A question of mindset - Waterford v Dublin preview

Plenty at stake for Waterford here if results go in their favour but what about Dublin? After their draw with Tipperary on Saturday Anthony Daly told The Irish Examiner that “Fellas need a break. We may have a look at a few lads that weren’t in the 26 today. We badly need to freshen up I feel. We had three savage tussles more intense than normal league games. And Croke Park adds to that as well.” Daly’s selection will be watched with interest.

Dublin may be doomed to a relegation play off but they can decide which opponents they face on April 15. A win on Sunday means another clash with Waterford, while defeat and a Kilkenny victory would drag Galway into the dogfight. Dublin’s league fate has been shaped by last minute drama thus far. Paul Ryan’s missed free against Cork, Matthew Ruth’s winning goal at Nowlan Park and Liam Rushe’s equaliser on Saturday leave the Dubs with only one point on the board. Despite netting ten goals in four games, a ruthless streak remains missing from their armour. They couldn’t close out the deal against Kilkenny and last weekend they won enough possession to do without the late leveller. Stephen Hiney, Tomás Brady, Peter Kelly and Conal Keaney make up their injury list at present and Paul Ryan recently joined them. This has opened the door for players like Ruairi Trainor and Danny Sutcliffe to stake a claim and they have applied themselves well in recent weeks.

For the home side, the coaching abilities of Ken McGrath and Sean Cullinane will be tested as they need to hit the ground running in their first backroom involvement at inter county level. They will get little time to settle into their new roles and arriving into a senior hurling squad more than three months into a season is far from ideal. On the flip side, a fresh approach could be just what is required and these two new voices will command great respect in the dressing room. The measure of their impact will, as always, be measured by results. The win over Galway offers some respite for Michael Ryan and his new selectors with the possibility of survival bringing a degree of optimism ahead of Sunday’s game. Fraher Field should be packed to the rafters.

In terms of selection issues Dean Twomey and Eoin McGrath are probably most under threat for their places. Twomey put in a solid shift at midfield last time out but needs to be more decisive in possession. Tactically Waterford used the short game effectively against Galway until they tired in the last ten minutes. The crisp deliveries in front of the inside forwards also paid off as evidenced by the move that led to Shane Walsh’s goal. A third clean sheet in a row will also help and in this regard Stephen O’Keeffe should retain the number one shirt. Adrian Power wasn’t named on the panel in Salthill but did appear on the sideline with the rest of the team. He remains on the periphery however as O’Keeffe has grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

In the final analysis, a lot will depend on the starting fifteen Anthony Daly puts out and whether they will target this game or leave something in the tank for April 15. Dublin come into this one more battle hardened but Waterford may be invigorated by the changes behind the scenes. If they show up with the same attitude as they did in Salthill, stick with the short ball game and sharpen some of the rough edges as regards their shooting, Michael Ryan’s men should keep up their end of the bargain and leave survival resting on the outcome in Nowlan Park.

National Hurling League Division 1A
Waterford v Dublin
Throw in 2.30 at Fraher Field
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan

Betting:
Waterford 11/10 Draw 10/1 Dublin 5/6

Glimpses of sunshine hurling as Waterford’s dark cloud lifts – Waterford 1-14 Galway 0-15

A rumour circulated in the press box beforehand that the throw in could be delayed due to the heavy volume of traffic around Salthill. Now not everyone caught in those jams sought an afternoon at Pearse Stadium as the prom and the beach proved popular attractions on a day of glorious sunshine. The game itself will hardly live long in the memory but it may mark a turning point in Waterford’s fortunes as summer time edges nearer.

Inside five minutes Waterford had created five scoring chances and dictated the terms to the Tribesmen all over the field. They used their short game effectively and this contrasted greatly with some of the aimless deliveries directed into the forward line in previous games. The hunger and drive missing seven days ago was restored and Galway struggled to match it. John Mullane also looked sharp and eager to contribute which lured Declan Connolly into fouls that would cost him later. Seven wides threatened to undo much of the good work completed in that opening half and a gap of three points at the interval scarcely reflected Waterford’s superiority. By that stage both sides were reduced to fourteen men as Anthony Stapleton put his stamp on the game. Two yellow cards in two minutes ended Shane O’Sullivan’s afternoon and he could have no complaint with the decision as he chopped down Joseph Cooney when he was heading goalwards and then committed a foot trip on Barry Daly. Three minutes later Declan Connolly also received his second booking for what appeared to be persistent fouling although his second offence seemed minor. Justifiably the Galway faithful voiced their displeasure with the match official as they needed to work twice as hard than their opponents to earn frees. Connolly’s red card offered Waterford the slice of luck that had evaded them in earlier rounds and the fact that it happened so quickly after O’Sullivan’s dismissal calmed any uneasy feelings.

Galway launched a mini revival at the start of the second half but Pauric Mahony’s assured free taking kept them at bay and then Shane Walsh finished off a wonderful move. Gavin O’Brien delivered a delightful cross field ball towards Mullane who proceeded to skip past David Collins into space. An easy point was on offer but Mullane sensed a goal opportunity and slipped a pass for Shane Walsh to flick to the net. Waterford cruised into a six point lead thereafter but couldn’t put the issue to bed. Galway desperately struggled to put the pieces together up front all afternoon as a solid Waterford rearguard broke up their inter play. Philip Mahony and Darragh Fives shone but crucially they all played well as unit.

In the final ten minutes however, Anthony Cunningham’s side bossed possession and they slowly began to find their feet in attack. Waterford tired visibly, began shooting poor wides and taking wrong options. The changes at midfield also didn’t work as planned and this allowed David Burke the time to orchestrate a comeback that resulted in five points on the bounce. An unthinkable draw looked on the cards but there was one big play left in the tank. Eoin Kelly won a crucial ball and dished off for Walsh to unleash the strike under pressure to tie up the points. Those nervy ten minutes almost gave the home side a lifeline but Waterford had shown more than enough to keep their survival hopes alive.

But just when you thought the door was closed on an eventful week and you could enjoy the sunny drive home, word filtered through about Brother Philip Ryan’s departure. Brother Philip was present on the sideline during Sunday’s game and broke the news to the players in the dressing room after securing the victory. He was invited by Davy Fitzgerald to come on board in 2011 and he worked closely on defensive matters. This year he took on a greater responsibility as regards coaching the team but after four league games he has now left Michael Ryan’s management team. A bizarre end to a bizarre week and the story continues next weekend at Fraher Field where matters on and off the field will again come under close scrutiny. You can’t take your eyes off it.

Any light at the end of the tunnel? – Galway v Waterford preview

In light of the events that unfolded on Thursday it is difficult to preview Sunday’s trip to Pearse Stadium without a degree of pessimism. As an atmosphere of uncertainty and confusion surrounds the camp, a fourth consecutive defeat will be difficult to avoid.

Ken McGrath has stepped into the breach after Nicky Cashin’s resignation but it would be asking too much for the three time All Star to make an immediate impact given the trying circumstances. The absence of a concrete statement from Nicky Cashin leaves a void of information and messy situation for all concerned. A dark cloud now hangs over the set-up and who knows the twists and turns that are yet to unfold should results continue on their current path. Now the players somehow have to pick up the pieces after another week of negativity and tackle a confident Galway outfit on their home patch. A tall order.

Galway can mix the sublime with the erratic but carry that vital ingredient of momentum after their last gasp victory over Cork. They shot wildly in the first half and trailed by eight at one stage but managed to turn it around on the resumption with two goals. One of those was a delightful ground stroke from Niall Burke, who has graduated seamlessly to senior level under Anthony Cunningham’s direction. Pa Cronin, Richie Power and Noel McGrath have all caused trouble from centre forward in Waterford’s league campaign to date and that trend must be reversed on Sunday to stop the in form Burke. Cunningham put his stamp on matters early doors by disposing of a number of well known names that had been part of Galway’s recent high profile failures in crunch championship games. With the likes of Burke, Barry Daly, Conor Cooney and Ger O’Halloran filling the breach and showing encouraging signs against Dublin, Tipperary and Cork the new broom appears to be doing no harm.

For Waterford, the much heralded return of John Mullane and Eoin Kelly to training during the week has been negated by other off the field events but it will still be interesting to see if one or both start their first competitive game of 2012. Their comebacks alone won’t reverse the downward slide unless many basic facets of play are improved upon. As a starting point the intensity levels need to be much higher than those witnessed in Thurles. From a defensive point of view, Galway can’t be afforded the same latitude that the Tipperary forwards were because Damien Hayes and company need no second invitation. A return of 2-15 was an improvement on previous games but ball winning issues linger in the half forward line. Seamus Prendergast or Maurice Shanahan look like the most obvious candidates for the troublesome number 11 shirt in the short term. In terms of other selection debates, Stephen O’Keeffe should receive another vote of confidence while Aidan Kearney and David O’Sullivan may come back into the reckoning in defence.

Morale already appeared dented before developments this week so spirits cannot be sky high heading into this game. Pride is at stake for these players however and Waterford should definitely be a lot more competitive and forceful this week but it is too much to expect an away win. The greater momentum and confidence is with the home side and that should see them through Sunday’s clash.

National Hurling League Division 1A
Galway v Waterford
Throw in 2.30 at Pearse Stadium
Referee: Anthony Stapleton

Betting:
Galway 1/8 Draw 14/1 Waterford 11/2

Winless weekend hard to swallow

Tipperary 0-31 Waterford 2-15
“We are just not up to the pace of the game, we don’t look sharp, we don’t look fit and we don’t look mentally focussed” Michael Ryan observed after a third consecutive trimming in Division 1A. Sunday’s showing revealed some more unpleasant truths that the players and management must address in the coming days.

With only twelve minutes on the clock Tipp had clipped over eight points and that set the agenda for an afternoon where Waterford always played catch up. The intensity required to just stay competitive was visibly lacking from the outset. Tipperary were correctly lauded for their stick work, short passing game and off the ball movement but they were generously accommodated time and space on far too many occasions. Backs and forwards came off second best in numerous battles for possession and also got caught for pace. The concession of 31 points is simply inexcusable at this level even allowing for the brilliance of Padraic Maher, Brendan Maher and Noel McGrath. Remember that the Premier attack which lined out at the weekend only contained one survivor (McGrath) from last year’s All Ireland final.

The most striking contrast between both teams however was the implementation of a game plan. From Darren Gleeson, with his crisp short puck outs, right up to the inside forwards Tipperary appeared to revert back to the style that served them so well under Liam Sheedy. And in the number 11 shirt they have a man that can execute that type of game to perfection. Noel McGrath always seems to pull the strings at centre forward against Waterford and again he put on a masterclass. He floated and drifted into deep lying areas to pick off almost effortless long range points and also played clever stick passes to his colleagues. In the absence of Kelly and Corbett, he has shown great leadership in the league to date.

At the other end, Waterford lacked the intent and purpose that their opponents showed. Michael Ryan clearly favours going man to man but there was perhaps a case for an extra body in defence at some stage to stop the flow of Tipperary points. A losing habit also chips away at confidence and that was evident throughout Sunday’s game. A settled team will help matters and if Michael Walsh and Kevin Moran start at centre back and midfield respectively in Salthill with John Mullane available up front they will reap the benefits. The faith shown in Gavin O’Brien and Martin O’Neill continues to pay off and both could be richly awarded for their spring form when the summer selections have to be made. Maurice Shanahan also put his shoulder to the wheel when Waterford fell a long way adrift in the second half and has now scored 2-7 against stellar company over the last two weeks. The creation of four goal scoring opportunities was another positive development on the attacking front.

With a relegation play off almost a certainty, the Galway game now takes on a greater significance in terms of delivering a performance of substance. They need to get the basics right first of all however to stand a chance of retaining their status and restoring morale with the championship just a couple of months away.

Fermanagh 0-15 Waterford 0-12
Waterford’s promotion hopes faded early on Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field but John Owens will wonder how this one slipped away.

They led by 0-10 to 0-8 after 48 minutes when Fermanagh’s Shane McCabe received a second yellow card from over fussy referee Michael Rock. The Clare official issued a total of 13 yellows over the seventy minutes. At that stage Waterford appeared to be in a strong position to take advantage especially with Gary Hurney and Mark Ferncombe looking potent in the full forward line. Instead the fourteen men picked up the pieces and kicked four unanswered points in the closing stages. They were inspired largely by Paul Ward and Seamus Quigley who contributed ten points between them. Liam Ó’Lonáin created a late chance to equalise but his effort hit the butt of the post.

It summed up Waterford’s luck in front of goal all afternoon. Fermanagh have still yet to concede a three pointer in this year’s league but needed a slice of good fortune on Sunday to keep that record intact. By half time the home side could easily have raised three green flags but found goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher in scintillating form. He smothered a shot firstly from Mark Ferncombe and then produced an incredible double save minutes later. Apart from the four goals posted in Aughrim, John Owens’ side have failed to hit the net in three of their four league outings to date.

Next up Waterford travel to the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening and while they still mathematically retain a chance of making the top two, Fermanagh and Clare now look set to advance to the third tier.

Glimmer of hope but questions remain - Tipperary v Waterford preview

Two daunting away trips ahead for Waterford to claw themselves out of the relegation mire, starting this Sunday at Semple Stadium. Although the bookies make them 11/2 outsiders, there are grounds for optimism. Last weekend a youthful Galway put Tipperary to the pin of their collar at the same venue and with Michael Ryan able to welcome back a number of key men, the Déise starting fifteen will be closer to full strength.

While John Mullane will not return until the trip to Galway, Shane Walsh looks set to return after a bout of illness. Walsh’s eye for a goal along with his physical strength and experience have all been sorely missed so far but if he does line out he will also need the younger players to continue where they left off last Sunday. Maurice Shanahan, Martin O’Neill and Gavin O’Brien should all be brimming with confidence after contributing 1-7 between them from play against Kilkenny. There’s no reason why they cannot repeat the dose this time around as Galway’s full forward line proved. Damien Hayes, James Regan and Bernard Burke all exposed gaps in Tipperary’s inner line last weekend and chalked up a total of 2-7 from play in the process.

Due to a chest infection Shane O’Sullivan only entered fray after 51 minutes against Kilkenny but this time is poised to make his first league start of 2012. Stephen Molumphy and Paul O’Brien held their own at midfield in round one but struggled to impose themselves against the Kilkenny pairing last Sunday. A combination of O’Sullivan and Kevin Moran would offer more power, presence and scoring potential. Moran however is likely to continue his run at centre back and face up to Noel McGrath. The Loughmore Castleiney man always seems to enjoy a profitable outing against Waterford and tends to drift into space to pick off scores. Keeping him quiet is a must if an away win is to come into the equation. Philip Mahony should retain his place in defence possibly at wing back although Jamie Nagle may also come back into contention.

Tipperary were roundly criticised for their attitude at Nowlan Park on the first day out but managed to quell some of the discontent by pulling through against the Tribesmen. The management team remain under scrutiny however as they look to reshape their attack without Lar Corbett. The products of Tipp’s recent underage triumphs like Shane Bourke, Brian O’Meara and John O’Neill all need to step up to the plate during this year’s league as regulars like Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher and Eoin Kelly are forced to watch from the sidelines. With an inexperienced look to the forward division, much weight has been placed on Noel McGrath’s shoulders. He answered the call last time out by chipping in with 1-3 and displayed some fine long range shooting against Kilkenny. Pa Bourke’s accuracy will also ease the burden in the absence of the big names.

Waterford shouldn’t a fear a trip to Semple but a number of questions remain unanswered to make a credible case for victory. The concession of soft scores, goals in particular, persists and will need to be eradicated to stay in touch. Meanwhile in the forward division it’s still uncertain whether Waterford can maintain a constant threat to hit the twenty point mark or more. The conversion rate from frees will also need to improve from the last day. That’s too many imponderables to predict an away win. Despite Tipperary’s absentees up front they still put 2-20 on the board last weekend and they should manage to take the spoils here with three or four to spare.

National Hurling League Division 1A
Tipperary v Waterford
Throw in 2.30 at Semple Stadium
Referee: James McGrath

Betting:
Tipperary 1/8 Draw 14/1 Waterford 11/2

Promotion hopes on the line - Waterford v Fermanagh preview

The next fortnight will determine the success or otherwise of Waterford’s league campaign. This weekend Peter Canavan’s table toppers visit Fraher Field while a week later a trip to the Gaelic Grounds is on the cards. Waterford need to win at least one of these crunch games to keep their promotion ambitions alive.

Fermanagh have emerged from the blocks with a point to prove after a disastrous 2011. With everyone now united behind Canavan they have picked up four wins from four and could open clear daylight at the top with another two points on Sunday. The home side will need to close down ace marksman Seamus Quigley to cause an upset. Quigley not only provides a physical presence but he also possesses the deft touches and skill to rack up big totals. One of the O’Gorman twins will probably take up the important task of putting the shackles on him. In defence Fermanagh have established a mean streak where Niall Bogue, All Star Barry Owens and Ryan McCloskey all operate. Clare, Tyrone and Fermanagh are the only the teams not to concede a goal in this year’s league campaign.

Waterford surprised many by disposing of Wicklow with a degree of comfort in Aughrim. The return of Mark Fercombe coincided with a four goal burst that blew their hosts out of the water. The confidence and swagger that the Ballinacourty attacker displays makes him one of the top finishers in the county and John Owens will hope for another goal scoring contribution from him this weekend. Another crucial factor will be the input of Gary Hurney at full forward especially if he comes up against Barry Owens. The two time All Star is likely to pick up the Waterford captain and whoever comes out on top in this duel may tilt the balance towards their side.

In last year’s Division 3 campaign, Waterford presented a formidable challenge on home turf especially against the likes of Limerick and Louth. If they can negate the threat of Quigley, Fermanagh will struggle to find another reliable source of scores. They should also gain belief from their unlikely success in Aughrim but they will again need to raise a couple of green flags to keep the show on the road. Division 4 usually takes some twists and turns before the promotion issue is settled and Waterford can emerge in a tight finish this weekend to open up this year’s race.

National Football League Division 4
Waterford v Fermanagh
Throw in 1.00 at Fraher Field
Referee: Jer Lynch

Betting:
Waterford 5/4 Draw 15/2 Fermanagh 4/5

Youth blossoms but clinical Cats keep foot to the floor - Kilkenny 2-21 Waterford 1-15

At the start of the second half, Richie Power was keen to lay down a marker. After experiencing a muted opening thirty five minutes in general play, he was ready to make amends. Although his first effort missed the target he made no mistake second time around and the tone was set. Within ten minutes a one point lead turned into seven. Game over.

That’s not to say Waterford folded up their tent on the resumption, they were simply blown away by a superior force. Power orchestrated the second half blitz up front but he wasn’t alone. TJ Reid was fetching balls out of the sky all afternoon while Richie Hogan burst into life after the break with two points before his incisive hand pass engineered the killer goal. Matthew Ruth probably only touched the ball three or four times and yet he ended up with 2-1. And on a quiet day for the captain, Eoin Larkin still contributed three points from play. At the other end Paul Murphy and Tommy Walsh battened down the hatches to only concede three second half points from play.

Waterford struggled to match their first half heroics but a number of the young players continued to take to the fight to the All Ireland champions. Philip Mahony, Gavin O’Brien, Martin O’Neill and Maurice Shanahan all emerged with their reputations enhanced from this experience. On his first full league start, O’Brien displayed great vision, sprayed the ball around to create scores and picked off two crisp first half points. Shanahan produced one of his best performances in the county colours against Jackie Tyrell and may be finally ready to deliver on his rich promise. O’Neill steadied the ship from placed balls and maintained his early season form by showing well for the ball throughout. Let’s also not forget a man in an altogether different age bracket; Tony Browne. The 38 year old fired two booming points on his return to action and remained resolute on his flank of defence all through.

These bright spots however couldn’t prevent the Kilkenny juggernaut taking a firm grip on proceedings and they punished every weakness in the Waterford armour. While the hosts conceded a number of scoreable frees to Richie Power, this could have been negated if Pauric Mahony didn’t endure an uncharacteristic off day. A couple of short puck outs also didn’t work out to plan and resulted in some soft Kilkenny points, especially in the first half. Problems also surfaced at midfield but this pairing won’t be facing up to Michael Fennelly’s power every weekend. Kevin Moran held Richie Power in the first half but on the turnover, the ball winning ability of the Carrickshock man alongside TJ Reid left the half back line on the back foot. The Michael Walsh debate will rumble on despite his contribution to that encouraging first half resistance. He provided the assist to 1-4 of Waterford’s 1-9 either by playing the final pass or being fouled for a free. In the second period however, he again looked uncomfortable and such a key figure for this team can no be longer left with a peripheral influence on affairs. His assurance at centre back was badly needed when Kilkenny began to dominate.

Undoubtedly Waterford are struggling to cope with the casualty list especially in a competitive top tier where a run of defeats saps morale. The absence of Noel Connors, Shane O’Sullivan, John Mullane and Shane Walsh to name a few would impact on any of the teams in Division 1. Despite the best efforts of the new kids on the block, returns of 0-18 and 1-15 rarely win matches at league or championship level and that’s where players like Mullane and Walsh are sorely missed. On the opposite side of the coin, Brian Cody has the luxury of working off a full strength panel, with the exception of Henry Shefflin, and started on Sunday with nine of last year’s All Ireland winning side.

With a number of regulars, including Mullane, unlikely to make the trip to Semple Stadium things may get worse before they get better. Waterford need to build on Sunday’s first half display, absorb some harsh lessons and look at realigning the shape of the team. Nothing can be done about injuries or late withdrawals but controlling the controllables and making the most out of the resources to hand will be the only way of keeping Waterford afloat in Division 1A.

Kilkenny CBS 2-12 Coláistí na nDéise 1-12 – All Ireland Colleges Quarter Final

Coláistí na nDéise saw their remarkable season come to a halt at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon as Leinster runners-up Kilkenny CBS pulled through after extra time in this All Ireland quarter final clash.

The Harty Cup winners took time to find their feet and the visitors capitalised early on. Impressive centre back Owen McGrath converted two 65s before Mason Clifford billowed the net on seven minutes after Eoin Kearns saved well from Philly Campion. Indeed were it not for some alert goalkeeping from Kearns, Kilkenny could have added to their goal tally such was their dominance. It took Coláistí na nDéise fifteen minutes to register their first point through Ryan Donnelly. Further points courtesy of a Cathal Curran free and a fine individual effort from Colin Dunford left them only three adrift (1-3 to 0-3) at half time.

Coláistí na nDéise lifted their game on the resumption and three rapid Cathal Curran frees brought the sides level. The home side then took the lead for the first time when Kevin Daly supplied Patrick Curran to slip the ball past Darragh Holohan to make it 1-6 to 1-3. The introduction of Kevin Sheehan brought much needed physicality in defence but they couldn’t completely kill off the Kilkenny challenge. Some missed chances proved costly when Owen McGrath’s long range free somehow made its way to the net on 53 minutes to level it up again. Coláistí na nDéise regained the lead but Mason Clifford forced extra time with a point two minutes into injury time.

In the first period of extra time, Kilkenny CBS were boosted by the strength of their bench and posted four points without reply. Owen McGrath continued to lead the charge with two points as they led 2-11 to 1-10 at half time. Coláistí na nDéise continued to battle right to the end but their late efforts failed to yield the goal they craved.

Scorers:- Kilkenny CBS: O McGrath 1-5 (1-2f, 2 65), M Clifford 1-2, J Langton, JP Treacy, K Kenny, R Buckley, D Bolger 0-1 each.
Coláistí na nDéise: Cathal Curran 0-7 (6f), P Curran 1-0, R Donnelly 0-2, K Power, M Harney, C Dunford 0-1 each.

Kilkenny CBS: D Holohan, C McGrath, E Cody, S Cassin, N Mullins, O McGrath, R Fitzpatrick, D Sheehan, J Langton, M Clifford, C Doyle, E Fennelly, P Campion, S Cuddihy, K Kenny.
Subs: P Delahunty for Campion, D Bolger for Clifford, M Clifford for Fennelly, L Scanlon for Sheehan, JP Treacy for Cuddihy, R Buckley for Delahunty, P Campion for Clifford, S Tynan for Bolger.

Coláistí na nDéise: E Kearns, K Looby, T Tobin, S O’Donovan, E Collins, T Devine, T Burke, C Dunford, Cormac Curran, Cathal Curran, M Harney, R Donnelly, M Kiely, K Power, P Curran.
Subs: K Sheehan for Looby, K Daly for Kiely, M Kiely for P Curran, P Curran for Donnelly, E Crotty for Collins.

Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)

Rousing performance needed to lift spirits – Waterford v Kilkenny preview

The build up to this league game could best be described as low key. Perhaps it indicates a sense of inevitability and this is understandable considering the displays of the respective counties in round one. It’s quite a while since Waterford were rated as 9/2 outsiders when playing at Walsh Park. With the injury problems clearing up to some degree however and after having a two week break to digest the lessons of Páirc Uí Rinn it would be surprising if the home side didn’t hit this game with aggression and intensity.

They will need to be fully focussed to meet the physical challenge that Kilkenny pose in all areas of the field. Some of the slack marking witnessed in the Cork game also cannot be repeated. Conceding frees in front of goal would be a small penalty to pay instead of the green flags that Cats derive confidence from. Paul Flynn pointed out on the The Sunday Game last summer that such cynical defending might have prevented Richie Hogan pouncing for his two first half goals in the All Ireland semi final.

The absence of Aidan Kearney and Noel Connors was felt acutely last time out and if passed fit they will shore up some of the gaps exposed against Cork. Shane O’Sullivan’s return also provides a welcome boost and judging by the early season selection policy he could be placed in the half back line alongside Jamie Nagle and Kevin Moran. This is presuming that Michael Walsh is retained at centre forward where he will face up to the towering presence of Brian Hogan. If Maurice Shanahan and Shane Walsh can win their fitness battles then they will add greatly to the goal threat needed to rattle Kilkenny. While Gavin O’Brien has turned heads when introduced in recent weeks, this game may be one too soon to receive his first league start. What Waterford need to do up front is to show the courage to take on their markers and run at this Kilkenny defence to create some confusion. The deliveries inside also need to be carefully judged as launching high balls, like those seen in the first half a fortnight ago, only plays into the hands of the Kilkenny backs. The tactical approach in both attack and defence will be interesting to note.

On the basis of Kilkenny’s incisive display against Tipperary, the home side will do well to hang onto the coat tails of the Cats. Their stick work and link up play up front looked razor sharp this early in the year and were it not for some desperate last ditch defending they could have fired more than two bullets past Brendan Cummins. Richie Power, TJ Reid and Eoin Larkin all looked in menacing form and plucked balls out of the sky for fun. Their defence kept goal chances to a minimum and Michael Fennelly rarely takes a backward step in midfield. Brian Cody stated after the game that he would be trying out some new faces in the upcoming rounds but make no mistake about it they have a league title firmly in their sights.

A full blooded seventy minute performance should be expected from the hosts but a close to full strength Kilkenny should absorb those blows. The bookies have put the handicap at six points and Waterford will need to lift all aspects of their game in order to beat that.

National Hurling League Division 1A
Waterford v Kilkenny
Throw in 2.30 at Walsh Park
Referee: John Sexton (Cork)

Betting:
Waterford 9/2 Draw 12/1 Kilkenny 1/6