Excitement is building around Ardmore as St Declan’s gear up for Sunday’s All-Ireland Junior Club hurling final at Croke Park.
It’s an historic occasion for the seasiders as they bid to become the first ever Waterford club to bring back an All-Ireland title.
But first they must overcome St Mogues from Fethard On Sea in Wexford who provide the opposition at GAA Headquarters.
Ardmore National School is a wash of blue and white. The Principal, Ber Keevers, says the tension and excitement is very evident in the school:
“The children are really excited, these are real role models for the children, they’re tangible; they see these guys around the village all the time and they learn so much from them. Down through the years they’ve had real success and they’ve been in to and spoken to the children about diet, about respect for elders, about working hard to achieve your dreams, so they’re an amazing resource to have in the community.”
Nearby in Grange, Theresa Power, the acting principal in Grange National School, says everyone is looking forward to Sunday and confident Ardmore will deliver the goods. Theresa says the team have been brilliant all season:
“The team are fantastic they called to the school when they won the County and they called again when they won the Munsters, and the children can’t believe they’ve got this far. It just goes to show what a small parish can do with the right commitment.”
The children from Grange Primary School are full of belief: Sean says he thinks Ardmore will take the title this weekend: “I think it will be a tough match for the opening few minutes, but I think Ardmore will pull away for the win”.
Ava says reaching the All Ireland final is a great achievement: “it’s been a great journey for them to get to Croke Park, it’s a great achievement. My favourite player is Seamus Prendergast and my highlight is that they won the Munster and they’re in the final”.
Dara told Gavin that Ardmore have done very well to reach the final: “Seeing them playing in Croke Park you wouldn’t be expecting it from a small village. Everyone would be delighted (if they won), the whole village would be buzzing”.
Sunday’s action in Croker is underway at 2pm and the game will be broadcast live here on WLR, thanks to George Corbett Skoda, commentary team of Kieran O’ Connor and former Ardmore stalwart, Clinton Hennessey
