Big three plus one? – Waterford SFC Quarter Finals preview

All roads lead to Dungarvan for this weekend’s championship fare but can the football produce a shock like the one witnessed at Walsh Park on Sunday or a cliffhanger like Lismore v De La Salle? After an opening weekend of surprises, a sense of predictability has engulfed the football championship as the group stages spluttered to a conclusion. Can any team disrupt the dominance of the big three? An Rinn look to be best placed to cause an upset, if there is to be one, against a Ballinacourty side yet to fire on all cylinders.

21 September
Clashmore v Rathgormack (8.00 at Fraher Field)
Rathgormack’s short passing style became laboured and predictable as the group stages progressed and they will need to address this aspect of their play to trouble Clashmore. They rely on Edmond Hogan and Gavin Nugent to build a winning total but these two require quicker ball to do the damage. Only a last minute penalty save ended Clashmore’s unbeaten run and they appeared the most capable of breaking into the top four during the group stages. Declan Hickey has only let in one goal so far and the forwards have shared the load equally.
Odds: Clashmore 8/13 Draw 13/2 Rathgormack 13/8
Last meeting: 2008 – Clashmore 1-9 Rathgormack 0-10
Form guide: Clashmore: WWWWL Rathgormack: WWDLL
Prediction: Clashmore

22 September
Stradbally v Ardmore (3.00 at Fraher Field)
A repeat of last year’s quarter final which Stradbally won by four points. While not operating at the same levels of a couple of years ago, they are still a hard team to break down and bring a savage  level of work rate to the table. After losing to Clashmore, they have won four on the spin in methodical, unspectacular fashion. Ardmore suffered heavy defeats to The Nire and Ballinacourty but maintained their standing as regulars in the knock out stages. The Prendergasts and the Hennessys certainly won’t shirk the challenge in front of them and they have also brought through a couple of younger players in this campaign. Ardmore also shocked Stradbally in 2007 at the semi final stage. It may be a low scoring arm wrestle but the Reds know how to grind out these games in their favour.
Odds: Stradbally 1/8 Draw 10/1 Ardmore 11/2
Last meeting: 2011 – Stradbally 0-13 Ardmore 1-6
Form guide: Stradbally: LWWWW Ardmore:WLWWL
Prediction: Stradbally

The Nire v Kilrossanty (6.00 at Fraher Field)
The Nire cruised through the group stages with five victories and an aggregate winning margin of 61 points. They play an attractive brand of football using the kick pass effectively to launch attacks into Liam Lawlor at the edge of the square with Jamie Barron and Shane Ryan picking up the crumbs. At the opposite end of the field, Justin Walsh, Maurice O’Gorman and Thomas O’Gorman form the meanest full back line left in the championship. Kilrossanty got their act together towards the latter part of the group stages with Tommy Prendergast making a welcome return to form and Joey Veale looking sharp in the corner. John Kiely will be hopeful of gaining a foothold at midfield through Prendergast and Paul Whyte but The Nire possess all the experience in other sectors of the field to continue their march.
Odds: The Nire 1/6 Draw 9/1 Kilrossanty 9/2
Last meeting: 2011 – The Nire 2-11 Kilrossanty 0-6
Form guide: The Nire: WWWWW Kilrossanty: WLLWW
Prediction: The Nire

Ballinacourty v An Rinn (7.30 at Fraher Field)
Ballinacourty made hard work of emerging from their group and suffered two defeats to The Nire and Rathgormack. An Rinn strung together three wins at the start of the campaign before losing narrowly to Clashmore and Stradbally. Their side consists of talented young footballers like Ray O’Ceallaigh and Donie Breathnach and they always seem to raise their game for the big guns. At the quarter final stages last year they just lost to The Nire by two points. The champions will need to be on alert to come through this test.
Odds: Ballinacourty 2/5 Draw 15/2 An Rinn 9/4
Last meeting: 2008 – Ballinacourty 3-9 An Rinn 2-5
Form guide: Ballinacourty: LWLWW An Rinn: WWWLL
Prediction: Ballinacourty