Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

That’s worrying to see Blackwater slip out of Harty cup ranks. Yes they have been off the pace with a couple years but youd be hoping to see them come back strong eventually given the catchment area is mainly traditional hurling clubs.

With the Dungarvan colleges out of it with nearly 10 years now we really only have DLS competing strongly at this level and even they usually have 2/3 south KK lads.

Has that not always been the case?

I think it might be for the best for them to be out of the Harty for now. They took some real heavy bearings last year which isn’t going to help anyone. Trying to rebuild from a lower base may be the way forward.

On a side note, with only DLS left in Harty & given they take in a ridiculous amount of young hurlers from the city & surrounds each year, would it be worth reviewing the Cumann na mBunscoil structures possibly? I wonder if more could be done there. There is lots of good work done, but in terms of structures it’s often run off very quickly in both Football & hurling. The system of grading schools by pupil numbers is probably outdated also, given some small schools have made such progress & could be challenged further by moving up the grades, while some inner city / town schools are struggling in promoting GAA.

Coleman's don't really get anymore players back the odd Ballyduff ones as no bus going there.

Its not just Waterford schools guys. Limerick only have A.S.Ris in Harty this year and half the squad is from Clare which again is not unusual. Castletroy college have gone back a grade as have Doon. So thats not great. Tulla winning it last year shows what a school pulling from a small local area can do if the will is there. And giant schools hoovering up all the best talent isn't always the best thing for counties.

Ballygunner playing the Carlow champions St. Mullins in a challenge game tomorrow night at 8 pm. Be interesting to see how our lads (St. Mullins) get on.

That will be Ballygunner minus the Gaultier contingent!!

Happy enough the price is unchanged

Will come in handy esp if the Walsh Park attendance will be cut further with the the building works IF there happening

Could within the next few weeks, Antrim,Kilkenny and Dublin coming here while we travel to Laois and Tipp

Prefer to get the Davy vs Cahill match out of the way early in the campaign

Is there not already a secondary school in Ballygunner no?

Holy Jaysus, Ballygunner gave St. Mullins some lesson last night. They're some outfit. The movement and accuracy they displayed was something else. If I was Davy Fitz, I'd move heaven and earth to get Stephen O'Keeffe back in with the county. He's the best in goal keeper in the country by a distance. Ballygunner scored at least 5 points in the first half alone directly from his puck outs or restarts as they are now known! The game was played out over a half of 35 minutes followed by two quarters. In the second of those quarters Ballygunner put out virtually a new 15. There was scarcely a difference in the level of performance. Their conditioning and fitness levels would match the top end of the inter county scene. It must be demoralising for the rest of the clubs down there looking at their dominance and seeing no end to the conveyor belt of hurlers coming through. If there was to be one blot on their performance last night it would be Pauric Mahony's free taking. He had a rare off night. Other than that, awesome performance. I'd be looking at them to retain the All-Ireland. The monkey is off the back now after last year and they could kick on.

Nicky Quaid is a fantastic goalkeeper but is it the case of like James Mcgarry in the 2000s where its the strong full back line in front of him which are glossing over the calibre the player ?

That article says it’s a new building for the Gael Choláiste, which is already an active school in the area (although with limited facilities at present it would seem).

Joxer O’Connor being put forward as minor hurling manager it seems. A change from previous when management teams tended to continue with a team from U14 through to minor. Looks a very solid appointment on paper, hopefully it can help to turn around our fortunes at this grade. Tough on the management team that lost out this year, but overall it may be for the best long term.

How have this group fared at underage tournaments over the years?

https://waterford-news.ie/2022/02/08/ballygunner-secondary-school-approved-by-dept-of-education/

sorry try this one

“After a number of years of significant work behind the scenes I’m delighted to confirm that we now have an agreement in place with the Department of Education for a secondary school in Ballygunner,” Deputy Shanahan said. “There will now be a step-by-step procurement process to deliver the school but the project has been formally approved to enter that process, which means money has been ring-fenced to deliver it within an overall capital funded envelope. This is a very significant milestone for both secondary education and for the promotion and retention of ár gcultúr, ár teanga agus ár traidisiún i bPortlairge agus muintir na Deise.”