The Resurrection – Waterford 2-23 Galway 2-13

Despite the meek surrender from Galway no one can underestimate the scale of Waterford’s recovery to book a sixth All Ireland semi final place in a row. Their rise from the ashes couldn’t have been foreseen and in truth the margin of ten points flattered the losers.

Browsing through the weekend previews not one pundit gave Waterford a sniff of success. Their reasoning was sound given the evidence to work with. What we all forgot to factor into the equation was the edge in big match experience amongst the Waterford ranks, the reserves of steel and mental toughness instilled under Davy Fitzgerald and the fact that Galway have failed to banish their flaky nature. Until they defeat a top team in a knock out championship game they can no longer be trusted to deliver.

However, Waterford didn’t rely on Galway’s demise alone to produce this response. On and off the field lessons were absorbed from the Munster final. When the GAA analysts assembled on local radio last Saturday morning the one thing they agreed upon was that the players needed to hurl off the cuff and abandon the tactical straightjacket. Their advice was heeded. Players like Michael Walsh and Shane O’Sullivan resumed their natural positions, the return of the experienced duo Seamus Prendergast and Eoin Kelly brought an added edge to the attack while the rotation of John Mullane between centre forward and corner forward all benefited the team. Most importantly all fifteen players felt comfortable with what they were doing.

42 attempts on goal also signals a willingness to shoot on sight and a return of the attacking flair that appeared to be lost to the Justin McCarthy era. 2-23 is the highest total since the 6-18 racked up in a 2008 qualifier against Antrim. Prendergast brought an element of physicality and a puck out target that was missing from the half forward line in previous games. Despite his four misses he eventually found the range ten minutes from time. Eoin Kelly also justified his recall with his part in the opening goal, scoring a second half point and earning a number of frees. John Mullane welcomed the freedom of his roving role with Stephen Molumphy also reaping the benefits of this tactic. Mullane regained his swagger with three points and the captain regained his scoring instincts with three points from six attempts. Shane Walsh showed his intentions in the opening seconds by earning the free that eventually resulted in his early green flag. Like the league meeting in April he ran riot against Shane Kavanagh and each score came with a seal of class attached.

At the back the return of Liam Lawlor brought much needed stability despite the concession of the penalty. He stood up to both Joe Canning and Iarla Tannian with help from Darragh Fives and Noel Connors when required. They were helped by the limited supply that reached the inside forward line however. If Kevin Moran or Shane O’Sullivan didn’t catch the Galway delivery, the Brick or one of his wing men mopped it up. This monopoly on possession became crucial at the start of the second period when Waterford scored the first five points without reply to race seven clear.

Moran delivered his best championship display by catching clean possession, bursting down the middle of the Galway defence, delivering quality ball inside and landing three points into the bargain. His man of the match award is well deserved but Shane Walsh, Michael Walsh and Tony Browne didn’t come far behind. With the foundations laid in the half back line and midfield the Tribesmen wilted as early as ten minutes into the second period. They simply couldn’t find a way to gather primary possession with both midfielders replaced well before the finish. Andy Smith and David Burke came in with high expectations along with the half forward line of Gantley, Farragher and Tannian but all of them failed to come up to scratch. Only Joe Canning with 1-6 could justifiably claim he put in a decent seventy minute stint.

Let’s not get too carried away however. This quarter final didn’t produce the intensity, pace or physicality levels required for the hurdles to come. The game produced 28 wides and given the fragile nature of John McIntyre’s men Brian Cody is unlikely to be worrying unduly at this stage. Compared to the heights Kilkenny and Tipperary have scaled in their provincial campaigns Sunday’s fare ranked as pedestrian. The question for the next day is whether Waterford can raise their game that extra notch to meet Kilkenny head on.

Two scarring defeats aside Davy Fitzgerald boasts a number of records to be proud of as Waterford boss. Tipperary and Kilkenny remain the only two teams to have between his side in championship action since 2008. Waterford have only lost one championship game at Semple Stadium during his reign (2009 Munster final) and that is the sole defeat in thirteen championship games they have suffered at the venue. Sunday’s victory also makes it four semi final appearances on the trot under Davy’s watch and an undefeated record in quarter finals since 2005 remains intact as well.

Fitzgerald may be finally combining his own beliefs with a style of play that fans can appreciate. If Waterford can display that lion hearted attitude alongside a freedom to express themselves on the field of play like they did on Sunday complaints will be hard to find. The prize for victory is less than appealing but pride has been restored in difficult and unlikely circumstances.

Waterford 0-15 Kilkenny 0-9 – All Ireland Minor Quarter Final

Waterford advanced to an All Ireland semi final meeting with Dublin next month after a strong defensive effort laid the platform for a six point win over Kilkenny at Walsh Park. The game only ignited briefly in the second half and many scrappy passages of play resulted in throw balls throughout the hour.

The home side led by 0-9 to 0-4 after dominating the opening half. Donal Breathnach struck over three points from play with Jake Dillon adding another three from frees. Gavin O’Brien, Ray Barry and Cathal Curran also raised white flags. Jamie Barron led an uncompromising defence sweeping up all the breaks and launching attacks from the wing back position. Kevin Kelly converted three frees to keep the Cats in touch with Peter Vickery also on target. Waterford’s lead could have been greater but poor shooting clocked up seven wides in the opening thirty minutes.

Kilkenny returned fire early in the second half. Inspired by a monster point from centre back Eoin McGrath and the efforts of Chris Bolger and Kevin Kelly around midfield they reduced the deficit to three points. Both sides now found scores hard to come by as the game turned into a dogfight. With the scoreboard reading 0-10 to 0-7 mid way through the half Bolger stood over a 21 metre free in front of goal. Instead of taking the easy point he went for glory but his weak effort was cleared. The balance now shifted to Liam O’Connor’s side. A Jake Dillon free soon after opened up a four point gap and Waterford never looked back from that point. Despite being hampered by injury Gavin O’Brien picked off two points and Breathnach fired over his fourth of the evening.

With Barron, Jim Power and Damien Ahern rock solid in defence any threats of a Kilkenny fightback were snuffed out and the result was sealed well before the closing minutes. Shane Forristal also deputised well in goal and displayed a booming puck out. By the finish Kilkenny had replaced three of their starting six forwards. While this black and amber outfit didn’t match previous teams they have put out in this grade, Waterford showed bucketloads of graft to see them through with something to spare. Minus the services of Paddy Cooke, Adam O’Sullivan, Darragh Flynn and Cormac Heffernan this win again showed the depth in the panel and the splendid work done under the guidance of Chuck O’Connor and his management team.

Scorers:- Waterford: J. Dillon 0-5 (5f), D. Breathnach 0-4, G. O’Brien 0-3, R. Barry 0-2, C. Curran 0-1.
Kilkenny: K. Kelly 0-4 (4f), P. Vickery 0-2, C. Bolger 0-1, E. McGrath 0-1, P. Keneally 0-1.

Waterford: Shane Forristal, Ian Kenny, Damien Ahern, Colin Walsh, Jamie Barron, Darren Foley, Jim Power, Shane McNulty, Ray Barry, Jake Dillon, Peter O’Keeffe, Gavin O’Brien, Donal Breathnach, Stephen Bennett, Cathal Curran.
Subs: Michael Harney for O’Keeffe (54 mins), Cein Chester for Bennett (57 mins), Colin Dunford for Dillon (60 mins)

Kilkenny: Aaron Duggan, Ciaran Doyle, Jack McDowell, Eoin Moriarty, Jack McGrath, Eoin McGrath, James Maher, Richie Reid, David Kearns, Thomas O’Hanrahan, Kevin Kelly, Chris Bolger, Diarmuid Cody, Conor Martin, Peter Vickery.
Subs: John Hayes for Kearns (H-T), Peter Keneally for Martin (36 mins), Eoin Bergin for O’Hanrahan (50 mins), Mark Mansfield for Reid (54 mins).

Wides – Waterford: 8 Kilkenny: 8

Man of the match: Jamie Barron (Waterford)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Attendance: 3,780

Last chance to deliver a performance of substance

Let’s focus on the positives for a start. In nine championship games Waterford hold an unbeaten record against Galway. One quarter final defeat in six since 1998 also gives cause for optimism in normal circumstances.

The conditions for this clash are far from normal however. A seven goal Munster final defeat brought heavy handed criticism of the management only matched by the reaction to the All Ireland embarrassment three years ago. Waterford supporters accustomed to suffering took this one hard. It took all winter to swallow the 2008 massacre so two weeks to recover from this latest setback seems a steep challenge.

They now meet a Galway team in confident mood. The Tribesmen have emerged with two qualifier wins over Clare and Cork by a winning margin of 30 points in total. John McIntyre’s side already experienced their bump in the road against Dublin and appear determined to advance beyond the quarter final stage for the first time since 2005. Davy Fitzgerald also disregarded this unique 100 per cent record in his comments after the Tipperary game. “I don’t think that will matter to them too much. I wouldn’t say they are f****n shaking in their boots. That’s probably a stupid stat to be honest about it. Galway are on fire we are not on fire.” Plotting a victory with a team that found its morale crushed makes this game a defining one in Davy’s tenure.

In terms of team selection no easy answers can be found for the questions here. Is it possible to retain faith in the majority of the team that underperformed against Tipp? Will a total overhaul provide further instability? How can the defensive cracks be papered over sufficiently in the space of a fortnight? In championship 2011 Fitzgerald has based his selections largely on training performance but has failed to recognise the value of big match experience. The treatment of the two Prendergasts is a case in point with neither of them introduced in the Munster final. Such is the topsy turvy nature of Waterford’s season both could now be recalled for Sunday’s quarter final. The ball winning capabilities of Seamus are desperately needed at number 11, a position short on creditable candidates. Shane O’Sullivan evidently feels uncomfortable in it judging by his Munster displays. In Declan’s case injury curtailed his league involvement but on the basis of last year’s form many find it surprising that he has received no game time to date.

Stephen Molumphy and Clinton Hennessy, two certainties for so long, must be under pressure to retain their spots for this clash. Both have played every championship game under Fitzgerald’s watch but both have suffered a dip in form. The claims of Adrian Power can only go unnoticed for so long and after conceding 13 goals in his last three championship games Hennessy’s lack of shot stopping ability again comes into sharp focus. A midfield combination of Richie Foley or Kevin Moran alongside Shane O’Sullivan could also mean the exclusion of the captain for this encounter. Molumphy appeared to return to his best against Limerick but looked out of his depth against the Tipperary duo of Shane McGrath and Gearoid Ryan. Will Davy be prepared to make this big call?

In defence Liam Lawlor now must be considered as the only viable option for full back with Brick Walsh restored to centre back. With Maurice Shanahan doubtful with hamstring trouble the opportunity arises to start Eoin Kelly. While Kelly remains scoreless in league or championship an early point could inject a much needed spark into the forward line. It also gives the Galway defence another threat to deal with besides John Mullane and an element of unpredictability. Raising a couple of green flags and breaking the twenty point barrier is a must in this company, two things the attack failed to achieve against Tipperary.

Some clues for an unlikely victory also came in the league match at Walsh Park three months ago. Shane Walsh gave Shane Kavanagh a torrid afternoon scoring 1-4 resulting in Kavanagh’s substitution on 44 minutes. Despite Joe Canning and Damien Hayes combining well they limited Galway to 1-16. When it came to the crunch the visitors wilted and Pauric Mahony converted a pressure free in the dying minutes. Another close encounter on Sunday remains Davy’s best bet for a repeat outcome and a tenth championship victory out of ten against Galway.

The Westerners however sent out a signal with their comfortable win over Cork after some early difficulties. Their attack bristles with danger from every angle. Joe Canning with 2-25 so far and Damien Hayes with 2-10 remain their biggest threats but five other players have struck the net so far in this year’s championship. Returning All Star Ger Farragher has also made the centre forward berth his own. That’s three Galway All Stars firing on all cylinders against an edgy back line. The half back line of Barry, Regan and Cullinane along with the midfield pairing of Burke and Smyth also shone brightly against the Rebels.

That is not to say that question marks don’t remain over this maroon and white side. Since the Dublin game their mettle hasn’t been tested sufficiently. Until they survive a close shave against a top county their All Ireland credentials can’t be taken seriously.
Defensively they can be opened up in the full back line as Clare showed in patches and as Cork exposed with an early blitz last time out. John McIntyre, in his third year at the helm, also feels the heat of losing the last two quarter finals by a single point. Advancing his charges to the next stage is a must to sustain progress and quieten the critics inside and outside the county.

Doubts can be cast over both teams ahead of this one but the major ones linger over Waterford. How well are Waterford primed mentally? The experienced core of the team will demand that they at the very least do themselves justice on this occasion. Neither the win over Limerick or meek surrender to Tipp reflected their true potential. They need to keep the margins tight however and while a performance may arrive Galway possess the forward power to experience a degree of comfort by the closing stages of this one and record a four point victory.

Blue and White GAA Starting Fifteen: Adrian Power, Darragh Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel Connors, Tony Browne, Michael Walsh, Kevin Moran, Richie Foley, Shane O’Sullivan, Eoin Kelly, Seamus Prendergast, Pauric Mahony, John Mullane, Shane Walsh, Brian O’Sullivan.

All Ireland Quarter Final
Waterford v Galway
Throw in 4.00 at Semple Stadium
Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork)

Betting:
Galway 4/11 Draw 10/1 Waterford 5/2

Munster Final Post Mortem - Tipperary 7-19 Waterford 0-19

The records tumbled like confetti from the sky in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. The first time Waterford conceded seven championship goals since 1954 for a start. The heaviest Munster final defeat since 1982 and the highest score posted by a winning team since that day. The last occasion a team struck seven goals in a Munster final was 1936. An even more chilling one for Déise fans is that the 21 point beating marks the biggest since the All Ireland final defeat in 2008.

One look at the defensive formation and the script for the next seventy minutes of hurling took shape. Of the six defenders only Noel Connors could feel secure in his position as the others took up unfamiliar posts. Jerome Maher as we all know picked up Lar Corbett in the corner, Michael Walsh started his first championship game at full back with Connors in the other corner. Darragh Fives in only his second championship game moved to wing back, Kevin Moran switched to centre back, which was another first in the Waterford colours, while Tony Browne switched wings to number seven. Even before the Tipperary forwards chopped and changed that rearguard was built on shaky foundations. The man marking strategy also fell to pieces. Aside from unfairly asking Maher to shadow Corbett, John O’Brien took the Brick for three points while Eoin Kelly struck 2-3 from play against Noel Connors.The management must shoulder the burden of responsibility for these decisions.

Further out the field the midfield battle was lost from the early minutes. Shane McGrath managed to catch the first three puck outs and launch attacks that resulted in a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after just four minutes. Gearoid Ryan’s deliveries also contributed heavily to the plentiful supply inside to Corbett and company. These two set the tone for what was to follow. Richie Foley was hauled off by half time and while Stephen Molumphy toiled hard he found himself outclassed. Only when Kevin Moran moved to that sector did Waterford begin to make any inroads against the classy Premier pairing.

Eoin McGrath’s selection also backfired badly against the outstanding defender in the country right now in Padraic Maher. Apart from Pauric Mahony none of the attack hit the form they are capable of. Starved of supply John Mullane and Shane Walsh still looked to carve an opening but their efforts weren’t rewarded. Meanwhile the game seemed to largely pass Shane and Brian O’Sullivan by. The changes to spark any form of a revival also didn’t materialise. It took 50 minutes to introduce Eoin Kelly with both Prendergasts left watching on when their drive and experience was called for.

Another worrying aspect of the performance was the poor first touch and control on the Waterford side. This can be partly put down to the focus on the tactical approach to the game. They seemed so confused with how to deal with Tipperary that they forgot the basics. Mentally they are appeared drained and no one characterised that more than John Mullane. His weak effort in the first half as he advanced towards the Tipperary goal coupled with losing control of the sliotar on numerous occasions gave the impression that all was not well with Waterford’s star attacker. Another factor in Mullane’s case is the non stop season he has put in for club and county.

Some individual displays from Pauric Mahony, Tony Browne and Kevin Moran struck the only positive notes. Mahony’s flawless accuracy and a thirteen point haul make for a good day’s work any way you look at it. 38 year old Browne tried to repel the Tipperary avalanche by all means and up to the very end attempted to inspire his colleagues. Moran did likewise especially at midfield and before the four goal blitz coped reasonably at centre back. The substitutes that arrived at half time also battled gamely with Liam Lawlor and Maurice Shanahan in the reckoning for the next day.

Where to from here? The management team will remain in place but if the Galway game was further away than a fortnight’s time they would be under serious pressure to take the plunge. Even still the hurling public in the county are baying for blood and few could blame them. The instructions and tactics need to be abandoned to freshen up a demoralised team ahead of an Everest like challenge against a confidence fuelled Galway team. The scars the younger players especially will take from this brutal annihilation also mean that the mental side of things need to be taken care of as well as the hurling side. A back to basics approach may prevent another embarrassment but no quick fix can be found for the defensive chaos that resulted on Sunday. To restore pride however some freedom must be allowed to the players to display all the talents they undoubtedly possess.

Probably the saddest sight of all on Sunday was John Mullane entering the press area to speak with RTE. For a proud hurling man this defeat cut to the core of his being and no words were needed to see that in his expression. His public apology to the supporters was a mark of a man that owes nothing to Waterford hurling. Leaders like Mullane and Browne will be needed like never before to recover this sinking ship for two week’s time.

Reaching the Premier standard – Munster Final 2011 Preview

Sunday’s final may be billed as the clash of the All Ireland champions versus the Munster champions but not a clash of equals. The bookies offer a Waterford win as a 4/1 shot with a handicap of +6 available at evens. These odds hardly reflect a 50-50 clash that accustoms Munster finals.

Tipperary trainer Cian O’Neill cited in a recent interview that the 2008 All Ireland semi final marked a turning point for the team under Liam Sheedy. He felt they were bullied and outmuscled in that match and from there the fire was lit for the 2009 and 2010 campaigns. While consistently reaching the top tier of the hurling rankings over the last decade Waterford find themselves a step below Tipperary and Kilkenny at the this moment in time. To illustrate the point Davy Fitzgerald’s only championship defeats have come against these two counties. Would this team have lived with the pace, savage intensity and astounding skill levels of the last two All Ireland finals? This weekend’s Munster final provides the most accurate barometer as to the health of the current crop since last year’s All Ireland semi final.

That sobering experience gives pointers to the improvements needed this time around. To put themselves into contention Waterford must prevent the Tipp attack breaking the 30 point barrier as they did against Cork and Clare while scoring seven goals in the process. This effort however cannot undermine compiling a sufficient tally of scores to win the game. Davy’s challenge is to find the right balance. Executing part one of the plan involves cutting the supply of ball inside, getting the match ups right while also maintaining total concentration throughout. Easier said than done against a star studded attack that can switch at ease, pick their passes and seldom waste scoring opportunities.

The scale of this challenge is reflected in the following stats. Tipperary have fired 17 goals in their last five championships. Lar Corbett ranks as their top championship goal scorer with 21 followed closely by Eoin Kelly on 19. The Mullinahone man also has a record of 9-43 in 7 games against Waterford while Corbett has scored 3-4 in the last two meetings. The starting six forwards on Sunday can boast 52 championship goals between them. All of them have also started in at least one All Ireland final.

This brings us to the second part of the jigsaw; the Waterford attack and whether they can conjure up a winning total. Two members of the forward line will be making a first Munster final start which displays the youthful nature of the team. Between the six forwards 20 championship goals have been scored. This reflects the advanced stage of development of Tipperary compared to Davy Fitzgerald’s side. Much hinges on Mullane as well as Shane Walsh’s goal instincts. Brian O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony and Maurice Shanahan (in the first half) aided the scoring effort against Limerick and a similar contribution will be required on Sunday.

Last Thursday night at Walsh Park the team conducted a behind closed doors session which indicated that the management team were plotting a surprise game plan or team selection. The starting fifteen named a week later didn’t disappoint in that regard with Jerome Maher and Eoin McGrath emerging as surprise inclusions. Maher earns his place after strong training performances but making a championship debut in the heat of a Munster final poses different questions and strikes echoes of Denis Coffey’s baptism of fire against the same opposition in 2006. McGrath’s selection could be regarded as a bigger surprise given his lack of impact in the league campaign or even on the challenge circuit. Maurice Shanahan’s disappointing second half display against Limerick was obviously a factor in his exclusion.

While Jerome Maher is named at number three the speculation surrounding the positioning of Michael Walsh continues. If Walsh does move to full back, Kevin Moran is likely to start at centre back. What can be declared as fact is that his policing of Kevin Downes was his first experience in the role of a full back at this level. If the management believed the Brick could act capably in the position long term they would have experimented in the league or even the Waterford Crystal League. Mid way through the championship is no time to alter the two central planks of the defence especially when one is an All Star in the position for two years in succession. Before Thursday’s team selection Liam Lawlor looked the favoured candidate for full back with Brick Walsh retaining the defensive stability at centre back. With Lawlor omitted it now can’t be disregarded that Darragh Fives or Noel Connors could also end taking up the full back duties.

With all the doubts and mutterings surrounding Waterford’s defensive make-up let’s not forget that their opponents have also encountered difficulties in this area. Cork were left to rue early missed opportunities at Semple Stadium in the Munster first round and it cost them dear in the final reckoning that day. Conor McGrath’s display in the Munster semi final proved that speed can trouble these Tipp backs and despite their inexperience this Waterford front six do possess a turn of foot. John O’Keeffe remains in the Premier rearguard and will be seen as a possible link to be exposed with Brendan Maher remaining on the sidelines. John Mullane also unsettled Paddy Stapleton last August at corner back.

The bookies clearly disregard any chances of an upset but they give scant credit to the deep resolve within this panel and the seamless transition of players Davy has presided over. The star quality however lies in the Tipperary ranks and so many things need to turn in Waterford’s favour to deny them the spoils. The favourites to prevail by a four or five point margin.

Blue and White GAA Starting Fifteen: Adrian Power, Darragh Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel Connors, Tony Browne, Michael Walsh, Kevin Moran, Richie Foley, Stephen Molumphy, Maurice Shanahan, Shane O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, John Mullane, Shane Walsh, Brian O’Sullivan.

Munster SHC Final
Waterford v Tipperary
Throw in 4.00 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Referee: Brian Gavin Offaly

Betting:
Tipperary 1/5 Draw 14/1 Waterford 4/1