A fortnight ago most Déise followers would have settled for this scenario. Doomed for the drop before the trip to Salthill, the return of John Mullane and Eoin Kelly along with the backroom reshuffle appears to have done the trick as Waterford resembled a much more organised and focussed bunch on the last two Sundays. Not quite the great escape considering the opposition but an impressive turnaround nonetheless that injects a much needed dose of confidence into the camp.
In front of a packed house they went about their business with purpose in the opening thirty five minutes. From a tactical point of view Waterford outmanoeuvred Anthony Daly and company by dropping their half forward line deep to leave space inside. The movement of the forward line was also a deliberate ploy and everyone appeared to be on the same wavelength. It took a makeshift Dublin outfit a while to counteract and the quality deliveries into the full forward line posed plenty of problems. Gavin O’Brien benefited most and struck over four crisp points from five efforts in the first half. Last year’s minor star looked razor sharp and only needed a minimum amount of space to punish the Dubs. His third white flag provided the highlight of the afternoon as he controlled a Tony Browne pass one handed on the hurley straight into his hand and over the bar. Maurice Shanahan also continued his rich vein of form as the home side dominated most areas of the field.
The game threatened to peter out on the turnover when Kevin Moran put Waterford nine points to the good. The De La Salle combination grafted all afternoon and Dean Twomey in particular enjoyed a productive game. He offers a physical presence around the middle but does so much hard work throughout the field and distributed the ball much better on Sunday than he did seven days before. Despite the mix and match nature of Dublin’s starting fifteen they began to find their feet after Moran’s point. They clogged up the space that O’Brien, Shanahan and Mullane thrived on in the first half and clawed their way back to within four at one stage. Dean Curran’s puzzling dismissal and careless shooting however undermined their efforts to mount a comeback that would sow a seed of doubt. 18 wides over the seventy minutes (nine in each half) must trouble Daly especially when key players like David Treacy and Ryan O’Dwyer throw away easy opportunities. A Mullane special and a wonder point from Kelly on the scoreboard side stopped the rot and secured another year at the top table in 2013.
Apart from Waterford’s attacking prowess in that first half, the transformation in defence is also worth mentioning. Three clean sheets is a rare feat especially in this company and no goal chances of substance have been coughed up in the last two outings. A half back line of Browne, Walsh and O’Sullivan could be championship material and behind them the full back line is taking shape. While unfamiliar with the surroundings of the full back line, Philip Mahony again showed his eagerness to do a job wherever he is picked. Now well established as first choice number three Liam Lawlor also provides assurance and stability to a problem position. Lawlor limped out of the fray early in the second half with a knee injury and his presence along with that of Noel Connors will be needed when championship comes around.
Plenty of praise to be dished around for escaping the trapdoor but there’s still elements to work on and ample time available to iron the creases out. The absence of a goal scoring opportunity will occupy the forwards as will the 17 point total which may not suffice come summer time. The occupant of the number eleven shirt in June also remains open for debate. Pauric Mahony played a lot deeper at the weekend than he is accustomed to, in a similar fashion to Noel McGrath, but he may be better suited to the wing. The level of intensity in Waterford’s game, compared to helter skelter Tipperary v Cork tussle for example, also presents an issue. The lengthy break between league and championship may prove a hindrance to get the team tuned to the level required.
So back on the right track after a shaky start and the players look like they are enjoying their hurling again. Maintaining that positive feeling will be the challenge over the next eleven weeks as well as avoiding injuries to key players.
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