No one can question the character or resolve of this Waterford team after a rousing and thoroughly merited win over Galway on a glorious Sunday afternoon. Consistency can now be added to the mix also with only two games lost in ten competitive outings this year. The same cannot be said of the visitors who now must be asking familiar questions of themselves ahead of the championship.
Let’s put this gutsy display on Sunday in some context. The absentee list included All Stars Noel Connors, John Mullane and Stephen Molumphy along with Richie Foley and Maurice Shanahan. The Waterford forward line also didn’t carry any recognised free taker at senior level. John McIntyre’s side saw the return of Shane Kavanagh to full back and a potent full forward line of Eoin Forde, Joe Canning and Damien Hayes to call upon. It made sense to tip the Tribesmen despite the events of two weeks ago with the bookies installing them as 8/11 favourites.
So how did Waterford upset these odds? The simple answer is sheer hard graft all over the field and a hunger that Galway couldn’t match. The work rate of the home side put pressure on Galway from the first whistle. In terms of the physical exchanges and winning dirty ball Waterford almost always came out on top and in a tight match that ultimately decided the verdict. They also made better use of possession both from puck outs and delivering quality ball into the forwards. Clinton Hennessy picked out Shane O’Sullivan time and again and the Ballygunner man also won a decent amount of the breaking ball around the middle. Shane Walsh benefitted the most from the movement and supply of ball inside to the full forwards. Walsh was able to win the majority of possession delivered in front of him and fired a tally of 1-4. With no John Mullane, Eoin Kelly or Richie Foley his contribution proved significant.
If Galway lost the battles on the field, the men on the line also came off second best. John McIntyre was slow in taking off Shane Kavanagh after enduring a torrid afternoon on Shane Walsh. By the time the Kinvara full back was called ashore on 44 minutes the damage was done on the scoreboard. The positioning of Joe Canning at centre forward in the first half also didn’t work with his best work done in the second half at number 14. In truth Galway kept in touch mainly due to moments of Canning magic. His goal on 49 minutes was one of the goals of the year so far as he caught a great ball in the air before showing his strength against Tony Browne and finishing with a bullet to the corner of the net.
While Canning, Damien Hayes and Barry Daly were the only Galway players to do themselves justice, Davy Fitzgerald’s side provided no shortage of heroes. Michael Walsh along with his namesake Shane could both claim to be worthy man of the match contenders. The Brick proved again that despite Kevin Moran’s displays for De La Salle the centre back slot is his own. His interventions against Joe Canning and Aoghnus Callanan in the second period prevented two certain green flags. These highlights were only a small part of a powerful performance that included inspirational catches and the breaking up of countless Galway attacks. Darragh Fives once again put himself in the frame for the number two jersey by coping well with a strong Galway attack. Kevin Moran put in a tireless shift at midfield with Shane O’Sullivan also putting in an energetic display from centre forward. Pauric Mahony rose admirably to the free taking duties, nailing eight and only failing to convert two 65s. David O’Sullivan could also be pleased with his substitute appearance after replacing Eoin McGrath. On the negative side shooting 12 wides is a worrying aspect of the performance with the full back line and goalkeeper also experiencing nervy moments in the second half.
These are small concerns however in the overall picture. This performance puts a positive spin on a middle of the road campaign up to last weekend. Waterford have won four league games by no more than three points, drew once against Dublin and lost away games to Kilkenny and Tipperary. This habit of winning close games could count for a lot on the bigger occasions to come and with a number of star players to return the pieces are fitting into place. Waterford’s 18/1 championship odds still show that they will be underestimated by many despite the fact that along with Dublin they look the most settled of the chasing pack.
This is a different Waterford model to the swashbuckling outfit of 2002 to 2007. The personnel is obviously changing with an injection of youth and they are buying into Davy Fitzgerald’s hurling philosophy. While the style may not be as entertaining as some would wish for Waterford will be difficult to beat this summer if they maintain the intensity shown on Sunday.
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