Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 3 ***Updated Mod Note Post 1***

Giveitfong

Cake Man wrote: »

Yeah I remember first seeing Curran at Tony Forristal level, fairly sure it was 2010. No surprise he basically single-handedly won the tournament for Waterford.

I don't think that is fair on the rest of the team, although granted Curran was exceptional. His freetaking in the final on a windy day was magnificent. I thought that was one of the best-prepared hurling teams ever put out by Waterford. A lad from De La Salle whose name I forget playing at centre back got the man of the match award in the final. I think he missed out at minor level due to injury.

Cake Man

Giveitfong wrote: »

I don't think that is fair on the rest of the team, although granted Curran was exceptional. His freetaking in the final on a windy day was magnificent. I thought that was one of the best-prepared hurling teams ever put out by Waterford. A lad from De La Salle whose name I forget playing at centre back got the man of the match award in the final. I think he missed out at minor level due to injury.

Ah yeah it was more meant in terms of his scoring being one of the main reasons we won every game. His free taking then was just as good as it is now and I recall he bagged a few goals too.


The lad you're referring to is Jack McCarthy. Haven't seen much of him the last few years but yes he definitely has had some injury set backs. Fairly sure he's U21 for DLS this year so hopefully we see more of him. Reminds me a bit of Eoin Madigan of DLS - big, strong lad who has been hampered by injuries the last few years.

Remember the open night in Walsh park in 2008 before the all Ireland final and Davy trained a juvenile team

I wonder how many of today's senior/under 21 players were in that group ?? Anyone knw

Don't remember it specifically but would love to see the names involved. Also with some of the Tony Forristal/Sonny Walsh/Arrabawn U16 tournaments from the last few years, would like to have a look through and see who made it (both from Waterford and other counties).

blueflame

Set out below is a list of names from programmes I had collected from Forristal Tournament since panels were listed.


2006 Tony Forristal Jake Dillon
(Lost Final to Wexford) Paudie Prendergast
Martin O’Neill
Stephen O’Keeffe (outfield)
Gavin O’Brien
Darragh Fives
Paudie O’Mahony

2006 Sonny Walsh

---

2007 Tony Forristal Gavin O’Brien
(Beat Tipp In Final) Jake Dillon

2007 Sonny Walsh Jamie Barron
Shane McNulty
Tadgh De Burca


2008 – Tony Forristal Colin Dunford
Tadgh De Burca
Shane McNulty

2008 - Sonny Walsh Ryan Donnelly
Stephen Bennett


2009 – Tony Forristal Austin Gleeson (Goalkeeper)
(Lost to Tipp in Final) Michael Harney
Tom Devine
Stephen Bennett
DJ Foran
Michael Kearney


2009 - Sonny Walsh Patrick Curran
(Beat Tipp in Sonny Walsh Final) Shane Bennett
Cormac Curran



2010 – Tony Forristal Colm Roche
(Beat Kilkenny in Final) Conor Gleeson
Patrick Curran
Shane Bennett
Cormac Curran

2010 - Sonny Walsh

---

Not sure if the Stephen O'Keeffe of 2006 is "socks" as if my memory serves me correct there was another Stephen O'Keeffe who played Full back / Wing back with Ballygunner and the county at minor and U-21 level.

Apologies if i omitted anyone but i tried to limit it to those who are currently part or have been a a regular part of the senior county set up. A lot of other lads have played Minor and U-21 and may yet play a part with the seniors.

Also important to remember that as far as i know up to around 2010 it was allowed to use lads a year out to play in the Sonny Walsh to give them experience, hence the overlap, but now as i understand it they have to be up to the age.

3ships

A few more thoughts post Thurles.


Thinking of some of the better performers on Sunday: Dara Fives, Pat Curran, Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon, SOK and Devine were not among the 11 all star nominations last year.


We have beaten all the 1a teams the last time we played them.


Out of 9 league games only 2 were won by the away team.


1-15 of the 1-18 total was scored by U-21 players.


5 starters plus 5 of the panel for Tipp and Waterford were involved in both Sundays league game and the 2012 minor game that Tipp won by 19 points. Seamus Keating is probably of that vintage as well. 3 others had a stint on the Waterford panel.

seananigans

http://www.the42.ie/ken-mcgrath-austin-gleeson-waterford-2647133-Mar2016/

lads every year i try not to get my hopes up stay calm and sure if it comes its a surprise, invariably the lads do something in the year that gets my hopes up and then im back on the bandwagon for the big one.

i think the latest it went was against kk in 2013 when we were up going into et.

this year it happened in the first league match

boodiebhoy

Is throw in this Sunday 2 o'clock?

robopaddy2

blueflame wrote: »

Not sure if the Stephen O'Keeffe of 2006 is "socks" as if my memory serves me correct there was another Stephen O'Keeffe who played Full back / Wing back with Ballygunner and the county at minor and U-21 level.

Yea that was the other Stephen O'Keeffe alright. Mad that Austin Gleeson was in goals and wasn't deemed good enough to be outfield, I think I remember him as being a bit heavy for his age and there's no way you'd have picked him out as being a future star. Goes to to show. The Tony Forristal really has been the catalyst for the development of our young players. Didn't we lose 3 finals in a row? 04 05 and 06 before finally winning one in 07. Once these lads saw they could compete with the best at that age by the time they get to minor / adult level there is a mindset that they are as good as anyone and we are seeing the fruits of that today. I hope this fantastic work can be sustained at underage level and we can keep the conveyor belt flowing

Cake Man

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Yea that was the other Stephen O'Keeffe alright. Mad that Austin Gleeson was in goals and wasn't deemed good enough to be outfield, I think I remember him as being a bit heavy for his age and there's no way you'd have picked him out as being a future star. Goes to to show. The Tony Forristal really has been the catalyst for the development of our young players. Didn't we lose 3 finals in a row? 04 05 and 06 before finally winning one in 07. Once these lads saw they could compete with the best at that age by the time they get to minor / adult level there is a mindset that they are as good as anyone and we are seeing the fruits of that today. I hope this fantastic work can be sustained at underage level and we can keep the conveyor belt flowing

Definitely. I think the TF teams of those years you mentioned 04-07 along with the 2010 winning team has produced a huge amount of top quality players who are now playing intercounty senior. Very rare to get so many diamonds out of such few teams. The norm is that if one or two went on to make it from a minor team, you'd be doing well.


Maybe it happens in cycles as well I suppose as the last few minor teams weren't great. A few decent players though that will hopefully go on to be good enough for senior (I'm thinking Edmund O'Halloran, Darragh Lyons).

Giveitfong

In 2009 Waterford got the mix between the Forristal and Sonny Walsh teams wrong, as they ran away with the Sonny Walsh final but were well beaten by Tipp in the Forristal final. Tipp had a couple of really big lads who dominated that game. Waterford had some big lads in the Sonny Walsh team (including Cormac Curran) and if a couple of these had been in the Forristal team they might have been able to contain the big Tipp lads. However, it was a great achievement to be in both finals and the following year they won the Forristal.

galwaylad14

Waterford are looking good in fairness but there's no All Ireland's won in March!

tonc76

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Waterford are looking good in fairness but there's no All Ireland's won in March!

^^ Club All Irelands ^^

blueflame

I remember for certain Noel Connors playing when Waterford lost to Tipp in 2004, and i think Philip Mahony played the same year.

Interesting to note KKs lack of success in the Tony Forristal up until 2003. They had won the first tournament that only involved themselves and Waterford and did not win again until 2003 appearing in 5 finals in the in-term loosing all of them. Since 2003 they have have appears in 4 further finals winning 3 of then. Despite these stats they constantly show up at Minor level.

Big issue with underage tournaments is they are run in a blitz fashion over a weekend and on a weekend anything could happen. From a Waterford point of view, the fact that we have been very competitive each year since the early 2000 s even when not winning or reaching finals, has stood to our underage hurlers. They now feel that they have a right to be on the same pitch as the elite and no longer are intimidated. Even last year our minors who went out very early were extremely unlucky to loose to Tipp who were beaten finalists, so the margins between success and failure is very fine. Some other fine hurlers outside of Darragh Lyons and Edmund O'Halloran on recent side, including the likes of Connor Prunty, Calum Lyons, Andy Molumby, and Pater Hogan. Hopefully the conveyor belt an continue but it takes a hell of a lot of work at underage, it doesn't just happen.

It is interesting to look at the improvement and take into account the comments of Ken in his Laochra Gael programme, i believe like Ken that while they never managed to win an All-Ireland they sowed a seed that made hurling fashionable again in Waterford and restored a pride that had been damaged badly and encouraged the current crop to strive for higher aims. I think that this means a lot to Ken and this teammates and should never be forgotten. Hopefully the current team will encourage the next generation and inspire them to again greater heights.

deiseach

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Waterford are looking good in fairness but there's no All Ireland's won in March!

Thank God you posted that, I was about to book a dozen rooms in the Croke Park Hotel for the first weekend in September. Close one!

blueflame

Sorry a mis-type Kilkenny lost only 1 and won 4 of the last 5 finals they appeared in in Forristal from 2003 to 2016

PTH2009

By my calculations beat Dublin and we will finish 1st in the table regardless of our result vs Galway.

A draw vs dublin will guarantee at least 2nd place

If we lose vs Dublin and Galway than we could finish 3rd depending on other results.

Cork beating kilkenny would suite us

I'd be paying attention to the offaly vs wexford game dis weekend as there's a good chance will will be playing one of them teams in the qf. The final day winner takes all 1b Clare vs Limerick match will be a classic (if of course they both win dis weekend).

The blue blaa

blueflame wrote: »

Sorry a mis-type Kilkenny lost only 1 and won 4 of the last 5 finals they appeared in in Forristal from 2003 to 2016

Interesting that no team has ever won the Tony Forristal went on an won a minor All Ireland four years later. Development of players is what it's all about. We're lucky that we're producing talent on a regular basis the last few years.

O Riain

deiseach wrote: »

Thank God you posted that, I was about to book a dozen rooms in the Croke Park Hotel for the first weekend in September. Close one!

Haven't seen anyone mention winning the all Ireland. One lad said he tries not to get his hopes up each year and then you have this lad coming on saying that we all think we are going to win the all Ireland. Team are playing very very well and we are all very happy but we know the score.

Being from Galway he probably knows the score more than we do.

deiseach

O Riain wrote: »

Being from Galway he probably knows the score more than we do.

Dick phelan

What time is the match on Sunday?

KevIRL

Dick phelan wrote: »

What time is the match on Sunday?

2

Dick phelan

So what's the prediction's for Sunday? Dublin had a terrible start against Tipp but have bounced back well, I think however at home we should come through, i'd say Waterford by around 4-5 points.

KevIRL

1. Stephen O'Keeffe (Ballygunner)

2. Shane Fives (Tourin)

3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)

4. Noel Connors (Passage)

5. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)

6. Darragh Fives (Tourin)

7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)

8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)

24. Tom Devine (Modeligo)

10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle) - Captain

11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)

12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)

13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)

14. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)

15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)

PTH2009

KevIRL wrote: »

1. Stephen O'Keeffe (Ballygunner)

2. Shane Fives (Tourin)

3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)

4. Noel Connors (Passage)

5. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)

6. Darragh Fives (Tourin)

7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)

8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)

24. Tom Devine (Modeligo)

10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle) - Captain

11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)

12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)

13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)

14. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)

15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)

Will Tom Devine actually start ??. Are maurice and tdb on the subs. McGrath deff going for the top spot with that team

cul beag

PTH2009 wrote: »

Will Tom Devine actually start ??. Are maurice and tdb on the subs. McGrath deff going for the top spot with that team

Is Maurice back in the squad? He walked off it 2 weeks ago.

mountgomery burns

Electric Picnic tickets sold out in record time.

It's a pity they changed it to all ireland weekend, means I'll be tied up that weekend for at least the next 5 years.

DiscoStew

cul beag wrote: »

Is Maurice back in the squad? He walked off it 2 weeks ago.

I would be very surprised if that were to be true. Mightn't be hurling as well as last year but he didn't feature heavily in the league last year and still played a vital role come summer.

PTH2009

cul beag wrote: »

Is Maurice back in the squad? He walked off it 2 weeks ago.

A huge shame if true but he was suspended for the tipp game.

robopaddy2

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Electric Picnic tickets sold out in record time.

It's a pity they changed it to all ireland weekend, means I'll be tied up that weekend for at least the next 5 years.

EP has always been AI weekend. Must be tough on ye cats never getting to one

KevIRL

Heard that Daragh Fives is an injury doubt for tomorrow

DiscoStew

KevIRL wrote: »

Heard that Daragh Fives is an injury doubt for tomorrow

Surely won't start given his troubles in the past if there's any doubt over him. If Tadhg is fit he's a direct replacement. Otherwise Gleeson could go back in there, could give Conor Gleeson, McNulty or Shane Roche a look in even.