Fethard entertain Cork champions in Munster Club Junior semi-final

Fethard may be better known as a football club but their hurlers have raised the profile of the small ball game in the town and parish this year.

Following their county championship success and a provincial quarter-final win over Ennistymon, The Blues will entertain Cork champions Kilshannig in the AIB Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship semi-final this Saturday.

The tie will be played at Fethard GAA Park, with a 1-15 throw-in.

Fethard won the FBD Insurance County Junior A Hurling championship for the first time when they overcame the challenge of West champions Lattin Cullen in last month’s final. While this was a first for the Fethard club, a team from the area under the Coolmoyne banner had previously lifted the trophy in 1950.

The Fethard side, coached by Tipperary All-Ireland winner John “Bubbles” O’Dwyer, recovered well from a South final defeat to St. Patrick’s in early September to reach the pinnacle of the Junior grade in the county.

They had victories over Thurles Sarsfields and Galtee Rovers along the way to reach the final where, at the end of a closely contested game, a goal from Matt Coen in the third minute ultimately proved the difference in their 1-14 to 0-15 victory over Lattin Cullen.

From there it was onto the Munster quarter-final against Ennistymon, where they had another hard-earned win, this time on a 1-13 to 2-9 scoreline.

They were grateful for a goal from Ryan Walsh in the closing stages, the Fethard captain finishing from close range after great work by Conor Neville.

A large attendance is expected in Fethard on Sunday, and Fethard will have the best wishes of the county behind them as they try to reach the Munster final.

The referee is Eoghan O’Leary from Clare.