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

robopaddy2

Deise_2012 wrote: »

Foran and Harney were on the panel last year? What happened them? Harney is definitely as good as Mcnulty, Gavin O'Brien, Shane Roche etc.

Foran opted out from what I heard. He is still u21 so will probably concentrate on that.

Giveitfong

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Conor Gleeson and Colm Roche aswell. Foran isnt on the senior panel. I know mark o'brien and andy molumby were at one stage not sure if they still are

Mark O'Brien and Andy Molumby were on the bench against Galway, as was Mikey Kearney. Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson, Tom Devine, Colm Roche and Shane Bennett were on the starting 15. Patrick Curran was rested and Stephen Bennett is injured. Foran and Harney would be on the panel if they put their minds to it. Foran in particular played a key role in winning the minor All-Ireland with his performances against Cork and Kilkenny. Players with his aerial ability are rare.

Given that Waterford are among the top three teams in Ireland, this is an amazing return for a single minor team, yet they only scraped that All-Ireland with two losses, a draw, one game won in extra time and a very tight win over a modest Kilkenny outfit. Last year's under 21 team was probably the strongest Waterford ever put out, at least in terms of potential, and they could not beat another modest team in Clare. Methinks the problem with both teams lay elsewhere than with the players.

Cake Man

Still the bones of a strong U21 team but how many times in the last few years have we said that? Still though, a great chance to get back to an U21 Munster final which we haven't done since 2009. Hard to believe we've only won one game at this grade since that year (and that was against one of the poorest Cork U21 sides ever witnessed).


Who will be the U21 keeper? If I remember correctly, Billy Nolan stood in last year as I think Gavin Power (?) was injured? Is Power and Seanie Barry underage this year? Would have to think if BN starts in goal for the minors, he'll most likely get the nod for U21. Very early still but anyone want to hazard a guess at an U21 line up?

Waternut

We definitely the bones of a good U21 team. Add in Lyons, Hogan and possibly Prunty from last years minor team. How many times have we said that though. Clare last year was a heart breaker, it just seems there isn't the interest / financial resources available for U21 in the county.

Nolan cannot play county U21. He is still minor, new rules this year. Its a stupid rule because he can play U21 and adult with his club but not U21 with his county.. Sometimes I reckon they bring in new rules just for the sake of it. Some of the new rules will kill rural GAA, I wish they would just leave the games the way they are.

HatchetMan7

Here's my (complete) guess at an U21 starting 15.

1. ???
2. Conor Gleeson
3. Prunty
4. Lyons/Hahessey
5. Harney
6. Austin Gleeson
7. M O Brien
8. Molumby
9. Colm Roche
10. Tom Devine
11. Shane Bennett
12. DJ Foran
13. Paddy Curran
14. Stephan Bennett
15. M. Kearney

12 of that team have been involved with the senior panel at some stage. If lessons are learnt from the last few years especially last year you would think we would be a match for anyone. Such a pity though that Billy Nolan can't play.

robopaddy2

HatchetMan7 wrote: »

Here's my (complete) guess at an U21 starting 15.

1. ???
2. Conor Gleeson
3. Prunty
4. Lyons/Hahessey
5. Harney
6. Austin Gleeson
7. M O Brien
8. Molumby
9. Colm Roche
10. Tom Devine
11. Shane Bennett
12. DJ Foran
13. Paddy Curran
14. Stephan Bennett
15. M. Kearney

12 of that team have been involved with the senior panel at some stage. If lessons are learnt from the last few years especially last year you would think we would be a match for anyone. Such a pity though that Billy Nolan can't play.

I'd imagine Jordan Henley of Tallow is the outstanding candidate for keeper

Waternut

robopaddy2 wrote: »

I'd imagine Jordan Henley of Tallow is the outstanding candidate for keeper

Taking A. Gleeson out of the equation, Henley was undoubtedly the best young half back / defender in the Waterford senior hurling championship last year...

robopaddy2

Waternut wrote: »

Taking A. Gleeson out of the equation, Henley was undoubtedly the best young half back / defender in the Waterford senior hurling championship last year...

He'd still find it hard to make the team in those positions. Its a very strong u21 group this year. He played in goals for the u21s last year after Nolan got injured. Nolan is ineligible while Gavin Power who was the minor goalie 3 years ago hasn't played there since. Can't see who the other outstanding keepers in this age group are....

DiscoStew

HatchetMan7 wrote: »

Here's my (complete) guess at an U21 starting 15.

1. ???
2. Conor Gleeson
3. Prunty
4. Lyons/Hahessey
5. Harney
6. Austin Gleeson
7. M O Brien
8. Molumby
9. Colm Roche
10. Tom Devine
11. Shane Bennett
12. DJ Foran
13. Paddy Curran
14. Stephan Bennett
15. M. Kearney

12 of that team have been involved with the senior panel at some stage. If lessons are learnt from the last few years especially last year you would think we would be a match for anyone. Such a pity though that Billy Nolan can't play.

I wouldn't be overly inspired by our back 6 there, while the forward line is littered with stars. I wonder could Colm Roche feature in the back line possibly, he has played there with Blackwater previously if memory serves me right. Kearney could also see action a little further out the field around the middle maybe. I'd imagine Lyons will start as he was playing last year. Did Prunty play full back at minor? He played in the position for Abbeyside last year. Hopefully Stephen Bennett will be back fully fit for it.

Any word on Kevin Daly? How is his fitness / form? Cian Leamy will be another missing from the minor team after breaking his leg.

As for the goalkeeper, Jordan Henley is definitely a candidate. What of the Abbeyside goalkeeper from last year, is he still eligible? His name escapes me now. I know he didn't serve them too well last year but maybe he has matured since. He had some fine performances for Abbeyside last year.

My shot in the dark at a team would be:

Henley
Gleeson
Prunty / Daly
Lyons
Harney
Gleeson
Roche
M. O'Brien
Kearney
Devine
Shane Bennett
Foran
Curran
Stephen Bennett
Molumby

It's often the case though that players who play the challenge game circuit with this group are given their chance. Not sure who else there would be to come in to the equation however. Cormac Curran, Eddie Hayden, Paul O'Connor, Edmund O'Halloran. Maybe someone else would have some more info on players involved with the panel currently.

DiscoStew

Waternut wrote: »

Taking A. Gleeson out of the equation, Henley was undoubtedly the best young half back / defender in the Waterford senior hurling championship last year...

I didn't see all of Tallow's games last year but the games I saw he featured mainly in the forwards, sometimes dropping back as an extra defender when they got ahead. He is an undoubted talent who can play in any number of positions.

Actually speaking of Tallow, would Ryan Grey be with the U21 squad currently?

Waternut

DiscoStew wrote: »

I didn't see all of Tallow's games last year but the games I saw he featured mainly in the forwards, sometimes dropping back as an extra defender when they got ahead. He is an undoubted talent who can play in any number of positions.

Actually speaking of Tallow, would Ryan Grey be with the U21 squad currently?

Yea Grey should be in the mix, be difficult to make the team though. Whats the story with this lad that joined de la salle, he has a few years of fitzgibbon behind him and supposed to be alright. Didn't see his name on the salle team last week. Anyone from the east know his story? Back line above is weakish enough. Whats all the Foran love for too? He hasn't done a huge amount since minor unfortunately. Didn't start on an average ucc fitzgibbon team this year.

DLS2THECORE

Niall Fives from Tourin is currently playing full back for the county under 21's. Younger brother of Shane and Darragh.

galwaylad14

Giveitfong wrote: »

Mark O'Brien and Andy Molumby were on the bench against Galway, as was Mikey Kearney. Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson, Tom Devine, Colm Roche and Shane Bennett were on the starting 15. Patrick Curran was rested and Stephen Bennett is injured. Foran and Harney would be on the panel if they put their minds to it. Foran in particular played a key role in winning the minor All-Ireland with his performances against Cork and Kilkenny. Players with his aerial ability are rare.

Given that Waterford are among the top three teams in Ireland, this is an amazing return for a single minor team, yet they only scraped that All-Ireland with two losses, a draw, one game won in extra time and a very tight win over a modest Kilkenny outfit. Last year's under 21 team was probably the strongest Waterford ever put out, at least in terms of potential, and they could not beat another modest team in Clare. Methinks the problem with both teams lay elsewhere than with the players.

Really?

thesultan

robopaddy2 wrote: »

I'd imagine Jordan Henley of Tallow is the outstanding candidate for keeper

HE might play outfield

mountgomery burns

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Really?

Yep, Tipp are Munster champions, Waterford league champions and Kilkenny all ireland champions.

What are Galway? Champions of Connaught?

Deise_2012

DiscoStew wrote: »

I wouldn't be overly inspired by our back 6 there, while the forward line is littered with stars. I wonder could Colm Roche feature in the back line possibly, he has played there with Blackwater previously if memory serves me right. Kearney could also see action a little further out the field around the middle maybe. I'd imagine Lyons will start as he was playing last year. Did Prunty play full back at minor? He played in the position for Abbeyside last year. Hopefully Stephen Bennett will be back fully fit for it.

Any word on Kevin Daly? How is his fitness / form? Cian Leamy will be another missing from the minor team after breaking his leg.

As for the goalkeeper, Jordan Henley is definitely a candidate. What of the Abbeyside goalkeeper from last year, is he still eligible? His name escapes me now. I know he didn't serve them too well last year but maybe he has matured since. He had some fine performances for Abbeyside last year.

My shot in the dark at a team would be:

Henley
Gleeson
Prunty / Daly
Lyons
Harney
Gleeson
Roche
M. O'Brien
Kearney
Devine
Shane Bennett
Foran
Curran
Stephen Bennett
Molumby

It's often the case though that players who play the challenge game circuit with this group are given their chance. Not sure who else there would be to come in to the equation however. Cormac Curran, Eddie Hayden, Paul O'Connor, Edmund O'Halloran. Maybe someone else would have some more info on players involved with the panel currently.

Sean Daly is the lad from Abbeyside who plays in goal.
Kevin Daly hasn't a hope of making the u21 grade unless he sorts out his fitness in the next few months, the cruciate injury was the killer for him, right before Xmas 2014 and he missed a year of college hurling with UCC.
I'd go with
Henley
Conor Gleeson
Prunty
Brian Looby/Hahessey/Jack Mullaney
Harney
Gleeson
Colm Roche
Darragh Lyons
Mark O'Brien
Tom Devine
Shane Bennett
DJ Foran
Michael Kearney
Stephen Bennett
Patrick Curran

You've Andy Molumby, Cormac Curran, Adam Farrell, Ed O'Halloran, Niall Fives, Paul O'Connor as subs

Deskjockey

Deise_2012 wrote: »

Sean Daly is the lad from Abbeyside who plays in goal.
Kevin Daly hasn't a hope of making the u21 grade unless he sorts out his fitness in the next few months, the cruciate injury was the killer for him, right before Xmas 2014 and he missed a year of college hurling with UCC.
I'd go with
Henley
Conor Gleeson
Prunty
Brian Looby/Hahessey/Jack Mullaney
Harney
Gleeson
Colm Roche
Darragh Lyons
Mark O'Brien
Tom Devine
Shane Bennett
DJ Foran
Michael Kearney
Stephen Bennett
Patrick Curran

You've Andy Molumby, Cormac Curran, Adam Farrell, Ed O'Halloran, Niall Fives, Paul O'Connor as subs

What's the story with Stephen Bennett this weather ? Is he out with hip problems again?

Cake Man

Hope Bennett is back soon enough, it feels like he's been out for a very long time.


Any team news for Sunday? Have we a full team to pick from (apart from Bennett)? Will Paudie M see any action again?
Nobody giving Wexford a chance, don't think we'll have it that easy but should pull through by a few points. It'll be interesting to see if any of the lads who played well v Galway retain places.

galwaylad14

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Yep, Tipp are Munster champions, Waterford league champions and Kilkenny all ireland champions.

What are Galway? Champions of Connaught?

Not Connacht champions. There's no Connacht championship in hurling anymore, we play in Leinster now.

To be honest though I don't really care where people rank us because we certainly aren't first and after that it really doesn't matter. But for argument sake, Waterford played against two decent teams in the Championship last year and were easily enough beaten by both. So that means there's two teams better than them anyway. We beat one of those teams in the All Ireland semi final, now it was a game that could have gone either way but I'd say that puts us at least on a par with Tipp anyway.

But anyways by the time September rolls I won't mind ye being league champions again if we are busy preparing for another shot at the All Ireland.

mountgomery burns

galwaylad14 wrote: »

Not Connacht champions. There's no Connacht championship in hurling anymore, we play in Leinster now.

To be honest though I don't really care where people rank us because we certainly aren't first and after that it really doesn't matter. But for argument sake, Waterford played against two decent teams in the Championship last year and were easily enough beaten by both. So that means there's two teams better than them anyway. We beat one of those teams in the All Ireland semi final, now it was a game that could have gone either way but I'd say that puts us at least on a par with Tipp anyway.

But anyways by the time September rolls I won't mind ye being league champions again if we are busy preparing for another shot at the All Ireland.

If you don't care where Galway are ranked why did you respond to the comment about Waterford being third best team in the Country in a Waterford thread from a Waterford person?

robopaddy2

Deskjockey wrote: »

What's the story with Stephen Bennett this weather ? Is he out with hip problems again?

Yea he had another hip operation before Christmas. That's his 3rd major one since 2013. You'd have to be worried for the lad's long term future. He was playing county minor at 15 and maybe were seeing the repercussions of that now, I think the GAA are right to restrict minors and u21s to players within the age grade only. It wasn't a popular decision but people say they haven't been doing enough to prevent player burnout so they have to start somewhere.

Hope he can make it back to full fitness and have a good summer for senior and u21s. He has missed a lot of hurling including Fitzgibbon with UL. His availability could have been the difference for them losing out in the final.

Waternut

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Yea he had another hip operation before Christmas. That's his 3rd major one since 2013. You'd have to be worried for the lad's long term future. He was playing county minor at 15 and maybe were seeing the repercussions of that now, I think the GAA are right to restrict minors and u21s to players within the age grade only. It wasn't a popular decision but people say they haven't been doing enough to prevent player burnout so they have to start somewhere.

Hope he can make it back to full fitness and have a good summer for senior and u21s. He has missed a lot of hurling including Fitzgibbon with UL. His availability could have been the difference for them losing out in the final.

Yea I'd be worried about him alright. I know three or four lads who had to give up club gaa because of similar hip issues. Supposedly its hereditary.

robopaddy2

Waternut wrote: »

Yea I'd be worried about him alright. I know three or four lads who had to give up club gaa because of similar hip issues. Supposedly its hereditary.

Dunno if Stephen's issues are hereditary or not, the fact that it was both hips might indicate so. But he was playing an awful lot of hurling at one stage, when he was u16 he was playing minor and u16 for the county, u16 minor and u21 for the club and u16 and Harty cup for the school. The following year his hip problems started. I guess some players bodies are designed to take punishment more so than others.

HatchetMan7

Cake Man wrote: »

Hope Bennett is back soon enough, it feels like he's been out for a very long time.


Any team news for Sunday? Have we a full team to pick from (apart from Bennett)? Will Paudie M see any action again?
Nobody giving Wexford a chance, don't think we'll have it that easy but should pull through by a few points. It'll be interesting to see if any of the lads who played well v Galway retain places.

Id like to see Brian O Halloran get a full game because i think he is one of the most skillful players on the panel. This is his 2nd full year back from injury and could make a big impact if he gets playing time.

cul beag

Lets be brutally honest here we're favourites for a reason on Sunday and the difference between the two counties meeting since last year is startling. Wexford have gone into decline rapidly and we have progressed maybe not so quickly but are on the right road at least. If it was Tipp or Kilkenny meeting Wexford on Sunday we would be tipping a landslide victory for either so why are we trying to play down our chances? The form book only points one way and we will win this comfortably by at least 7-8 points. If we are the third best team in the country then games like these will be dealt with appropriately and lets move on to the next one. Our second string team draw with Galway so how on earth can we be worried about Wexford with our full panel nearly to pick from and everyone chomping at the bit to be involved. There will be bigger fish to fry as the year goes on.

mountgomery burns

Anyone hear anything about a bad hamstring tear for Gleeson? Hoping it's bullsh*t.

deiseach

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Yep, Tipp are Munster champions, Waterford league champions and Kilkenny all ireland champions.

What are Galway? Champions of Connaught?

God be with the good old days when Donal O'Grady would give his predictions for the summer on The Sunday Game and would always deliver his belief, with the perfect deadpan expression, that Galway would win Connaught and Antrim would win Ulster.

On reflection, those were the days when a nine-point loss to Limerick was considered to be a better-than-par performance so the good old days can go to hell.

DiscoStew

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Anyone hear anything about a bad hamstring tear for Gleeson? Hoping it's bullsh*t.

I believe it was a hamstring injury he left the field with against Galway but had heard nothing of it being serious, unless something happened in training since.
Darragh Fives tore his calf apparently, that's why he hasn't featured of late. Hopefully only a small tear as he was playing very well up until then.

willietherock

Deskjockey wrote: »

What's the story with Stephen Bennett this weather ? Is he out with hip problems again?

Played last wk with Ballysaggart and scored 3/4 goals in a challenge v St Catherines

Deise_2012

Stephen Bennett did the warm ups before the Waterford games v Galway and Dublin so he can't be too far off. I'd say he's raring to get going again