The Shamrocks game was probably their worst performance I’ve seen them give in the last 5 or 6 years. They completely folded after Eoin Codys goal.
The Borrisileigh game was a strange one in the they looked like they could pull away at any stage and then suddenly found themselves in a hole in the second half.
I know they have huge numbers now but it’s still very much a family club. It’s not there problem they are so well organised.
Look at Dungarvan and how they’ve made a balls of it all.
Looking ahead I know but could ballygunner do 20 in a row in Waterford?
It is their club policy to make at least the county semi final every year no matter what for next 25 years or something.
What are they on now?
Is it that easy? I must suggest that at the AGM
It very nearly came acropper a few years ago in Fraher Field in a quarter final only the floodlights mysteriously failed.
This will be 7 in a row this year.
Ballygunner have made 23 of 26 county senior finals since 1995. That’s a very modest target to reach the semi final for each of the next 25 years. Their competitive advantages are only escalating year on year.
Ballygunners humility has always been a cornerstone of their success
It’s bad for Waterford Hurling the current demographic in the county.
Roanmore, DLS and Mt Sion are all well run clubs too but within a stones throw of each other which puts them in a disadvantage in the city/east.
Ballygunnar have massive numbers, population and money that will mean they should continue to win once the current team is gone. Passage may start to match them should the city keep building that way.
Out west Abbeyside have there house in order but other than themselves and Lismore things don’t look great. Realistically it is going to take a club with 2/3 all time greats to stop the Ballygunnar juggernaut.
The huge problem is that Waterford city can only overflow south .
The old “split Dublin “ banter is relevant here . To be honest at this stage Ballygunner’s achievements are being parsed rather than lauded
Dynasty’s always look like they’ll go on for ever until they don’t
They are a well run club, that’s not in dispute. They were effectively a rural club until 15-20 years ago until it was gobbled up as the outer limit of the city by urban spread. They still have a lot of that country ethos, even though they’re now to all intents and purposes a city club. Helps as well when key personnel like Fergal Hartley and the Mahonys are country lads.
I know the gunners play football under the Gaultier banner but there could be the case to make them a second hurling club out that side of the city.
Gaultier is akin to a divisional club in Cork or Kerry. They’re based in Dunmore East and also pick from Passage, Faithlegg, Cheekpoint all the way back into town to Ballygunner.
Yes like ultimately when Mahony x2, O’Keefe and Coughlan decline/retire they will be hard to replace no matter how many underage titles they are gobbling up.
Crossmaglen are still winning for fun at minor but the new breed just aren’t the same as the old guard.
Dallas was the same.
XMG are still largely the dominant club in Armagh & the clubs in the north have better demographics if not tradition . Bsllygunner are leaders in both scores . On current trends they will dominate the next decade .
As you saying the Waterford championship would be more competitive if the other clubs jerseys had shoulder pads & the players big hair ??
There is a case for it. Hindsight always a great thing, but in terms of access to numbers, it would have been far more beneficial for De La Salle when they moved to Gracedieu just over a decade ago to have set up in around Newtown closer to the schools. They’re competing for numbers with Mount Sion and Roanmore out there.
Ballygunner attracting underage players back towards town as well that probably really could be going to Erins Own.