The opening round of the Co. Senior hurling Championship gets underway this afternoon with an-all Eastern double header in Walsh Park.
Defending champions Ballygunner begin their six in a row big when they take on last year's Intermediate champions Clonea.
The Gunners will be strong favourites to make a winning start against the newly promoted side.
Clonea are under the stewardship of Abbeyside native Jonathan O' Mordha, and he told WLR Sport Ciarán Power who was man of the match is last year's Intermediate Final is a huge loss.
That one gets underway at 3pm, and will be followed @ 4:30 pm by the local derby clash between Roanmore and Mount Sion.
The Sky Blues have had the upper hand on 'Sion over the past few seasons and Roanmore pushed Ballygunner all the way in last year's Quarter-Final.
Co. Board Chairman, Paddy Joe Ryan is anticipating a tight tussle in the second game.
Mount Sion manager John Meaney says it is tough on the club players to get momentum at this stage of the season.
Walsh park ready to host weekend of club games @WaterfordGAA @IamClubDeise @deisespud @tomasmcc @DermotKeyes pic.twitter.com/5q4sRV7M77
— Waterford Landscapes (@wtfrdlandscapes) April 4, 2019
Fraher Field stages a double bill later this evening.
Ballyduff Upper and Passage get proceedings underway at 6pm.
Ballyduff have always proved to be a strong senior side with plenty of hurling, and they defeated Passage in the Quarter-Final in recent seasons.
Passage will be hoping for another solid campaign, having reached the last four last year going down to a heavy defeat at the hands of Ballygunner.
Passage manager is former Kilkenny goalkeeper Michael Walsh and he's hoping his charges can get off to a winning start.
Senior Hurling Championship 1st Round vs @PassageHurling Saturday at 6pm in Fraher Field.
Get out and show your support for the team! 🔴⚪️— Ballyduff Upper GAA (@BallyduffUpper) April 4, 2019
That'll be followed by the all-Western affair between Abbeyside and Fourmilewater.
Abbeyside had a brilliant run last season reaching their first Co. Final since 2008, but on the day the met a star-studded Ballygunner outfit who lifted their 5th straight title.
Fourmilewater have been solid over the last number of years, but had to rely on a relegation play-off win last year to maintain their senior status.
Abbeyside boss is former Déise hurler Peter Queally, and he says it was pleasing to see Conor Prunty back in action with Waterford last Sunday after suffering a quad injury against Dublin.
Waterford GAA Fixtures
Saturday 6th April
•@ballygunnerHc v @CloneaGAA
At 3pm
In Walsh Park
•@roanmoreclg v @MountSionGAA
At 4:30pm
In Walsh Park
•@PassageHurling v @BallyduffUpper
At 6pm
In Fraher Field
•@AbbeyCourtyGaa v @NireFourmile
At 7:30pm
in Fraher Field— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) April 1, 2019
