After a shattering seven point home loss to Clare, Niall Carew rattled off the list of repairs for the week ahead. “I think that we need to come off the shoulder a bit more, we need to keep our width and we need to empty the tank everywhere and not just seven or eight positions. At this level, if you don’t do that, you will be found wanting. That’s what happened to us today.”
Management and players realise the consequences of a repeat showing. Tipperary trounced fourteen man Carlow by 19 points in round one. The result was skewed somewhat by the eighth minute dismissal of Paul Broderick but this was still a statement of promotion intent. Five of the six starting front men raised a flag and two more weighed on off the bench. Conor Sweeney hit 1-8 with Barry Grogan not far behind on six points. Conal McCullagh from Tyrone adds to their options. Losing their two opening fixtures cost Peter Creedon’s team promotion in 2013 so they are eager to make amends. Selector Michael O;Loughlin stated their goals to the Nenagh Guardian before the league began. “Five wins will probably be enough to get promoted and the target will be to get five or six wins. And hopefully that will get us there.”
Supplying the full forward line proved problematic for Waterford last weekend. Swifter movement and greater use of the kick pass from back to front may find Paul Whyte with more frequency. He needs support however and only two other forwards helped out against the Banner (Tony Grey and Declan Allen). JJ Hutchinson may earn an upgrade from the bench. He smacked a second half goal attempt off the crossbar last Sunday.
There are reasons to believe that Carew’s crew can beat the seven day turnaround. For starters, they cannot afford to concede 26 frees on a regular basis. A 28 minute barren period is also unlikely to repeated. They will hardly hit the frame of the goal four times again. Quick fix solutions exist to lessen these worrying numbers.
After the trip to Tipp, the league pauses for an irritating three weeks. Waterford may source the improvements that the bainsteoir craves in Clonmel but perhaps not the result.
Recent meetings with Tipp
2013 League at Fraher Field
Waterford 2-8 Tipperary 0-9
2013 McGrath Cup at Tipperary Town
Tipperary 1-12 Waterford 2-8 (AET)
2011 League at Fraher Field
Waterford 2-8 Tipperary 0-9
2011 McGrath Cup at Walsh Park
Waterford 0-11 Tipperary 0-9
Odds: Tipperary 2/9 Draw 9/1 Waterford 4/1
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