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'There's something different about Dungarvan this year'

'There's something different about Dungarvan this year'

Dungarvan face Roanmore in the second of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals at Walsh Park this afternoon.

Throw-in is at 1.30pm and the victors will face reigning champions Ballygunner in the decider.

Dungarvan looking to make the final for the first time in 9 years while for Roanmore it's been 31 years without a final appearance.

Dungarvan have been the form team and surprise package of this year's championship, convincingly defeating De La Salle, Mount Sion and Abbeyside.

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Waterford camogie boss, and Dungarvan clubman, Derek Lyons, says there's something different about the team this year.

"They came out of a tough group unscathed, with high scoring averages in both games. They won the local derby last weekend against Abbeyside, and they did so convincingly. There's something different. For me, having been involved with the lads and watching them over the years - there is something different about Dungarvan this year. I can only put that down to the new management structure possibly, or a bit more maturity with the team that wasn't there in the years before."

Roanmore have beaten Clonea and Lismore so far this season - and find themselves at this stage for the first time since 2000. Former Waterford U-20 boss and Roanmore club man Stephen Gough says it's fantastic for the club to be back at the business end of the championship.

"21 years since we've been in a semi final. Six of the last seven years, we've lost a quarter final. Some of them, we were well beaten - others, we were very close. We probably could have won a couple of those quarter finals. When they finally won one last Saturday against Lismore, there was a fairly big outpouring of emotion. It's the kind of thing that we didn't know whether or not it would be back again - but it's great to have it back."

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Waterford senior hurling selector Stephen Frampton is expecting an entertaining affair. He says while there have been stand-out performers for the Old Boro, one stands out above all.

"I just think that Patrick Curran has been a different player this year at centre-forward for Dungarvan. Both in his scoring and his body language. He's moving around the field, taking on players and showing great pace. I really think that he's been top class."

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