19 weeks ago, The Nire finished runners-up to fourteen man Austin Stacks on Munster final day. For a seventh time, a Waterford club side couldn't get across the line in the provincial showpiece. A glance at the DVD probably confirmed the initial feeling of a missed opportunity.
They begin again from the base of the mountain on Friday evening. Ballinacourty and Stradbally will track them all the way to the top. The Reds were the last team to retain the Conway Cup in 2010. The Nire played on the edge in last year’s county final and tactically outthought the Reds. They were fitter than ever before and fired up by a six year wait for glory. Benji Whelan knows that they will need to recapture that attitude and also add a couple of players to protect that trophy. Brian Wall and Shane Walsh can give more energy to the club cause this year and the team will undoubtedly benefit as a consequence.
Ballinacourty rattled in 16 goals during last year’s championship but felt the heat during a fiery semi final with Stradbally that featured 49 frees. They still possess that attacking flair and registered 8-14 in the Phelan Cup against a weakened Nire selection a couple of weeks back. Mark Ferncombe, Michael O’Halloran, Gary and Patrick Hurney can all lead the line at various stages. They may also unleash midfielder Conor Prunty following a series of forceful performances for the under 21 side in their recent run to the county final. Courty carry the strongest squad of the leading contenders and that makes them deserving joint favourites for outright honours.
Stradbally couldn’t replicate their semi final efforts in the space of a week against The Nire. They did unearth Jack Mullaney and Michael Sweeney over that campaign and Michael Walsh bedded in brilliantly at number six. Pat Curran is back at the helm to recover the trophy last claimed in 2012.
16 years have passed since a team outside the big three has captured the Conway Cup (Rathgormack in 1999). An Rinn and Rathgormack look the most likely candidates to challenge that cartel in 2015. The Gaeltacht side reached the last two semi finals and if Donie Breathnach stayed on the field last October they may have forced a replay with The Nire. They still depend on Breathnach to supply the lion’s share of the scores and the killer pass inside. They also turn to their four county representatives in Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Lorcán Ó Corraoin and Liam Ó Lonáin. Remarkably, Tomás Ó Cadhla didn’t let in a single goal across all seven games of the 2014 championship.
Rathgormack’s third under 21 title in five season suggests they are ready to challenge sooner rather than later. Gavin Nugent now has considerable support up front from Jason Gleeson, Conor Murray along with Michael and Jason Curry. They only lost to The Nire by three points in last year’s quarter final (1-8 to 0-8).
Kilrossanty and Clashmore are stuck in the middle. They are probable quarter finalists but their unpredictability raises plenty of question marks. Kilrossanty capsized to Stradbally by eleven points in 2014. They lost out to The Nire in the previous two quarter finals. They have been punished for their inconsistency in the knockout stages and cannot afford another slow start to the season. Clashmore needed a round five win over neighbours Ardmore to ensure survival last time around. They have plenty of talent at their disposal to return to the quarters.
De La Salle, Ardmore, Gaultier and Brickey Rangers will battle to avoid the drop although all four start with higher ambitions. St Saviours may also get sucked in but the resilient Ballybeg outfit have reached the last two quarter finals.
Dwindling gate receipts show that the group stages of the senior football championship prove unattractive to spectators. 17 of the 37 championship games staged last year brought in €500 or less. The fixture between The Nire and De La Salle only raised €65. A significant number of one sided contests also emerged as 14 games were settled by double digit margins. Recommendations from the CCC to reduce the number of teams to ten was emphatically rejected by clubs at the championship structures meeting back in January as they decided to stick with the current format. One obvious tweak to improve matters would be to reward the top team in each group with a place in the semi finals. The second and third placed teams in both groups would then compete in two quarter finals. As things stand, two wins from five games almost guarantees progression. Two years ago, Ballinameela reached the quarter finals on three points.
When the real championship starts in the autumn, the regulars will still be around and ready to rumble. Eight years ago, Ardmore upset the natural order when they stunned Stradbally in the semi finals. Since then, normal service has resumed. The Nire mixed with the very best in Munster and have an abundance of experience to achieve back to back titles for the first time since 1994. Their rivals looked on enviously at their exploits and want a piece of it. Stradbally may have significant miles clocked up but they can still time their run for the knockout rounds. Ballinacourty have most to prove however and their strength in depth and an exuberant strikeforce can deliver a third triumph in five seasons.
Dwindling gate receipts show that the group stages of the senior football championship prove unattractive to spectators. 17 of the 37 championship games staged last year brought in €500 or less. The fixture between The Nire and De La Salle only raised €65. A significant number of one sided contests also emerged as 14 games were settled by double digit margins. Recommendations from the CCC to reduce the number of teams to ten was emphatically rejected by clubs at the championship structures meeting back in January as they decided to stick with the current format. One obvious tweak to improve matters would be to reward the top team in each group with a place in the semi finals. The second and third placed teams in both groups would then compete in two quarter finals. As things stand, two wins from five games almost guarantees progression. Two years ago, Ballinameela reached the quarter finals on three points.
When the real championship starts in the autumn, the regulars will still be around and ready to rumble. Eight years ago, Ardmore upset the natural order when they stunned Stradbally in the semi finals. Since then, normal service has resumed. The Nire mixed with the very best in Munster and have an abundance of experience to achieve back to back titles for the first time since 1994. Their rivals looked on enviously at their exploits and want a piece of it. Stradbally may have significant miles clocked up but they can still time their run for the knockout rounds. Ballinacourty have most to prove however and their strength in depth and an exuberant strikeforce can deliver a third triumph in five seasons.
Waterford SFC Odds
The Nire 9/4
Ballinacourty 9/4
Stradbally 5/2
An Rinn 15/2
Kilrossanty 11/1
Clashmore 16/1
Rathgormack 16/1
De La Salle 33/1
St Saviours 33/1
Ardmore 40/1
Brickey Rangers 50/1
Gaultier 50/1
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