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Ardmore set sights on another Munster success

Ardmore set sights on another Munster success
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The trendsetters of Waterford hurling will embark on the defence of their title this weekend when Ballygunner host Sarsfields of Cork in Walsh Park on Sunday for the senior club quarter-final.

The all-conquering Gunners will have their sights set firmly on a history-making third consecutive title in the province, provided they get off to the start they'd like against their Cork opponents.

Down the grades, at the Junior level, Ardmore fly the Déise flag with St Catherines of Cork coming to Fraher Field on Saturday.

In the 22 years of the Munster Junior Club competition, Waterford sides have come up trumps on three occasions, with Ardmore in the mix on that list back in 2017. B

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Ballysaggart and Modeligo won out in 2013 and 2014, with Ardmore adding a third title to the Waterford register some years later.

That 6-point win over Ballybacon/Grange in Mallow handed a first-ever Junior title to the West Waterford club before they would continue in the All-Ireland series, beating Fethard St Mogue's to claim their first-ever national honours. They needed extra time that day in Dublin to get over the line with former Waterford hurler Seamus Prendergast nailing 1.08 of their 3.11 total, while David Gartland bagged the other two green flags.

In securing their place in this year's Munster competition, Ardmore emerged top from Waterford beating Roanmore 2.16 to 0.12. Seamus Keating was man of the match back in September, scoring 1.12 to go along with James Flavin's green flag.

They'll face a St Catherine's side who entered Munster through the back door this year. They lost their Cork Junior final to Erin's Own, but knew prior to throw in that they would be contesting Munster regardless of the result. With Erin's Own fielding a team in the Cork Premier Senior, they could not send a squad forward to the Munster Junior, opening the door to Catherine's.

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Chatting to WLR Sport ahead of throw-in, Ardmore boss Mike Murray says keeping the momentum up since the county final has proved to be a challenge. When they throw in on Saturday, it will have been the guts of two months since they last played a competitive game.

"It was very hard to keep the momentum going. I think as we were getting closer and closer to this game the training perked up a bit. Lads are really looking forward to and we're mad to get into it at this stage. Hopefully, after 20 minutes we'll get back up to the pace of things."

You'll be able to hear more from Mike on Saturday's On The Ball with Nigel Kelly from midday.

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