We all remember what happened the last time Ballygunner and Shamrocks of Ballyhale clashed in the All-Ireland Club SHC, roll back to last February when Harry Ruddle billowed the net from 35 yards out with the last puck of the game as the Gunners jumped for joy. A very first All-Ireland club title and in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Go on you might as well have another listen to the Waterford Live Radio commentary of Harry Ruddle's goal 😂pic.twitter.com/tbWSRIUndJ
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 15, 2022
These two great modern rivals will lock horns once again this weekend, this time in the semi-final with the other last four clash seeing St. Thomas' from Galway face Antrim kingpins Dunloy.
Both games form a double header at Croke Park with the Ballygunner game throwing-in at 3:30pm. Sunday also sees the World Cup Final take centre stage with that one underway at 3pm.
Speaking on Monday evening's "On The Ball" sports programme, Gunners legend and WLR analyst Fergal Hartley says it's not ideal; "They're estimating there'll be two billion people watching the World Cup Final, there'll be people in the South East of Ireland not watching (the hurling) and the crowd will be smaller as a result, there'll be people not go. The neutral who might like to go see that game you know, on a cold day will probably sit in by the fire and watch the World Cup, and this has the makings of one of the best club games we've seen in years".
I'm sure Ballygunner and Shamrocks won't be too concerned about the happenings in Qatar as both sides bid to reach the All-Ireland Final, the Gunners come into this one having captured back to back Munster titles (4th in their history) two weeks ago with a nine point win over Ballyea. Patrick Fitzgerald lit up Thurles hitting 1-4 from play in his first Provincial Final, a man of the match performance from the teenager.
A big weekend ahead for @ballygunnerHc as they prepare to take on @BallyhaleGAA in the @AIB_GAA @officialgaa All Ireland Senior Hurling Club Championship Semi Final!
Tickets available below ⬇️https://t.co/WOAlMMglqj pic.twitter.com/xDEIlF39pa— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) December 12, 2022
Fergal Hartley says the togetherness and unity amongst the Ballygunner group is something that have worked hard on over the last number of years; "It's the consistency that every day they go out within the Waterford Championship, within the Munster Championship and beyond they're able to reach that pitch and it's all about that unity, that bond and the psychological preparation of the team, the mental strength and the leadership within the team as well. They're a great group so apart from anything else, they're good hurlers, they're a really great group".
The former Déise captain is expecting a ferocious battle at GAA HQ on Sunday; "It's a game I think that most neutrals, anyone who follows hurling will be really looking forward to. The All-Ireland Final which happened obviously in February less than ten months ago couldn't have been in more dramatic circumstances. I think two of the top teams around in the country at the minute lock horns again in a repeat and obviously Ballyhale with a point to prove and a little bit of a revenge mission for the want of a better word. It has all the makings of a really intriguing and exciting game".
WLR will bring you live commentary and analysis from Sunday's eagerly awaited tussle in Croker with commentary team Kieran O' Connor and Brian Flannery, thanks to George Corbett Skoda.
