Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

gunners200

have to say I’m amazed billy nolan ain’t playing center back for us this year considering how many injuries we have,

PTH2009

Limerick used 2 different teams with a lot of big guns

WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Seamus Fitzgerald, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Ryan; Michael Mullaney, Michael Kiely, PJ Fanning; Paudie Fitzgerald, Conor Sheehan; Tom O'Connell, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Power; Thomas Douglas, Patrick Curran, Charlie Treen.

SUBS: Shaun O'Brien for Nolan (Half-time, Tom Barron for Mullaney (Half-Time), Willie Beresford for Mark Fitzgerald (43 minutes), Martin Power for Sheehan (43 minutes), Conor Keane Seamus Fitzgerald (47 minutes), Mairtin Power for Power (47 minutes).

Mastermcgrath

What club is John Power?

tommylad1212

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123101958#Comment_123101958

Portlaw

deise man

Did Michael Kiely play centre back?

Dick phelan

Sorry haven't been keeping up to date, who's injured at the moment and how badly?

KevIRL

€20 a ticket (plus a fiver for kids) is a bit much for a division 2 league match against Carlow

KevIRL

Senior championship two groups of 6. Top two into QFs. Next four in prelim QFs with losers of the prelim QFs making up relegation playoffs

Group 1.
Passage.
Mount Sion
Dungarvan.
Fbank.
Lismore.
FMW.

Group 2

Ballygunner

Abbeyside

DLS

Roammore

Clonea

Brickeys

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106307#Comment_123106307

Intresting but still little jeopardy as all teams will get out of the group

KevIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106323#Comment_123106323

I think each team should have a knock out game. KK have a similar type structure. I would also think that it would work well at inter county

DiscoStew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106307#Comment_123106307

Surprised the draw wasn’t seeded, both finalists in the same group. 9 weeks to run that championship, will surely mean an earlier start to it.

DiscoStew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123105610#Comment_123105610

Ridiculous pricing!

Gavlor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106517#Comment_123106517

seeded in 3 pots.

semi finalists

Beaten 1/4 finalists

Beaten prelim round

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106337#Comment_123106337

Kilkenny utilise their 'leagues'

Maybe easier with them having a very small Football Championship

TheScoringGoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106307#Comment_123106307

Am I understanding this correctly, you could lose all 5 group games but you're no worse off than the team that came third in the group?

If so, if you lose your first three games there's no incentive at all to win any of the rest as the outcome is the same?

KevIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123106768#Comment_123106768

Well you would in theory play a more difficult game in the preliminary QF. 3rd in one group plays 6th in the other and so on

emergingstar

Your seeded on where you finish, so you will try finish as high as u can

upthedeise16

ca934218-2e33-47ee-908b-5ffeeb144083.jpeg

Dates of fixtures. Big advantage of finishing top 2 is the week off. Otherwise it’s 9 weeks running to make a final and clubs who take their 2nd teams seriously are likely to be resting lads and taking teams from their 2nd teams.

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123110158#Comment_123110158

Let's hope we have that problem in the first list

Mastermcgrath

so what are we expecting this weekend lads? Unchartered territory facing into the 2nd tier of the hurling league, a throwback to the 80s and early 90s. Will we expect to see an experimental team like we have in the recent challenge games, or some of the bigger names coming back into it?
I don’t expect us to blow teams away, certainly not away to Carlow in our first game this weekend. I’d say Queally will be happy to just get a win under his belt, even if it’s not pretty

gunners200

I reckon our forward line should be strong, but the back 6 I worry about considering how many we missing back there,

Cake Man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123110537#Comment_123110537

Agree with this, it'll most definitely be giving most of the younger lads more game time; particularly those used in the three challenge games the past few weeks. It's an ideal stage for them to get some senior competitive experience as no doubt much tougher games will come later in the year.

Also think we won't win games as easily as some may think, as you say it'll likely be tighter games and I wouldn't be surprised if we lost a game or two tbh. Main thing is to get into the top 2 for 1A hurling next year. I think we will as Queally will know he'll be under pressure if that isn't achieved, won't exactly entice fans to turn up and not to mention going into an incredibly difficult championship on a downer.

Came here to ask a similar question to the above - what are people's expectations for the year in general? As above, top 2 in the league and if I'm honest any more wins after that would nearly be seen as a bonus. It's hard to see where exactly a win will come from in championship - Clare and Limerick at home in the first two games and Tipp & Cork away. Don't think it gets much harder than that. My fear is if we are beaten in the first two it's early curtains again for 2025 and the depressing thing is that it's more than reasonable to expect it to go that way tbh.

Going into a season the last few years has been a bit miserable as (perfectly understandably to be fair) we barely get a mention in any season previews or podcasts. Any article I've read or those "players to watch this season" type pieces just never feature Waterford or any of our lads, it's sickening. What's that famous Oscar Wilde saying "the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about". I'd just love if we could make some impression this year, wouldn't have to be an AI or even a Munster but even just to get out of Munster/get to Croke Park as we're surely due a half decent season. I live in hope but Munster just seems to get even more of a bear pit every year, now with a resurgent Cork. Also doesn't help when we have some regular starters not involved (Calum Lyons, Fagan) as well as question marks over how others will go (Austin) and injuries.

Would even take a bit of underage success given how awful the last few years have been and that would really just be a few wins.

Anyway, just my thoughts for the season ahead as negative as it might read. Thoughts?

Mastermcgrath

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123110954#Comment_123110954

I agree, I think being in division 2 is actually ideal for Queally, he has the oppprtunity to give young players a chance aswell as get a few wins under the belt early door to help build belief and momentum under him. But at the same time the pressure on on to actually win these games and get promoted to 1A.

Gardner

If Davy was going into his 3rd year I’d be a lot more positive. I think we will get a result against Clare whether it’s a draw or win and its then all to play for vs Tipp and Cork. Have serious doubts about Queally but open to be proved wrong. Calum Lyons is a huge loss but I take the Clare game in Ennis last year as the barometer of where we are. Lyons started, Fagan sub, Monty and Prunty injured. We have a returning Aussie and Prunty to fill one/two of those gaps. There’s a spine still of a good team there this year. We will be no pushovers.

O’Brien
Daly, Prunty Fitzgerald ( Probably one of the best full back lines in the country)
Gleeson De Burca Bennett (Bennett is the problem here vs Morrisey and Duggan respectively.
Lyons Barron
Curran/Pendergast Bennett Kiely
Hutchinson Fitzgerald Shane Bennett (I think were going to see the old Bennett this year)

Still have Jack Pender/Curran, Mahoney, Conor Ryan, Fitzgerald, Hogan, Kenny,

I personally believe having an Aussie fully fit and laying it down to him that Hegarty (Limerick), Fitzgerald (Clare) and Harnedy (Cork) is his job for the Munster championship then it’s a great incentive for him to come back biting.

Ian OB

Time to start making space in the diary

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2025/01/29/clare-and-cork-to-open-munster-hurling-championship-in-repeat-of-all-ireland-final/

Asdfgh2020

Do you not have to finish top of group 1B in order to get promoted….?

Any one know of the McNulty (Shane…?) chap from de la salle is available this year…?

will Jamie Barron be up for it….?

the ‘Shane o donnell didn’t do a whole lot between 2013 season and last year (when he became ‘canonised’ ) …..surely some of the more mature wateford players can take heart from this…?

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123113220#Comment_123113220

Yep top 2 get promoted to 1A and contest 1B final

Bottom 2 in 1A go down

Mastermcgrath

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123111377#Comment_123111377

I would hold the same concerns about Queally but we won’t know until the lions den of the Munster championship. I don’t know how strong his game management is and I’d be skeptical about his management team. I thought he’d go for someone a bit stronger in with him. We know what’s Dan brings he has a strong presence all right but he’s no Kinnerk or Duck O Rourke in terms of that shrewdness on the sideline, and Kelly I’m not sure what he is to be honest. I thought even with Tony Browne finished with Tipp he’d be an ideal addition. But let’s see I guess

TheScoringGoal

Big performance from Sean Walsh for MTU Cork tonight. I'd rather he wasn't involved with us until he's finished in the Fitz but I'd be hoping he gets a proper chance to win a place afterwards. We don't produce many ball winning wing forwards.

ovalu

Michael Mullany going v well for UCC too, another big lad too