Villa fly the Waterford flag in the Munster Champions Cup final tomorrow
They go up against St Michaels of Tipperary in the decider a year and a half after the sides last met.
"We'll take this game Sunday with our full focus. They're a really experienced team" says manager Conor Coad." They've achieved a lot in the Junior game: A couple of Junior Cups, and a few Munster Junior Cups. Their core group of players have a medal haul that anyone involved at this level would be envious of. They've been there, won it and worn the T-shirt".
Coad's team have been impressive in their quarter and semi-final wins - beating Coachford 4-1, and beating Killarney Celtic 8-0.
Dean Walsh and Regix Madika have both scored hattricks across those two games, Cian Browne has bagged two - as has Conor Kilgannon while Aaron O Connor has also notched a goal.
When Villa last faced St Michaels in the round of 16 for the FAI Junior Cup the Waterford side were 4-2 winners with goals coming from John Frederick Tamen (2), Cian Browne and Eoghan Rea. Villa would of course go on to win the tournament outright beating Pike Rovers at Turners Cross.
With a six-point cushion at the top of the table in the Waterford Premier League, Coad's side will know that a win tomorrow can add one more piece of silverware to the cabinet before the return to league action this side of Christmas.
Playing outside of the county is something that Villa are becoming much more familiar with of late and Coad has been telling WLR Sport that it suits the group. "It's knockout football in the end of the day. You're through to the next round, you win the competition or you go home. It's that kind of a feel and it brings out the best of us". Those results are being earned with a mostly young squad that likely doesn't have the fear of losing that comes with age.
"Our average age is only 21 and comparing it to St Michael's the midfield three will probably have a combined age of more than what our midfield four will have. We have good experience in the group for such a young group and experience of these big games is important. The more games you play at this level and the more finals you experience the better you are equipped to handle them. It becomes more about the game than the occasion."
They will be underway in Clonmel at two o clock on Sunday.
