They’ll do by well to get out of Munster.
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No hope at all they’ll be stopped in Waterford?
Not much. A quarter final maybe when they’re a bit cold to someone like Roanmore or Fourmilewater probably the only hope of that.
Unless Na Piarsaigh have a day of days its very, very hard to see them beaten in Munster.
With the exception of Borris-Ilieigh in 2019, no team in Munster has got closer than 5 points of them in 5 years.
Roanmore got within two points of them in a Quarter Final in 2018. They then thought they had ‘made it’ before going back to mediocrity for a couple of years.
They re-emerged to make a County Final in 2021 only to ship an unmerciful hammering.
The Barrs should have beaten them in a very competitive challenge a few weeks ago I’m told.
Ballygunner rallied late to win by 3 or 4.
DLS or Fourmilewater might get within 10 points of them.
Roanmore would have a youngish enough age profile. They completely froze in that final in 2021 as young teams often do on their first big day. Freezing was probably the difference mind you in losing by the 20 points that they did and maybe keeping it to a relatively respectable 9-10.
Abbeyside would be the one club that would have the type of demographic advantages that Ballygunner have with all the development around Ballinroad over the last 15-20 years. Abbeyside would probably have stopped that run of 52 back in the 2016 quarter final only to be denied by floodlight failure with 10 minutes to go when Abbeyside looked likely winners. Abbeyside made the county final then in 2018 but have sunk without trace since.
My sense of that Ballygunner team is they are past their best. SOKY, Barry Coughlan, Philip Mahony, Shane Sullivan would have provided the real leadership and drive over the years. The outfield trio there are between various stages of on the wane and legs gone. Patrick Fitzgerald probably the only real game changing addition in last few years. They have a conveyor belt but it’s very samey at that moment. It’s all still miles ahead of anything else in Waterford though.
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If you were to base it on demographics then Tramore should be competing as well, but they are miles off it. A soccer town. That’s the thing people don’t get. Demographics are only a start. You have to be a well run club as well and Ballygunner are a very well run club.
Na Piarsaigh if they get out of Limerick will have a right crack off them. They really underperformed last year. Then again when limerick always go so far it’s a big ask for WOD, Casey’s etc to continuously bring the intensity, contrast that to the Waterford boys with BG who have had a nice run of it since early June
True that. Also, in most other counties, clubs have to burst their balls to win the championship whereas BG can stroll through Waterford and be fresh for provincial competition
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I’d say they hardly even celebrate winning the county at this stage
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His surname is evergreen.
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38 this year. Born in 1985.
Did NAP not get beaten by Patrickswell the wknd?
Seemingly he still beats a lot of his younger contemporaries in the running but he looked every bit of his age last Christmas in Croke Park.
Their Wing Back from the last three years Ronan Power is only home a few weeks from America and like Ian Kenny hasnt got a look in so far in this years championship.
Absolutely no fucking around for those not part of the extended O’Sullivan Family.
One family dominating a club can cause resentment from other members in time. E.g. Apparently there are a few seeds of discontent in Loughmore-Castleiney with the McGrath faction.
They are only shadow boxing at this stage. NAP down a few bodies
Well the one extended family have been more or less running the show in Ballygunner for 50 years or so without any great dissent or division.
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Those McGraths practically won them the double in 2021 so the rest of the club can do one!
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