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
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