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.
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