It’s 18 years since the Waterford last started out in the second tier of the hurling league. That 1997 campaign included fixtures with London, Kerry, Meath and Westmeath.
An away trip to last year’s All Ireland semi finalists marks the toughest assignment on the 2015 list but defeat should not dash their promotion ambitions right away. Games at home to Laois and Antrim, either side of a spin to Tullamore, in the three rounds that follow mean that Waterford could arrive at Wexford Park on the final day with top spot still in their sights. Management have set a target of a home quarter final and three wins out of the spring schedule must be seen as a minimum requirement. Remember also that Limerick must travel to Wexford.
Waterford and Limerick met four weeks back in Kilmallock and while both management teams claimed that they didn’t show their full hand, the seventy minutes provided a flavour of what may develop on opening night. In sloppy conditions underfoot, the battle hardened Limerick backs outmuscled their opponents. They will be hard to break down again on Saturday. Five of the six backs were championship regulars last summer. Stephen Walsh is the only new addition and he is known as a sticky marker. Will Waterford be tempted to add some height and physique to their inside line? Given Tom Devine’s destructive form for Modeligo at fourteen and his appearances at the edge of the square during pre-season, he may well occupy the attention of Richie McCarthy. It offers a direct option and Devine only needs to catch a handful of those deliveries to cause havoc. He showed in the club campaign that he is capable of both scoring and supplying goals.
Waterford only raised seven green flags in ten competitive outings last term and that included five blanks. In the pre-season fare during December and January, they certainly created more opportunities. Kevin Moran, Brian O’Halloran, Michael Kearney and Shane Bennett all took on their markers and made incisions through opposition defences. Their conversion rate still remains a concern however.
Limerick carried on without their Kilmallock contingent to claim Crystal honours for the first time since 2006. TJ Ryan also learned more about his squad strength in the process. Double Munster minor winners Cian Lynch and Tom Morrissey proved that they could handle senior hurling. Lynch scored nine points over the three games and Morrissey notched five. Corner forward Adrian Breen from Na Piarsaigh collected a handsome 3-8 from play to turn heads. Gavin O’Mahony showed his versatility at centre forward and wiry corner back Tom Condon progressed to the half back line for the Crystal final to fire over three points. The Shannonsiders could hardly have wished for a better start to the season.
Fifteen Waterford panel members were involved in the Fitzgibbon Cup and while the competition disrupts training patterns, it should sharpen their skills for this time of the year. Pauric Mahony called the plays for WIT from wing forward on Tuesday night and Waterford will lean heavily on that creative influence. He has arguably been the most consistent Déise performer over the last two seasons for county, club and college. He came up with 45 per cent of Waterford’s scores in league and championship during 2014 and that load must be lightened this time. With Kevin Moran or Michael Walsh unlikely to contribute significantly, the responsibility rests with Jake Dillon, Brian O’Halloran and Michael Kearney. Dillon will be boosted by WIT’s win in midweek, O’Halloran appeared back to his best form against LIT and Kearney will hope to carry his prolific performances on the club circuit through to inter county level. Jamie Barron's pace and long distance accuracy will also prove a useful weapon.
It is unlikely that the away team will line out as named on Friday night. Michael Walsh may move to the wing to accommodate Devine with Kevin Moran roaming around the middle. Waterford will set up with either Brian O’Halloran or Michael Kearney to offer support out the field. Similar to last year’s trip to Tipp, they will look to cover the ground and unsettle the favourites. With a solid pre-season and a positive mood around the camp, they will expect to deliver a hard working performance. It also important that they cash in on dominant spells and not allow teams off the hook like last season. Both sets of backs look well on paper but Waterford may find it more difficult to make headway against a formidable Limerick wall. With Devine or Walsh close to goal, they may attempt to go over it instead of around it.
TJ Ryan’s side are clearly keen to move up as they enter their fifth season on level two. With ten of last year’s team on board and a confident-boosting January behind them, they should live up to expectations and prevail by three.
NHL Division 1B
Limerick v Waterford
7.00 at Gaelic Grounds
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Limerick: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; D O’Grady, W McNamara, T Condon; C King, P Browne; D Hannon, G O’Mahony, C Lynch; D Reidy, D Breen, A Breen.
Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T De Burca, A Gleeson, Philip Mahony; J Barron, T Devine; K Moran, Pauric Mahony, J Dillon; B O’Halloran, M Walsh, M Kearney.
Odds: Limerick 8/15 Draw 10/1 Waterford 15/8
Prediction: Limerick
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