Fourmilewater’s Jamie Barron says the club is focused on producing its best performance when they face Ballygunner in Sunday’s Waterford Senior Hurling Championship final.
The Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field decider will be a historic occasion for Fourmilewater, who are appearing in their first-ever Waterford senior hurling county final.
The final also comes during the club’s centenary year.
Barron says reaching the county final was an objective for the group from the beginning of the season, but their attention has now quickly turned towards performing on the biggest day.
“We’ve been trying a long time, I suppose, to bridge the gap, and the success at the weekend was getting to the final.”
“It was an aim from the start of the year to compete in the county final, and I suppose once you’re there, then you turn your focus straight away to perform on the big day and doing your very, very best for the club.”
Preparing for the final
Fourmilewater secured their place in the decider after a hard-fought semi-final victory over Roanmore.
Barron says the intensity of that game should stand the team in good stead heading into Sunday, although the players are now concentrating on recovery and getting their bodies right.
“Every time we play Roanmore, it’s been a puck of a ball either way,” he said.
“They’re a well-structured team. They know their game plan inside out, they work very hard for each other, and we knew we had to match it and better it to be able to get through to a county senior final.”
Fourmilewater have now turned their attention towards analysing both themselves and Ballygunner as they prepare for the decider.
“We’ll be doing our analysing of ourselves and Ballygunner, and we’ll be trying to get the best we can be for the weekend.”
The importance of the younger players
Barron believes the combination of experienced players and younger hurlers coming through has been important to Fourmilewater’s progress.
He says the attitude of the younger members of the squad has helped drive standards within the group.
“Every team needs new youthful players coming in, and young lads that actually have a great desire to want to get better.”
He says the younger players have shown a willingness to learn and improve.
“Thankfully, in the last few years, the youth that we’ve brought in, they’re mad to learn, they’re mad to get better, they’re mad to thrive in whatever aspect of training we’re doing.”
Barron also believes that the fearlessness of those younger players can help make moments like Sunday possible.
“It’s with the likes of those for us who have no fear, I suppose, that make those things possible.”
Ballygunner challenge
Ballygunner will provide the opposition on Sunday as they attempt to win a 13th consecutive Waterford senior title.
Barron says there is no shortage of knowledge about what the defending champions will bring.
“Everyone in the county and possibly the country knows what Ballygunner have and what they’ll bring.”
Having played alongside many Ballygunner players with Waterford, Barron says he has seen first-hand the standards they set themselves.
“I know a lot of the lads and a lot of them are inside with Waterford and how they apply themselves and how they dedicate themselves and how they always want to get better.”
However, Barron says Fourmilewater must concentrate primarily on their own performance.
“For us, I suppose it’s about focusing on ourselves mainly.”
“We’ve done a lot of work, and it’ll be about just bringing the best version of ourselves, preparing properly this week and making sure we bring our A game, perform, and then you see where it takes you after that.”
A historic occasion
Fourmilewater are preparing for the biggest day in the club’s senior hurling history during their centenary year.
Barron says playing in a county final is something every GAA player dreams of.
“At the end of the day, a GAA player wants to play when they set out their stall. They want to play in county finals.”
While the build-up is understandably hectic, Barron says the players are trying to remain relaxed and stick to their normal routines.
“This week, I suppose, can be a bit hectic, and you’re just trying to sort things out early in the week to make sure that everything falls smoothly later on in the week.”
“It’s about relaxing and not getting too caught up in it all, and I suppose just doing your usual things to make sure that you’re right come the weekend.”
WLR’s live coverage begins at 2.15 pm, with Kieran O’Connor and former Waterford Hurler of the Year and All-Star Dan Shanahan on commentary, thanks to George Corbett Skoda.
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