Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 2013- Mod Warning Post #1

Final score
Waterford 2-18
Offaly 1-14

PTH2009 wrote: »

That could be our promotion chances gone 5 pts to 0 down after 11 mins

PTH2009 wrote: »

Can't see us winning the game our players are just too tired

Not to worry PTH2009 you will get to make your 'told you so' post eventually, just keep plugging away.

For a supporter you have a shocking lack of belief in the team. Others will say you troll, but given your consistent pessimism here, the predictions on the pools thread, I don't believe its trolling.

Anyone know what happened gleeson? Was it serious injury?

deiseach wrote: »

There's never any in-between with local radio/newspapers. I recall listening to WLR's coverage of our game against Westmeath a couple of years back. The pessimism was so overwhelming that I had to turn it off. The same is also true in the News & Star and Munster, where previews of even the most routine matches are always laden with so many if-the-ball-hops-on-the-day caveats as to be useless. On the flip side you have the likes of Offaly where they think that Waterford are only playing at hurling and it wouldn't take much for Offaly to put some manners on us. It not happening never disturbs their certainty for the next one. Remarkably this attitude also prevails next door in Laois - my brother, who lives in Laois, gets a great kick out of the cocky attitude displayed before any and every game. Maybe there is a maritime divide.

Just notoriously ignorant in the Midlands!

PTH2009 wrote: »

If Wexford win 2morrow than the game in Wexford park could decide promotion given Wexford and Waterford win both there games in round 4.

If Limerick win 2morrow than they would be hoping either Antrim or Wexford beat us.

It's been a good enough campaign so far but a worry is that cork our championship opponents are scoring well they scored 0-34 today. Hopefully we mite come through the backdoor in the championship and we should be aiming at getting to an all Ireland qf

You would expect us to beat Antrim at home but it will be tough

When cork lost to depleted Kilkenny in first round the talk was cork in trouble now, two games later they're world beaters. Fair enough 34 points is some scoring but every game takes on a life of its own. They're a good team but beatable. No backdoor we going through the front door to September. Up the deise

PTH2009 wrote: »

If Wexford win 2morrow than the game in Wexford park could decide promotion given Wexford and Waterford win both there games in round 4.

If Limerick win 2morrow than they would be hoping either Antrim or Wexford beat us.

It's been a good enough campaign so far but a worry is that cork our championship opponents are scoring well they scored 0-34 today. Hopefully we mite come through the backdoor in the championship and we should be aiming at getting to an all Ireland qf

You would expect us to beat Antrim at home but it will be tough

Seriously why do you even bother posting at this stage?

Waterford 2-18 Offaly 1-14

Waterford could easily have run up a tally of around 5-25 against a really poor Offaly team. The wides tally of 21 only gives a hint of the litany of errors and missed chances which pervaded the Waterford play throughout.

The biggest error of all was not realising there was a match on against real opposition starting at 3 pm. For the first 15 minutes Offaly were first to every ball and winning every contest. They forced a series of frees which were meat and drink to Shane Dooley, who accounted for 1-10 (0-8 from frees) of Offaly’s total.

Waterford were seven points to nil down before they began to shake themselves a bit, led by the superb Tadhg de Búrca at centre back. Switching Kevin Moran to left half back also helped turn the tide, with Austin Gleeson moving to midfield. Shortly afterwards he sustained what seemed to be an ankle injury and was replaced by Martin O’Neill.

Waterford took over at this stage but some terrible shooting and an excess of high ball into a rather diminutive attack kept Offaly in the game. Waterford got a great boost when Colin Dunford used his pace to cut through the Offaly defence to lay off to Shane Bennett who finished expertly to the net. They finally managed to get their nose in front by the half-time whistle, 1-7 to 0-9.

The second half was almost all one way traffic with the Waterford defence completely on top and a better supply of ball into the forwards, with some good passing movement opening up the Offaly rearguard. At least twice Waterford forwards bearing down on goal were fouled unceremoniously with no yellow cards being issued by refereee James Owens, many of whose decisions baffled or angered the sizeable Waterford support in a small attendance.

Even then, Waterford could have had a hatful of goals, but the only won they managed came 15 minutes into the half when Colin Dunford forced the ball over the line from a goalmouth melee. Waterford brought on Shane O’Sullivan, Gavin O’Brien, Stephen Bennett and Maurice Shanahan during the course of the second half. Offaly’s goal was finished off by Shane Dooley after a typical catch and surging run by Joe Bergin (who otherwise was ineffectual).

I was surprised Derek McGrath left Pauric Mahony on the pitch for most of the game, given his Fitzgibbon Cup commitments and the fact that he was having little effect and missed numerous frees. While it was great to see Maurice Shanahan back on the pitch, he was only given a few minutes towards the end, when he could readily have relieved Mahony of his duties at a much earlier stage. Similarly, one wonders why Shane O’Sullivan (for example) was not brought on instead of Martin O’Neill when Austin Gleeson was injured early on, although it must be said that O’Neill put in a good shift.

One might have thought that Waterford’s Fitzibbon Cup contingent could have been held in reserve, given the quality of the Waterford bench which, apart from those already named, also included Shane McNulty, Paudie Prendergast and Donie Breathnach. Giving some of these players a start might also have countered the team’s slow, lethargic, start.

Colin Dunford wore the No. 26 jersey which was allocated to Maurice Shanahan in the programme, which explains the Midland Radio commentator’s confusion (although the guy on the public address did point this out before the game). Maurice wore the no. 23 jersey which was allocated to Thomas Connors in the programme. While Brick Walsh wore No. 14, at no stage of the game did he play at full forward, although he did miss a sitter of a goal chance in the second half (as did Jake Dillon).

Waterford’s best players were in defence, where Noel Connors gave a master class in corner back play and Tadhg de Búrca was also excellent, especially in the first half. Shane Fives had a terrific second half. Kevin Moran hit a lot of ball, but as often as not it went straight to an unmarked Offaly player.

It was great to see Colin Dunford back in the colours, and with 1-2 from play and the assist for the other goal, he was Waterford’s best forward. Jake Dillon worked very hard and notched three points. Shane Bennett was well policed by his marker in the first half (notwithstanding his goal) but was much more effective with a better supply after the change of ends.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives (0-1); Barry Coughlan; Noel Connors; Philip Mahony; Tadhg de Búrca; Austin Gleeson (0-1); Jamie Barron; Kevin Moran; Colin Dunford (1-2); Pauric Mahony (0-7, 6 frees); Brick Walsh (0-1); Brian O’Halloran (0-1); Jake Dillon (0-3); Shane Bennett (1-1).

Substitutes: Martin O’Neill (0-1) for Gleeson; Shane O’Sullivan for Barron; Gavin O’Brien for Dunford; Stephen Bennett for O’Halloran; Maurice Shanahan for Pauric Mahony.

Other players listed: Iggy O’Regan; Shane McNulty; Paudie Prendergast; Thomas Connors; Donie Breathnach; Tom Devine; Mikey Kearney.

Giveitfong wrote: »

At least twice Waterford forwards bearing down on goal were fouled unceremoniously with no yellow cards being issued by refereee James Owens, many of whose decisions baffled or angered the sizeable Waterford support in a small attendance.

Good match summary Giveitfong. To be honest I didn't think the ref did too bad - he missed a couple of frees for us when we were well down at the start which created frustration but then tried to even it up by letting a few go which upset the locals. There was an awful lot of whinging from the Waterford supporters around me which I didn't think was necessary- especially when we were well ahead at the end. There was a line ball in the first half which looked like was fumbled out by Offaly but was actually a very good rob by Barron (I think it was him) - the linesman got a lot of abuse for giving the line ball to Offaly.
In hindsight I suppose its great to see the support we had compared to a surprisingly poor local turn out.

Punt Road wrote: »

Decent win once we got going today. Offaly out of the blocks fast and took some nice early scores. We showed some good character not to panic and quickly chiselled our way back into the game. Some points of note…

- Offaly should be very proud of their facility in Tullamore.
- Our shooting was awful at times. We were really lacking in that area today whether it was early and we needed the scores or whether it was late and the game wrapped up. A load of our lads can’t consistently strike cleanly on the run. I’m not talking about taking a score here either (although note 20+ wides). In a game where we often rely on short passes to create space we must improve on the final shot / delivery when that space is eventually found.
- Great to see Dunford back. Tore Offaly a new one at times today. His “Phantom” number confused some people today but he was impressive enough that I was asked a few times by locals who he was. [He obviously wasn’t Maurice as per the program.]
- Speaking of Maurice. Welcome back. Had a few runs when got on and set up a point. Looked stockier and as long as that doesn’t adversely affect the pace, I think it’s a welcome development.
- Thought the ref got a few calls wrong today on both sides. Ironic cheers were the order of the day. I think Calm Parkinson spoke recently on OTB about how the lower divisions in football get poorer referees. Guess that trend in hurling is to be expected but it was frustrating at times today.
- Hopefully Gleeson’s injury isn’t bad.
- De Bursa is really a fine judge of the game. Hurled an awful amount of ball. [Played as the spare man early]. We did see Offaly going through the middle a few times but your not going to have it all your own way. Hurling is too unpredictable to counteract every move.
- Phillip Mahony is a very likeable no nonsense hurler.
- Full back line was ok although I’m still not convinced Coughlan is the answer to full back. Full back is about presence and safety. He looked at sea at stages and actually looked like a minor in size up against some of the Offaly stockmen. Haven’t shipped a heap of goals yet though I suppose so the experiment will deservedly continue. Five and Connors very good in general but cut open once or twice.
- Shane Bennett. Your work is done until after the leaving. At this stage he’s a starter. Very Impressive.
- Dillon played well I thought. Very busy throughout. Best game in a while despite missing that sitter when we were 6 points up.

There’s a bit of momentum gathering and that can only be positive.

I think he needs to look at Brick for fullback. We have plenty otions up front.

tomwaterford wrote: »

It is a long term failing of Waterford ball winners upfront for Waterford....on paper at least is that not what the brick is in the forwards for??

Yes, but if we want to play to the strengths our forwards have we should play more low ball into the speed merchants and let them run at teams. This short posession game suits that type of approach, and also suits the brick to win primary posession and link play. Its nice to have the option of route one if he can win it and bring lads around him into play, but has he the wrists to take his own score or the instinct to plunder a goal or two? He's prob the best option for that kind of role thats there at the minute.

Wexford ahead of limerick by a goal at HT. A wex win or a draw there would leave promotion in our own hands