Slip-up should focus the minds of footballers

If last Saturday’s limp surrender to Limerick doesn’t awaken the Waterford footballers from their slumber ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Ruislip, maybe consulting Chapter 9 of Working on a Dream by Damian Lawlor will do the trick.

It outlines the excruciating detail of the Déise’s downfall to the Exiles back in March of 2009. Lawlor watched on as the day quickly unravelled. “On the way to Ruislip the bus gets lost. Thankfully we have some time in hand, but the driver, not from these parts, is totally innocent as to the location of the stadium. He finds Ruislip Road and thinks he’s on the right track, but that’s like hitting Limerick Junction and thinking you’re in Limerick.” That set the tone for a disorganised afternoon as Waterford lost by nine points to eight. “Utter, unmitigated, sickening disaster” is how Lawlor puts it.

Niall Carew will put the right preparations in place to prevent a repeat. He will also look for a response after a lacklustre showing in front of an expectant home crowd last weekend. One passage of play summed up what was a dreary top of table clash. Another shot was drifting wide off the boot of a Waterford player but just as the umpire was about to wave his arms, somehow the ball was kept within the white lines. The forward swung at it with little conviction however and the umpire at the other side was called into action to issue another negative assessment.

A malaise gripped forwards from both sides last Saturday night but the disease was more contagious among Carew’s sextet. Twelve wides, two scorers from play and 26 minutes without a score in the first half are the three statistics that jump out. All over the field, Waterford weren’t moving as well as in previous weeks. Passes went astray, kicks were aimlessly directed and the defence looked vulnerable to Limerick’s pacy inside line. And still, they came within a whisker of winning while playing below par. They could be thankful to Gary Hurney for keeping them in the hunt as those around him crumbled in front of goal. Although Ian Ryan kept them on their toes, the defence never looked in danger of conceding a goal and kept their third straight clean sheet of the campaign. Only one other team (Galway) in the four divisions can say the same.

Limerick didn’t succumb to the pressure however and kept one step ahead in a drab contest. Although they only registered eight points, five different players contributed. They took wild swipes at goal but those misses didn’t shake their confidence. Waterford’s back-up options also couldn’t match those at Maurice Horan’s disposal. He could call on a player like Seanie Buckley in the final quarter and he delivered a vital point. Paul Whyte could consider himself hard done by to exit the field after a mere 20 minutes and Gavin Nugent was also called ashore despite the fact that he had managed to raise a flag. The lack of strength in depth up front is of concern. 2012 panelists Cillian O'Keeffe, Joey Veale, Mark Ferncombe, Sean Fleming and JJ Hutchinson are five forwards who are not yet part of the plans for 2013.

From now on, there is no room for error. Captain Gary Hurney admitted as much after the game. “We have to go and win all our games from now on. That’s the way it is in Division 4; it’s very tough. I’m sure results will go our way in Division 4, Limerick will find it hard with a few teams that they have to play yet. We’ve had two wins over Tipperary and Clare and there will be a backlash from the two of them yet.”

A trip to Ruislip on Saturday is by no means a gimme. Carlow escaped with a one point win recently and London emerged with a draw from Fraher Field last year. If they do manage to chisel out a win, games against Leitrim and Offaly present a path to promotion. They remain poised in joint second spot, level with Clare and Carlow on four points. Limerick gave them a reality check and if they heed the lessons from that, Niall Carew can still make his debut season one to remember.