The Waterford SFC started on Friday, April 10 at Fraher Field. Six months and thirteen days later, the path is clear for the quarter finals to take place and the race is on to complete the championship in time for the Munster club quarter final against either Nemo Rangers or Castlehaven before November 8. In 2008, Waterford missed out on the deadline and the cup was handed over to John Moore on December 14. It appears that the date will be met at this stage but draws in the semi final or final would place clubs under further pressure. The Nire have only competed in four championship matches until mid October and could possibly be involved in three over the next fortnight. This situation must be ironed out by all parties concerned before the start of the 2016 championship to prevent this happening once more. It requires detailed fixture planning and also flexibility from clubs to stage matches in midweek.
23 October
Stradbally v Ardmore (8.00 at Fraher Field)
Ardmore floored the Reds in 2007 at the semi final stage. Their fortunes have dipped since that county final appearance and they availed of a relegation play-off to stay senior last season. They have shown considerable improvement this term to win their first group match in three years against De La Salle and then squeeze past Rathgormack two weeks ago. They trailed by two points entering the last ten minutes but younger players like Seamus Keating, James Kennedy and Michael O'Neill responded to the challenge. Stradbally would be ranked number one among the Conway Cup contenders based on current form. They scored 7-66 as they bulldozed through the group stages. Michael Walsh continues to call the shots at midfield supported by the Ahearnes. They have added pace to the team with Jack Mullaney, Michael Sweeney, Daniel Weldon, Paul Tobin and the Cusacks bursting through. It's hard to see Ardmore causing another upset eight years on.
Odds: Stradbally 1/9 Draw 14/1 Ardmore 11/2
Prediction: Stradbally
24 October
Clashmore v Kilrossanty (6.30 at Fraher Field)
Kilrossanty have lost the last three quarter finals after making the semis in 2011. Clashmore missed the knockout stages entirely last year but did make the final four in 2012. Kilrossanty shipped a severe beating to Stradbally six weeks ago where they only scored two points from play. Their opponents will benefit from two games against Ballinacourty and an opening round win over The Nire. This clash may hinge on the duel between the Kilrossanty inside pair of Paul Whyte and Joey Veale against the Clashmore full back line. Clashmore have only conceded four goals in six games and they possess capable defenders in the Bourkes and Kieran Connery to restrain these two sharpshooters.
Odds: Clashmore 5/6 Draw 7/1 Kilrossanty 6/5
Prediction: Clashmore
The Nire v Brickey Rangers (8.00 at Fraher Field)
The Nire may be a little rusty here following two months without a competitive assignment. They bounced back from an early jolt to Clashmore by scraping past Ardmore and Ballinacourty before shooting 4-12 against Rathgormack. The Brickeys are back in the knockout stages following a four year absence. They dug themselves out of relegation difficulty with a pair of one point wins over An Rinn and St Saviours. Conor McGrath, Carthach Shalloe and Cormac O'Grady will take watching as the Brickeys average 13 points per game. Shane Walsh was in tremendous form before the break however and he should take a grip at midfield to guide the champions back to the semis.
Odds: The Nire 1/9 Draw 14/1 Brickey Rangers 11/2
Prediction: The Nire
Ballinacourty v Gaultier (7.30 at St Mollerans)
Courty won four out of five in Group 1 but looked rather sluggish towards the latter end. Gary Hurney's return to full forward offered a different dynamic in the play-off win over Clashmore and it also brought the best out of Mark Ferncombe. They could be choosing their moment carefully to strike top form. Gaultier knocked out last year's semi finalists An Rinn to make the quarters. They competed strongly in all five matches and the success of the minor team has rubbed off on the seniors. Who will pick up the rampant JJ Hutchinson? He has collated 2-26 in five games to sit second in the scoring charts behind Paul Whyte. This will be no pushover for the odds on favourites.
Odds: Ballinacourty 1/16 Draw 16/1 Gaultier 7/1
Prediction: Ballinacourty
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