Final Preview
Both clubs, situated on the Tipperary border, have always been there or thereabouts in the junior competition for the past few years yet it is almost two decades since either team reached the final.
Ballyskenagh's last appearance in the decider was a successful one. In 1977 they played St. Saran's in the final and came out as 1-10 to 1-6 winners, while two years later Carrig & Riverstown made their last appearance in a final, it was a winning one too, as they triumphed over Clara by 4-5 to 1-5.
The finalists clashed earlier in the year in the group series and Ballyskenagh recorded a comfortable win. If complacency doesn't enter their play on Sunday there is no doubt that they can win handsomely again. Overall Ballyskenagh are a relatively young team but a lot of them possess plenty of experience. John Dooley, Donal Franks, Padraig McLoughlin, Tom O'Toole, Cathal Murphy, Noel Murphy and Bill Lalor all have played for the county at underage level and they possess plenty of talent.
Add their skill to the experience of Gerry Kirwan and the Ryan brothers, Ballyskenagh are certainly a formidable outfit. They displayed great mettle to overcome Drumcullen in the semi-final and will be raging hot favourites.
In contrast, Carrig & Riverstown's passage to the final has been bumpy enough. They haven't set the place alight with their performances yet they have steadily improved, although with the injury worries they are reputed to have they certainly face a mammoth task if they entertain hopes of defeating Ballyskenagh.
They possess good players in Liam O'Brien, Leonard Deane, Kevin Carey, Martin Cashin, Denis Hoctor, John Oakley and Jim Cashin but they still seem to be lacking that little edge that is required to win the competition outright. They were not too impressive when they snatched a last minute point to draw with Edenderry in the semi-final, although it is reported that they played much better on Sunday last in the replay.
All in all a good final is in prospect but at the end of the day anything other than a Ballyskenagh win would be a major shock.