Treaty steady up amid the mayhem – Limerick 1-20 Waterford 4-8

 

In terms of uninhibited hurling, the minor championship has few equals. This replay offered further evidence of how the game can excite when played on pure instinct and with the blinding pace at which these two went at it in the second half especially. When the curtain fell, Limerick ended a 29 year wait as Waterford patch up their wounds and soldier on with an alternative route to September in mind.

With an analytical eye, two key points crop up. Waterford went seventeen minutes without a score in the first half and endured another barren spell for almost ten minutes of the second half. In a contest that only runs for an hour, you cannot afford such scoring famines and by contrast, Limerick maintained a steady level of performance and hurled for the full sixty.

The Treaty management also clearly took on board the hard facts of the drawn encounter. They addressed their shortcomings with two changes in personnel and eight positional switches. Moving Ronan Lynch to number six was a master move as he offered a layer of protection to the full back line and his deliveries caused damage at the opposite end. He was still called in for placed ball duty and converted five from seven on the night. The tall and rangy Tom Morrissey earned promotion from the bench and he scored three points in a robust showing at full forward. Speaking with the Limerick Leader, manager Brian Ryan described their approach to the second leg. “We learned a lot from the first day and we made a lot of changes and by and large they worked. Waterford scoring 2-16 from play the last day and didn’t win it and it was going to be a hard ask for them to reproduce that - we learned more from the last day and I think that showed. Ronan Lynch has played centre back for Ardscoil before and we knew he was an option to come back and strengthen the backs and that’s where we had given away quite a number of scores in the drawn game - we felt that moved tightened up the backs. Tom Morrissey in fairness had two great games when coming on as a sub and deserved his day and he proved that tonight.”

It was a strange sort of Tuesday evening. From the lofty vantage point of the Old Stand press box, a trickle of fans could be seen going around the perimeter of the field from the quickly filling New Stand. With no stewards in sight, that trickle quickly turned into a flood. Some even carried pints on the journey across. A message from the PA and the playing of the national anthem didn’t deter the late arrivals. Even when the sliotar was thrown in, there was still supporters scampering to get a better seat. A lack of forward planning and organisation for a provincial final was exposed on an embarrassing evening for the Munster council. Then, seven minutes from the finish, the clock and scoreboard packed up after a power cut. Luckily, a well prepared reporter close by had put a stopwatch on the second half.

Waterford never settled into this replay for sustained periods. From the throw in, their opponents bolted and nearly disappeared into the distance. Austin Gleeson’s influence was nullified as Limerick used their pace down the wings with Cian Lynch catching the eye once more. Stephen Bennett’s solo performance prompted a response. The first delivery in his vicinity hopped through nicely after a defensive mistake and he kept his cool to hit the sliotar into the ground and past the advancing goalkeeper. Waterford had a pulse after that and Bennett ensured that the heart kept pounding. DJ Foran also put his hand up time and again under a high ball and did plenty of unselfish work up front.

The Déise inflicted damage in snappy bursts. 2-2 in six first half minutes reversed their fortunes and they did likewise in the second half with 1-3 in the space of three minutes. Bennett repeated his 3-2 contribution from that breakthrough semi final of 2011 and he left Stephen Cahill for dead from the start. His first touch, movement and precision under pressure almost nudged Waterford over the line in first place.

Meanwhile, Limerick picked off their scores at regular intervals from various sources. They came up with immediate answers to Bennett’s brilliance in front of goal. After that 1-3 without reply, they outscored the opposition by eight points to two. And even when Bennett brought it level with that late free which squirmed towards the net, Cian Lynch won an important free and they finished with three on the trot. They also took full advantage of Waterford’s indiscipline over the two ties. Ronan Lynch struck 1-13 from frees in total and that’s a costly concession.

Manager Seán Power gave an honest assessment of where they fell down in the immediate aftermath. “We haven’t hurled for an hour yet in the whole competition and to win competitions you have to hurl for the whole sixty minutes and we haven’t done that yet. Hence that’s the reason why we haven’t won the Munster championship.”

A routine quarter final can lift the gloom. In 2011, Galway put up 8-26 against the Saffrons. Down emerged from Ulster last year and Clare dismissed them by 23 points. This is the territory that Waterford enter on Sunday. The glitz and glamour of an August semi final with Kilkenny in Croker keeps the mind focussed. No fifth Munster minor title or no longer All Ireland favourites but plenty to play for at the same time.

No middle ground at under 21 - Clare 2-15 Waterford 0-17

 

On the dusty and deceptively quick Walsh Park surface, Clare once again got the upper hand on Waterford at underage level. That's three wins in five years at under 21 to go with the two Munster minor final victories. They have found the right formula.

Waterford's wait continues. Five consecutive defeats since the 2009 semi final success over Tipperary is cause for concern. They very nearly ended that dismal run last Thursday night. Plan A worked well for the hosts up to Paudie Prendergast's dismissal and even for a few minutes afterwards. For the final quarter however, Clare cut through with greater regularity and two goals killed the contest. The cracks became clear for Peter Queally's men in that period. They leaned far too heavily on Jake Dillon who was somehow ignored for the man of the match gong. Five points from play reflected their struggles up front. The leadership and guile of Pauric Mahony and Gavin O'Brien were sorely missed. The game plan also minimised the prospect of goal chances developing. While they clogged up the middle third with Colin Dunford moving to midfield and Kieran Power dropping deep, the two man inside forward line were always outnumbered. It was more of a team effort from Clare as eleven players contributed to their 2-15 total. The injury to Tony Kelly could have been a fatal blow but they stuck at it. Trailing by three entering the final quarter, the likes of Cathal O'Connell, Peter Duggan and Alan O'Neill kept them moving forward. Seadna Morey and Aaron Cunningham barely registered on the radar for long stretches before suddenly appearing to hammer home Clare's numerical advantage.

The first yellow rather than the second one mystified the Waterford management afterwards. Peter Queally was close to the action when Prendergast received his first yellow after a mini melee. "I have no arguments with the second yellow but I could not make head nor tail of the first yellow. I’m just absolutely baffled." Selector MacDara MacDonncha also expressed his dissatisfaction. "Johnny Ryan came over and he hadn’t a clue. He spoke to his linesman and he had no clue either and how they could pick one man out of fracas where there were seven or eight players and award one yellow." It's the third time in four years that the under 21s have lost a man in provincial fare.

So another campaign comes to a close and another exciting bunch fall short at the first hurdle. It's a difficult grade to gauge with the senior commitments and getting the preparation just right for one day in the sun. Five months of hard work almost bore fruit but again Clare left with victory and a fourth Munster final in five years to look forward to. With the talent at Waterford's disposal, this latest losing streak is hard to fathom but it's about finding the right formula and system to maximise the ability of the players available. The Banner found that bit more last Thursday.

Under 21 Record 2009-2013

2009 semi final

Waterford 3-21 Tipperary 2-14

2009 final

Clare 2-17 Waterford 2-12

2010 quarter final

Cork 1-16 Waterford 1-3

 

2011 quarter final

Tipperary 4-12 Waterford 1-16

2012 semi final

Clare 2-22 Waterford 0-9

2013 semi final

Clare 2-15 Waterford 0-17

Late twist shouldn't alter replay focus - Waterford 2-19 Limerick 2-19

Despite carelessly relinquishing a position of authority, Sean Power spoke in upbeat terms about how his team performed immediately after Sunday's minor final. Transmitting that positive energy to the players holds the key to completing the job in game five of an edge of the seat Munster campaign on July 23.

The curtain raiser to the senior centrepiece turned in a free scoring feast with a late twist at the end to electrify the home crowd. Waterford must wonder how it turned around so rapidly. Michael Harney's goal followed by an Adam Farrell point made it 2-18 to 0-16 with ten minutes remaining. Instead of fattening the lead with points, they pursued more green flags. Those chances went awry but it didn't appear to make a massive difference at the time. That was until Ronan Lynch located a gap in the defensive wall from a 21 metre free with four minutes left. The Limerick crowd were well packed in at this stage and gave their full backing. Although Stephen Bennett nabbed a point back to leave three points between them, the green waves were crashing against the Waterford defence. Austin Gleeson made an uplifting dash down the field but the ball was cleared and impact sub Tom Morrissey went up to the other end to crash his shot to the net. They very nearly completed a remarkable fightback but Lynch flung his effort right and wide.

Entering the lion's den held no fears for the white and blue. For fifty minutes, Power could have no complaints with a polished team effort. Ten different players got on the scoresheet, including all six starting forwards. Furthermore, 2-15 of their 2-19 total came from play. The players in leading roles all turned up. After a muted opening, Patrick Curran got into the groove. In the first half, he tapped the sliotar into space and collected it for a classy point. Stephen Bennett's 1-2 included a precise finish just after half time to put the icing Curran's hard labour. The main man tying it all together was once more centre back Austin Gleeson. Three monstrous points is a big bonus from a number six and the last of those came from inside his own 65 metre line after being knocked off balance.

What was most notable was how some of the supporting cast commanded the spotlight. DJ Foran justified his selection with his ball winning presence on the wing and two point contribution. Colm Roche started at full forward and struck three points including an eye catching score from in front of the uncovered stand. At midfield, Michael Harney made four clean catches and was also on hand to flick home when Foran's miscued effort was batted away by the goalkeeper.

In terms of homework, Power and company will have a noted a couple of points. The pace of the Limerick forwards resulted in problems and the concession of frees. Ronan Lynch ended with 1-9 from placed balls and that statistic is a cause for concern. The direct running of Cian Lynch from the wing also put Tom Devine on the back foot and he lodged four points before the break. Tom Morrissey also made inroads on his introduction and he looks like a certain starter for the next day.

With the replay fixed for Thurles on July 23, it's all about getting mentally tuned for their fifth game at a fifth different venue. They showed that they have the ammunition to make this Limerick side look ordinary and collect Waterford's fifth provincial crown at the second time of asking.

Performance to raise hopes of future results - Kilkenny 1-22 Waterford 2-16

For the first time in ten years, there is no quarter final or semi final spot available. 2003 however turned out to be a gap year between two Munster titles. While Waterford bow out at an earlier stage of the 2013 championship, there are more signs of progression to be taken from this performance than the quarter final exit to Cork in 2012. A few regrets linger but they will dissipate. Every drop of energy was expended to shove the champions over the cliff edge.

Kilkenny somehow found the resolve and ten points in extra time after clinging on by their fingernails at the end of the seventy. They relied on a combination of their experience banked over the years in defence and the emergence of their younger forwards (Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan and Matthew Ruth) to drag them through another dogfight. On reflection Waterford’s heroic efforts to peg back a five point deficit in seven minutes drained their energy for the first period of extra time. Bumps and bruises also took key players out of the action and by the finish it was all hands on deck with the strength of the panel tested to the maximum and bodies getting very scarce.

They gave the champions a real shaking from the start. Darragh Fives and Richie Foley were alive to the breaks and took total charge of midfield. These two settled down quickly and imposed Waterford’s possession game. The first three points came their way but it could have been more if Jamie Barron converted his opening for a goal. Although Kilkenny woke up momentarily, the three point gap was restored when Fives made an intercept and launched over his second. Waterford would have to wait another fifteen minutes for their next score however and that became a pattern in a game of few easy scores or makeable frees for that matter. The forward configuration required a tweak here and there as Seamus Prendergast was getting little change of Jackie Tyrell in the corner. At the other end, Richie Power was plucking balls from the sky and giving the Brick a bit of bother.
Power’s blaster off the back stanchion secured a three point advantage which didn’t reflect Waterford’s midfield dominance or their monopoly on puck outs.

Michael Ryan moved Seamus Prendergast into full forward and while this boosted the Ardmore, the output from the others remained an issue. Until Ray Barry’s introduction, the attack lacked vibrancy and a predatory finisher. Prendergast started to win a few possessions against JJ Delaney but his shot selection let him down and hit two wides from good positions. He did strike a point however and showed the way when others melted with the heat on full blast from the Kilkenny backs. Numbers one to nine did all in their power and even Henry Shefflin’s arrival failed to rattle the likes of Liam Lawlor who was enjoying one of his best games in a Waterford shirt.

A few cracks started to appear in the short passing game but they stuck to their guns. They had no other choice. Barry and Kevin Moran drove an unlikely comeback operation. Moran gritted his teeth and chased down that five point gap. He has rediscovered his All Star form through the qualifiers and accepted the role as on field leader. Those two lung bursting runs finished were capped with sublime finishes and even allowing for James Owens whistling up before Matthew Ruth’s point, the momentum was with Waterford.

Kilkenny’s response in extra time was emphatic. They came out with five points and a rejuvenated Richie Hogan. In full flight, Hogan is such a tricky operator with his slick close control and an ability to dance through defences. The short puck outs came with an expensive price in this period as two were sent over the sideline and one into the hands of a Kilkenny player. A slice of luck in the form of Jake Dillon’s arrested the slide but Hogan again opened in the scoring in the second period. They found another spurt of points to cancel out a piece of quick thinking from Ray Barry.

When the space developed in extra time, Kilkenny possessed the firepower to give them that push.
The Déise starting sextet finished with 1-4 from play while the six stripey forwards managed thirteen points. Martin O’Neill’s unfortunate knee injury added to the injury list that already included Brian O’Halloran, Gavin O’Brien and Pauric Mahony. Those losses cut deep down the home stretch especially when new options were needed to give Kilkenny something different to think about. Maurice Shanahan was also held scoreless which marked another significant gain.

With the benefit of hindsight, the Munster opener with Clare will linger more than Saturday night. They will look on enviously at the quarter finals in two week’s time and wonder. The boost of operating at that higher plain should leave them hungry for more. Six players made their championship debut and the conveyer belt of talent shows no sign of stalling. Noel Connors stated last Saturday night that the players are already looking forward to 2014. To retain his manager's position, Michael Ryan must start from square one and get through the selection process yet again. The tactical awareness shown over those ninety minutes offer hard evidence that the project is on the right road. The bottom will need to be taken care however as three wins in seven championship games is an underwhelming return. If Ryan receives an extension, results will prove the only barometer of success. 

League lessons and championship pointers - Waterford v Kilkenny preview

 

 

On the Monday after St Patrick's day, Waterford travelled to Nowlan Park and couple of tactical points could be relevant almost four months on. Now normally league form can be discarded when the championship gains momentum but there is a few ingredients worth throwing into the pot along with the summer spices when weighing up the factors that will determine the course of Saturday’s qualifier.

Short puckouts
Stephen O’Keeffe used the short option on four occasions during the first half of the league and one of those came with a heavy price. Ger Aylward intercepted and sliced through to send the sliotar home. On the plus side, one of those puck outs was worked up to Shane O’Sullivan for a point. Michael Ryan explained the thinking behind the strategy afterwards. “There’s no point in dropping high puckouts on top of the Kilkenny half back line because they have been gobbling them up for years. We decided that we would diversify a little bit from that.” After watching Tipperary unsuccessfully launch ball on top of the Kilkenny backs last weekend, they may try to go around that wall rather than go over it. It’s easier said than done however. If Kilkenny are alert and press up on the Waterford corner backs, O’Keeffe may be left with no other option than to roll the dice and fire long.

Speed
This goes back to the previous point because without primary possession, Waterford’s speed merchants won’t be able to pin the ears back and drive down the heart of the Kilkenny defence like James Woodlock managed last week. Tipperary also used neat stick passes to turn the key and work the sliotar up the field. On occasion, they managed to drag defenders out of position and pick out the spare man. The likes of Brian O’Halloran and Jake Dillon enjoyed success in the first half of the league game before things became congested. The wet weather also meant that their short game broke down but that shouldn’t pose a problem on this occasion! Waterford must keep their width, spray the ball into the corners and manufacture one on one foot races. Confidence must be flowing through the veins of Maurice Shanahan and Brian O’Sullivan at the moment. They will be tightly policed but with constant movement, they can bend this Kilkenny rearguard out of shape. The return of Jamie Nagle will also help as his deliveries are always measured and rarely aimless.

Shooting boots
Kilkenny are not in the habit of burning teams off the way they used to. The signs were there during the league when they hit thirteen wides in Nowlan Park. Another high wide count last Saturday allowed Tipperary to dream for longer than they deserved to. One goal in four championship games (from Walter Walsh in the drawn encounter with Dublin) is also unlike this Kilkenny crop. Opposition teams have also wised up and tend to concede the free rather than risk the sight of a goal. This may be a contributory factor to Eoin Larkin’s high return from frees in recent weeks. Kilkenny tend to strike early and often in recent championship ties with Waterford however. They have scored ten goals in their last four meetings and all but one of those came before half time. Until that three goal splurge in Mullingar, Waterford also struggled to translate possession into scores. An average of fifteen wides per game also shows that their point taking has yet to hit a consistent rhythm. Breaking through the twenty point barrier in the last two games should assist that repair job.

Richie Hogan versus Michael Walsh
Although named at number fifteen, the Danesfort menace can comfortably take up any of the six forward berths. Hogan moved to centre forward in the league and made Michael Walsh sweat all afternoon. He shot two points and was centrally involved in their approach play. In a couple of tricky corners during league and championship, the stocky attacker has shown prominently for possession and unselfishly set up others for scores. With their top two forwards from 2012 on the sidelines (Henry Shefflin and TJ Reid), he has taken on greater responsibility and shown that he can carry that load. For the Brick, it’s been another consistent season as part of Waterford’s strongest line. He will be kept on his toes tonight but that shouldn’t fluster him.

Four weeks in a row versus two week rest
There is no great escape from the heat. In these situations, stamina levels and strength in depth are tested to the full. This may favour the fresher team. On the other hand, how long will take Waterford to get their eye in after a fortnight in cold storage?  Kilkenny should have no such trouble with their sharpness and should be ready to go from the gun. It’s a similar scenario to 2004 when Kilkenny came in after playing Clare in a draw and replay while Waterford enjoyed a six week break. Waterford also missed John Mullane for that semi final Sunday.

Midfield warfare
Both teams have yet to settle on their preferred pairing in this area. Waterford have taken three stabs at it so far and alternated further during the course of a game. Richie Foley and Kevin Moran are retained for this one but don’t be surprised to see Darragh Fives step in. Moran produced a strong spell at wing back against Westmeath after a mixed run around the middle. Cody worked the oracle last weekend by bringing out Eoin Larkin. Michael Rice gets the nod to partner the James Stephens man as he seeks to recapture his form after injury. If that doesn’t work out, Lester Ryan and Michael Fennelly wait in the wings.

Verdict
There is a growing body of opinion building inside and outside the county that Kilkenny’s vulnerability could be Waterford’s opportunity. A plan of action will be put in place and it may show similarities to the one implemented in the spring time. Whether this outfit can retain the patience to execute the plan remains to be seen. Another goalless return from the Cats should keep them in the thick of it especially if a couple of the forwards can click like they have done in recent qualifiers. And yet, it still may be too soon for Waterford to think this big. Five points was the margin on that misty March Monday in Nowlan Park and when it comes to the conclusion on a scorching July Saturday in Semple Stadium, that gap sounds about right. The camera will pan towards the walking wounded on the sideline but at the same time, nine All Stars take the field for Brian Cody’s team and ten of the starting fifteen lined out in the All Ireland final replay last September. Under intense heat and intense pressure, that sort of experience goes a long way. It may even require the King’s speech to rouse the troops. Ballyhale’s finest has registered 3-33 in four championship games against Waterford.

All Ireland Hurling Phase 3 Qualifier
Waterford v Kilkenny
7.00 at Semple Stadium
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
Betting: Kilkenny 1/7 Draw 14/1 Waterford 11/2

Waterford: S O'Keeffe; S Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, D Fives; K Moran, R Foley; J Dillon, S Prendergast, S O'Sullivan; B O'Sullivan, M Shanahan, J Barron.

Kilkenny: P Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, J Tyrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, K Joyce;  E Larkin, M Rice; C Fennelly, R Power, M Ruth; R Hogan, W Walsh, A Fogarty.

Big gains despite narrow loss – Galway 1-12 Waterford 0-14

 

“These moral victories, I hate them.” Niall Carew took pride from a composed performance against the odds but still couldn’t hide his annoyance with an agonising near miss.

As Derek Fahy sounded the final whistle, Paul Whyte slumped to the ground and stayed there for a bit. At a showery Salthill, Waterford grabbed the attention of the football world for the afternoon and Whyte bloomed into a championship forward. In sporting fashion, Paul Conroy marched down to console with him. These two played Sigerson Cup football together with UL this year. Both had illuminated the seventy minutes that went before with an exhibition in point taking.

Members of the maroon media had yet to see Whyte before Saturday but they were instantly impressed. Comparisons to Mattie Forde and Declan Browne flew around the press box by half time. He struck his scores with conviction all afternoon. Gary Hurney has carried the torch for more years than he cares to remember but the hand over to Whyte was made last weekend.

After reaching the last fifteen minutes in good shape with a three point cushion, a couple of small margins tipped in Galway’s favour. Carew identified a crucial refereeing call towards the end. “We pushed them all the way and we were leading right up to the 65^th  minute and even at the end there we had a great opportunity when Shane Ahearne legally batted the ball down to Tony Grey and the referee gave a free against them. That happened continuously during the game. He never gave Shane a break and Shane is so honest as a footballer and how he found Shane to be the guilty party is beyond me.” A lack of experience in these situations also cost the 7/1 outsiders dearly. Instead of continuing to attack with patience and purpose, they started to play conservatively and dwell on the ball in defence. In unfamiliar territory and with the pressure ramped up, a couple of mistakes and turnovers crept in. Not many mind but enough to make Galway hopeful. As Galway got their act together, Waterford retreated ever so slightly and the hosts pushed on. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce in favour of the basement teams. Michael Farragher’s delivery fell into the arms of Sean Armstrong and he slipped in Michael Meehan. Although blighted by injury, he remains a leading light and he dispatched his shot past Stephen Enright. A roar of sheer relief greeted the game changing goal to dispel the deep sense of uncertainty.

Up to that point, the only noise from the stands was the grumbles of the Galway fans. Panic spread like wildfire onto the field of play. Alan Mulholland tossed on substitutes like firing coins into a slot machine and hoping for a different outcome. One passage of play summed it up neatly. Their star performer Paul Conroy overhit a free across the field and hopped over the sideline. Waterford got on with it smartly as Galway dwelled on another unforced effort. A quick exchange of passes between Whyte and Shane Briggs, the former sent over another point from the left flank.

This performance caught most of us on the hop but the players and management had prepared for this all year. At the Munster championship launch, Tony Grey had a target of two championships in mind. All through the league, after wins and defeats, Carew reminded the media that the emphasis was placed firmly on championship. That ambition was backed up by a performance if not the result they craved.

The opening minutes didn’t point towards anything of the sort. Meehan hit an early groove and Danny Cummins looked menacing. Within seven minutes, they were three points up. At the throw in, Waterford made eleven positional switches and put thirteen men behind the ball. This left just Liam O Lonain and Paul Whyte up top but they gradually got to grips with the plan of action. They steadily built from the back and in Whyte they had someone to shoot reliably from distance. Andy Doyle also burst from deep for two points.

The start of the second half would determine the direction of the contest. Sean Armstrong showed an electrifying burst of speed and the defence prised apart. The ball slipped out of his hands however and Waterford attacked them from there with the breeze in their favour. They posted six unanswered points in a seventeen minute spell. Whyte scored two and set up one with Hurney also kicking a pair of points. They showed an assurance in possession and looked in control of their own destiny. Shane Ahearne and Tommy Prendergast stood out at midfield and drove forward. Shane Briggs and Tony Grey mixed their defensive and attacking duties. They knew when to take a step forward or a step back. The last line of defence recovered their iffy start and the O’Gormans frustrated the hosts by breaking up their patterns. 22 and a half minutes of second half passed by without a single score from the home side. They struggled to get their hands on the ball and when they did, they took the wrong options. They lacked composure and patience to think their way out of trouble. Only Conroy's class at midfield and Meehan's goal spared them from another embarrassing chapter in their recent history.

Although there was an understandable despondency, this was a timely shot in the arm for Waterford football. Many of these players like Stephen Enright, the Ahearnes, Prendergast and Whyte are only starting out on their inter county careers. If they can maintain the composure and tactical awareness from Salthill instead lingering on the gut wrenching ending, they can kick on. And next time around, when they get into the position to take the scalp of a traditional power, they will see it through.

Waterford's record in All Ireland football qualifiers

 

2001 at Fraher Field

Carlow 3-11 Waterford 1-10

2002 at Fraher Field
Roscommon 3-19 Waterford 3-11

2003 at Walsh Park
Armagh 2-21 Waterford 0-8

2004 at Pearse Park
Longford 1-14 Waterford 1-5

2005 at Drogheda
Louth 1-12 Waterford 1-8

2006 at Walsh Park
Longford 1-16 Waterford 1-9

2009 at Pairc Tailteann
Meath 1-20 Waterford 0-8

2010 at O’Connor Park
Offaly 0-15 Waterford 0-10

2011 at Ruislip
Waterford 1-17 London 0-13

2011 at Gaelic Grounds
Limerick 0-14 Waterford 0-9

2012 at Aughrim

Wicklow 1-17 Waterford 0-15 (AET)

No more room for error - Waterford 3-22 Westmeath 0-14

The Westmeath welcome was warm. The weather was even warmer with the press box resembling a green house due to the lack of ventilation. The Déise hordes had to travel past Tullamore on this occasion and follow the signposts to home of Joe Dolan. Plenty of photos had to be taken of his statue in the centre of town before heading towards the ground in the shadow of Dunnes Stores.

Small touches like the traditonal music at the intervals and a PA announcer with a sense of humour all added to the match experience.

Despite losing a spicy football starter, the maroon supporters stayed on right to the finish. They were rewarded for their loyalty. The visitors were also vocally backed and it eventually turned into an enjoyable evening. With the Mullingar mission complete, the stage is clear for another duel against one of the top dogs. Will the running repairs made through the backdoor stand up to that test?

It was a messy start. Maurice Shanahan and Liam Varley got all tangled up in the corner as the action commenced. After consulting with Brian Gavin, Diarmuid Kirwan issued two yellows but two reds wouldn't have been a surprise. After Derek McNicholas got Westmeath off the mark, David Fennell and Shane O'Sullivan got involved off the ball under the stand. Two more yellows followed.

A lack of sharpness and focus led to a shabby first half overall. Michael Ryan reflected afterwards on that lax mindset. “Maybe it was a bit of complacency, I don’t know. Maybe it was the way that people took things for granted. On championship Saturday or Sunday, everything is up for grabs and once we got the attitude right, the hurling came after that.”

Westmeath pressed from the front and forced errors. Three turnovers led to three points. Donal Óg Cusack identified the root of the problem on The Sunday Game two weeks ago and yet Déise defenders continue to pass the ball out across the goal rather than clearing down the wings. They could pay a high price for that down the tracks.

The hooking and blocking from their hungry opponents resulted in some unexpected gains. Wing men Brendan Murtagh and Derek McNicholas were flying and Eoghan Price raced around the middle. Waterford were in the rough but scrambled well predominantly through Michael Walsh and Seamus Prendergast. Eleven first half plays, including an assist for Shane O’Sullivan, was yet another demonstration of poise under pressure from the Brick. Prendergast won two frees and did all the spade work for Brian O’Sullivan to ripple the top corner at the Dunnes Stores end. That goal ensured parity which Waterford scarcely deserved and that shook them up in the dressing room.

Kevin Moran moved to wing back as Darragh Fives resumed in the middle and that had a positive impact on both players. They lifted the pace and eliminated the sloppy errors. Westmeath eventually ran out of petrol. Prendergast and Maurice Shanahan scored five between them in a decisive spurt of scoring before O’Sullivan sharply turned and buried a brave effort from hosts. The wides continue to be an inconvenient truth however. Thirteen on Saturday brings the total to 45 over three games.

Michael Ryan believes that the first half will serve as a reality check going forward. “Certainly it will make us realise that there is work to do. It will keep our feet on the ground and we will be firmly grounded going in. We have a good, tough week of training and we’ll prepare very well and lighten off for the week of the game. There’s an awful lot to play for. We have won two rounds of the championship.  It will be our fourth championship game with a lot of young fellas and they can only benefit from days like today.”

In terms of the missing men, Jamie Nagle and Paudie Prendergast will be back in contention for the next big day out. The forward configuration may be tinkered with. Pauric Mahony, Jamie Barron and Gavin O’Brien appear to be vying for one spot. Although Maurice Shanahan's emergence as the marquee man with 1-22 over two game is a significant development, there is a marked improvement in the overall shape of the attack. Brian O'Sullivan has added a cutting edge and the important ingredient of goals. Those three green flags and bursting through the twenty point barrier on consecutive weekends will lift confidence in their shooting. Kevin Moran and Seamus Prendergast are also back to where they want to be.

The boost of two qualifier wins and a two week rest period to prepare gives them an opportunity to collect themselves for an assault on one of the All Ireland contenders. It’s a time to absorb the lessons and make the necessary improvements. Freshness will be their trump card as they wait for the fall out from Nowlan Park. They can watch the drama unfold as two heavyweights trade blows. In the blue corner, Waterford must have the knockout punch ready. 2013 isn’t the best year to rekindle the flame through the qualifier route but yevents in Portlaoise opens a shaft of light and possibility. To return to a question posed earlier is everything in readiness for this severe test?

Another minor wave emerges – Waterford 3-19 Cork 1-20

On a mild Wednesday evening at Pairc Ui Rinn, the latest batch of Waterford minors took advantage of the favourable conditions to set the heart racing once more. A fourth Munster final in five years on July 14 promises plenty.

This was also the fourth year in a row that Waterford brought a Munster championship game to extra time. It was a game to treasure as this grade again got fans on the edge of their seats. The fear factor was removed and both teams engaged in combat. They were level eight times before the numerical advantage nudged the visitors in the right direction.

In the ebb and flow, both full forward lines filled their boots. That shootout also finished as a tie (1-14 for the Waterford trio and 0-17 for the Cork inside men). Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett and Conor Gleeson are responsible for 58 per cent of the scores in the three games so far. The Dungarvan ace finished with twelve in total from sixteen shots and played a part in two of the goals. He also had two goal attempts of his own saved. The return of Bennett to the edge of the square kept Cork on edge but Kieran Histon didn’t give him an easy time. His delicate stickwork to finish to the net underlined his star quality. It made up for a couple of untidy strikes and he should have added to his personal tally of 1-1. Gleeson persisted to the final play of extra time to earn his first point of the night. Even after shooting three first half wides, he never let his head drop as his strength in the air and pace gave the hosts another headache. Is there a better inside line left in this year’s championship?

Pa O’Callaghan lived up to his billing as the towering full forward from Ballyhea brought them back to within touching distance of victory in normal time and then galvanised the fourteen men in extra time to keep them in with a shout. At the close of the business, he broke into double figures. Mark O’Connor and Anthony Spillane also contributed from the corners.

In the midst of these shooting stars, Austin Gleeson beamed brightest of all at centre back. His authority over a high ball, especially in the dying embers of normal time, and his dashing bursts from the back offered both ressurement and encouragement to those around him. Those two interventions near the end held off the Rebels at a time when they had bounced back from the shock they received at the start of the second half.

Cork stole a march and although Gleeson began to charge out of defence and start the recovery process, Waterford only managed one point from play in the first half. Stephen Bennett rose the ball too high for his penalty and his shot went down the throat of the Cork goalkeeper after seven minutes. Patrick Curran then had a shot shovelled away and just before the break Curran set up Bennett but he scooped the sliotar wide. Those misses and eight wides left them a six point mountain to scale at half time.

2-1 within three minutes of the restart electrified the contest. The pace was unrelenting from there right to the finish. Even when Cork were reduced to fourteen, you couldn't be certain until that flurry of three unanswered points from Patrick Curran, Paul O'Connor and Conor Gleeson.

It also came down to the strength in depth. When Sean Power looked over his shoulder, he could rely on players pushing for the first fifteen. By contrast, Cork put on two substitutes only to haul them back off again. Christy Breathnach is an old style, bustling half forward who would drive through a brick wall but he has added an element of poise to his game. DJ Foran won a couple of aerial battles and also finished a one-two with Michael Harney to bury Cork in extra time. Points from Breathnach and Paul O’Connor brought the scoring contribution of substitutes up to 1-2.

They can approach the Munster final with confidence in the quality of their panel and a belief after beating one of the traditional powerhouses over an eighty minute marathon. Their win on Leeside, along with Tipp’s demise, resulted in them being installed as favourites for the All Ireland minor title at 11/8. The winning habit instilled at colleges level in De La Salle, Blackwater and Dungarvan is transferring onto the inter county scene. With a commanding general at centre back and lethal weapons in the full forward line, they can burst Limerick’s bubble early in the afternoon. Let the scramble for golden tickets commence!