1 October
Ballyduff Upper v Tallow (4.00 at Fraher Field)
The two surprise packets of the quarter finals meet on Saturday afternoon with the golden ticket of a county final place on offer for the winners. Both sides experienced up and down group stage form to arrive at the quarters. Ballyduff only won two of their five group games before catching out Mount Sion after extra time. Tallow meanwhile won two and drew one before eliminating Lismore. Freetakers Brendan Hannon (with 0-42 so far) and Thomas Ryan (4-39) supply the vast bulk of the scoring power for either side. Hannon however can call upon support in the shape of Shane Kearney, Jamie Kearney and Stephen Molumphy. If Ryan misfires Tallow will find it difficult to compile a winning total. To bridge a final gap that goes back to 1985 they will need to bring to the table the performance that toppled Lismore. Another reason for optimism is that the starting team last time out contained six players that have represented Waterford at senior level. They began the season as a 25/1 to lift the News and Star trophy and remain 9/1 outsiders of the four teams remaining in the race. This reflects a tendency to blow hot and cold from game to game and while a collapse appears unlikely here, their local rivals are a battled hardened outfit familiar with these big occasions. The 2007 county title experience should stand Ballyduff in good stead and they look the more reliable bet to advance for another tilt at ultimate glory.
Odds: Ballyduff 4/9 Draw 10/1 Tallow 2/1
Prediction: Ballyduff Upper
2 October
De La Salle v Ballygunner (3.30 at Walsh Park)
A collision of the top two club teams in the county is set to generate a bumper crowd at the city venue this weekend. These two sides have shared the last three county titles and Sunday’s winners will be odds on to claim the spoils again. De La Salle inflicted an eight point defeat on the Gunners in the 2010 final, a game in which they held a tight grip throughout. The holders remain unbeaten in this campaign without reaching the heights of 12 months ago. Throughout the field their physical strength stands out.
The half back line of Brian Phelan, Kevin Moran and Stephen Daniels remains the benchmark in Waterford and their strongest combination on the field. Eddie Barrett and Dean Twomey form the midfield pairing while up front John Mullane, Jake Dillon and Eoin Madigan lead the scoring stakes with Paidi Nevin also chipping in with his trademark point or two. Some doubts were cast over Ballygunner after their second half showing against Fourmilewater and they will also need to deal with the power of De La Salle, something they failed to do in the last year’s final. If the Gunners can deliver quick, direct ball into their inside forward line however, goals are there for the taking. An open, expansive game proved De La Salle’s undoing against Clarinbridge and Ballygunner will seek to create similar conditions. In the quarter finals Passage scored three goals and exposed some cracks in the champions’ full back line which crafted opportunities for two or three more. Remember also that Ballygunner were missing four key players in last year’s final that will be available for this clash. Inter county men Wayne Hutchinson and Brian O’Sullivan were both marked absent and have been two reliable performers in the campaign to date while the experienced duo of Barry Mullane and Andy Maloney are also likely to receive game time at some stage. Providing that Hutchinson continues to lead the half back line and supply the explosive forward unit containing Pauric Mahony, Brian O’Sullivan and JJ Hutchinson with quality possession, the Gunners can narrowly emerge from what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Odds: De La Salle 1/2 Draw 9/1 Ballygunner 15/8
Prediction: Ballygunner
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