Inside Track: 'Gunners still firing on all cylinders

If I was good at keeping a calendar, the date of the Waterford hurling final would be written in red, maybe even underlined.

A strange one for someone up this neck of the woods, but as some of you might know, the team that’s not only likely to be playing in the final, but winning it, has got more mentions here than any other hurling outfit.

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This year’s final took place last Sunday week, and, yes, Ballygunner won it by the proverbial mile, finishing 21 points ahead of Mount Sion, 2-35 to 1-16.

It was the Waterford City team’s 12th title in a row, and since winning the first of those, Munster and All-Ireland titles have come their way.

There is every possibility John McGinn got a mention at the celebrations which followed the latest victory. He nearly always does, and with good reason.

John was the club’s founder, having made his way south from native Dundalk on a teaching assignment. He was what you might call a ‘soccer man’, and on his arrival in Waterford had the idea of setting up a team in his preferred code.

It wasn’t that Waterford were strangers to soccer. The city had, and still has, a strong League of Ireland association. The Fitzgeralds, Hales and Coads will come quickly to the minds of those who remember when teams found it difficult to come away from Kilcohan Park with a win.

However, on establishing there was a more of a leaning towards hurling among his young charges, McGinn adapted himself to the ancient game. This set the seeds to what was to grow to become Ballygunner, county, provincial and All-Ireland title-winners.

The champions’ latest win was one of their easiest. They conceded the first score, but that was the only time Mount Sion showed in front. If Ballygunner go on to win the Munster, it will be their fourth provincial title in five years.

At the time this piece is being cobbled together, there’s been no word from Jim McCourt, who, like his brothers Nicky and John, is proud of the late John McGinn’s achievements. Perhaps it will come later.

The boys are nephews of John. They’re solid soccer followers, and if they had ever travelled to Waterford for a match, it was to see Dundalk FC in action, though Jim was once invited to, and attended, a Ballygunner celebration.

When choosing the colours for his new club all those years ago, the founder gave a nod to his town and county of birth. The ‘Gunners wear red and black.