There is a packed weekend of sporting action ahead, with the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship, League of Ireland football, the Men’s FIFA World Cup, international rugby, the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals and the Tailteann Cup Final all taking centre stage.
Friday
Friday night sees the return of League of Ireland action as Waterford FC welcome St Patrick’s Athletic to the Regional Sports Centre for an 8 pm kick-off. Graham Coughlan’s side will be hoping to continue their push up the Premier Division table in front of their home supporters. We’ll have updates from the RSC throughout the evening from Ray Scott.
The JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship also gets underway as Passage face Clonea in Group A at 7.30 pm in Azzurri Walsh Park. Both sides will be looking to make the perfect start to their championship campaign.
The Men’s FIFA World Cup quarter-finals continue later that evening with Spain taking on Belgium at 8 pm.
Saturday
Saturday begins with Andy Farrell’s Ireland side travelling to face Japan in Round Two of the World Nations Championship, with kick-off at 11 am.
Championship hurling returns in Waterford as Ferrybank face Abbeyside-Ballinacourty in Group A of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship at 2.30 pm in Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Dungarvan.
Croke Park hosts a double-header, beginning with the Tailteann Cup Final as Down take on Wicklow at 3.30 pm, before the first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final sees Louth take on Mayo at 6 pm.
In the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, Waterford FC Women travel to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne, with kick-off at 4 pm.
Local soccer also takes centre stage as Villa meet Portlaw in the Jimmy Searson Premier Cup Final at Ozier Park from 4 pm, while there is a full programme of fixtures in the Waterford & District League.
Back in Waterford, Ballygunner B take on Dún Garbhán in Group B of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship at 7 pm in St Molleran’s.
The day concludes with another Men’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final as Norway face England at 10 pm.
Sunday
Sunday is another busy day of sport.
The final Men’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final sees Argentina take on Switzerland in the early hours.
The JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford Senior Hurling Championship continues with a double-header at Azzurri Walsh Park. Roanmore face Mount Sion in Group B at 2 pm before one of the standout fixtures of the opening weekend sees reigning champions Ballygunner A take on De La Salle in Group A at 3.30 pm.
Attention then turns to Croke Park where Dublin and Kerry renew one of Gaelic football’s greatest rivalries in the second All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at 4 pm.
The weekend’s senior championship action concludes as Lismore take on Fourmilewater in Group B at 6.30 pm in Cappoquin.
Local soccer rounds off the weekend with the Sheridan’s First Division Cup Final, where Seaview Celtic 1B face Southend 1A at Ozier Park at 11 am.
Golf fans can also follow the Scottish Open throughout the weekend at The Renaissance Club, with many of the world’s top players making their final preparations ahead of The Open Championship.
From local championship hurling to major international events, it promises to be one of the biggest sporting weekends of the summer, with plenty for sports fans to enjoy across Waterford and beyond.
Sport on WLR is brought to you by Auto Boland Ford.
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand
