Ballygunner out to lift `curse' of Clare clubs

Amongst the weather's sporting casualties this weekend is Ballygunner's home advantage in tomorrow's AIB Munster club hurling semi-final against Clarecastle. In the wake of last week's postponement and the continuing bad weather, Waterford's Walsh Park was never going to survive as the venue, and so the Waterford county champions must travel to Semple Stadium in Thurles.

"It is a disappointment to lose home advantage," says Ballygunner's secretary, Charlie Lapthorne, "particularly as our loyal supporters will now have to make such a long trek, but Thurles is an excellent sod and we played Boherlahan (of Tipperary) and Wolfe Tones (Clare) there in last year's semi-final and final."

Ballygunner have lost out in the last two Munster campaigns to Clare teams - they were beaten by Sixmilebridge in 1995 - and mention of last year's final can cause particular anguish. Trailing by 12 points at the start of the second half, Ballygunner closed to within a point but lost. "It made us very determined to come back," says Lapthorne, "and Thurles will suit our form and fitness levels."

"The more you win, the more confidence a team gains," adds one of the team's most dependable players, Waterford captain Fergal Hartley. "Two years ago we weren't really ready. We hurled five Sundays in a row and lost to Sixmilebridge, but last year we should have done it. I felt if we were to do it all over again the next day, we'd have won well. We let in goals against Wolfe Tones that we should have stopped.

"Clarecastle are stronger than Wolfe Tones and Sarsfields (the Cork club defeated by Ballygunner in the last round). I've looked at them on video and they're one of the best teams we will have played." Hartley concludes: "We haven't done ourselves justice in the last two Munster championships and now winning the provincial title has become nearly an obsession."

As a team, Ballygunner is forwards-driven. Hartley says the attack can be expected to put up about 2-12 in any match - "and we'll do it on Sunday. The question will be can we stop scores going in at the other end."

Ballygunner are improving as a unit, as well as in terms of personnel. The problem tomorrow is that Clarecastle may well be the best of the Clare clubs who have, to date, proved their nemesis.

Ballygunner may take inspiration from Laois champions Castletown, who overturned a heavy beating of two years ago at the hands of Wexford's Oulartthe-Ballagh in this year's Leinster championship. Tomorrow they take the field against Offaly champions Birr at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.

It promises to be an uphill struggle if the Laois club is to emulate its immediate predecessors, Camross, who won last year's Leinster title. "That was important to us only because if Camross were capable of winning Leinster, then so are we," says John O'Sullivan, last year's Laois captain.

"We've been lucky this year. A couple of younger players have come on and we've been winning matches without depending so much on the county players. We've a hurler in every corner of the pitch well capable of putting it in on the day."

Birr have a galaxy of inter-county celebrities and won the All-Ireland three seasons ago. Such are the club's resources that a third of the team has turned over since then and signs of strength-in-depth are evident in their record this year. Already, Birr have won the county senior and intermediate titles and are in the finals of the junior and under21 grades. Leinster should follow tomorrow.

Finally, the last county final of the year, in Galway, sees the hugely experienced Sarfields, twice winners of the All-Ireland this decade, take on the new kids on the block, Clarenbridge.