The Villagers are Banner bound from around eight o’clock on Sunday morning with a second Munster club final within their grasp based on the evidence of the nine games to hand. The cloudy fixture situation is far from ideal in terms of pre-match planning but if they shift that to one side, there is an inviting path to the December 1 showpiece.
All departments are functioning properly. The defensive record stands at six clean sheets and three goals conceded, the midfield are grabbing possession at key points and the attack is distributing the scoring load. After only experiencing brief periods of turbulence in the county championship, Drom Broadford pushed them close to the cliff edge. That test should make them aware of potential pitfalls. They must offload possession a lot quicker on this occasion and improve their shot selection. The concession of cheap frees clocked up a nice number in the quarter final (25) and foul trouble leads to card trouble down the line.
The uncertainty over their destination is an irritation. In the era of precise preparation, the green and white will have to wait for the close of business in Clare on Saturday to find out both their opponents and the venue. If Cratloe prevail, Cusack Park will host the semi final. If Doonbeg prevail, an extra 45 minutes will be added to the journey time in order to play at the home ground of the Magpies. The Waterford winners appear to be penalised here for Clare failing to complete their championship on schedule. Less than a day of notice for a Munster semi final venue is a most unsatisfactory situation. Cusack Park should have been engraved as the home ground no matter what result materialised on Saturday.
The newly crowned Clare champions will call the tune and Ballinacourty have to move on with that. They will arrive as the fresher team but they can’t rely on that completely. Two games in two days works out in different ways. Back in 1992, Ballygunner defeated Mount Sion in the county final at Fraher Field and travelled to Sixmilebridge the following day for the Munster semi final. They lost by sixteen points. A fornight ago, Whitegate ignored the 24 hour turnaround to draw with Youghal after extra time in the intermediate hurling championship.
Cratloe are chasing their first title backed by Podge Collins, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney and Brendan Bugler amongst others. David Tubridy’s Doonbeg have claimed eighteen titles and last lifted the trophy in 2010. The new arrivals enter as marginal 8/13 favourites. The verdict should be known by around 4 o’clock on Saturday. Ballinacourty must prey on the physical and mental vulnerability of their opponents the following day in whatever part of the Banner county they land in.
Waterford's recent Munster club football clashes with Clare
2004 final
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9 Stradbally 0-9
2004 final replay
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9 Stradbally 0-8
2009 semi final
Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9 Stradbally 0-6
2010 quarter final
Stradbally 0-7 Doonbeg 0-4
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