Local rivals on collision course - Waterford SHC Semi Finals

Ballygunner will start as 4/7 favourites against near neighbours Passage in the county final on October 13 after a mixed double header of semi finals at Walsh Park last Sunday.

Passage boss Peter Queally realises how other surprise packages have suffered in recent finals. Immediately after the whistle sounded, his focus turned to producing a performance on judgement day. “When the excitement does die down we know that we have nothing won. It’s great to be in a county final but county finals are for winning. You ask Tallow, Dungarvan and these teams that have made the breakthrough in the last couple of years. They just didn’t get to perform on the day so we know that we have to tone things down now and focus on two week’s time and try to bring the county title back to Passage.”

Sixteen years after their last final appearance, they are not prepared to let this chance slide. The hurt of the nineties remains raw. “This club still feel the hurt of reaching three finals in the nineties and that still rankles a lot of these proud, hurling men. They want nothing more than to atone for those defeats and eventually get over the line.”

An extra edge in attack and strength in reserve saw the red and white outstay Mount Sion. They erased a first half meltdown to push clear in the final quarter. Peter Queally’s determined side knuckled down to the task and powered 1-8 to 0-4 ahead after 25 minutes. Conor Carey’s fifth minute goal settled the nerves and the industrious midfield duo of Pa Walsh and John Whitty scored four points between them. A couple of flashpoints then developed and Passage lost their focus. Sion struck for a stunning 2-4 without response. This included goals from Richie Roche and Michael Gaffney but Austin Gleeson’s shift further afield was the most significant factor in a ten point turnaround.

Sion maintained their three point advantage after the third quarter. Queally had realigned however and introduced Thomas Connors and Sean Hogan. The latter fired 1-1 and lofted in the delivery for Rory Walsh to flick home. Eoin Kelly was held scoreless from play yet nine different players got the numbers moving. 14 goals in seven games reflects their attacking menace.

In a rather mundane second semi final, JJ Hutchinson’s goal granted Ballygunner breathing space. Abbeyside never reached the levels shown during their five game unbeaten march as the Gunners restricted their threat to just six points from play. They couldn’t cash in on a strong start and their early momentum ground to a halt as the wides mounted up to eight. The game changing goal was crafted by Shane O’Sullivan and Philip Mahony for Hutchinson to apply the gloss. It nudged them in front and they never let that grip slip. Pauric Mahony kept them ticking with eight points overall as the Gunners controlled the contest without overextending themselves. They nearly left the door open with errant shooting but Abbeyside only narrowed to as close as three.

Manager Andy Moloney demanded more from his charges afterwards. “I don’t think that we played exceptionally well. We know that we have got a lot of work to do, we are up against our near neighbours now for the county final and there will be a lot at stake.” Eleven wides, including eight in the second period, bothered him. “Abbeyside had a lot of wides in the first half and if they hit half of them, they would have went in well in front. It was a funny kind of a day really because when we had the wind in the second half, we were hitting a lot more wides as well. Having said that, we are not striking the ball with conviction. We were kind of tipping them and hoping the wind would do the business. We crawled over the line."

The Gunners have creases to iron out but this occasion is familiar to them and they face opposition that they are accustomed to beating. None of the Passage players know what to expect and that presents the challenge for Peter Queally in the coming fortnight.