placed of the two sides and only have to avoid defeat to ensure that they are in the knockout stages, while De La Salle know that they have to win.
They could also qualify with a draw and hope that Ballyduff beat Abbeyside but not by a too great a margin as scoring difference could come into play.
On paper you would expect the city side to win this game but they’ve not been firing on all cylinders this year. We all thought that last time out they would have no difficulties in beating Ballyduff Upper. Can history repeat itself here?
Verdict: De La Salle – just.
GROUP TWO…
Dungarvan v Roanmore
(Saturday, Walsh Park, 6.30pm)
Both of these sides are through to the last eight of this year’s SHC, but one expects neither to just go through the motions in this game as both who currently sit second and third respectively and can still top the table should Cappoquin get the better of in-form Passage in Kill.
Roanmore have not peformed this well in the Championship for several years and will want to head into the knockout stages of the competition full of confidence by recording a third win in this year’s campaign.
All year I have had a sneaky feeling that 2015 could be Dungarvan’s year. The tragic death of David Houlihan a few weeks ago will undoubtedly have given the club plenty of additional incentive to take the News & Star Cup in his memory. They last appeared in a final in 2012 and have added some good additions to the team since them. It’s Dungarvan here for me here, but not by very much.
Verdict: Dungarvan
Mount Sion v Lismore
(Saturday. Fraher Field, 6.30pm)
It’s third from bottom against bottom of the group but such is the way the group is right now that Lismore, yet to win, could qualify for the quarter finals should Cappoquin fail to win.
And should neighbours Tallow beat Ballygunner in the top of the table clash in Group One, the two would clash in the quarter finals as Lismore would complete their section on three points ans ahead of Mount Sion by virtue of a superior head to head should they win on Saturday evening.
Mount Sion started well this year, easily accounting for Cappoquin but followed that win up with losses to Roanmore and Dungarvan,. However, they recorded a reasonable result last time out with an understrength team that secured a draw with Passage.
Expect this one to go right to the wire. Mount Sion should win but if Maurice Shanahan, named in the Sunday Game’s team of the year, is at his very best, then Lismore could, remarkably, sneak into the last eight. But I suspect the Monastery men shall have too much for them.
Verdict: Mount Sion
Passage v Cappoquin
(Saturday, Kill, 6.30pm)
Cappoquin, in their first season back in the senior grade after nearly 20 years, like so many othetr promoted sides, are finding the going tough ag the game’s highest grade.
Unfortunately it’s an all too often occurrence in Waterford that the side which wins the Intermediate Championship struggle in their first year and all too often find themselves relegated after one year, begging the question: do we have too many senior teams?
Cappoquin did remarkably well to win a tough Western Intermediate Championship last year and to then add County and Munster titles, but they’ve not been helped this year by the absence of the Murray brothers.
Passage won their first senior county title in 2013 and are serious contenders to win again this year and have been the best team on show in the SHC to date.
In the likes of Noel Connors and Eoin Kelly among others they have some top class hurlers and should have enough to win this one, possibly with a bit to spare.
Verdict: Passage
