Friday 28 June 2013

A time for patience and a time for goals - Westmeath v Waterford preview



 
On a washout of a Sunday afternoon back in 2006, several championship games fell by the wayside including the televised action between Galway and Sligo. The RTÉ cameras decided to quickly switch their attention to waterlogged Portlaoise where the game between Westmeath and Dublin was still going ahead as planned.

The Sky Blues were strongly tipped to become the emerging force in Leinster but their opponents had other ideas. The pitch became nearly unplayable as the splashes of water became visible on screen. Westmeath were well equipped to deal with it however. Their team contained warriors like Paul Greville, Enda Loughlin, Andrew Mitchell and Barry Kennedy. A year earlier, they won the first ever Christy Ring final in last gasp fashion at Croke Park and they fed off that positive energy. In a blood and guts battle, they prevailed by 0-13 to 0-11.
 
It set up a glamour home tie with Kilkenny and a fourteen point defeat (1-23 to 1-9) was no disgrace. The men in maroon went on to play six championship games that summer (including a qualifier against Waterford). As the experienced players gradually drifted away, Westmeath returned to the second tier. They resurfaced however in 2011.

They have proven no pushover for the elite teams since their return and make life awkward in Mullingar. They have achieved victories over Carlow and Antrim along with a couple of defiant displays to trouble the Tribesmen. They lost out by nine in 2011 (4-17 to 2-14) and put 4-12 past them last year in an open contest.

Teenager Niall O'Brien is a rising star for the Lake county and already has a prolific senior season under his belt. He scored 2-20 in the 2012 championship including 2-7 during the respectable showing against Galway. Brendan Murtagh is a real powerhouse in the half forward line and John Shaw is another seasoned campaigner up front.

Putting all these things into consideration, Waterford will need to bide their time and respect their opponents before contemplating a runaway win. They cannot afford to let their concentration slip even slightly. An unconvincing win would see the good vibes of last Saturday seep away somewhat. Waterford must take the initiative from the off and maintain a high tempo throughout. The longer this game progresses without decisive action, the home side will become comfortable and feed off the uncertainty from the favourites.

One of the best ways to slay the underdog is to billow the net early and often. Four goals in seven competitive outings this term lays bare the much publicised struggles in this area. Waterford are not hurting the opposition close to goals and an uneasiness prevails when the gaps do appear. Westmeath won't roll over but this game does offer the chance for newer members of the attack to get in on the goalscoring act. The bright lights shone on Maurice Shanahan last weekend and under tightened security this time, he won't receive the same freedom. With that in mind, a clinical and cohesive attacking show is important to banish the high wide counts of previous games.

Even though they can cater for Jamie Nagle's absence and rejig the resources available, his sharp deliveries will be missed. His intelligent use of possession can unlock a stubborn defence and let the forwards loose. Where there is misfortune, there is also opportunity and Richie Foley returns for his first championship start last year's Munster semi final against Clare. The recalled Pauric Mahony will also be eager to regain permanency. Games like these also help those scratching for form.

Despite Westmeath's habit of punching above their weight, eight league places seperate these sides between 1A and 2A. The gulf in speed, stamina and skill should become apparent by the final quarter at the very latest. With a number of bits and pieces to brush up on, complacency shouldn't come into the equation. The winning margin may settle around nine or ten points.

All Ireland Hurling Phase 1 Qualifier
Westmeath v Waterford
5.00 at Cusack Park
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
Betting: Westmeath 1/12 Draw 33/1 Waterford 1/50

Westmeath: P Collins; L Varley, T Gallagher, P Fennell; D Fennell, A McGrath, A Price; E Price, J Clarke; B Murtagh, A Craig, D McNicholas; N O’Brien, R Greville, J Shaw.

Waterford: S O'Keeffe; S Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; D Fives, M Walsh, P Prendergast; R Foley, K Moran; M Shanahan, P Mahony, S O'Sullivan; J Dillon, S Prendergast, B O'Sullivan.

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Tea with the Taoiseach and lovely possession hurling – Waterford 0-21 Offaly 1-14



O’Connor Park screams Celtic Tiger wherever you look. It’s an impressive modern ground with extravagant elements (a lift up to the press box for instance) but they didn't go overboard. White and blue followers gazed around enviously at a job well done. The former Taoiseach Brian Cowen made an appearance on the night as he stopped by for a half time cuppa. A more sobering reminder of the Tiger times.

On the field, Maurice Shanahan couldn’t be tamed. It’s been many years in the making. Expectations have been great and often unrealistic since he stepped out first in 2009. It took a couple of seasons for him to get his name pencilled in on a permanent basis. His returns for Lismore remained handsome but a seventy minute championship display eluded him. The signs were encouraging in 2012 when he led the line with 24 points in three games. With John Mullane and Eoin Kelly announcing retirement plans, he could no longer just contribute intermittently. On Saturday night, the 23 year old erupted into an inter county forward of substance. He won some and lost some against David Kenny before drifting away from the full back and ghosting into the right areas. He stroked over points off left and right even when the game tightened. He missed three frees but the last four points came off his stick. A long anticipated blow out and with twenty points in two games, his eye is in for the rest of the championship.

Early doors, it appeared that Jake Dillon was the one ready to deliver a prolific evening. Two points in the space of six minutes was an ideal opening and despite not adding that tally, he buzzed around and got involved in creating scores for others. At half time, a four point lead looked precarious. The cheap concession to Shane Dooley gave Offaly something to cling to. Their advantage in size and strength was noticeable and the earth nearly shook when Ger Healion barrelled into Kevin Moran during the first half. It took Waterford time to think their way out of trouble and avoid the collisions. A four point interval cushion scarcely seemed comfortable facing into the breeze. Openings for goals were spurned by both midfielders and there appeared to be a general jumpiness when three point opportunities turned up. Later on, Jake Dillon carelessly kicked wide and Pauric Mahony saw his shot blocked by David Kenny.

Afterwards, Michael Ryan explained their second half approach. "At half time, we emphasised the importance of playing intelligent hurling and to use the ball against the wind. We felt with the guys up front that they had to make the runs and to leave it up to half back line and midfield to seek them out and we did that. We got four or five points out of lovely possession hurling." Those last three words sum up the preferred style of play all season long. The conditions dictated it and they carried out the half time plan.

Offaly sought out their dangerous inside line but were met by stern resistance primarily from Jamie Nagle and Michael Walsh. Star man Shane Dooley was a mere bystander in general play during the second half as the half back line starved him of any decent ball. The full forward trio only scored 1-4 from play between them. Playing through the pain barrier, Nagle repelled advances down the right flank and used possession efficiently. He got through 21 plays before exiting the stage late on. After an almost anonymous thirty five minutes, Michael Walsh locked down the centre. It’s not just his awareness and anticipation of where the ball will land but the calmness with which he distributes it. Sometimes a hand pass out the wing, sometimes a lazy flick of the hurl or sometimes a short stick pass. The Brick established a pattern that the hosts found hard to break up. They started to find space and create chances. They tired Offaly out and exposed a lack of mobility in key areas. And yet, the gap didn’t stretch beyond a single strike until Maurice Shanahan collected a pass from Paudie Prendergast (who put in a busy shift) and cut through down the right wing to stretch it out to four. Ten second half wides saw the total grow to 17. Shot selection from distance left a lot to be desired at times but other efforts were inexplicable from close range. In the midst of some wild shooting, Shanahan pointed the ship in the right direction.

Two of the men brought in from the cold, made a lasting impression to nail down their starting berths. Stephen O’Keeffe kept a steady hand under a couple of nasty high balls that hung around the goalmouth in the first half and then produced a magic trick with two minutes left. His rapid reaction time and agility somehow kept a fierce shot from Daniel Currams away from the net. He bent back to block it and then in the same movement touched the sliotar to safety. After losing the jersey, the intense competition has clearly forced him to sharpen up all aspects of his game. Brian O’Sullivan was nowhere to be seen until first half injury time when he scored an audacious point out near the sideline. From there to the finish however, he was only second to Shanahan amongst the forward six. He showed enthusiastically and dispatched his chances. Pauric Mahony also boosted his credentials when he pulled Ger Healion away from the centre and set up a couple of points for Brian O’Sullivan.

When it came to the crunch, Waterford knew how to win and Offaly haven’t been in that habit of late. Their mettle was questioned at two key junctures. The sucker punch of Shane Dooley's goal and Kevin Brady's leveller put the wind in the sails of the hosts. On each occasion however, the momentum was wrestled away from Ollie Baker's side. Such was their grip on proceedings by the finish that it diminished the impact of another below par officiating display. Obvious fouls on Seamus Prendergast and Maurice Shanahan in the second half stick out as James McGrath allowed defenders to go beyond the boundaries when confronted with incoming attackers. He tends to allow the play develop but he turned a blind eye too often on this occasion.

Listening to the fascinating discussion between John Mullane and Brian Flannery on WLR FM on the drive up, the importance of this fixture became clear. Mullane was worried about the long term consequences of defeat while Flannery took a more optimistic stance. Both pundits predicted an away win but Mullane aired plenty of doubts about the direction the team was going in. Confidence was hardly flowing throughout the county. The only evidence of a Waterford presence during the journey was a caravan with a W reg plate trying to hold their own. Despite the downbeat forecasts beforehand, there was a significant show of support in Tullamore.

Saturday centred around survival and little else mattered. Michael Ryan’s second championship success is a significant one and he dismissed the doubts cast over their fitness. "Despite what some people have been saying in recent times, we have a very high level of fitness. We have had over a hundred outfield sessions since the first of December. We knew our fitness was very good and we also had the hurling." Other rough edges can now be smoothed out somewhat during the week and put right in Mullingar. Goals must be on the agenda. Working those situations wasn't the issue in Tullamore but attacking them with conviction proved problematic. 32 wides in two games is another worrying statistic. It will also be important that Kevin Moran and Seamus Prendergast can recover their form in time for tilt with one of the provincial semi finalists down the tracks. Going back to a point Donal Og Cusack made on The Sunday Game, overelaboration in defence can lead to trouble and any misjudgements are punished severely. There is a time for keeping possesion and a time for just lashing the sliotar upfield. Although the margin of victory didn't reflect their second half dominance, that show of poise under pressure stands them in a good stead. Brushing up on the imperfections will determine whether they can get back to the quarter finals.  
 

Saturday 22 June 2013

A qualifier state of mind - Offaly v Waterford preview


 
 
Ollie Baker and Michael Ryan are looking to rebound through the backdoor on Saturday night but there is a noticeable contrast in how both counties handled their respective defeats and the mood music surrounding this qualifier. In Offaly, there is a growing air of optimism that they are ready to take a championship scalp of substance. A fiery performance against the All Ireland champions offered evidence of a bit of steel emerging after years in the wilderness. Waterford roll into town with nagging doubts and a few injury headaches. There is trepidation amongst the travelling faithful. In such circumstances, a good start is essential to repair the damage of defeat. If Offaly hit an early groove backed by the locals, the doubts quickly creep in.

There’s also a physical battle alongside the mental battle. According to Michael Duignan during the week on WLR FM, twelve of the Offaly team are over six foot tall. They wired into the Cats in an over exuberant manner at times as their yellow card count of five shows. Eoin Larkin also converted eleven placed balls so Baker may try to reign them in a notch. Most of the players are well seasoned (around the mid twenties to early thirties) at this stage and they are fed up of near misses. They have been around the block to a certain extent and they are keen to improve their recent championship record. They drew with Galway in Croke Park three years ago before losing the replay in O’Moore Park and followed that up with defeats to Dublin and Cork (by a point) in 2011. Last year brought a win over a Wexford but Galway put an end to their Leinster campaign in a crazy contest (5-23 to 3-15). Cork again got in their way after another valiant effort away from home. Since losing to Waterford in the 2008 qualifier, they have only won four championship games out of thirteen.

They are packed with power and gave their fans cause for enthusiasm with how they held firm when the black and amber arrived. Waterford showed for long stretches against Clare however that they can stand up and use their muscle around the middle. Most of the experience is stored from numbers 5 to 12 on Michael Ryan’s team sheet and these are the men who will have the most influence over the outcome. In this regard, Jamie Nagle’s presence is key. He made 21 plays in Thurles three weeks ago.

With the niggles and knocks, the management team had little room to manoeuvre with regard to the chosen fifteen but they have still made a couple of interesting decisions. Shane O’Sullivan’s move to the half forward line seems like a ploy to bulk up this line but arguably he was the most effective Waterford player on the field during the first half of the Munster quarter final at midfield. Darragh Fives is back where he belongs in the defence which should free up Kevin Moran to roam forward with more vigour. Shane Fives is rewarded for a solid league campaign to make a long awaited championship debut at corner back. O’Keeffe ahead of O’Regan must have been marginal but perhaps hints at a different puck out strategy. The Ballygunner number may vary the length of his drives. Brian O’Sullivan also gets the nod ahead of Pauric Mahony and although this is only his third championship start, he carries a goal threat.

Waterford may need two to emerge from O'Connor Park but all the obvious first goalscorers are in the Offaly attack. Shane Walsh’s continued misfortune robs them of both a target man and a reliable goal getter. In his absence, Maurice Shanahan is on the brink of making a big statement. If he can sustain a seventy minute effort at full forward, or elsewhere, the burden eases on the likes of Jake Dillon and Jamie Barron to produce a considerable total. 0-38 in thirteen championship appearances is a reasonable return but he can cut loose as we saw in glimpses against Clare. It would also prove the perfect time to end his goal scoring drought in championship fare. His free taking also must be squeaky clean. Three missed frees in the first half last time out is a stat that cannot be repeated by the visitors.

A matter for management is who will pick up Shane Dooley and Joe Bergin. Noel Connors may be given the man marking responsibilities for Dooley while Shane Fives or Liam Lawlor can match the 6 foot 4 inch Bergin. The former was restricted to five placed balls against Kilkenny but seldom is he kept so quiet on championship Sunday. With 10-105 over 22 championship games, his average is above six points per game. He also posted 4-35 during the league. In his formative years, Bergin bossed the 2006 league meeting between these counties and also bagged a hat trick against Limerick in 2008. His double blast the first day out brought his championship goal return to 12. Five of the six starting forwards can claim a championship green flag for the Faithful while only Jake Dillon and Seamus Prendergast can say the same on the opposite side.

On nights like these, the little things add up. The advantage of operating in Division 1A shouldn’t be discounted especially when Offaly’s campaign is analysed closely. An escape route from Division 1B never looked likely as their challenge fizzled out. While they ran table toppers Limerick and Dublin close, they failed to dispatch the minnows in an unspectacular campaign overall. They relied on a Joe Bergin goal two minutes from time to nab the points away from Carlow. They closed out their programme with another narrow two point escape up in Antrim. Their third two point win came in between against Wexford.

The performance of James McGrath will also come under intense scrutiny. Will he punish the Déise defence so severely on this occasion? Colin Ryan profited from some dubious decision making to the tune of four frees early in the second half. There was a lack of clarity as to what he deemed as foul play and that will need to be cleared up.

The heat is on both sides and it will hinge on who can handle it better. Jittery shooting was a disappointing aspect in their opening defeats as Offaly only registered nine points and Waterford shot 15 wides. Plenty points towards Offaly but Waterford can recover their composure. Provided that they can grab a hold of midfield and absorb the early barrage physically and mentally, there is sufficient quality to leave the Faithful waiting for another rising. The half back trio are capable of hovering up ball and reducing the pressure on the last line of defence. The quality of ball into Currams, Bergin and Dooley will make or break Ollie Baker’s men. Those defensive match-ups are ones that Michael Ryan must judge correctly or pay the consequences. They should sharpen up from the squanderama suffered up front in the Clare match and a couple of early scores will settle them down. It’s about keeping a firm focus on the task at hand and dispelling the negativity for seventy minutes. The departed and the walking wounded have hindered Ryan’s cause but they retain enough big game players to survive until another Saturday. Waterford still know the ropes that bit better to avoid the June exit door.


All Ireland Hurling Preliminary Round Qualifier
Offaly v Waterford
7.00 at O’Connor Park
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
Betting: Offaly 7/4 Draw 10/1 Waterford 8/15

Offaly: J Dempsey; C McDonald, D Kenny, D Mooney; R Hanniffy, G Healion, D Morkan; B Carroll, K Brady; C Egan, D Molloy, C Slevin; S Dooley, D Currams, J Bergin.

Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, D Fives; P Prendergast, K Moran; J Dillon, S Prendergast, S O’Sullivan; J Barron, M Shanahan, B O’Sullivan.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Waterford's record in All Ireland hurling qualifiers


19/7/2003 at Nowlan Park
Wexford 1-20 Waterford 0-18

18/6/2005 at Dr Cullen Park
Waterford 1-26 Offaly 1-15

2/7/2005 at Walsh Park
Waterford 4-17 Dublin 1-3

10/7/2005 at Cusack Park, Ennis
Clare 4-14 Waterford 0-21

18/6/2006 at Cusack Park, Mullingar
Waterford 3-22 Westmeath 1-14

2/7/2006 at Walsh Park
Waterford 1-25 Galway 2-20

8/7/2006 at O’Moore Park
Waterford 2-17 Laois 1-13

5/7/2008 at Walsh Park
Waterford 6-18 Antrim 0-15

19/7/2008 at Semple Stadium
Waterford 2-18 Offaly 0-18

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Salle still the undisputed number one – Waterford SHC Round 3


 
De La Salle remain the frontrunners to retain their county title as they coasted clear of one their closest rivals Fourmilewater on a miserable Tuesday night at Fraher Field. Without hitting top gear, Salle won with plenty to spare (1-16 to 0-5). Even at this early stage, it’s hard to argue with their current status as 8/11 favourites to collect their fourth News and Star trophy.

In the third round, only Lismore emerged from the chasing pack to resemble convincing challengers. Elsewhere, Abbeyside produced arguably their strongest display since reaching the decider back in 2008.

Missing six starters from last November’s Munster final, Salle had the points in the bag by half time. Once again, Jake Dillon called the shots up front and his goal on 26 minutes put the lid on the game as a contest. John Mullane floated out from centre forward and nailed three points in the process. An out of sorts Fourmile’ sorely missed Jamie Barron as they over elaborated when in possession. They were gobbled up by a much more focussed De La Salle side. Eddie Barrett and Dean Twomey at midfield again displayed an appetite for hard labour. The second half turned into a drab affair as the rain poured down by the bucket load. Dillon finished up with 1-7 which means he has compiled 5-21 in three championship outings thus far. 

Lismore made light work of their local derby meeting with Tallow on Sunday night. With wind in their favour, Maurice Shanahan struck eight points as they held a commanding 0-11 to 0-3 at half time. Tallow packed little punch on the restart and Lismore started landing knockout blows. Second half strikes from John Heneghan, Dan Shanahan, Maurice Shanahan and Dave Bennett eased them to a 4-18 to 1-9 win. With a nice blend of up and coming players along with the tried and trusted in their side, they can make strides over the coming months.

The surprise of the round came on Saturday night at Walsh Park when Abbeyside overpowered Ballygunner to emerge victorious in much more convincing fashion than the six point winning margin suggests. Their aerial prowess was best exemplified by Gary and Patrick Hurney in the central attacking positions.

Barry O’Sullivan pounced for a twelfth minute goal but the Villagers bossed the remainder of the half to lead 0-14 to 1-3 by the interval. John Gorman swept up possession from centre back and after losing their opening two fixtures, they were determined to keep their championship hopes alive. Mark Ferncombe snuck in ahead of Stephen O’Keeffe six minutes into the second half to tie up the game. The gap widened to 15 points entering injury time before two goals from Stephen Power and a tidy finish from Brian O’Sullivan earned the 14 man Gunners a sliver of respectability (1-21 to 4-6).

Mount Sion overcame their shooting yips to deny Dungarvan at Walsh Park (1-16 to 0-16). They shot sixteen wides but came with a late wave of five unanswered points to advance to the quarter finals. Sean Ryan raised a green flag to give them a deserved 1-5 to 0-7 half time lead. Jamie Nagle’s switch to midfield boosted Dungarvan however. Cormac Curran with nine frees and Gavin Crotty with four from play nudged the Blues ahead during the final quarter. Patrick Curran made it a two point lead with three minutes to play but Sion didn’t surrender as Martin O’Neill’s free taking turned things in their favour.

Eoin Kelly’s scoring exploits gave Passage their second win of the campaign against Roanmore (3-13 to 3-9) on a baking Sunday afternoon at Walsh Park. The two time All Star bagged 3-2 and completed his hat trick by the 26 minute mark before limping out of the fray early in the second half. Goals from Laurence O’Neill, Gavin O’Brien and Paul O’Toole kept a resilient Roanmore in with a shout but they couldn’t make up the ground lost in the first half.  

In a tight run affair at Fraher Field, county minor Mickey Kearney put together 1-8 to see Ballyduff Upper past An Rinn (2-13 to 2-10). It was a first win of the campaign for the Reds and it plunges An Rinn deep into the relegation mire. Jamie Kearney and Bili Breathnach swapped goals to leave matters tied at 1-6 apiece by the break. Liam O Lonain’s goal early in the second half put the 2012 intermediate champions in the driving seat until Kearney intervened with a goal of his own to steady his side.

Waterford SHC Team of Round 3




  1. Seanie Barry (Lismore)
  2. Paul Fennessy (Lismore)
  3. Chris Sheehan (De La Salle)
  4. Conor Hickey (Abbeyside)
  5. Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan)
  6. John Gorman (Abbeyside)
  7. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
  8. Eddie Barrett (De La Salle)
  9. David Collins (Abbeyside)
  10. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
  11. Gary Hurney (Abbeyside)
  12. Gavin Crotty (Dungarvan)
  13. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
  14. Patrick Hurney (Abbeyside)
  15. Eoin Kelly (Passage)

Sunday 9 June 2013

No hiding place as defensive wall crumbles - Kerry 4-21 Waterford 1-4


 
 
As the salt slips through the hourglass of the 2013 championship, it is quickly becoming clear that giantkilling acts are fading from view in the big bad world of Gaelic football.

Physical and mental preparation, backed by significant funds, is creeping towards the summit as the top teams push the boat out with each passing year to gain that extra inch. With a vast amount of statistical information and video analysis now available, it almost unforgivable for a Division 1 side to take their eye off the ball against those at the bottom of the ladder. There are no surprises lingering in the long grass any more. It’s 21 years since Marty Morrissey spouted the line “there won’t be a cow milked in Clare tonight.” Those days are dwindling. Even in damage limitation mode last weekend, Waterford slumped to their heaviest championship defeat in fourteen years.

2-3 in ten minutes killed the competitive spark of what was previously a complicated puzzle for Kerry to solve. In the first half, the hosts looked pedestrian as they scratched their heads and struggled to work their way around the massed defence. Once Kerry cranked up the pace and started moving the ball quicker through the hands, the scores flowed freely. Confidence crumbled in the system that had brought the visitors half time respectability and with little attacking threat, it quickly developed into an annihilation. They overtook the handicap with 23 minutes remaining. Niall Carew’s gameplan required a concerted effort for seventy minutes but Kerry’s superior movement and quality broke it down.

The disadvantage of the blanket defence is the freedom that it allows opposition defenders to break forward. Tomás O Se was left almost unmarked to wander up the park with purpose for the fifty minutes he was on the field. With no defensive duties to take care of, he raided early and often with many of Kerry’s best moves of a frustrating half coming down the right flank. Despite this chink in the armour, their spirit levels rose as the half advanced. 13 white and blue shirts shuffled behind the ball and they stuck to their guns. They swarmed the area around Kieran Donaghy and tackled with vigour when the Kingdom entered the scoring zone. Gary Hurney and Paul Whyte were well surrounded but managed to gain traction. Hurney held the upper hand against Aidan O’Mahony and Whyte posted two points. Two goal chances were also spurned as Colm Cooper came back to block Whyte’s effort and John Hurney was pulled back as he advanced but the penalty claims from the Waterford bench were ignored. Gary Hurney also missed two frees from awkward angle but four points back at the break was a vote of confidence in their strategy.

They needed to be prepared for an avalanche on the restart however and it duly arrived. Once Kieran Donaghy got his paws on a trademark skyscraper into the square, morale hit the floor. They were still 31 minutes left to play. With the door prised open, Kerry made up for lost time as fifteen different players (including four backs) raised a flag. "In the first half we played at a Division 4 tempo and in the second half we played at a Division 1 tempo" is how Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice put it. Despite his valiant efforts to talk up Waterford’s firm first half showing, they gained precious little value from the exercise either.

John Kiely could only admire the magnificence of this current Kerry crop. “These are some of the best players ever to play the game” he observed. The current Waterford bainsteoir focussed on the gap in fitness levels afterwards. “When the first goal went in the heads dropped after that and from there we struggled. We didn’t stick to the gameplan and it’s very hard when you are eight or nine points down. It was down to fitness too, Kerry were fitter and stronger that we were and that paid dividends. We are not up to that level of fitness yet. It’s going to take us a while to get to that level.” Niall Carew also admitted on the Sunday Game that he endured a sleepless night through tossing and turning over what he could have done differently.

Waterford needed something of substance to bring forward to the qualifers. Instead this latest Munster championship allows negativity to seep in especially after a middle of the road league campaign. After making colossal sacrifices and soaking up a fresh approach, this group want to make headway but they have received another setback. They play the waiting game for round 2 of the backdoor system and a home draw is a must to generate positive energy. The life of a minnow is not getting any easier.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Waterford SHC Round 3 Previews

 
8 June
Ballygunner v Abbeyside (7.30 at Walsh Park)
After two straight defeats, Abbeyside could do with the points but Ballygunner will also be seeking an improvement in performance. They relied largely on Pauric Mahony’s free taking to get over Roanmore so a more cohesive attacking showing is a must. Patrick Hurney may be deployed at full forward after making a major impact last time out against Mount Sion. Richie Foley’s fitness is also crucial for the Villagers.
Betting: Ballygunner 1/4 Draw 10/1 Abbeyside 3/1
Prediction: Ballygunner

9 June
Passage v Roanmore (2.00 at Walsh Park)
Passage won with a bit in hand in the opening round as Eoin Kelly hit 2-5 in an awesome display. The forwards connected seamlessly and they appear to be moving freely under Peter Queally. The goals tend to flow freely for them with Killian Fitzgerald, Owen Connors and Conor Carey providing Kelly with support. Roanmore should hang in there with Gavin O’Brien back on free taking duties but a third defeat is on the cards for the Sky Blues.
Betting: Passage 1/6 Draw 14/1 Roanmore 4/1
Prediction: Passage

Mount Sion v Dungarvan (3.30 at Walsh Park)
A lively game in prospect here between two teams with outside chances of outright championship glory. Stephen Roche, Ian Galgey and Austin Gleeson have starred for Sion so far but Galgey sustained a serious knee injury against Abbeyside. The first half of that game was played at breathneck speed and it may be the same on Sunday. Dungarvan will look to stretch Sion and feed their pacy inside men. The midfield battle will be worth a look also as Jamie Nagle’s influence is pivotal for the Blues. Eoin McGrath and Michael Gaffney need to be on their toes and if they can restrain Nagle, Sion can make it three wins out of three.
Betting: Mount Sion 4/6 Draw 8/1 Dungarvan 11/8
Prediction: Mount Sion

Ballyduff Upper v An Rinn (2.00 at Fraher Field)
An Rinn will look to produce a full sixty minute display after two deflating defeats. They will target this game and Liam Lonain’s return will bolster their attacking options. On the minus side, they are coming down off two high tempo games in the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta which leaves them with little preparation time. Their opponents brought De La Salle down the stretch before Jake Dillon’s goal killed off their challenge. Despite Stephen Molumphy’s absence, Ballyduff’s sharper focus and experience at this level should tip the balance.
Betting: Ballyduff Upper 1/6 Draw 12/1 An Rinn 4/1
Prediction: Ballyduff Upper

Lismore v Tallow (7.00 at Ballyduff Upper)
It’s difficult to gauge this local derby. Lismore missed out by the minimum against Fourmilewater and could consider themselves unfortunate. They are building around young stars like the Barrys and the Prendergasts and also unearthed Jordan Shanahan. If Tallow can get Thomas Ryan into this one early, they will be right in the hunt. With the O’Briens and James Murray offering defensive fortitude, they won’t give the Shanahans (Dan, Maurice and Jordan) anything easy. Both of these sides struggle for consistency so a positive opening is of upmost importance. Lismore’s need is greater and that should them through this tricky assignment.
Betting: Lismore 1/4 Draw 11/1 Tallow 3/1
Prediction: Lismore
 
11 June
De La Salle v Fourmilewater (7.45 at Fraher Field)
This rearranged tie could be spicy as two of the championship challengers face off. Fourmile’ are steadily building up a head of steam and can match the champions in the physical stakes. As always, numbers five to nine will be integral to De La Salle’s success and Jake Dillon now carries their biggest threat up front. The Ballymacarbry side won their last group meeting and that may offer sufficient motivation for Derek McGrath’s men to stamp their authority.
Prediction: De La Salle

Thursday 6 June 2013

Déise heads down but not out - Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-15


Don’t be deceived by the scoreboard; this game was within Waterford’s grasp. They could have been halfway home if their mastery around the middle was cashed in. Instead, Clare clung on and when they enjoyed their own period of supremacy, doubts crept in.

Those many misses chipped away at confidence. Before and after half time, the half back line (led by the flambouyant Jamie Nagle) and Shane O’Sullivan’s leadership allowed them to monopolise possession. Even after hitting those four wides on the resumption, they were still ahead but it wasn’t sufficient to kill off Clare who saw a sliver of hope. Waterford became uncertain in their shooting and the Banner pounced on that insecurity. At this level, prolificacy is punished.

The disappointing part was how the team folded up and allowed Clare to fill their boots towards the end. They were outscored 2-7 to 0-4 in the final quarter. Fitness wasn’t the only factor. 15 wides had taken the air out of the tyres. They didn’t show the mental reserves to mount a recovery mission.

That desolation was evident in the Semple Stadium tunnel. The players understandably evaded the dictaphones and sought out the sanctuary of the dressing room. They let it slip through their fingers. A shattered Michael Ryan didn’t throw out any excuses. "We lost the game in the six or seven minutes after half time. We had four good chances and we needed to take one or two of those. We missed those chances and that gave Clare a lifeline and they got a bit of a run on us. Well done to Clare they are an excellent team and they fully deserved their victory no qualms about it.”

He again showed graciousness in defeat but deep down he would have realised that very few breaks came Waterford’s way. James McGrath’s erratic showing on the whistle gave cause for irritation in the stands. At the start of the second half, Clare were the beneficiaries of a number of dubious calls which Colin Ryan took full advantage of. It’s difficult to disagree with John Mullane’s assessment from Monday’s Independent. “I don't like being critical of referees but between the 45th and 50th minutes, he gave soft frees to Clare and that enabled them to push on and win the match.” The two goals also came in unfortunate circumstances as Kevin Moran made an uncharacteristic error of judgement and Patrick Kelly’s booming free fell kindly for Conor McGrath.

Make no mistake about these were two teams on edge. This nervousness meant that the quality suffered. The Banner roar was heard early as Tony Kelly and John Conlon set out their stall. They were soon quietened when Jake Dillon ruthlessly finished from Patrick Donnellan’s slack clearance and it settled down the Déise. They were tentative but with Michael Walsh offering an oasis of calm, they dictated the terms. On the wings, Jamie Nagle launched clearances into enemy territory and Kevin Moran grew into the game with a trademark point towards the end of the half. Shane O’Sullivan provided assists for four points and Darragh Fives dashed forward. The match-ups were spot on. Maurice Shanahan destroyed David McInerney in the air and Noel Connors kept a lid on Conor McGrath. The men on the line also didn’t hesitate to change free takers when required. Kelly (who traded blows with the Brick all afternoon) and Conlon landed a couple of punches before the break and a four point lead didn’t accurately paint the picture.

Clare weathered the storm at the start of the second half and once Shane O’Donnell grabbed his goal, the game opened up. They targeted Darach Honan and he was humming at full forward. The puck out stats turned totally in Clare’s favour as Brendan Bugler and Patrick Donnellan drove on their less experienced colleagues. Com Galvin also recovered from a quiet opening to rub salt into the wounds with two late points.

1-15 is yet another below par total. Five times in the last eight championship games, Waterford have failed to break the 20 point barrier. Michael Ryan admitted in the aftermath that the persistent absence of goals is hindering their efforts. “We spoke about goals and we felt that we needed two goals to win the match. We had one good goal chance and Jake took it very well. We didn’t even make a second goal chance and that’s something we’ll look it as well. It’s been a weakness in our team over the last couple of years.”

Davy Fitzgerald displayed a restrained sort of satisfaction afterwards. Despite their jittery spells, he expressed the belief that they had shown their superiority. “Apart from the fifteen minutes where we went asleep in the first half, I thought we didn’t do too bad. We started out of the blocks and we started very well. We gave away a soft goal let’s be honest. We were four points up and looking good and that soft goal put us on the back foot for the rest of the half. It rattled us a small bit. We showed a lot of composure and off we go. We were the better team by a bit. They are a fair team, they are a good team but we deserved our victory.” It will be hard to keep down the hype but Fitzgerald is doing his best. "I keep saying that this is a process. If people want to build us up it’s not a problem. We are just not buying into that stuff we know we have a process ahead of us.” After remaining quiet in the build-up to Sunday’s match, he may perform another disappearing act before the semi final.

Jamie Nagle’s all action display earned him the man of the match award in many quarters apart from the Sunday Game. In his debut senior season, he was close to being Waterford’s best in the semi final win over Tipperary with a busy performance. After making his breakthrough with four starts at midfield on the way to that All Ireland final, Nagle found it hard to fit in. Before last Sunday, his last championship start came against the same opposition back in 2010. A consistent league run this term however made him a cast iron certainty and he offered the launch pad with his neat touches and relieving deliveries.

The season is far from over. They will be able to get the defeat out of their system on the club circuit next weekend. Seven teams go into the hat on Monday as the backdoor adventure commences in late June. A road of redemption can be found if Waterford show more steadiness in front of goal and shuffle the deck somewhat. Paudie Prendergast looked uncomfortable in the corner and Darragh Fives may be better suited to the number two shirt. Brian O’Halloran and Shane Walsh will also boost the attack if they can shake off their injuries in the nick of time. A couple of wins would rebuild confidence and gather momentum for the All Ireland quarter finals. After all, Waterford have only lost two qualifier matches since the system was introduced in 2002. Heads fell to their floor on Sunday but there were signs of hope in how they took control of the contest. Putting things together for seventy minutes and eradicating the incoherencies in performance will be the challenge for management as the safety net is removed.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Who can hold their nerve in a close call? – Waterford v Clare preview



Rewind the closing stages of last year’s Munster semi final and an electric finale unfolds. Clare had the game within their grasp but they tensed up. Two spurned placed balls from Nicky O’Connell, a spillage from Darach Honan in front of goals and a last gasp Patrick Kelly free all came to nought. Stephen O’Keeffe also made a jaw dropping save at his near post from Conor McGrath. Waterford weathered the storm and showed that little bit cuteness to quieten Davy on that particular afternoon.

A similar tale unravelled in round one of the league. In another frantic finish, Waterford show steadiness. In the final play, they worked the ball patiently up the field to Shane O’Sullivan who drew the foul. Clare shot a dozen wides and couldn’t close out the contest. If it’s still a two horse race approaching the winning post on Sunday, who will make the decisive burst of acceleration?

The general consensus is that Waterford are on a gradual decline with Clare moving in the opposite direction. It’s not quite so simple. The Banner are without a win in the Munster championship since 2008 and that can prey on their minds. Under 21 success is no guarantee of senior silverware and only a win on Sunday will offer conclusive evidence that they are on the rise. On this stage, Waterford are the team with the winning mentality. Although there is a sprinkling of emerging talent, ten of the starting fifteen hold Munster medals. The Wonder Years swelled expectation levels and the current crop are eager to maintain those high standards. Many of the flair players and marquee names have departed but this team are steadily making their own unique footprint. In the league, they displayed a mental toughness and resilience in all five outings. The doom and gloom before the campaign dissipated with each performance.  All the forwards worked ferociously hard and the half back line kept things tight at the other end. There is steel amongst this group and also an experienced core of players still capable of mixing it with the top teams. From numbers one to nine, there is an air of assuredness. Ian O’Regan’s recent surge of form earned him the goalkeeping slot with the injuries to Shane Fives and Stephen Daniels forcing a sensible reshuffle which sees Paudie Prendergast promoted.

After that point, it is uncertain whether this front six can produce a total to win a cut throat championship match but they are finding form. Pauric Mahony is striking the frees sweetly for club and county of late, Brian O’Halloran brimmed with enthusiasm in the league and Jake Dillon hurled out of his skin for De La Salle in the early rounds of the county championship. Both sides play a similar brand of possession hurling but Clare make more use of the hand pass and support runners. Seamus Prendergast offers an outlet for a direct ball but the other front men require low ball to get their hands on the sliotar. An awful lot rests on Prendergast's ability to win puck outs and impose himself against a strong Clare half back line featuring current All Star Brendan Bugler. Remarkably, he is only member of the sextet with a championship goal to his credit. Maurice Shanahan or Jamie Barron look the most likely to break their duck if they put the head down and take on their markers. Waterford’s long range shooting has been an impressive feature of their play but they must also begin to make inroads closer to goal and become more inventive. The lack of a threat from close in frees raises another red flag. Ian O’Regan recently tried his luck from a penalty in a challenge game with Limerick to no avail.

The team selected by Davy Fitzgerald features fourteen from the relegation play-off win over the Rebels with Conor McGrath taking the place of Darach Honan. A single point defeat to Kilkenny rocked their confidence but they will be boosted by surviving in the top tier and coming through a 90 minute marathon in the process. Davy Fitzgerald is strangely subdued before this match. At the Munster championship launch, selector Louis Mulqueen was sent out on his behalf to perform the media duties. Away from the limelight, he will try to shield his players from the hype that is building. On Newstalk during the week, Jamesie O’Connor expressed the view that they were looking to break into the top four this season.

Apart from the hiding they endured against Tipperary, they were right in the frame for the other league games. Despite creating an abundance of chances, they struggled to billow the net. The Banner managed just four majors in six games They did however put up plenty of points (117 over six games). 58 of those came off the stick of Colin Ryan who is unlikely to buckle under the pressure from frees. Despite their impressive points tally they also amounted a considerable wides total. In a similar manner to Waterford, they like to take on efforts from distance. 16 went awry in the one that got away against the Cats and in the relegation play-off ,they accumulated a staggering 24 stray shots

Tony Kelly makes them tick from centre forward and he fired six points from play to put Cork to the sword. He drifts deep and knits together pretty patterns which will give Michael Walsh a decision to make. In the league meeting earlier this season, he registered 1-3. John Conlon is on the periphery of an All Star if he can sustain his performance levels over the campaign. This is his fifth season on the senior scene and he offers power amongst a lightweight forward line. He is also lethal from long range given the space. Conor McGrath returned from hip surgery in the latter part of the league and his trickery will cause trouble in the corner. 1-26 in five championship games (1-11 from play) proves his pedigree. Darragh Fives may take up the task of shadowing the Cratloe flyer. Shane O’Donnell’s size will also give Liam Lawlor plenty to deal with.

Clare may hold more aces in attack but Waterford can shade the battle around the middle. Jamie Nagle is enjoying a solid season at wing back alongside the every dependable Michael Walsh. That duo can guide the versatile Paudie Prendergast through his championship debut. Shane O’Sullivan and Kevin Moran can pull back to help out the defence but they will also be expected to drive forward and contribute on the scoresheet. The half back line and midfield hold the key to disrupting the flow of Clare’s short game and putting Waterford on a positive footing.

The lengthy league lay off and youthful line-ups makes this Munster championship opener hard to gauge.  In a fast paced and open contest, Clare should prevail which means that Waterford must hold their shape and eliminate any mistakes at the back. If it does become close and more of an arm wrestle, Michael Ryan’s men stand a better chance of emerging once again by a slim margin. The expectation and pressure weighs on Clare to back up their underage success and how they deal with that will ultimately determine the verdict. Can Waterford cope with the loss of so many leaders in a short space of time? They still remain battle hardened around the middle third and if Prendergast can continue his renaissance on the forty (or at full forward) Waterford can keep Clare waiting for a breakthrough.

Munster Hurling Quarter Final
Clare v Waterford
4.00 at Semple Stadium
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
Betting: Clare 4/7 Draw 10/1 Waterford 7/4

Clare: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, D McInerney, S Morey; B Bugler, P Donnellan, P O’ Connor; Conor Ryan, C Galvin; J Conlon, T Kelly, C Ryan; P Collins, S O’Donnell, C McGrath.

Waterford; I O’Regan; D Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, P Prendergast; S O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran; M Shanahan, S Prendergast, B O’Halloran; J Barron, P Mahony, J Dillon.

Defensive discipline the key to respectable showing – Kerry v Waterford preview



During John Kiely’s stint as senior boss, he quickly realised that Waterford would need to smarten up defensively just to become competitive. Jason Ryan or Liam Lawlor were pressed into duty as a sweeper and to build play from the back.

In 2006, they ran Kerry close in Killarney before going under by 0-16 to 0-8. “Everyone in my own parish, including my father, told me that we were wasting our time going to Killarney but look what happened, we succeeded in giving Kerry the fright of their lives” Kiely remarked afterwards. A year later, Waterford gained their first championship win in  19 years over Paidi O Se's Clare. They scotched RTE’s plans for a showdown between Paidi and his native county to make their first live appearance on the Sunday Game. The progress made the previous year gave the hosts a glimmer of hope but an Eoin Brosnan double blast delivered a routine 2-15 to 0-4 victory for the Kingdom at Fraher Field.

Niall Carew unveiled his approach on a crisp January afternoon at Carraiganore. In the extra time win over UL in the McGrath Cup, as many as fourteen men gathered behind the ball at certain stages. It was perhaps an extreme flavour of a fresh system which placed an emphasis on versatility. Liam O’Lonain for instance lined out in the unfamiliar surroundings of wing back during the league.
 
They enjoyed an early bounce and hit the summit of Division 4 through wins against Clare and Tipperary. Then came a three week break and the chasing pack caught up. In an untidy encounter with Limerick, they lost by 0-8 to 0-6 and momentum was lost. Confidence ebbed away thereafter and any promotion hopes were dashed long before the concluding rounds. They lost to London and started conceding at an alarming rate. They kept four clean sheets in a row but then Leitrim put away 3-14 and Offaly followed that up with 2-15. Tony Grey was at a loss to explain their sudden dip in form. “I’m still trying to figure it out. I spoke to Niall Carew and all the lads and we are just finding it very hard to figure exactly what it is. Confidence definitely had something to do with it but I don’t think you can put it fully down to confidence.”

For this assignment, it’s all about building a brick wall to keep Waterford in the hunt for as long as possible. The return of Thomas O’Gorman into the full back line gives them a solid and experienced look with twin brother Maurice likely to help out also. Looseness and sloppiness will be costly but there should be some safety in numbers. They must hold their discipline by tackling hard and fair and also keep their shape in the face of intense pressure. When they get the opportunity to counter attack, they must make it count.

An orthodox formation is out of the question here. Cork cracked 5-17 up in Pairc Ui Chaoimh when Waterford failed to pack the defence. Wing forwards Tony Grey and Andy Doyle will undoubtedly track back to lend a hand. The Ahearnes could also move out to midfield. Gary Hurney and Paul Whyte may be left with the task of making the ball stick up front as part of a two man full forward line and the Ballinacourty front man could prove the target for lengthy deliveries to relieve the pressure.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice decided to stick rather than twist when naming his starting fifteen. This means that Brian Sheehan, Darran O’Sullivan, Kieran O’Leary and Eoin Brosnan remain in reserve. Kerry started like a train against Tipp before easing up a bit mid way through the first half. The Premier shot wildly during that brief period of supremacy and failed to register from play in the first half. It highlights the need for Waterford to make shrewd shot selections on Saturday. Kerry reassumed control with Colm Cooper spraying passes from centre forward and James O’Donoghue grasped his opportunity by bagging 1-3. The Tipp ship was already sinking before Barry Grogan walked the plank. Declan O’Sullivan was surprisingly quiet last weekend but it’s unlikely that the three time All Star will put two games back to back. Kieran Donaghy also showed in patches his ability to unselfishly distribute to others at number fourteen. With that game out of their system, Kerry will look to kick on and that spells trouble for the Déise.

The bookies have set the handicap at thirteen points and that lays out the challenge in stark terms. The defensive set-up adopted by Carew will be fascinating to watch but it’s a difficult balancing act. He places his focus on a performance to banish the league blues and build a platform for the rest of the summer.

In the build up to this game, Tony Grey revealed that they will not accept another meek championship exit. “We set out at the start of the year to get two wins in championship. We have to get that and this thing of bowing out early in the qualifiers and we have lost our focus in the past after getting knocked out of Munster championship and go back to the clubs and a week of preparation then and that’s just not good enough any more.” Waterford have only gained one win in the qualifiers since its inception back in 2001 and it is there that their championship progress will be measured. Saturday night is about rolling up the sleeves and putting up the shutters.

Munster Football Semi Final
Kerry v Waterford
7.00 at Fitzgerald Stadium
Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)
Betting: Kerry 1/500 Draw 50/1 Waterford 25/1

Kerry: B Kealy; M Ó Se, A O’Mahony, F Fitzgerald; T Ó Se, K Young, P Crowley; A Maher, J Buckley; P Galvin, C Cooper, D Walsh; D O’Sullivan, K Donaghy, J O’Donoghue.

Waterford: S Enright; T Ó hUallacháin, T O’Gorman, C Phelan; N Walsh, S Briggs, J Hurney; M O’Gorman, T Prendergast; T Grey, S Ahearne, A Doyle; P Whyte, G Hurney, R Ahearne.