Looking forward to another great day's championship action with the final round of the hurling qualifiers and the Ulster football final replay.
The hurling season has stuttered along so far but last weekend was really the start of us getting down to serious business.
Cork shocked, I know it's a strong word given that they have one of the top two sides in the country for the last six season, all of us with the quality of their performance last weekend against Galway and their sheer guts and determination in the second half against the wind with a man down.
They defeated the Tribesmen in a game where we saw one of the great individual performances by a teenage Joe Canning.
When you see a young man put in a game like that you just have wonder how good he can be.
If he keeps his feet on the ground and remains injury free, which will be difficult given that he puts his body on the line to create space, he has the potential to become an all-time great.
However, the Cork half back line of Gardiner, Curran and O hAilpin looked like men on a mission and with Joe Deane on fire up front Cork looked irresistible.
Clare on the other hand have also a lot to prove after a fairly poor performance in the Munster final and they should at least not be as dependent on one player to do the damage for them as were Galway.
In the end I think Cork will edge it just because they take their scores easier than Clare but if the Banner can find the Cork net the way they breached the Waterford and Limerick defences early in the season then it could be quite a contest.
I fancy Waterford to overcome Wexford despite their over reliance on Eoin Kelly to beat Offaly last week.
I still think there is a big game in Waterford and it's now die dog or shite the licence.
Wexford are a poor side, their league form and their efforts in Leinster tell us that.
The gap between the rest in Leinster, Cats apart, and Munster isn't as big as some suggest, but the Decies know this is the last throw of the dice and I would expect some of them to begin to perform as they can.
I wouldn't even dream of calling Ulster. Prevailing wisdom that Fermanagh had their chance and that they will be eaten up by Armagh in the replay isn't going to happen.
Fermanagh are much too fit and physically strong to roll over for anyone. They know they had the game by the throat for the last 25 minutes and they will take great heart from that but they must do something about the free taking.
Armagh are methodical, clever and slick in full flight but McGrane is no longer a 70 minute player, he tired last week and the team suffered.
They are a little too pedestrian at times in the build-up and it was a tactical error bringing in Oisin McConville left the field.
The old Armagh disease of the two Brians era of not pushing on when they had a big lead cost them dearly and unless they address the issue of pace in their side they will be found out by better sides than Fermanagh no matter what Curran and McDonnell can conjure up.
I think we are in for another great battle as winning is everything in this one as the losers will find it very tough lifting themselves for the qualifers.
Showing posts with label Waterford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waterford. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Offaly at last on the road back?
It was great to see an Offaly hurling team play in the manner they went about their business on Saturday night at Semple Stadium in their qualifier against Waterford.
In the end they were beaten by two Eoin Kelly goals conceded in the first half, both of which came after errors by the defence.
However, it has been six or seven years since I have seen an Offaly team hurl with the skill, pace and intelligence which characterised their play on Saturday.
Granted they faced a Waterford team which is seriously under performing but in fairness to Offaly they denied Waterford's big half forward line the room to make much of an impact on the game.
Offaly are a young side and you have to hope that Joe Dooley's men can continue to improve over the next couple of seasons.
Lads like Shane Dooley and Derek Molloy in the half forward line really took the game to the Waterford defence while Brendan Carroll weighed in with nine scores with a couple of crackers from play.
Veteran Ger Oakley was a rock in the heart of the defence while midfielders Brendan Murphy and Rory Hannify got the better of the exchanges on the night.
The two lines where Offaly did struggle all night was in the full back and full forward lines.
Eoin Kelly saw off a succession of markers and they just couldn't hold him.
Mullane tore holes in them in the first half too though to their credit the Faithful men eventually curtailed him but they struggled all night and never looked secure..
Up front Joe Bergin struggled to get into the game and while Carroll was doing damage by drifting out the field by and large the full forward line got little change out of the Waterford defence.
Some of Offaly's link-up play and stick work on the night also bodes well for the future.
The fact that they were level going into the last ten minutes is testament to their fighting spirit as they never let their heads drop after conceding two first half goals and Waterford only managed to draw away as Offaly visibly tired in the closing stages.
They will become physically stronger with more games at this level and this intensity and they answered the question I raised earlier in the week about the gap closing between the Munster and Leinster sides except for the Cats of course.
This is the end of Joe Dooley's first year in charge of a rejuvenated Offaly let's hope they can continue to make progress.
In the end they were beaten by two Eoin Kelly goals conceded in the first half, both of which came after errors by the defence.
However, it has been six or seven years since I have seen an Offaly team hurl with the skill, pace and intelligence which characterised their play on Saturday.
Granted they faced a Waterford team which is seriously under performing but in fairness to Offaly they denied Waterford's big half forward line the room to make much of an impact on the game.
Offaly are a young side and you have to hope that Joe Dooley's men can continue to improve over the next couple of seasons.
Lads like Shane Dooley and Derek Molloy in the half forward line really took the game to the Waterford defence while Brendan Carroll weighed in with nine scores with a couple of crackers from play.
Veteran Ger Oakley was a rock in the heart of the defence while midfielders Brendan Murphy and Rory Hannify got the better of the exchanges on the night.
The two lines where Offaly did struggle all night was in the full back and full forward lines.
Eoin Kelly saw off a succession of markers and they just couldn't hold him.
Mullane tore holes in them in the first half too though to their credit the Faithful men eventually curtailed him but they struggled all night and never looked secure..
Up front Joe Bergin struggled to get into the game and while Carroll was doing damage by drifting out the field by and large the full forward line got little change out of the Waterford defence.
Some of Offaly's link-up play and stick work on the night also bodes well for the future.
The fact that they were level going into the last ten minutes is testament to their fighting spirit as they never let their heads drop after conceding two first half goals and Waterford only managed to draw away as Offaly visibly tired in the closing stages.
They will become physically stronger with more games at this level and this intensity and they answered the question I raised earlier in the week about the gap closing between the Munster and Leinster sides except for the Cats of course.
This is the end of Joe Dooley's first year in charge of a rejuvenated Offaly let's hope they can continue to make progress.
Waterford still off the boil
Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald will be a worried man following the Decies' win over a young but fiercely competitive Offaly side at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
While the Decies eventually saw off the Faithful County's challenge Waterford rode their luck and were less than convincing winners against a team which is not yet currently up there with the country's top sides.
The first obvious flaw in the Decies' performance was the fact that Eoin Kelly hit 2-13 of the team's total of 2-18.
Kelly's performance was awesome whether from the placed ball or from play and it didn't seem to matter what angle he was shooting from.
Kelly has been one of the top players on the Waterford team for the last six years but he hasn't always produced with the consistency with which he struck yesterday.
However, the forward line, once much feared, is not firing as a unit and the two Kelly goals which were the difference in the sides at the end came from defensive errors.
Last year's hurler of the year Dan Shanahan seems totally off the pace and is a shadow of the player who lit up the championship last year with ten goals.
John Mullane looks back to his best and was very lively and dangerous in the first half but even he faded as the game progressed.
However, despite their huge physical advantage the half forward line of Shanahan, Hurney and Prendergast is not winning enough ball and they had a bad night at the hands of the Offaly half back line.
The Decies' own half back line looks decidedly dodgy too.
They struggled to hold Molloy and Shane Dooley and I am not convinced about the move of Tony Browne to centre half.
Browne has been a great player but he is no longer up to the pace of championship hurling and I think Ken McGrath's presence at half back is missed.
The one positive Fitz can take out of the performance was the fact that the full back line gave little away over the night and for a team which leaked goals in last year's All-Ireland semis this is a big plus.
Waterford are fortunate in that they will once again face Leinster opposition in the shape of Wexford in the next round of the qualifiers.
The Model men turned Waterford over at the beginning of this year's National League campaign but they were once again comprehensively beaten in the Leinster final after struggling to overcome Dublin in two games in the semi finals.
Wexford are not a good side and while Waterford will find them difficult to beat given their current form, Davy Fitz must be hopeful that another game so soon in his reign will at least give him the chance to work on some of the side's shortcomings.
The biggest single thing that the Clare man must hope for is that Shanahan, midfielder Michael Walsh or some of his other big players do eventually find their form and often the best way for that to happen is a run of games.
The Decies stumble on but only just and they won't be in the running for honours this season unless there is a huge improvement in their performance.
While the Decies eventually saw off the Faithful County's challenge Waterford rode their luck and were less than convincing winners against a team which is not yet currently up there with the country's top sides.
The first obvious flaw in the Decies' performance was the fact that Eoin Kelly hit 2-13 of the team's total of 2-18.
Kelly's performance was awesome whether from the placed ball or from play and it didn't seem to matter what angle he was shooting from.
Kelly has been one of the top players on the Waterford team for the last six years but he hasn't always produced with the consistency with which he struck yesterday.
However, the forward line, once much feared, is not firing as a unit and the two Kelly goals which were the difference in the sides at the end came from defensive errors.
Last year's hurler of the year Dan Shanahan seems totally off the pace and is a shadow of the player who lit up the championship last year with ten goals.
John Mullane looks back to his best and was very lively and dangerous in the first half but even he faded as the game progressed.
However, despite their huge physical advantage the half forward line of Shanahan, Hurney and Prendergast is not winning enough ball and they had a bad night at the hands of the Offaly half back line.
The Decies' own half back line looks decidedly dodgy too.
They struggled to hold Molloy and Shane Dooley and I am not convinced about the move of Tony Browne to centre half.
Browne has been a great player but he is no longer up to the pace of championship hurling and I think Ken McGrath's presence at half back is missed.
The one positive Fitz can take out of the performance was the fact that the full back line gave little away over the night and for a team which leaked goals in last year's All-Ireland semis this is a big plus.
Waterford are fortunate in that they will once again face Leinster opposition in the shape of Wexford in the next round of the qualifiers.
The Model men turned Waterford over at the beginning of this year's National League campaign but they were once again comprehensively beaten in the Leinster final after struggling to overcome Dublin in two games in the semi finals.
Wexford are not a good side and while Waterford will find them difficult to beat given their current form, Davy Fitz must be hopeful that another game so soon in his reign will at least give him the chance to work on some of the side's shortcomings.
The biggest single thing that the Clare man must hope for is that Shanahan, midfielder Michael Walsh or some of his other big players do eventually find their form and often the best way for that to happen is a run of games.
The Decies stumble on but only just and they won't be in the running for honours this season unless there is a huge improvement in their performance.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Offaly, a candle in the wind?
Great to see Offaly back in contention in this year's Liam McCarthy even if I believe that their involvement will be snuffed out like a candle later this week when they take on Waterford in the qualifiers.
I'm still not sure whether what we saw on Saturday night was the beginning of the long road back for the Faithful County or just a horror picture for the long suffering Limerick hurling.
The Treatymen were only a shadow of the side which played with such guts and heart last season which took them all the way to the All-Ireland final.
However, it's clear that Limerick have gone backwards since then.
It was obvious last year that they were two to three players short of being a side capable of renewing their challenge and the fear then was once everyone had worked them out that they would exit the national stage as quickly as they had re-entered it.
Sadly that has been the case after a disastrous league campaign and once Offaly got stuck in to them and opened up a two goal lead it was hard to see where the inspiration would come from for a fight back.
It wasn't a lack of effort but their key forwards, Niall and Ollie Moran were having a nightmare and Brian Geary and Mark Foley endured a torrid time at half back.
Stephen Lucey too so often a key man at the heart of the Limerick defence has had a poor year being cleaned out by Clare in the Munster semi and conceding three goals to Joe Bergin on Saturday.
This is a huge setback for Limerick hurling and I can't see them coming back from this one in the near future.
Some of the older players will wonder if it's worth going on, the promise of good Under 21 sides early in the decade now long dissipated.
For Offaly, this result will be a huge lift in new boss Joe Dooley's first year in charge.
Leinster hurling needs a good Offaly side but Saturday night's performance will only mean anything if they can go out and put on a show against Waterford.
An Offaly win or a close contest would show that the gap between the Munster and Leinster championships may not be as pronounced as we have been led to believe in recent seasons.
I'm still not sure whether what we saw on Saturday night was the beginning of the long road back for the Faithful County or just a horror picture for the long suffering Limerick hurling.
The Treatymen were only a shadow of the side which played with such guts and heart last season which took them all the way to the All-Ireland final.
However, it's clear that Limerick have gone backwards since then.
It was obvious last year that they were two to three players short of being a side capable of renewing their challenge and the fear then was once everyone had worked them out that they would exit the national stage as quickly as they had re-entered it.
Sadly that has been the case after a disastrous league campaign and once Offaly got stuck in to them and opened up a two goal lead it was hard to see where the inspiration would come from for a fight back.
It wasn't a lack of effort but their key forwards, Niall and Ollie Moran were having a nightmare and Brian Geary and Mark Foley endured a torrid time at half back.
Stephen Lucey too so often a key man at the heart of the Limerick defence has had a poor year being cleaned out by Clare in the Munster semi and conceding three goals to Joe Bergin on Saturday.
This is a huge setback for Limerick hurling and I can't see them coming back from this one in the near future.
Some of the older players will wonder if it's worth going on, the promise of good Under 21 sides early in the decade now long dissipated.
For Offaly, this result will be a huge lift in new boss Joe Dooley's first year in charge.
Leinster hurling needs a good Offaly side but Saturday night's performance will only mean anything if they can go out and put on a show against Waterford.
An Offaly win or a close contest would show that the gap between the Munster and Leinster championships may not be as pronounced as we have been led to believe in recent seasons.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Poor fare on offer for a championship weekend
Early July and you would expect the championship season to move up a notch with the first provincial finals but instead we have one of the least anticipated weekends of the championship calendar.
In hurling the Leinster final is a foregone conclusion, Kilkenny to win with the only interest in the Cats' performance as we all hope to get some sort of a gauge on where their three in a row ambitions are sitting.
The Leinster final is now an non event, I'd rather watch a Tommy Murphy Cup game, no that's a lie but the Leinster hurling championship is right down there at the moment.
This week's qualifiers promise nothing better.
Antrim and Laois will feel like it is raining on them if the Galway and Waterford forward lines go out to prove to their respective managers Clare men Ger Loughnane and Davy Fitzgerald that they want to be in the side for the tougher tests which lie ahead.
It will be real men against boys stuff and wouldn't be allowed in boxing.
Unfortunately for everyone involved other than walking off the field in protest at the brutality of the beating (wonder has anyone consulted the Cork players on that one as they are the experts in these matters?) the players will just have to grin and bear it, ok if you're a sado masochist but just torture for the average GAA player, fan and referee.
I wonder do referees get counselling after a match like these as it must be traumatic to watch?
The only interest in these games will be if the Waterford players give any indication that they mean business after their dressing room coup which saw the end of Justin McCarthy.
The football doesn't get much better with the Munster Football final, yes they still have a Munster championship in football which all six counties enter but which is still only contested by two.
Those two Cork and Kerry play for this year's honours, yet again.
Kerry will win at a canter even though the Kingdom don't usually break sweat in Munster and have even been known to let a few provincial titles slip to the Rebels as they warm up the engine in preparation for the annual bad beating of the Cork men at Croke Park when it matters later in the season.
However, the only thing rebellious about the current Cork side is when they are on strike and they are poor enough to endure a bad beating earlier in the season than usual even though Kerry too will have a few players out to injury.
All in all not a lot to get excited over and I look forward to next week's fare which might just bring us a couple of real games!
In hurling the Leinster final is a foregone conclusion, Kilkenny to win with the only interest in the Cats' performance as we all hope to get some sort of a gauge on where their three in a row ambitions are sitting.
The Leinster final is now an non event, I'd rather watch a Tommy Murphy Cup game, no that's a lie but the Leinster hurling championship is right down there at the moment.
This week's qualifiers promise nothing better.
Antrim and Laois will feel like it is raining on them if the Galway and Waterford forward lines go out to prove to their respective managers Clare men Ger Loughnane and Davy Fitzgerald that they want to be in the side for the tougher tests which lie ahead.
It will be real men against boys stuff and wouldn't be allowed in boxing.
Unfortunately for everyone involved other than walking off the field in protest at the brutality of the beating (wonder has anyone consulted the Cork players on that one as they are the experts in these matters?) the players will just have to grin and bear it, ok if you're a sado masochist but just torture for the average GAA player, fan and referee.
I wonder do referees get counselling after a match like these as it must be traumatic to watch?
The only interest in these games will be if the Waterford players give any indication that they mean business after their dressing room coup which saw the end of Justin McCarthy.
The football doesn't get much better with the Munster Football final, yes they still have a Munster championship in football which all six counties enter but which is still only contested by two.
Those two Cork and Kerry play for this year's honours, yet again.
Kerry will win at a canter even though the Kingdom don't usually break sweat in Munster and have even been known to let a few provincial titles slip to the Rebels as they warm up the engine in preparation for the annual bad beating of the Cork men at Croke Park when it matters later in the season.
However, the only thing rebellious about the current Cork side is when they are on strike and they are poor enough to endure a bad beating earlier in the season than usual even though Kerry too will have a few players out to injury.
All in all not a lot to get excited over and I look forward to next week's fare which might just bring us a couple of real games!
Kiely on hiding to nothing!
Don't you just love them in Waterford?
While Davy Fitz is expecting Antrim to throw the kitchen sink at his hurlers tomorrow in the qualifiers the football manager John Kiely is already complaining about a clash between the county's footballers and Wicklow on July19.
Kiely obviously has not gone to the Davy Fitz school of diplomacy for while Davy is insisting that nothing is a given in tomorrow's clash with Antrim Kiely is complaining that he won't have dual players available on July 19 because it clashes with the next round of the hurling qualifiers!
Obviously the football manager is a bit more confident about the hurlers' chances than Davy!
Kiely does make a good point however, about the treatment of football in the lesser counties when games can be fixed for the same day.
I have a certain sympathy for the football manager which is usually shared by hurling managers in most parts of the country who are trying to promote hurling in areas where football is king.
It is not uncommon for county hurling games to be fixed at the same time as football and it has been a huge issue in Derry for years.
However, I think that Kiely also needs to get a little perspective on all this.
Waterford hurlers are trying to win the Liam McCarthy Cup, the premier hurling trophy in the country.
The footballers are starting out their Tommy Murphy Cup campaign, a competition hardly designed to get the hairs rising in the back of your neck and in some counties the very mention of the name Tommy Murphy Cup is guaranteed to bring the Aer Lingus website crashing down with footballers rushing to get the next flight out of the country.
Kiely is on a hiding to nothing until there is a football competition for the minnows worthy of more interest than the battle of the worst eight!
While Davy Fitz is expecting Antrim to throw the kitchen sink at his hurlers tomorrow in the qualifiers the football manager John Kiely is already complaining about a clash between the county's footballers and Wicklow on July19.
Kiely obviously has not gone to the Davy Fitz school of diplomacy for while Davy is insisting that nothing is a given in tomorrow's clash with Antrim Kiely is complaining that he won't have dual players available on July 19 because it clashes with the next round of the hurling qualifiers!
Obviously the football manager is a bit more confident about the hurlers' chances than Davy!
Kiely does make a good point however, about the treatment of football in the lesser counties when games can be fixed for the same day.
I have a certain sympathy for the football manager which is usually shared by hurling managers in most parts of the country who are trying to promote hurling in areas where football is king.
It is not uncommon for county hurling games to be fixed at the same time as football and it has been a huge issue in Derry for years.
However, I think that Kiely also needs to get a little perspective on all this.
Waterford hurlers are trying to win the Liam McCarthy Cup, the premier hurling trophy in the country.
The footballers are starting out their Tommy Murphy Cup campaign, a competition hardly designed to get the hairs rising in the back of your neck and in some counties the very mention of the name Tommy Murphy Cup is guaranteed to bring the Aer Lingus website crashing down with footballers rushing to get the next flight out of the country.
Kiely is on a hiding to nothing until there is a football competition for the minnows worthy of more interest than the battle of the worst eight!
Davy Fitz not for real
Davy Fitzgerald obviously has a sense of humour when he says that Antrim are getting ready to throw the kitchen sink at his Waterford team in the qualifiers following the Saffrons' 26-point defeat at the hands of Galway last weekend.
I know that managers can't allow their teams to get complacent and Davy Fitz is going to be at the helm of Waterford for the first time but this type of codology puts me up the walls.
Antrim are not at the races on the national stage and nor will they be in the foreseeable future.
We don't play regularly enough at the level required to compete with any of the top teams and that goes for all our underage teams as well as the seniors.
When it comes to the Liam McCarthy Cup the record books don't lie, we have been to two finals in the last 100 years and were slaughtered in both of them and we have been on a downward spiral since the '89 team's last hurrah against Kilkenny in the '91 semi final.
If Antrim were to beat a Waterford side which has won three Munsters and a National League in the last six seasons it would be the biggest shock since David beat Goliath.
One of the problems I feel for Ulster hurling has been the fact that everyone is too well mannered when it comes to speaking about Antrim or Down on the All-Ireland stakes.
No one down below wants to say out loud what they think about the true state of northern hurling, they have too much respect for the people trying to promote the game than to hurt their feelings.
It's about time someone like Davy Fitz said "Antrim are crap, we're going to use them for target practice for the forwards before we get down to more serious business and if my side don't win by a hatful of points then I'm out of here".
There is nothing more likely to inspire northern hurlers than to be told they should not be at the top table, not this year mind you, but it might just bring a bit of steel into the efforts to promote the game up here.
Being patted on the head for turning up is probably more insulting than telling the truth that we don't at this stage belong up there with the elite.
I know that managers can't allow their teams to get complacent and Davy Fitz is going to be at the helm of Waterford for the first time but this type of codology puts me up the walls.
Antrim are not at the races on the national stage and nor will they be in the foreseeable future.
We don't play regularly enough at the level required to compete with any of the top teams and that goes for all our underage teams as well as the seniors.
When it comes to the Liam McCarthy Cup the record books don't lie, we have been to two finals in the last 100 years and were slaughtered in both of them and we have been on a downward spiral since the '89 team's last hurrah against Kilkenny in the '91 semi final.
If Antrim were to beat a Waterford side which has won three Munsters and a National League in the last six seasons it would be the biggest shock since David beat Goliath.
One of the problems I feel for Ulster hurling has been the fact that everyone is too well mannered when it comes to speaking about Antrim or Down on the All-Ireland stakes.
No one down below wants to say out loud what they think about the true state of northern hurling, they have too much respect for the people trying to promote the game than to hurt their feelings.
It's about time someone like Davy Fitz said "Antrim are crap, we're going to use them for target practice for the forwards before we get down to more serious business and if my side don't win by a hatful of points then I'm out of here".
There is nothing more likely to inspire northern hurlers than to be told they should not be at the top table, not this year mind you, but it might just bring a bit of steel into the efforts to promote the game up here.
Being patted on the head for turning up is probably more insulting than telling the truth that we don't at this stage belong up there with the elite.
Monday, 9 June 2008
Fitz the man for the Decies
The appointment tonight of Davy Fitzgerald as Waterford boss will bring another dimension to this year's championship.
Enjoyed Pat Spillane's teasing of the former Clare keeper last night about whether or not his hat was in the ring and the efforts of Davy Fitz to keep him off his case.
Fitzgerald's appointment is definitely going to keep the spotlight on the Decies and he was at pains to praise the calibre of their players on the Sunday Game.
He has inherited a good group of players, under achievers maybe, ageing definitely but they are capable of a last hurrah if they can regroup for a big team effort.
Davy Fitz has only a very short period to get them in shape but given his determination to succeed at everything he takes on I think we are in for an interesting championship.
Enjoyed Pat Spillane's teasing of the former Clare keeper last night about whether or not his hat was in the ring and the efforts of Davy Fitz to keep him off his case.
Fitzgerald's appointment is definitely going to keep the spotlight on the Decies and he was at pains to praise the calibre of their players on the Sunday Game.
He has inherited a good group of players, under achievers maybe, ageing definitely but they are capable of a last hurrah if they can regroup for a big team effort.
Davy Fitz has only a very short period to get them in shape but given his determination to succeed at everything he takes on I think we are in for an interesting championship.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Fitz could restore Decies' self belief
The speculation about Davy Fitzgerald and the Waterford job is interesting.
Waterford have been the big under achievers of the decade promising much in Munster with three title wins but falling short in the latter stages of the All Ireland, most notably last year as Munster champions and National League winners.
Davy Fitzgerald is a perfectionist who sets very high standards for himself.
He has had success steering Limerick IT to a Fitzgibbon Cup victory and he was an inspirational player in his long tenure as the Clare netminder.
The Waterford job will be a big ask, there is a group of very mature players there in the twilight of their careers.
They are capable of making one last push to get back into contention and luckily for the new manager, whoever that might be, their next game in the championship is likely to be against Antrim before tougher tasks beckon.
The one thing that Fitzgerald could bring to the team is his almost fanatical will to win and organisational skills.
If the current group of Waterford lads are to pull themselves up from last week's embarrassing performance against Clare it will need someone who can instil the self-belief which has deserted them on big days more than once in the last ten years.
Fitz for Waterford would be a roller coaster ride!
Waterford have been the big under achievers of the decade promising much in Munster with three title wins but falling short in the latter stages of the All Ireland, most notably last year as Munster champions and National League winners.
Davy Fitzgerald is a perfectionist who sets very high standards for himself.
He has had success steering Limerick IT to a Fitzgibbon Cup victory and he was an inspirational player in his long tenure as the Clare netminder.
The Waterford job will be a big ask, there is a group of very mature players there in the twilight of their careers.
They are capable of making one last push to get back into contention and luckily for the new manager, whoever that might be, their next game in the championship is likely to be against Antrim before tougher tasks beckon.
The one thing that Fitzgerald could bring to the team is his almost fanatical will to win and organisational skills.
If the current group of Waterford lads are to pull themselves up from last week's embarrassing performance against Clare it will need someone who can instil the self-belief which has deserted them on big days more than once in the last ten years.
Fitz for Waterford would be a roller coaster ride!
Friday, 6 June 2008
All Ireland title the only cure as McCarthy goes
Sorry to see Justin McCarthy resign from the Waterford job last night.
It's clear that his removal is another sign of the player power so forcefully shown by the Cork hurlers and footballers who went out on strike earlier in the year when Teddy Holland went for his gums without even a ball being thrown in.
McCarthy said that he had lost the support of several of his players and to be fair Waterford only look a shadow of the team which won Munster and the National League last year.
Waterford have enjoyed their first successes of the modern era under McCarthy who built on the solid foundations laid down by fellow Cork man Gerald McCarthy at the end of the '90s, and won Munster on three occasions.
However, it will always be a matter of debate as to whether or not Waterford were actually good enough to go on and win an All Ireland under him or whether the players were always going to fall short anyway no matter who was in charge.
The one thing for sure is that Waterford are an ageing side and for the spine of the team there are not many big days out at Croke Park left in them.
Sunday's performance was the worst by a Waterford side in the championship for the last ten years. They have been beaten before but they surrendered on Sunday and the towel was thrown in 20 minutes from the end.
This latest player revolt will inject a bit of bite into the season as a lot of people now have something to prove.
They should look no further than the great Offaly side of 1998 for inspiration.
They too were ageing warriors with a lot of miles on the clock and after a poor start to their Leinster season they parted with manager Babs Keating who was resented by many of the senior players.
Michael Bond took over in mid season and the rest as they say is history.
The Faithful men won a three-game marathon against Clare, which included the famous early whistle game and sit-in on Croke Park by the Offaly fans, and they beat a Kilkenny side in the All-Ireland final which had wiped them out in Leinster.
That will be a hard act for the Decies to follow but that is the only thing which can justify the treatment of McCarthy.
It's clear that his removal is another sign of the player power so forcefully shown by the Cork hurlers and footballers who went out on strike earlier in the year when Teddy Holland went for his gums without even a ball being thrown in.
McCarthy said that he had lost the support of several of his players and to be fair Waterford only look a shadow of the team which won Munster and the National League last year.
Waterford have enjoyed their first successes of the modern era under McCarthy who built on the solid foundations laid down by fellow Cork man Gerald McCarthy at the end of the '90s, and won Munster on three occasions.
However, it will always be a matter of debate as to whether or not Waterford were actually good enough to go on and win an All Ireland under him or whether the players were always going to fall short anyway no matter who was in charge.
The one thing for sure is that Waterford are an ageing side and for the spine of the team there are not many big days out at Croke Park left in them.
Sunday's performance was the worst by a Waterford side in the championship for the last ten years. They have been beaten before but they surrendered on Sunday and the towel was thrown in 20 minutes from the end.
This latest player revolt will inject a bit of bite into the season as a lot of people now have something to prove.
They should look no further than the great Offaly side of 1998 for inspiration.
They too were ageing warriors with a lot of miles on the clock and after a poor start to their Leinster season they parted with manager Babs Keating who was resented by many of the senior players.
Michael Bond took over in mid season and the rest as they say is history.
The Faithful men won a three-game marathon against Clare, which included the famous early whistle game and sit-in on Croke Park by the Offaly fans, and they beat a Kilkenny side in the All-Ireland final which had wiped them out in Leinster.
That will be a hard act for the Decies to follow but that is the only thing which can justify the treatment of McCarthy.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
End of the road for a good Decies side?
While it was heartening to see Clare put in such a good performance in today's Munster hurling championship game it was sad to see how far back Waterford have gone in just a season.
Last year's Munster champions looked to be on the verge of going all the way to the All-Ireland final where most neutrals were licking their lips in anticipation of a shoot-out between the Decies and the Cats.
The wheels came off the wagon however, after winning a replayed game against Cork and a flat, tired looking Waterford were turned over by a battle hardened hungry Limerick team they had already beaten in Munster.
I don't think that the Decies have recovered from that hammer blow to their All-Ireland hopes.
I believe that last year was the one where Waterford's veterans, some of whom have been chasing an All-Ireland title since they signalled their return to the top table of hurling in 1998, felt this was 'the year' they had to make the breakthrough.
The first signs that the wheels were coming off the wagon was in the National League where they 'enjoyed' a very average campaign.
The accepted wisdom was that the Decies were trying to keep their powder dry, preparing instead for the All-Ireland campaign.
But the injuries to four All Stars, Ken McGrath, Paul Flynn, Eoin Murphy and Eoin Kelly has left their resources threadbare and last year's Player of the Year Dan Shanahan has also struggled against injury and it showed today.
However, despite the loss of these top players what was unforgivable was the fact that they threw in the towel with 20 minutes left.
Another major concern must be the fact that Clare were so much fitter than the Decies who looked lack lustre and were second to almost every ball.
The space given to the Clare forwards was reminiscent at times of a training game and the Waterford tackling lacked any purpose or bite.
So where do they go from here?
The good news for Waterford is that they have a few weeks to get over this licking.
They must hope that the limbs of their lost leaders will heal but more importantly that their hurt pride will help them regain some momentum through the back door.
The good news is that they are likely to face Antrim when that campaign resumes and this gives them every chance to get back on track.
However, when it comes to the big tests later in the summer I can't see the Decies stand up to top sides.
It's a long way down but I think we have seen the best of the Decies for a generation.
Last year's Munster champions looked to be on the verge of going all the way to the All-Ireland final where most neutrals were licking their lips in anticipation of a shoot-out between the Decies and the Cats.
The wheels came off the wagon however, after winning a replayed game against Cork and a flat, tired looking Waterford were turned over by a battle hardened hungry Limerick team they had already beaten in Munster.
I don't think that the Decies have recovered from that hammer blow to their All-Ireland hopes.
I believe that last year was the one where Waterford's veterans, some of whom have been chasing an All-Ireland title since they signalled their return to the top table of hurling in 1998, felt this was 'the year' they had to make the breakthrough.
The first signs that the wheels were coming off the wagon was in the National League where they 'enjoyed' a very average campaign.
The accepted wisdom was that the Decies were trying to keep their powder dry, preparing instead for the All-Ireland campaign.
But the injuries to four All Stars, Ken McGrath, Paul Flynn, Eoin Murphy and Eoin Kelly has left their resources threadbare and last year's Player of the Year Dan Shanahan has also struggled against injury and it showed today.
However, despite the loss of these top players what was unforgivable was the fact that they threw in the towel with 20 minutes left.
Another major concern must be the fact that Clare were so much fitter than the Decies who looked lack lustre and were second to almost every ball.
The space given to the Clare forwards was reminiscent at times of a training game and the Waterford tackling lacked any purpose or bite.
So where do they go from here?
The good news for Waterford is that they have a few weeks to get over this licking.
They must hope that the limbs of their lost leaders will heal but more importantly that their hurt pride will help them regain some momentum through the back door.
The good news is that they are likely to face Antrim when that campaign resumes and this gives them every chance to get back on track.
However, when it comes to the big tests later in the summer I can't see the Decies stand up to top sides.
It's a long way down but I think we have seen the best of the Decies for a generation.
Raising the Banner
Very mixed feelings about today's Munster hurling championship game which Clare won at a canter.
First it's great to see the Banner back in business in Munster, their first championship win for five years and they will relish the prospect of playing against neighbours Limerick in the semi final.
Clare were hungry, energetic and the fact that they scored 28 times will do their forwards' confidence no harm at all.
The Bannermen played in a manner which we associated with good Clare sides of the last 15 years, they made up for finesse with strength, fitness and a fierce competitive spirit.
Griffin and Carmody had a field day up front with O'Flaherty weighing in with some good scores on his championship debut.
Diarmuid McMahon also excelled at half forward and all this created so much more space for Niall Gilligan who too often must have felt like the Lone Ranger in the Clare attack in the last six or seven seasons.
I also thought the fact that Frank Lohan had a quiet day at centre full back said much about Clare's dominance out the field as Waterford struggled to create goal chances.
If Clare has any concern at the end of this game it must be about the fact that a Waterford team which had thrown the towel in at least 20 minutes from the end still conceded 22 scores.
It's true that this was a very open game but John Mullane roasted both the full backs put on him and Limerick boss Richie Bennis will feel that his forward line will give Clare more problems than the Decies did.
However, this is a young hungry Clare side, its tails will be up from this victory and manager Mike McNamara now has time to work on further improvement.
Clare will not fear Limerick or feel any sense of inferiority as they might if they had to face Tipp or Cork at this stage.
Limerick came from nowhere last year to reach an All-Ireland final.
The Bannermen know that they have a long road to travel before they are serious contenders for the All Ireland but there is nothing like a championship win to boost a side's confidence and it can only be good for hurling if the Banner was to rise again.
First it's great to see the Banner back in business in Munster, their first championship win for five years and they will relish the prospect of playing against neighbours Limerick in the semi final.
Clare were hungry, energetic and the fact that they scored 28 times will do their forwards' confidence no harm at all.
The Bannermen played in a manner which we associated with good Clare sides of the last 15 years, they made up for finesse with strength, fitness and a fierce competitive spirit.
Griffin and Carmody had a field day up front with O'Flaherty weighing in with some good scores on his championship debut.
Diarmuid McMahon also excelled at half forward and all this created so much more space for Niall Gilligan who too often must have felt like the Lone Ranger in the Clare attack in the last six or seven seasons.
I also thought the fact that Frank Lohan had a quiet day at centre full back said much about Clare's dominance out the field as Waterford struggled to create goal chances.
If Clare has any concern at the end of this game it must be about the fact that a Waterford team which had thrown the towel in at least 20 minutes from the end still conceded 22 scores.
It's true that this was a very open game but John Mullane roasted both the full backs put on him and Limerick boss Richie Bennis will feel that his forward line will give Clare more problems than the Decies did.
However, this is a young hungry Clare side, its tails will be up from this victory and manager Mike McNamara now has time to work on further improvement.
Clare will not fear Limerick or feel any sense of inferiority as they might if they had to face Tipp or Cork at this stage.
Limerick came from nowhere last year to reach an All-Ireland final.
The Bannermen know that they have a long road to travel before they are serious contenders for the All Ireland but there is nothing like a championship win to boost a side's confidence and it can only be good for hurling if the Banner was to rise again.
Friday, 30 May 2008
Thank God for Munster!
It's back and with it for me the beginning of championship hurling.
I am of course referring to the first game of the Munster hurling championship between Waterford and Clare this Sunday.
And yes I know that the Leinster and Ulster championships have already started but let's be honest we haven't seen any competitive hurling yet.
Leinster and Ulster are two dead certs, I doubt Paddy Power would give you a double of 1/100 of Kilkenny and Antrim which is about as good a punt as you'll get at the moment in these post Celtic Tiger times.
But the Munster hurling championship, that's another ball game altogether. Three out of five of the contenders have won the championship this decade while last year's All-Ireland runners-up Limerick lost to Waterford in the final last year, so despite the era of qualifiers and back doors no one seems to have told the Munster men that their local rivalry is any less important than it ever was.
To be honest the Munster Championship is the only fiercely competitive hurling we'll see before we get to the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship and without it the hurling championship would be a snore, unless the authorities had the courage to go for an Open Draw and if the provinces could set local pride and revenue to the side.
But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the change and in the meantime I simply can't wait to see Clare and Waterford go for it on Sunday.
When this draw was made I could only see one winner, the Decies, but things have changed a lot in the past couple of months.
Waterford had a poor league campaign, for God's sake even Wexford beat them and that was their only decent result in a campaign which saw them relegated.
There was a theory then that the Decies were keeping their powder dry, that Justin McCarthy was allowing his veterans to rest up in anticipation of an All-Ireland campaign which might see them finally lift the Liam McCarthy again.
Then the injuries came, Ken McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Paul Flynn all out and Dan the Man on the treatment table too.
Big Dan will be back but even he was not firing on all cylinders earlier in the year and I think that Clare can smell blood.
The Clare men have had their problems too with an injury to top scorer Niall Gilligan but apart from that the Banner will be at full strength.
Clare are not yet back in contention with the top sides but they improved last season and they will know that a big effort on Sunday could fell the Munster champions at the first hurdle.
Like most neutrals I have watched this Waterford team in hope more than expectation that they might break the monopoly of the Big Two on Liam but I fear that on Sunday we may be watching the beginning of the end.
I hope I'm wrong!
I am of course referring to the first game of the Munster hurling championship between Waterford and Clare this Sunday.
And yes I know that the Leinster and Ulster championships have already started but let's be honest we haven't seen any competitive hurling yet.
Leinster and Ulster are two dead certs, I doubt Paddy Power would give you a double of 1/100 of Kilkenny and Antrim which is about as good a punt as you'll get at the moment in these post Celtic Tiger times.
But the Munster hurling championship, that's another ball game altogether. Three out of five of the contenders have won the championship this decade while last year's All-Ireland runners-up Limerick lost to Waterford in the final last year, so despite the era of qualifiers and back doors no one seems to have told the Munster men that their local rivalry is any less important than it ever was.
To be honest the Munster Championship is the only fiercely competitive hurling we'll see before we get to the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship and without it the hurling championship would be a snore, unless the authorities had the courage to go for an Open Draw and if the provinces could set local pride and revenue to the side.
But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the change and in the meantime I simply can't wait to see Clare and Waterford go for it on Sunday.
When this draw was made I could only see one winner, the Decies, but things have changed a lot in the past couple of months.
Waterford had a poor league campaign, for God's sake even Wexford beat them and that was their only decent result in a campaign which saw them relegated.
There was a theory then that the Decies were keeping their powder dry, that Justin McCarthy was allowing his veterans to rest up in anticipation of an All-Ireland campaign which might see them finally lift the Liam McCarthy again.
Then the injuries came, Ken McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Paul Flynn all out and Dan the Man on the treatment table too.
Big Dan will be back but even he was not firing on all cylinders earlier in the year and I think that Clare can smell blood.
The Clare men have had their problems too with an injury to top scorer Niall Gilligan but apart from that the Banner will be at full strength.
Clare are not yet back in contention with the top sides but they improved last season and they will know that a big effort on Sunday could fell the Munster champions at the first hurdle.
Like most neutrals I have watched this Waterford team in hope more than expectation that they might break the monopoly of the Big Two on Liam but I fear that on Sunday we may be watching the beginning of the end.
I hope I'm wrong!
Friday, 9 May 2008
McCarthy must be cursing his luck
The life of county manager must be nerve wracking whenever your players are in action for their clubs in a championship weekend.
I'm sure they sit in dread of the type of phonecall which tells them that one of their star players have been hurt over the weekend playing havoc with well-laid plans for the season which may have begun as far back as October last year.
Take Justin McCarthy as an example this season. A year ago he was enjoying a great season with the Waterford hurling side.
The National League title was under their belts and preparing to launch a strongly fancied bid for the All-Ireland title.
Waterford lit up the Munster championship with another great win but eventually floundered tired and mentally drained in the All-Ireland semi final against a fit and hungry Limerick.
This year Waterford have been slow out of the blocks, many felt McCarthy has been nursing his ageing warriors for the last big battle.
Instead slowly but surely the bottom is falling out of the Waterford challenge. Eoin Murphy, Eoin Kelly and Paul Flynn are all expected to miss the opening Munster championship game with Clare on June 1.
Now the goal scoring star of last season Dan Shanahan, who hadn't really got into his stride in this year's league, has ligament damage to his knee and looks set to miss the first game too.
Dan was playing in a senior hurling championship game for his club Lismore in a victory over Mount Sion. He will be out for three weeks although the injury was feared to be much worse initially but it will make it difficult for him to start against Clare.
The only good news for McCarthy is that Tony Browne got the all clear after being sent off in a club game.
However, I noticed that Browne only came in to the game as a sub and it was his second sending off in six months.
Just wonder is he beginning to suffer from grumply old man syndrome as your pace goes you get a little more aggressive in the absence of being able to stay with them.
Tony Browne's a wonderful hurler but he has struggled against blistering pace in the last year or two.
I can't see the Decies get out of the starting blocks against Clare in the absence of their casualties and McCarthy must be hoping that some of his missing players might just make it to the starting line.
I'm sure they sit in dread of the type of phonecall which tells them that one of their star players have been hurt over the weekend playing havoc with well-laid plans for the season which may have begun as far back as October last year.
Take Justin McCarthy as an example this season. A year ago he was enjoying a great season with the Waterford hurling side.
The National League title was under their belts and preparing to launch a strongly fancied bid for the All-Ireland title.
Waterford lit up the Munster championship with another great win but eventually floundered tired and mentally drained in the All-Ireland semi final against a fit and hungry Limerick.
This year Waterford have been slow out of the blocks, many felt McCarthy has been nursing his ageing warriors for the last big battle.
Instead slowly but surely the bottom is falling out of the Waterford challenge. Eoin Murphy, Eoin Kelly and Paul Flynn are all expected to miss the opening Munster championship game with Clare on June 1.
Now the goal scoring star of last season Dan Shanahan, who hadn't really got into his stride in this year's league, has ligament damage to his knee and looks set to miss the first game too.
Dan was playing in a senior hurling championship game for his club Lismore in a victory over Mount Sion. He will be out for three weeks although the injury was feared to be much worse initially but it will make it difficult for him to start against Clare.
The only good news for McCarthy is that Tony Browne got the all clear after being sent off in a club game.
However, I noticed that Browne only came in to the game as a sub and it was his second sending off in six months.
Just wonder is he beginning to suffer from grumply old man syndrome as your pace goes you get a little more aggressive in the absence of being able to stay with them.
Tony Browne's a wonderful hurler but he has struggled against blistering pace in the last year or two.
I can't see the Decies get out of the starting blocks against Clare in the absence of their casualties and McCarthy must be hoping that some of his missing players might just make it to the starting line.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Cleaned out by the might of Waterford!
A couple of weeks ago I wrote Thank God it was the Waterford footballers who stood in the way of Antrim winning promotion from Division 4 as if it had have been hurling we wouldn't have had a chance.
Well, the mighty Waterford footballers came up to Casement Park and cleaned us out leaving our promotion hopes in ruins.
I don't think anyone else in the country gets it why we are struggling so badly with one of the biggest pools of players in the North.
I mean Division 4 football, the standard is absolutely awful but the problem for us is that a couple of the sides coming down will keep us down there for at least another year to come.
I am sick to the back teeth reading about the progress we are making in football's nether regions, we are not in Division 4 because we are too good.
Unless we are honest about where we are we ain't going anywhere.
Oisin McConville (above) recently wrote that he believed we were lazy or didn't want to work for success, it's hard to argue against that for as a county we seem to have given up trying to be better.
I grew up in an era where we weren't exactly feared in Ulster but we were respected, it seems so long ago, it is so long ago, and I don't see us going anywhere for some time to come!
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