[solarith]

woof

[doz]

Desperately disappointing defeat, we had Cork on the ropes but ultimately we didn't get the scores to finish the game off. The injury to Shane Walsh was a real turning point and I believe we would have won if he had remained fit. Someone on the radio commented that we have to work far harder for our scores than other teams and I think that is probably a fair statement, we just do not have enough quality in our forward lines. I think we have a stronger 15 than Cork but did not have anything in reserve, whereas they emptied their bench to great success, we had players on the pitch who had clearly run out of steam. Ultimately we just do not have a squad of 20 quality players at this moment in time which you need in today's game.

To the players who may retire after today (possibly Seamus, definitely Tony, maybe even Kelly as well), thanks for everything, particularly Tony, a hurling legend and a gentleman. On the plus side, I think we have made some progress this year and the management team deserve another chance. However they need to work hard during the rest of the county championship, as we need to identify some more players to push through in time for the start of the league, particularly in attack. Best of luck to Cork also, who I firmly hope defeat Galway. DEISE ABU!

[lefthanded]

As a Kilkenny fan, I was at the match, I was going for Waterford and they were doing so well. Waterford were definitely the better team over the 70 minutes and they just didnt seem to have the legs to hold out against the young Cork subs. Mullane changed the game when he came out midfield but died out towards the end, they really threw it away with the two chances towards the end and Shanahans many wides from frees, it was disappointing because those Cork fans really annoyed me the way that there was no sign of that badhrán when Waterford started to come back at them and didn't resurface until they went two points up.

[ShamoBuc]

Molumphy got motm - deserved, he's a fine player.

[ShamoBuc]

Originally Posted by lefthanded

As a Kilkenny fan, I was at the match, I was going for Waterford and they were doing so well. Waterford were definitely the better team over the 70 minutes and they just didnt seem to have the legs to hold out against the young Cork subs. Mullane changed the game when he came out midfield but died out towards the end, they really threw it away with the two chances towards the end and Shanahans many wides from frees, it was disappointing because those Cork fans really annoyed me the way that there was no sign of that badhrán when Waterford started to come back at them and didn't resurface until they went two points up.

Kilkenny fan complaining about Cork fans, priceless - given the tiny amount of kk fans that turned up.

[deisedude]

Sickened with that defeat. Threw it away against a very average Cork team.

Game was lost in the opening and closing minutes. The first twenty minutes we were brutal altogether, a more clinical team would have put us to the sword early. We gave Cork a 6/7 point headstart before the team got going at all. How we were only a point down at half time was a miracle.

On the sideline in the closing minutes the decisions were ludicrous. Eoin McGrath hasn't done anything in a county jersey since 2008 and Shane Casey has never been up to scratch yet these are the two who are entrusted to score a goal when you leave a proven goal scorer on the bench. I'm no great fan of Kellys attitude but not putting him on when the game was there for the taking was ridiculous. Another thing, Tommy Ryan simply is not big or strong enough for intercounty hurling, might as well have been playing with 14 men while he was on.

One thing to leave you with, in 3 championship games we only managed to score one goal from play. Shocking statistic.

[Cake Man]

Originally Posted by deisedude

Another thing, Tommy Ryan simply is not big or strong enough for intercounty hurling, might as well have been playing with 14 men while he was on.

One thing to leave you with, in 3 championship games we only managed to score one goal from play. Shocking statistic.

Yeah, I don't like to be critical of our own as the lads go out to try their best but Tommy is just too light and was brushed off every ball today. Think he was a bit too eager and tried to go for goal every time, when a point was on.

That's an awful stat alright but its just not surprising as it confirms our scoring threat is fairly blunt these days.

[Chinpool]

We get in plenty of goal scoring positions though. Its just not helped by people not passing the fcuking ball

[nkay1985]

Originally Posted by The Great Chinholio

We get in plenty of goal scoring positions though. Its just not helped by people not passing the fcuking ball

Correct. With the exact same players in the exact same situations, a Tipp or Kilkenny team would have had at least two goals today. For some reason, our lads just don't seem to have that awareness. It's also so frustrating to see Maurice running well at goal but the second a back comes near him, he has to turn back as he just doesn't have the physicality to break or ride a challenge when going for goal.

Obviously disappointed tonight but it's not all doom and gloom. If we carried a goal threat, we could be Munster champions and, even if not, would almost certainly be looking at an All-Ireland semi-final now. Maybe it's something that can be addressed. We have a lot of youth through our team now. The likes of Moran are really stepping up. I think we'll at least be competitive for the next while, not slip into obscurity as has happened to a lot of teams after a good run.

[wex_lad]

Originally Posted by deisedude

One thing to leave you with, in 3 championship games we only managed to score one goal from play. Shocking statistic.

On the way home from Thurles we were discussing this statistic. What made the journey home even more depressing was the comparison to previous years....

In 2007, Waterford scored 15 goals in 5 Championship games with 14 of those coming from play.

In 2008, Waterford scored 12 goals in 6 Championship games with 11 of those coming from play.

In 2009, Waterford scored 6 goals in 5 Championship games with 4 of these coming from play.

In 2010, Waterford scored 4 goals in 4 Championship games with 4 of these coming from play.

In 2011, Waterford scored 6 goals in 4 Championship games with 6 of these coming from play.

In 2012, Waterford scored 2 goals in 3 Championship games with 1 of these coming from play.

The last 5 years waterford have scored 43 goals in 24 games with 39 of them coming from play. In this years Championship we managed just 2 goals and the most worrying part is just 1 has come from play. The depressing thing about this year from other years is we don't even look like scoring at any stage in a match. Its nearly a surprise if Waterford score a goal at this stage. Simply put, Waterford just don't have the forwards. Its all well and good having brilliant players like Kevin Moran, Molumphy, Brick and Noel Connors who can prevent goals, but goal prevention isn't going to win any All Irelands - goal scoring is. To make a breakthrough Waterford need at least 3 forwards capable of scoring goals. At the minute we have 1 in Shane Walsh, 1 isn't good enough. Although Mullane is probably the best forward in the country for the last 4 or 5 years his goalscoring record isn't as good as it probably should be. Goals win games and for now, the lack of goals is the achilles heel in this Waterford team. The Munster final was crying out for a Waterford goal that never came, and more importantly never looked like coming. Today against Cork a goal anywhere between the 20th - 60th minute would have taken Waterford into the All Ireland semi final. Unfortunately, that goal never came and once again never even looked like coming. In Championship games involving Wexford, Clare, Cork, Offaly, Galway, Tipperary, Dublin and Kilkenny there has been lots of goals and lots and lots of goal chances. The one goal Waterford did score from play this year wasn't even created by us, it came from a poor mistake in the Clare full back line.

Having been very confident of a Waterford win today, I now think that it was blind faith which made me think we would win. We simply aren't creative enough from 10 - 15 and although we are solid from 1 - 9 and we will be for the next 5 or 6 years, the problems at 10 - 15 look set to continue for us, and if they do then we can forget about winning a Munster title let alone an All Ireland because without a creative and ruthless set of forwards we will continue to be disappointed. I'm not having a go at anyone on the team as I am proud of their efforts. Its just that when we are really honest with ourselves we simply aren't good enough at the moment.

[mccarthy37]

Originally Posted by deisedude

Sickened with that defeat. Threw it away against a very average Cork team.

Game was lost in the opening and closing minutes. The first twenty minutes we were brutal altogether, a more clinical team would have put us to the sword early. We gave Cork a 6/7 point headstart before the team got going at all. How we were only a point down at half time was a miracle.

On the sideline in the closing minutes the decisions were ludicrous. Eoin McGrath hasn't done anything in a county jersey since 2008 and Shane Casey has never been up to scratch yet these are the two who are entrusted to score a goal when you leave a proven goal scorer on the bench. I'm no great fan of Kellys attitude but not putting him on when the game was there for the taking was ridiculous. Another thing, Tommy Ryan simply is not big or strong enough for intercounty hurling, might as well have been playing with 14 men while he was on.

One thing to leave you with, in 3 championship games we only managed to score one goal from play. Shocking statistic.

This reminds me of '99. I think "if" is our biggest problem. When we eliminate that the world is our oyster.

[WumBuster]

Pretty much echo much of the dissapointment and sentiments of the other posters. Just a few things

- Waterford should have had a penalty in the injury time as Mullane was blatantely dragged to the ground by the cork defender as the ball was coming in. I was standing right behind the goals and saw it clearly. Unfortunately it was something that both the ref and the tv cameras missed.

- Young Ryan in the corner should have been taken off after 15-20 mins as it was clear it wasnt happening for him and he was either out of his depth or really nervous. yes a tough call but if we had either O neill, G O brien, or Kelly on at that stage it would have made a difference, i feel.

-As said already, the choices of Mcgrath and Casey were the wrong ones with better options on the bench as pointed out above. But its a bit unfair to hammer eoin mcgrath for that dropped ball, as he did well to get away from his man and it was unlucky as probably 9 times out of ten he would have caught that and buried it. And he didnt play too bad when he came on, but really, kelly shouldnt have been left on the bench before him, especially when Shane walsh had to come off.

[Chinpool]

Originally Posted by nkay1985

Correct. With the exact same players in the exact same situations, a Tipp or Kilkenny team would have had at least two goals today. For some reason, our lads just don't seem to have that awareness. It's also so frustrating to see Maurice running well at goal but the second a back comes near him, he has to turn back as he just doesn't have the physicality to break or ride a challenge when going for goal.

Its nearly like theyre afraid to take a shot without the guarantee and keep trying to get closer to tap it in.
Look at KKs 3rd & 4th goal today. They were winding up the shots from 21 yards out hell bent on putting it in the net. Our forwards would be looking for that extra few steps or would have already taken the point.
It really needs to be gotten into their head that you should go for it in that situation like we used to. I don't know is still hangover from Davys tactics or where its coming from the last few years but it has to be sorted.

[crazy_kenny]

Too many average players on team to compete at this level. Also physically not a match for top teams. How many of the current players would make the Tipp or Kilkenny team? Brick, Mullane, Moran... That's about it.

[Chinpool]

Originally Posted by crazy_kenny

Too many average players on team to compete at this level. Also physically not a match for top teams. How many of the current players would make the Tipp or Kilkenny team? Brick, Mullane, Moran... That's about it.

I don't give a sh!t about how many individual players would make it into other teams. We have too many individuals. Great teamwork makes up for weaker players and brings them on.
Look at our play from puck outs. SOKs has great puck outs (although he sent far too many down the right in the 2nd half when we were winning none of them) and Prender is a good ball winner but what happens when he catches it? Nothing. Nobody running from midfield, nobody running from the wing for him to lay the ball off to. Molumphy is tireless at breaking ball and dropping deep but he isnt a creator so that leaves Maurice or the 2 Mahonys who should be helping out but they stand around waiting for the ball too much.
And our entire forward line is guilty of the same thing. In most occasions nobody runs off whoever has the ball. They stay stationary and our entire attack has to slow down. Of course this isnt helped by people not looking up and passing whenever someone does find space. I don't know is it because theyre not even expecting anyone to go with them or they just want the glory (probably both)