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

mickotallow

Great win for Tallow last night. Great passion shown by both sides with plenty of skill and great scores from both sides

Cake Man

Any standout players from either side? Was Mikey Kearney playing or is he injured?

mickotallow

Cake Man wrote: »

Any standout players from either side? Was Mikey Kearney playing or is he injured?

Paul O Brien was standout player for me. Thomas Ryan and Jordan Henley were other top performers for Tallow.

Ya Mikey Kearney was playing wing forward. Got some good scores.

KevIRL

Fundraising game for p mahony 30th may. Waterford v Wexford, venue TBC

Giveitfong

Ballygunner 1-14 Fourmilewater 1-7

Ballygunner had a comfortable enough win over a poor Fourmilewater side in this senior hurling championship game in Fraher Field this evening. Fourmilewater very much looked like a football team playing hurling on this occasion as their stickwork, first touch, striking and field craft were at a level below that of their hurling specialist opponents. Fourmilewater’s doggedness meant that Ballygunner could never pull away, but the latter always looked like they could find another gear if they really needed to.

Fourmilewater’s tactics and team selection were somewhat surprising. They had Jamie Barron playing at corner forward for the bulk of the match where he was essentially out of the game. While Fourmilewater were able to gain a fair amount of possession in the midfield area, they indulged in a lot of short passing which time and again broke down against sharper opponents with better stickwork. With Barron joined in the full forward line by Conor Gleeson who looked very sharp, the early ball in would surely have been a better option. Barron was eventually moved to the half back line for the final quarter where his impact was instant, and one wonders how the game would have gone had he been placed there from the start.

Fourmilewater’s inadequacies also extended to their shooting, and they finished the game with twelve wides (six in each half), including several missed frees (a problem they also had the previous week against Abbeyside). They also gave away far too many scorable frees, and while Stephen Power (standing in for the injured Pauric Mahony) did miss a couple, he ended up with seven converted frees to his credit.

Fourmilewater got off to the best possible start here, with full forward Conor Gleeson collecting expertly on the right wing to land an excellent score, and then availing of hesitancy in the Ballygunner defence to nip in to steal possession and blast to the net. However, Ballygunner gradually got the upper hand with David Walsh winning a lot of ball around the middle and their half back line getting completely on top. In the 23rd minute they got their noses in front, 0-6 to 1-2, and while Fourmilewater came back strongly to regain the lead they were rocked back when, in the last play of the first half, Stephen Power raced through to blast to the net, leaving Ballygunner ahead by two points, 1-7 to 1-5, at the break.

The second half was a very poor affair which did nothing to keep the sizeable attendance warmed up on a progressively cold evening. Fourmilewater only scored two points in this period and, while Ballygunner shot five wides of their own, they kept the scoreboard ticking over to win out in the end by seven points, 1-14 to 1-7. Their key players were David Walsh, captain David O’Sullivan at half back and corner forward JJ Hutchinson who notched three points from play. Barry O’Sullivan also made some good catches and eye-catching plays, including two excellent points.

Ballygunner: Stephen O’Keeffe; Robbie Cunningham; Barry Coughlan; Ian Kenny; David Walsh (0-1); Philip Mahony; David O’Sullivan (0-1); Harley Barnes; Shane O’Sullivan; Conor Power; Barry O’Sullivan (0-2); Gary Molloy; JJ Hutchinson (0-3); Stephen Power (1-7, 7 frees); Brian O’Sullivan. Substitutes used: Eddie Hayden, Peter Hogan.

Fourmilewater: Kenny Brazil; Diarmuid Ryan; Thomas O’Gorman; Darren Guiry; Shane Ryan; Brian Wall; Shane Lawlor; Craig Guiry (0-2); Seamus Lawlor (0-1); Michael O’Gorman; Liam Lawlor (0-2, frees); Shane Walsh; Gearóid Hearne; Conor Gleeson (1-2); Jamie Barron. Substitute used: Diarmuid Wall.

Giveitfong

Abbeyside 2-17 De La Salle 0-20

The second game tonight in Fraher Field was a real humdinger, with Abbeyside holding out for a three-point win over the city side. This game was a vast improvement on the curtain-raiser and kept the attendance enthralled up to (and indeed after) the final whistle.

While Abbeyside, like Fourmilewater, are a dual club, they obviously have put in a lot more hurling preparation under their new management. At the same time, overall one would have to say that De La Salle were the better hurling team, but a massive input of collective effort by the villagers repeatedly stymied their best efforts. Even then, De La Salle created enough chances to win the game, their eventual tally of 14 wides being more than double Abbeyside’s six.

In this respect it was a nightmare game for De La Salle’s Kevin Moran. Playing at centre forward, he won the world of ball, but his shooting was completely off. While I did not count his wides, I would say he alone accounted for at least half his team’s total, and some of his misses were really bad.

At the same time, one should not take away from a tremendous Abbeyside effort. They fought like tigers for every ball and, despite some poor decision-making and silly errors, they also played a lot of good hurling and got some great scores. Their largely young and inexperienced defence were the heroes of the hour, very quick and alert, and repeatedly denying their opponents possession or stopping them when they did get possession. This despite losing their centre back Evan Collins to a nasty head injury sustained in the first couple of minutes. While Collins did come back on after treatment, he had to come off again shortly afterwards, being replaced by a very able substitute in Brian Looby.

Abbeyside’s main hero on the night was their new goalkeeper, Seán Daly. A member of last year’s county minor panel as a forward, he apparently was pushed into the position due to the unavailability of regular goalkeeper Eoin Enright and proceeded to produce a magnificent performance, including a point-blank save from John Mullane in the first half and another great stop from the same player as De La Salle sought to get on terms in the closing stages. His long puckouts were also a big plus for Abbeyside, and he crowned everything off by superbly converting a long-range free late in the game.

Another newcomer who really produced the goods on the night was young corner forward Stephen Cliffe who followed up on his good showing the previous week against Fourmilewater with a flawless demonstration of freetaking (0-7 in all) topped off by what proved to be the winning goal, superbly executed in the 35th minute.

Despite playing against the wind, Abbeyside got an early upper hand here, and received a great boost in the 8th minute when Patrick Hurney’s long range delivery went all the way to the net, with De La Salle goalie John Coady apparently distracted by a challenge from one of the Abbeyside full forwards.

However, De La Salle worked themselves back into the game, with Eddie Barrett dominating in midfield, Stephen Daniels and Eoin Madigan winning a lot of ball in the half back line and Kevin Moran doing likewise in the half forwards. John Mullane was also proving a constant threat and appeared to be on the point of putting his team firmly on the front foot when he broke through in the 22nd minute only to see his point-blank shot superbly saved by Daly. Nevertheless, the city side still went in at half time one point ahead, 0-11 to 1-7 but facing the wind in the second half.

Abbeyside again seized the initiative on the restart, and again got an early tonic when, following a great passing movement, Cliffe fired the ball to the net from an angle in the 35th minute to put his side three points ahead, 2-9 to 0-12. De La Salle redoubled their efforts, and while they were able to get the deficit down to the minimum, poor shooting and excellent Abbeyside defending left them still chasing the game.

Abbeyside’s Patrick Hurney hit a purple patch between the 40th and 45th minutes, when he hit three superb points, but by the 50th minute there was still only a point in it, 2-13 to 0-18, De La Salle having made a mess of a golden goal chance in the 39th minute.

The closing stages were played out in a welter of excitement. Abbeyside themselves butchered a couple of good scoring opportunities, but then veteran Gary Hurney stepped forward with two excellent points. Then we had Daly’s second great stop before De La Salle’s last chance went abegging when Bryan “Bull” Phelan blazed a late free across the goal and wide. Immediately afterwards two De La Salle players were yellow carded after an Abbeyside player was felled in the goalmouth and, following the final whistle, it appeared as though referee Tommy O’Sullivan red carded another De La Salle player whom I was unable to identify.

Notable additional features of this game included the excellent performance of John Mullane, who was always dangerous, notched four points from play, and could have had a couple of goals. Surely his decision to retire from intercounty hurling was premature. The county selectors will also have been impressed by Jake Dillon’s good freetaking, following Pauric Mahony’s unfortunate injury. It was also good to see Stephen Daniels back and playing very well, while Eoin Madigan also appears to be getting back to the kind of form which marked him out as one for the future a couple of years ago. County panellist Eddie Barrett was easily the best midfielder on view.

Abbeyside: Seán Daly (0-1, free); Eoghan Bergin; Conor Prunty; Shane O’Donovan; Evan Collins; Seán O’Hare; Maurice Power; David Collins; Richie Foley; Michael O’Halloran (0-1); John Hurney (0-1); Patrick Hurney (1-3); Stephen Cliffe (1-7, 7 frees); Gary Hurney (0-2); Mark Ferncombe (0-2, one free). Substitutes: Brian Looby for Evan Collins; Darragh McGrath for Michael O’Halloran.

De La Salle: John Coady; Stephen Dalton; Ian Flynn; Shane McNulty; Stephen Daniels; Eoin Madigan; Tom Moran; Bryan Phelan (0-4, all frees); Eddie Barrett (0-2); Páidí Nevin (0-1); Kevin Moran; Jake Dillon (0-8, 5 frees); Adam Farrell; Jamie Sage; John Mullane (0-4). Substitutes: Eddie Meaney (0-1) for Adam Farrell; Jack Kennedy for Jamie Sage.

Giveitfong

In the other senior championship game played tonight in Walsh Park, Passage came from a point behind at half time (2-5 to 1-7) to run out winners over Dungarvan 2-18 to 2-12.

TyrionPower

Thanks for the great reports GiF, looks like Abbeyside have strengthened their hand with the addition of some very good young players

PTH2009

Good wins for abbeyside and roanmore this weekend. There could be new champions this year .

Heard nothing about injuries so happy enough had a bad feeling Austin gleeson would be injured

TyrionPower

Seems it was a day for Surprise results in the club championship with Roanmore beating Mt Sion, I think Billy Nolans days in goal could be over, fair play to him he must be still 16?

Cappoquin beat Lismore I never saw that coming in a million years, fair play to them

crottys lake

A few serious bets landed there on Cappoquin by some shrewdies....5/1. The bad news is Maurice is injured.

PTH2009

crottys lake wrote: »

A few serious bets landed there on Cappoquin by some shrewdies....5/1. The bad news is Maurice is injured.

**** another player gone. cork have the game won now i think

crottys lake

Nobody said he is gone , it might only be minor yet.

Mountainlad

Was Conor Gleeson marking Barry Coughlan yesterday and did Coughlan get a yellow card?

ovalu

It'd be something if Lismore went down and Ballysaggert went up! Good game in Lismore tonight Ballysaggert 1-18 Shamrocks 1-18, Shane Bennett and Shane Roche both top class

TyrionPower

ovalu wrote: »

It'd be something if Lismore went down and Ballysaggert went up! Good game in Lismore tonight Ballysaggert 1-18 Shamrocks 1-18, Shane Bennett and Shane Roche both top class

Lismore have made a terrible start to the year, they are under serious pressure to get a win in the remaining games.

How are ballysaggart looking at intermediate?

Deise_2012

crottys lake wrote: »

Nobody said he is gone , it might only be minor yet.

Cork have their own problems too, Lorcan Mcloughlin suffered a bad shoulder injury and Harnedy is touch and go

mickotallow

Great weekend for Senior Hurling Championship. People giving out that championship was predictable and wanted change. This weekend proved them wrong. Some serious upsets this weekend. But from what I've heard all deserved.

crottys lake

The doom and gloom merchants had questioned whether Cappoquin could even put up a game to anybody in their group and that was just a lack of respect for what had been achieved by the club last year. Despite the turmoil that took place with the three lads refusing to play the rest of the squad dug in this week after the drubbing by Mt Sion and there was a lot of confidence within the camp that they could upset their neighbours. Molumby scored a brilliant goal set up by Aaron O'Sullivan. The two of them caused havoc in the Lismore defence. Let's hope Maurice is ok.

Mountainlad

They achieved a lot last year, I don't think anyone would deny that but they didn't achieve much before with the similar internal strife going on and last week was an awful hammering.

A team capable of winning in a Munster intermediate should be very competitive in Waterford at Senior level but when you lose a couple of your best players and morale seems to be low then there are reasonable doubts, not to mention the loss of Fintan O Connor as trainer.

Fairplay to them all the same. Moreover, great credit due to Roanmore. Thought they were really clinging on by the edge of their teeth and were desperate for the drop last year but they came out and were very unlucky to not make the quarters. Two good performances this year, they won;t win it out but will surely cause teams problems for the remainder of it.

Cake Man

Can anyone stick up afew reports of each game?

Giveitfong

Mountainlad wrote: »

Was Conor Gleeson marking Barry Coughlan yesterday and did Coughlan get a yellow card?

I think it was a case of Coughlan marking (or trying to mark) Conor Gleeson, who took him for 1-2 with a limited supply and caused him a lot of problems. Coughlan did get a yellow card as did four Fourmilewater players: Diarmuid Ryan, Darren Guiry, Michael O'Gorman and Liam Lawlor.

Waternut

Giveitfong wrote: »

I think it was a case of Coughlan marking (or trying to mark) Conor Gleeson, who took him for 1-2 with a limited supply and caused him a lot of problems. Coughlan did get a yellow card as did four Fourmilewater players: Diarmuid Ryan, Darren Guiry, Michael O'Gorman and Liam Lawlor.

Not a good sign.

Mountainlad

Giveitfong wrote: »

I think it was a case of Coughlan marking (or trying to mark) Conor Gleeson, who took him for 1-2 with a limited supply and caused him a lot of problems. Coughlan did get a yellow card as did four Fourmilewater players: Diarmuid Ryan, Darren Guiry, Michael O'Gorman and Liam Lawlor.

That's what I'd heard too. Thanks for that

crottys lake

It was more of a mix up in the Ballygunner defence rather than Barry Coughlan been caught out by the very impressive Conor Gleeson. I would not fear for Barry over this. A full back will always come under pressure at some point, we just need to look at all the county teams at the moment and the difficulty they have in trying to fill that position. Gleeson is one of the finest young prospects we have in the county and would give anyone problems and his best position will almost certainly be in defence going forward [literally] !! If he had made his run earlier in the campaign he would be challenging for a place on the senior team and don't rule it out for later in the Championship but more likely next season. He is some talent.
The big pluses over the weekend were surely the form of Eddie Barrett, Stephen Daniels and Shane Bennett amongst others. The latter shot the lights out in his game. All three could easily figure at some point v Cork. It's all about the panel, I keep saying it.

Giveitfong

crottys lake wrote: »

A full back will always come under pressure at some point, we just need to look at all the county teams at the moment and the difficulty they have in trying to fill that position.

I don't think the county minor hurling team had any problem filling the full back position this year with Conor Prunty, whom I also thought did very well against De La Salle on Saturday night. He could be some prospect if he could concentrate on his hurling.

Deise_2012

crottys lake wrote: »

It was more of a mix up in the Ballygunner defence rather than Barry Coughlan been caught out by the very impressive Conor Gleeson. I would not fear for Barry over this. A full back will always come under pressure at some point, we just need to look at all the county teams at the moment and the difficulty they have in trying to fill that position. Gleeson is one of the finest young prospects we have in the county and would give anyone problems and his best position will almost certainly be in defence going forward [literally] !! If he had made his run earlier in the campaign he would be challenging for a place on the senior team and don't rule it out for later in the Championship but more likely next season. He is some talent.
The big pluses over the weekend were surely the form of Eddie Barrett, Stephen Daniels and Shane Bennett amongst others. The latter shot the lights out in his game. All three could easily figure at some point v Cork. It's all about the panel, I keep saying it.

Bennett has his leaving cert. Anyway you're right, the goal gleeson scored was a mix up in the full back line for ballygunner, yeah he scored 2 points on Coughlan, but someone said not a good sign....have they seen Conor Gleeson at full pace? The guy is unbelievably fast and has skill. Fourmile had 1-4 at half time and Gleeson scored 1-2....Fourmile finished the match with 1-7. Coughlan was very good all throughout the league, the best full back in the club championship by a mile for the last 2 years. Still people are doubting him

crottys lake

Giveitfong wrote: »

I don't think the county minor hurling team had any problem filling the full back position this year with Conor Prunty, whom I also thought did very well against De La Salle on Saturday night. He could be some prospect if he could concentrate on his hurling.

I meant the other counties, not Waterford..I agree re Prunty and Colm Roche.

Mountainlad

Deise_2012 wrote: »

Bennett has his leaving cert. Anyway you're right, the goal gleeson scored was a mix up in the full back line for ballygunner, yeah he scored 2 points on Coughlan, but someone said not a good sign....have they seen Conor Gleeson at full pace? The guy is unbelievably fast and has skill. Fourmile had 1-4 at half time and Gleeson scored 1-2....Fourmile finished the match with 1-7. Coughlan was very good all throughout the league, the best full back in the club championship by a mile for the last 2 years. Still people are doubting him

He didn't do much wrong in the league I thought he handled Callinan well. Though in retrospect Conor Lehane score 0-5 points which I didn't realize at the time having thought he did well, though Lehane didn't play as an orthodox full forward. Given the system and that he is likely to stay if the full forward goes roaming out the field, what would we consider a good performance by him? No concession of goals?

He deserves his chance at full back anyway.

I know well how good Conor Gleeson is but lads, is he Seamus Callinan, Richie Power or Conor Lehane? He is only 18 like, I could see him starting for Waterford in the future but doubt very much that this year as an 18 year old he would be considered good enough to be starting. You have to hold Coughlan to a higher level for now.

deiseach

I see Longford turned around a big loss in the League final to beat Offaly in the Championship. Might as well give up now, it is written.