As Super
Sunday approaches at the end of a lively league, many eyes will be fixed on the
outcome at Walsh Park. These two have defied expectations
in different ways. Minus Mullane and Molumphy, Waterford
started as relegation favourites while Galway
were expected to kick on after last September. It’s a role reversal worth
exploring.
Given the
experience deficit up front, the Waterford
management required a framework for a bunch of young forwards to bloom. Immediately
after the final whistle last weekend, Michael Ryan told WLR FM about the
tactical approach they are implementing. “We are playing a really good brand of
hurling. We sat down at the start of the year, Ray, Sean and myself, and we
identified a panel of players and we decided that we would set out our stall as
regards a brand of possession hurling that we wanted to play up front. We
didn’t want to be lofting too many high balls; we felt we hadn’t the physique
but we had the brains and the legs and we are working to that.”
There was
an acceptance at an early stage that they would struggle to plough through
teams. The only option available was to find a way around that problem. This
means precision passes to the inside forwards who use their pace instead of
power to gain possession. And if they don’t, a savage work rate has been
instilled to force turnovers like the one that resulted in Jamie Barron’s three
pointer last Sunday. This game plan requires sharp movement and it also helps
to have a couple of steady long range shooters. When it doesn’t go to plan and
options are limited, ambitious shots either fall short (this happened on four
occasions against Tipp) or go astray. The major
downfall to this ploy is that it reduces goal scoring opportunities. Clare are
also experiencing problems in this department with a not too dissimilar style.
Despite topping table, Waterford
are the lowest scorers in the division with 3-60. This is an average of 17.25
points per game and that scoring rate needs to increase as the ground firms up.
Some refinements are necessary to the tactics board. Missing straightforward
placed balls remains an issue as is returning possession to the opposing
goalkeeper from promising positions. There is also a gap in terms of a free
taker that can rifle home a free to the net from close range in the mould of
Paul Flynn or Eoin Kelly. Who can step up and strike fear into an opposing
defence over a dead ball?
Galway remain an unpredictable beast. After burying three goals past Kilkenny
in front of a healthy home crowd, they have only collected one point from the
last six available. They are yet again leaning heavily on Joe Canning for
scores. He has accounted for over fifty per cent of their total thus far. Davy
Glennon and Niall Healy have shown flashes but nothing to lessen the load on
their ace attacker. They will certainly welcome back the St Thomas’ contingent with welcome arms.
Conor Cooney’s form with club and college is an encouraging sign and he may
well take the weight off Canning. With an easy passage to the Leinster
final, a solid league run was required to keep them active during the spring
and maintain the progress made last summer. Instead, they have slackened and
the question again crops up about what Galway
team will turn up. The positioning of Joe Canning offers an intriguing tactical
puzzle for Anthony Cunningham. Will they keep him on the edge of the square for
his goal threat or try to unsettle the Brick by picking him at number 11?
Galway’s league record against the Déise is far healthier than their winless
championship run. They came away victorious from Fraher Field in 2009 and
blasted home five goals in a clinical rout back in 2004 at Walsh Park.
In tight run affairs however, Waterford
hold the edge. Pauric Mahony struck a last minute free to win at Walsh Park
in 2011 and last year Waterford
travelled to sunny Salthill to take the spoils by two. Doubts surround the
consistency and character of Galway and while
they are well capable of turning things around like the flick of a switch,
Ryan’s resilient force have momentum behind them. There’s suddenly a weight of
expectation on their shoulders but they will be eager to finish the job after
producing four solid performances. If they can cope with Canning and edge
closer to the twenty point mark, the league semi finals beckon.
Waterford:
I O’Regan, S Fives, L Lawlor, S Daniels, J Nagle, M Walsh, D Fives, S
O’Sullivan, K Moran, B O’Halloran, S Prendergast, M Shanahan, R Barry, J
Dillon, J Barron.
Galway: C
Callanan, J Coen, K Hynes, F Moore, N Donoghue, D Collins, J Cooney, I Tannian,
A Smyth, A Harte, J Glynn, D Glennon, C Donnelan, J Canning, D Hayes.
National Hurling League Division 1A
Waterford v Galway
Throw in 3.00 at Walsh Park
Referee: Anthony
Stapleton
Betting:
Waterford 6/4 Draw 10/1 Galway 4/6
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