Places still at stake on trip to Tullamore

Unless results go Waterford’s way in other games on Sunday, momentum and a something resembling a settled fifteen will be on the agenda for the remainder of this year’s league campaign. Facing an injury ravaged Offaly on Sunday, a team who have only managed one win in five thus far, a win would also maintain a steady campaign and Waterford’s standing as the one of the teams that will chase Tipperary and Kilkenny later on in 2011.

Waterford enjoy an uncomfortable league relationship with the men from the Faithful county. In 19 league meetings Offaly maintain a 10-7 advantage with two draws. Waterford did claim the 2010 spoils but needed a late spurt to squeeze through by 1-19 to 1-16. In 2006 and 2007 however, Offaly upset the odds. The 2006 game in Birr saw Joe Bergin strike 2-3 against makeshift full back James Murray. Suffice to say that experiment started and ended on that day. By half time the home side built up an eleven point lead before eventually settling for a 3-14 to 0-15 win. They repeated the trick the following year at Walsh Park by 3-15 to 1-19. Remarkably these two sides have only come across each other twice in championship. In the 2005 qualifier Waterford won by eleven in Carlow but the 2008 edition at Thurles was only settled by two Eoin Kelly goals. Even though Offaly have left the top table of hurling they can cause unease on any given day as Galway experienced last summer. They certainly hold no fear of Waterford.

The weight of relegation has been lifted off Joe Dooley’s shoulders after last week’s win over Wexford. They looked in trouble before then after suffering three heavy defeats on the trot. In their home games against Galway and Dublin they went down to 14 men and collapsed by 14 points and 13 points respectively. The discipline issue cropped up again last Sunday when Colin Egan became the third Offaly man to see red in this campaign. The long term injuries to James Rigney, Brendan Murphy, David Kenny, Paul Cleary and Joe Brady will also leave Joe Dooley satisfied with survival.

In attack they are sprinkled with names that wouldn’t look out of place in any of the top sides. 2010 All Star nominee Shane Dooley hit two high pressure late frees against Wexford after looking off colour in the opening rounds. He has recovered from the injury he suffered against Dublin and with 1-10 to his name last weekend he is regaining form. Joe Bergin and Brian Carroll can also give a stern examination of opposing defences with 1-25 scored between them so far. Newcomer Colin Egan and Derek Molloy’s return from injury provide other exciting options in attack. Despite these talents in the scoring department, Joe Dooley will be far from happy with the scores leaked at the other end. So far they have shipped 6-103 in five league games which is an average of 24 points per game. This is where a misfiring Deise forward line can regain some confidence.

Clinton Hennessy is likely to return to Waterford goalkeeping duties after serving his four week suspension. Adrian Power and Stephen O’Keeffe have probably not done enough to dislodge the dependable Ardmore man in an area where Davy can marvel at the riches he can choose from. Eoin Murphy and Tony Browne are also close to a return to action. The problem is who to drop from a defensive effort that has been a pleasing aspect of the league to date. It is a delicate balance between blooding young players and giving everyone, including the experienced players, a fair crack of the whip. Given the form of Darragh Fives at corner back Murphy in particular has a battle on his hands. Aiden Kearney, Declan Prendergast and Liam Lawlor are all on the mend to increase the competition further in defence. Shane O’Sullivan is available again in midfield to join up with top scorer Richie Foley and with John Mullane preparing for his wedding at least one change in attack can be anticipated. If Eoin McGrath or Eoin Kelly receive that opportunity they will need to offer more than they did in Nowlan Park when introduced. Brian O’Halloran remains cursed by injury after a promising Waterford Crystal League. The Clashmore man is an exciting prospect but without a consistent run of games under his belt he is falling down the championship pecking order.

The actual naming of the Waterford team remains an issue for media and supporters. Not only is the team not announced on a Thursday or Friday evening, which would give time for national and local media to preview the game, but even the team listed on the match programme cannot be relied upon as being accurate. In the last two league games the fifteen players named to start are not the same fifteen that have lined out on the field. The matter was raised by the clubs at a county board meeting a number of weeks ago but little headway has been made. In the meantime the guessing game continues.

A loss here would turn a solid league campaign into a worrying one as the championship looms large. Despite a resurgent effort from the home side, Waterford should escape from Tullamore with something to spare.

National Hurling League Division 1
Offaly v Waterford
Throw in 2.30 at O’Connor Park, Tullamore
Referee: Johnny Ryan

Lack of forward thinking at Nowlan Park

With the glorious sunshine, a dry sod and a good attendance of 7,646 a spicy encounter close to championship fare was anticipated at Nowlan Park yesterday. What transpired came nowhere near that standard.

In a game of many wides, many mistakes and many throw balls, Kilkenny’s superior forward division and no nonsense defence was sufficient to win the day. Waterford briefly threatened to derail Brian Cody’s league ambitions but even a below par Kilkenny raised their game sufficiently in the crucial stages of the second half.

From Davy Fitzgerald’s lofty perch in the stand the areas of improvement must now be clear to pinpoint. For a start his side are short probably two forwards of where they want to be come championship time. It is not just the personnel but the style of play that raises concern. This current crop will compete and hold their own against the best sides in the country as they showed on Sunday. For long periods they suffocated Kilkenny and the defence held up well as both sides cancelled each other out. The problem is Kilkenny are better at this type of pressure game and their movement and patterns amongst the forwards are also superior. At this moment in time Waterford’s scoring rate is being sacrificed by focussing too much energy on closing down space for the opposition. The statistics don’t lie in this regard. The majority of championship or league ties are won by scoring twenty points or more. In five league games Waterford have only broken that target once, the 3-16 racked up on opening day against Dublin. Only Wexford and Offaly have scored less in the league than the 5-76 Davy Fitzgerald’s side have on the board.

Back to the game on Sunday and for a period in the second half Kilkenny were on the ropes. Shane Walsh endured a torrid afternoon on Noel Hickey but came up with one of the goals of the league and set up Eoin McGrath for the subsequent point. Kilkenny appeared to be going through the motions up to that point but they came up with the scores when the pressure was on. The goals from TJ Reid and Colin Fennelly came in an untidy fashion but Reid’s green flag broke Waterford’s momentum. In defence the Cats were ruthless with Brian Hogan giving a true display of leadership and John Dalton another stand out performer. In attack they shot an uncharacteristic amount of wides but Aidan Fogarty, Reid and Fennelly contributed well from play when required. Kilkenny’s forward starters posted 2-9 from play compared to Waterford’s tally of 1-3. Richie Hogan didn’t sparkle but his free taking was consistent throughout.

Waterford’s best performances came in defence and midfield as none of the forward line offered a consistent threat. Eoin Kelly made little impact on his introduction with John Mullane also enduring a frustrating afternoon on John Dalton. Thomas Ryan gave a glimpse of his pace in the second half but still needs to bulk up physically. Stephen Molumphy’s involvement was curtailed at half time due to army duty in Poland but it seems rather bizarre that the Ballyduff Upper man wasn’t allowed an afternoon off by Davy Fitzgerald.

On a positive note Jamie Nagle put in a strong display at wing back making many fine catches and clearances to set Waterford on the attack. Wayne Hutchinson built on his performance against Cork at full back, limiting Richie Hogan to only one point from play. His Ballygunner colleague David O’Sullivan also put in a solid seventy minutes alongside Michael Walsh and Nagle in the half back line. Richie Foley showed his accuracy once again with seven placed balls and he worked tirelessly around the middle with Kevin Moran.

Both sides have a lot to work on but Kilkenny still have the carrot of a league final to keep them sharp. Offaly and Galway lie in wait for Fitzgerald’s men who will now look to settle on a championship 15. The experience of Tony Browne and Eoin Murphy and a number of injury victims are yet to return to the ranks. Places are still up for grabs especially in the forward line and the tactics will also be monitored closely in the final rounds with Limerick in mind. Despite their Division Two status with five wins from five outings Donal O’Grady is building momentum ahead of the joust in June.

Kilkenny trip another test of mettle

Davy Fitzgerald and his management team are unlikely to inform the players of Waterford’s league record at Nowlan Park ahead of Sunday afternoon’s league encounter. Since 1950, in 17 visits to the Marble City, Waterford have emerged victorious on four occasions. Kilkenny are not firing as we would traditionally associate with them at this time of year but they will be out to prove that they are moving in the right direction. This has been no ordinary league for Waterford either with Davy Fitzgerald’s appeal on Friday night the latest episode. A prospect of a league final remains an attainable goal however which could make this tie the game of the weekend.

Kilkenny began the league on a high against Tipperary but recent displays have given Brian Cody reason to ponder. Against Galway an inexperienced full back line and a nervy goalkeeping display resulted in the concession of four goals. Another worrying aspect of that afternoon in Salthill was how a nine point lead was quickly reversed by the Tribesmen. Certainly the resources beyond the top twenty players are perhaps not as strong as Cody imagined especially in defence. PJ Ryan could be in line for a recall in the number one shirt for Sunday with JJ Delaney likely to command the edge of the square. Newly installed captain Brian Hogan should be another to receive a quick recall. Up front Richie Hogan and Colin Fennelly are two of the newer crop pushing for a summer audition. Hogan’s display against Cork in round two of the league unleashed the potential Cody has invested in over the past couple of years. With 0-31 to date in the league and Fennelly chipping in with 2-4, it boosts an attack short the services of Richie Power, Henry Shefflin and Martin Comerford. Michael Fennelly at midfield has been another to shine in the current campaign. An All Star in 2010 the Ballyhale man is continuing to prove why he is one of the top midfielders in the country at this moment in time.

For Waterford the majority of the team that defeated Cork last time out is likely to remain. We can only rely on speculation here as official confirmation of a team has become increasingly difficult to obtain ahead of recent games. Maurice Shanahan will be forced to sit out the remainder of the league after breaking a finger in training during the week. Shanahan looked to be warming to the task in recent weeks with an encouraging second half display against Cork but his opportunity to nail down a permanent spot is now out of his hands. In Shanahan’s absence Eoin Kelly may make his first start of 2011 with Thomas Ryan and Eamonn Murphy the other options Davy possesses. Tony Browne could also be in line for a return at Nowlan Park with David O’Sullivan the likely member of back line to lose out in that event. With Clinton Hennessy still suspended, Stephen O’Keeffe is due another chance to build on his solid showing against Wexford. The full back line deserves to receive the vote of confidence but stiff tests in the form of Eddie Brennan, Richie Hogan and Eoin Larkin lie in wait. Shane Walsh will also test out his return to form against a team he scored two goals against in the 2009 All Ireland semi final. A good performance here could clinch that full forward berth in his favour.

After the disappointing manner of their defeat against Galway, Brian Cody will look to bounce back here especially in front of the home crowd. Davy Fitzgerald, from his seat in the stand, knows that his team must be ready for the Kilkenny onslaught from an early stage. He is gradually assembling a side that is close to his championship 15 and those on the fringes have not flinched in the challenges to date. Davy may be short too many players however, especially Shane O’Sullivan at midfield, to cause a serious upset. With the home side determined to get their league back on track and a defence that won’t leak four goals for the second consecutive game they look a solid bet for a three or four point win.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1
Kilkenny v Waterford
Throw in 2.30 at Nowlan Park
Referee: John Sexton

Flashback Friday - Paul Flynn v Cork 2004

A master of all he surveyed - Ken McGrath 1996-2011

A jolt was sent across Waterford hurling followers as the news broke last Tuesday night that Ken McGrath was to bow out of the inter county scene. His 46 minutes in Fraher Field on March 13 would be his last in the blue and white. As a model of consistency, an artist and a leader Ken McGrath could do no more to bring back Liam McCarthy in his 15 years of service. He had earned the right to choose his moment to depart the stage.

He excelled in every central outfield position from full back to full forward. In many cases versatility can be mistaken as a weakness but McGrath could master all of the posts he was placed at. And throughout he maintained the high standards he set for himself. His debut in 1996 as a teenager against Tipperary came without much fanfare with Waterford experiencing a famine a senior level. The feast was just around the corner however. The injection of youth that McGrath, Shanahan and Flynn brought mixed with the likes of Sean Cullinane, Stephen Frampton and Fergal Hartley and under the guidance of Gerald McCarthy the Waterford renaissance began. McGrath’s unforgettable goal in the 1998 league semi final against Limerick brought his side to the final that year, a huge leap into the limelight. Six championship games followed where McGrath stood toe to toe with the likes of Seanie McMahon, Vinnie Maher and Canice Brennan. Gerald’s team fell one point short to Kilkenny in the All Ireland semi final but now everyone knew that Waterford hurling was back and everyone knew about Ken McGrath. The remaining years of Gerald’s tenure were scarcely as memorable but things could have been different if McGrath didn’t break down early in the 2000 Munster championship game against Tipperary. Operating at full forward he skinned Philip Maher for three points before an ankle injury ended his involvement.

The majority of the highlights Waterford supporters will recall come from the Justin McCarthy years of 2002 to 2007. In 2002 he miraculously recovered from injury to come on as substitute in Thurles against Cork and fire over the winning point. He followed that up with a man of the match display against All Ireland champions Tipperary at centre forward to claim Waterford’s first Munster crown in 39 years. The Mount Sion man reinvented himself as a centre back in 2004 starting with the demolition of Clare in the Munster first round. As captain of the team that year the Munster final holds a special place as it does for every Waterford fan who was present that day. He rose to the occasion after John Mullane’s dismissal, once again battling to overcome Niall McCarthy in one of many duels which characterised Waterford and Cork games of the past decade. The 100 yard point and the last minute catch over Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s head make a permanent mark in the memory. In 2007 it was those Cork battles again that McGrath appeared to relish the most and he finished the season with a third All Star to his name. The following season Davy Fitzgerald plunged him into the troublesome full back slot. While it seemed to temporarily shore up the defence, a great talent was caged away from his comfort zone. The return to centre back for the All Ireland semi final against Tipperary was one of the crucial factors in one of the great days for Waterford hurling.

Hurling was kind to McGrath but it also threw obstacles in his path. Who will forget the 2006 All Ireland semi final against Cork when his long range free was kept at bay by Donal Og Cusack. The 2008 All Ireland final collapse to Kilkenny also hurt a man as proud as McGrath more than most. Injuries have also taken their toll and limited his game time for the last two seasons. Games that he once mastered he struggled to reach the pace of. His relationship with Davy Fitzgerald also appeared strained at times. He battled to prove himself once again despite rare appearances and his opposition to Davy’s new approach. His point against Clare in the Munster championship and his hat trick of late scores against Tipperary in 2010 showed that the fire still burnt within him to return to the glory days.

McGrath will finish as one of the greatest never to claim an All Ireland medal but while ultimate glory eluded him he proved more than a match for any of the stars of the past 20 years that did claim that honour. Ken McGrath earned the respect of the great Cork, Clare and Kilkenny teams of his era. Henry Shefflin, Eoin Kelly, Tommy Walsh, Sean McMahon, JJ Delaney and Brian Whelahan all rank as legends of the game but Ken McGrath’s name doesn’t look out of place on such a list.

Ken McGrath Stats

Championship debut: Munster championship 1996 v Tipperary
Championship appearances: 51
Championship scores: 1-89
Munster titles: 4 (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010)
National League: 1 (2007)
All Stars: 3 (2002, 2004, 2007)
2002 - Half forward
2004 - Midfield
2007- Centre back
Waterford captain 2001 & 2004

Flashback Friday - The Great Ken McGrath

League back on track in typical Waterford v Cork fashion

A crowd of somewhere between five and six thousand packed into Fraher Field to watch another absorbing clash between Waterford and Cork. The attendance was so unexpected that the throw in was put back a full 15 minutes. A shot in the arm for a slumbering league campaign to date with an exciting game to boot.

After trailing by only a point at half time and with the advantage of a strong breeze to look forward to, Cork will wonder how they let the points slip. The first half saw Patrick Cronin and Lorcan McLoughlin boss the midfield exchanges with Donal Og Cusack’s immaculate distribution aiding their effort. The inside line also looked lively with Patrick Horgan and Luke O’Farrell firing over four points from play between them. They also weathered a strong Waterford start which saw them lead by three points on three occasions. Despite maintaining a grip at midfield Cork’s forward unit struggled in the second period and by close of business three of their starting sextet left the field. Credit is due to Waterford’s defensive effort here with Wayne Hutchinson overcoming early difficulties to put in a strong second half. Darragh Fives and Noel Connors were equally impressive beside the Ballygunner man in the full back line.

It was a day that Shane Walsh showed the way for those around him up front in probably his best display in a Waterford shirt. Starting in his favoured position of full forward, Walsh was first to almost every ball ahead of his marker Eoin Dillon. Two points inside the opening seven minutes was a sign of things to come. He added three more in the second half at crucial stages to keep the home side in the hunt for victory. That second half saw the sides level on seven occasions and only one point ever separated them at any point. Maurice Shanahan was another to rise to the occasion especially in the second half and he gathered and distributed an amount of possession to his colleagues. Waterford undoubtedly were boosted also by the return of Kevin Moran and John Mullane. With two minutes to go however Jerry O’Connor put the Rebels ahead with a booming score from midfield. The resilience of Davy Fitzgerald’s men was tested and again they passed. Richie Foley stood over a free on his own 65 metre line and nailed it to give his side vital momentum entering the closing minutes and moments later Moran found the winner.

A win based on solid defensive play and hard graft maintains a good recent record over Cork and keeps the league alive with three games remaining. On the minus side Ken McGrath’s return to action at midfield didn’t work as planned with the number nine called ashore early in the second half. Davy admitted afterwards that it may have been a mistake to place him there and clearly at this stage of his career McGrath would be better suited closer to goal. The wides tally of 15 and four yellow cards will also be of concern with some of the cautions due to careless and unnecessary acts. With Clinton Hennessy absent for two league games due to suspension, Adrian Power took the goalkeeping reigns unconvincingly on Sunday. Rather than clearing the ball first time the Ballyduff Upper net minder prefers to take on the man first and then make a big clearance. This ploy directly resulted in a Cork point in the first half and despite keeping a clean sheet there can be improvements made to his game.

News broke on Friday morning of Davy Fitzgerald’s three month suspension after comments made to an official during the Tipperary and Waterford game. The management and county board are determined to fight this hefty ban tooth and nail with the appeal hearing due on Friday. After Sunday’s game Davy affirmed that these matters will not affect or distract the team but only time will tell if this side issue takes centre stage. For now Davy can bask in maintaining hopes for a final spot next month on a positive day for the league overall.

Flashback Friday - 2010 Munster Final Goals

No home comfort for Davy against confident Rebels – Waterford v Cork preview

Waterford and Cork meet this Sunday for the first time in Dungarvan since the 1998 National League. Only three points separated these sides in three league and championship encounters in 2010 and with the league ambitions of both sides in the balance this Sunday’s clash could be another close one.

Cork arrive on the back of a steady campaign with wins over Offaly and Galway and a one point defeat to Kilkenny. That round two game with the Cats in difficult conditions at Nowlan Park has given the Rebels a spring in their step. They gave a rousing second half display and also seemed to settle upon their best fifteen. The Cork running game also returns with Aisake O’hAilpin now off the panel and the Michael Cussen experiment parked to the sidelines. It is a tactic the Cork players find comfort with and the win over Galway was an example with short accurate passes placed into the forward line. After the Tipperary win in last year’s championship Denis Walsh seemed to fall between two stools and the team suffered as a result. The 2010 campaign also highlighted a need to refresh the panel. Paudie O’Sullivan, Cian McCarthy and Luke O’Farrell have brought renewed energy to the forward line with William Egan, Ray Ryan and Conor O’Sullivan impressing in defence thus far. Another new weapon Walsh can call upon is Patrick Cronin’s switch to midfield, a role he fulfilled in UL’s successful Fitzgibbon Cup campaign. While Cork can be pleased with their renovations, the reliables like John Gardiner and Niall McCarthy are still putting their shoulder to the wheel. Gardiner in particular looks in the mood to lead a strong Rebel charge in 2011. All of these factors give them plenty of encouragement ahead of Sunday.

Waterford’s first real test against Tipperary last weekend was compromised by the two red cards. Davy Fitzgerald seemed pleased in the aftermath however that despite a long absentee list his team responded in a positive manner. No matter what the circumstances his charges won’t go down without a fight. The De La Salle contingent returned to training this week but look unlikely to feature at the weekend. Noel Connor remains a doubt after sustaining ankle ligament damage. The imminent suspensions to be imposed on Shane O’Sullivan and Clinton Hennessy mean two changes to the team will be made for Sunday. The big question is will Ken McGrath finally get the chance to prove himself from the start? He received six minutes against Dublin and four minutes against Tipperary so no judgement can be cast on whether the Mount Sion man is in contention for a championship spot. Adrian Power seems to be the preferred choice for the number one jersey but Stephen O’Keeffe will be pushing hard after his clean sheet in Wexford. Up front Richie Foley and Seamus Prendergast will need help with the scoring burden. Foley has notched 2-27 in three games with Prendergast chipping in with 2-3.

Davy Fitzgerald suggested after last weekend’s game in Thurles that he anticipates a few more defeats in this league campaign. He will be satisfied that competition for places is intense and that there is good spirit instilled in the team. Defeat on Sunday however rules Waterford out of league final contention and that should spur them on. The defence has thrown out doubts over their inexperience so far and if Maurice Shanahan in particular can aid the forward cause a home win is not beyond the bounds of possibility. All that said with this Cork side close to full strength, showing solid form to date and a better spread of scores amongst the forward line they should take the points here.

National Hurling League Division 1
Waterford v Cork
Throw in 2.30 at Fraher Field, Dungarvan
Referee: Barry Kelly

Moral victory despite moments of madness – Tipperary v Waterford analysis

As thirteen man efforts go Waterford fought the good fight on Saturday night but Davy Fitzgerald’s team predictably suffered their first defeat of 2011. The spirit shown in adversity must be encouraging as Tipperary stuttered with two extra men to put them away.

Noel McGrath once again reigned supreme against Michael Walsh in an almost carbon copy of the performance he produced in last year’s All Ireland semi final. Then again not many centre backs in Ireland would have handled the Loughmore Castleiney man on this night. He shot seven points from play, four in the first half and three in the second half, each point better than the one that preceded it. Padraic Maher and Pa Bourke also raised their game to give the All Ireland champions their first league points of the campaign.

Waterford started off brightly with Maurice Shanahan a lively presence in the full forward line. The goal from Paul Kelly, which was of the soft variety, settled the home side and put them into a lead they would never relinquish. Waterford stuck in there through Richie Foley’s free taking and a marvellous effort from play under the Old Stand as Shanahan along with others in the forward line languished. The two dismissals however quickly turned the assignment into a damage limitation exercise.

Uncharacteristic moments from both Shane O’Sullivan and Clinton Hennessy but no complaints could be made about either decision. According to Waterford management the Ballygunner midfielder lost the ball in the lights from Brendan Cummins’ puck out but it was a wild stroke and a late one. After sending Hennessy off for a crazy high tackle referee James Owens didn’t deem it necessary to inflict similar punishment on Paddy Stapleton. His challenge on Thomas Ryan, while not as dangerous as the previous incident, still warranted a red for being head high. The remarkable thing is Tipp’ wilted under the pressure of having two extra men. In fact Waterford with thirteen men won the remainder of the game by seven points to six.

Richie Foley again stood above everyone else in a blue and white jersey. After a shaky display against Wexford, he resumed the free taking duties and struck over nine out of ten. He also added three fine points from play. Foley’s move to midfield for the second period reaped dividends and he looks far more comfortable in that area of the field. Seamus Prendergast also continued his upward curve with a hard working display capped off with two points from play. The Ardmore man looks to have regained the form he seemed to have lost for the past couple of seasons. Apart from Foley and Prendergast however none of the other forwards have stepped up during the league. Pauric Mahony is developing well but this year could be too soon for him and the same applies to Eamonn Murphy. Maurice Shanahan, Shane Casey and Thomas Ryan however are in their third season on the panel and none of this trio have nailed down a place based on league form thus far. The full back line of Darragh Fives, Shane Fives and Jerome Maher proved a solid unit despite their inexperience. Indeed the majority of Tipp’s scores came against the half back line where Michael Walsh had a game to forget.

Another note on a strange night’s work at Semple Stadium was the small attendance of 4,947. With Setanta Ireland not exactly available to the majority of households staying at home in front of the television could not be used as a reasonable excuse. People are clearly voting with their feet on the idea of night time hurling and indeed the league in general. It’s Waterford v Cork next Sunday and if that doesn’t bring out a bumper crowd in Dungarvan the GAA will seriously need to reflect on the structure, marketing and maybe even the ticket pricing for its secondary competition.

Flashback Friday - Waterford v Kilkenny League Final 2007

Tipp to shine under the Semple spotlight? – Tipperary v Waterford preview

Saturday night’s televised clash in Semple Stadium offers a barometer of progress for both Davy Fitzgerald and Declan Ryan. Waterford’s young players will look to perform in their test with the All Ireland champions while Tipp badly need a win on the board or else an unthinkable relegation scrap will emerge on the horizon.

Let’s park the game itself for a moment however and examine the merits of these floodlit fixtures. While the success to date of the Dublin Spring Series cannot be argued, on the hurling side the idea doesn’t seem to have caught the imagination. A stark reflection of this was the attendance at last year’s replayed Munster Final. Even the Tipperary and Kilkenny league game a number of weeks ago failed to lure the crowds. The quality of the hurling also seems to suffer as a result, with the lights often making the sliotar difficult to pick out. This Saturday’s clash will provide another test of the success or otherwise of hurling under lights. Another low turn out or a disappointing game could result in a rethink.

Declan Ryan was quick to wield the axe to his panel after Dublin inflicted a second defeat of the campaign. Timmy Hammersley, Conor O’Brien, Paddy Fanning and Hugh Maloney, who were all members of last September’s triumphant panel, were forced to bite the dust. The transition from Sheedy to Ryan is still a work in progress but a third loss on the trot would immediately place the new bainsteoir under the microscope. Eoin Kelly’s second half introduction against Dublin showed small signs of panic already creeping in. On the plus side Ryan can pick an experienced side to see him through this early battle on Saturday night. Brendan Cummins may return in goal with Padraic Maher, Paddy Stapleton and Michael Cahill all likely to start in defence. Shane McGrath and Brendan Maher will form the midfield combination while John O’Neill and Pa Bourke have shown up well in the forward line. Lar Corbett recently returned to training with Eoin Kelly also available if required.

Davy Fitzgerald will be quietly pleased with progress to date but he recognises that Tipperary in Thurles is a different obstacle to either Dublin or Wexford. Davy’s record against Tipp in league and championship also needs to be improved with one win (2008 All Ireland semi final), one draw and three defeats in a total of five games. Last weekend Waterford played Clare under lights at Sixmilebridge to adjust to the conditions they will face on Saturday. Ken McGrath, Eoin Murphy and Eoin Kelly all saw game time in a narrow 1-19 to 2-15 defeat. The management will be reluctant to make many alterations to the team that claimed full points in Wexford. Clinton Hennessy looks favoured to take his turn in goal after Adrian Power and Stephen O’Keeffe featured in the previous two fixtures. The only other changes could be in attack with Maurice Shanahan and Ken McGrath both in contention. Shane Casey or Tomás Ryan could be under threat if either player is promoted. McGrath is eager for more league action in 2011 after admitting in a recent interview that he felt he returned too late to the panel last year.

Waterford undoubtedly enter this game the more confident outfit after their solid start. Tipp still seem to be adjusting to the Declan Ryan influence and the rotation of players within the panel may also be creating an unsettling effect. They do hold the aces in experience however and this may tell in defence if Davy remains loyal to his youthful forward line. With the nucleus of the All Ireland winning side to pick from and two points desperately required, the home side may have the edge this weekend and steady the new ship.

National Hurling League Division 1
Tipperary v Waterford
Throw in 7.30 at Semple Stadium, Thurles
Referee: James Owens