REIGNING CHAMPIONS BALLYGUNNER will take on city rivals Mount Sion after last evening’s Waterford senior hurling championship quarter-final draw.
Seven of the Waterford senior squad from the All-Ireland final loss to Galway will be in action as the two traditional powerhouses of hurling in the county face off in the standout tie of the last eight fixtures that will all take place next weekend.
Ballygunner’s Stephen O’Keeffe, Barry Coughlan and the Mahony brothers – Philip and Pauric – all started in the loss to Galway, as did Mount Sion star Austin Gleeson with his club-mates Ian O’Regan and Stephen Roche on the bench for that decider in Croke Park.
Of the last 25 Waterford senior hurling championships, Ballygunner and Mount Sion have won 19 between them. Ballygunner, who are chasing four-in-a-row this year, have lifted 12 crowns in that time with Mount Sion winning seven, their last in the 2006 final against Ballygunner.
There will also be plenty county players in action when De La Salle – who can call on Kevin Moran, Jake Dillon and Shane McNulty – meet Fourmilewater, the club of Jamie Barron and Conor Gleeson.
Last year’s intermediate champions Lismore face Abbeyside, while last year’s beaten senior finalists Passage will take on 2012 finalists Dungarvan.
The group stages of the Waterford championship concluded yesterday with Ballygunner topping Group 1 and Passage at the head of Group 2, just ahead of Lismore on scoring difference.
The winners of the Waterford senior hurling championship are in action in Munster on 29 October against the victors of next Sunday’s Tipperary decider between Thurles Sarsfields and Borris-Ileigh.
Here’s next weekend’s Waterford quarter-final fixtures.
Saturday 7 October
- Ballygunner v Mount Sion, Walsh Park, 4pm
- Lismore v Abbeyside, Fraher Field, 7.30pm
Sunday 8 October
- De La Salle v Fourmilewater, Fraher Field, 1.45pm
- Dungarvan v Passage, Fraher Field, 3.15pm
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