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

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Senior Hurling
Hope: Finally win All Ireland.

Expectation: Not sure. Not too confident about progress on the past 2 years if I’m honest. System is what it is regardless of what young players will have progressed. Still limited and stifled by a negative system that will only get you so far. Drawn game against KK last year epitomised that. We were good enough to put them away put bringing bodies back to defend the lead ultimately backfired.

Giveitfong wrote: »

Waterford won no senior hurling title between 1963 and 2002. For most of that 40-year period, Waterford never had more than half a team that was up to top intercounty standard. On the rare days when those players played to their ability, and the rest of the team played above themselves, they were competitive, although even then, they rarely won a game that mattered. When they did win a game, they hardly ever won their next game.

There were occasional times when they had up to twelve players of the required standard (e.g. 1973-74 and 1989-92) and threatened to make a breakthrough, but it never happened. A key problem here was the lack of backup for players who were injured, off-form or suspended. Even the team which made the breakthrough in 2002 had two or three players who would not have made it onto the Kilkenny or Cork teams at the time, which is a crucial benchmark. There may have been a couple of adequate substitutes available, but that was about it.

There has been a massive change in this respect in the last few years. For the first time in the county’s history, a constant flow of quality players has been emerging from the under-age grades. I don’t think that those responsible for this have received due credit or praise. However, the upshot is that those in charge of the county senior team now have an unprecedented pool of good players to choose from.

I have put together the following list of players I can think of who are either already established intercounty players or who I reckon have the potential to make the grade. They are loosely divided into goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers, but otherwise in no particular order.

Billy Nolan
Stephen O’Keeffe
Jordan Henley
Barry Coughlan
Noel Connors
Shane Fives
Darragh Fives
Darragh Lyons
Shane Roche
Conor Gleeson
Tadhg De Búrca
Philip Mahony
Ian Kenny
David O’Sullivan
Kieran Bennett
Michael Harney
Paudie Prendergast
Shane McNulty
Stephen Daniels
Willie Hahessy
Ray Barry
Kevin Moran
Jamie Barron
Gavin O’Brien
Mark O’Brien
Austin Gleeson
Brick Walsh
Pauric Mahony
Colin Dunford
Colm Roche
Andy Molumby
Brian O’Halloran
Jack Fagan
DJ Foran
Jake Dillon
Maurice Shanahan
Mikey Kearney
Patrick Curran
Ryan Donnelly
Shane Bennett
Stephen Bennett
Tom Devine

There may be some obvious others who slipped my mind, or players whom I left out but whom others would include. There may be players here who may not be available for one reason or another. The total number comes to 42, which represents extraordinary riches, especially compared with what the situation was not long ago.

Derek McGrath’s training squad will not include all the above, but he will still have quite an array of talented players to deal with. Managing all this talent, when only 26 players can make the match-day squad, and just 15 the starting line-up, will be a major challenge for McGrath – and one which I think he has handled badly up to now. He has not followed any obvious rotation system in the league which would give all players some game time. Last year he threw what I considered to be an unfair sop to the fringe players by putting them all out together in the last league game against Galway when league survival was guaranteed. To their credit they responded with a high-quality performance on the day which showed just how much high-class backup was available.

Rotation isn’t just a matter of keeping all the players happy. We also need to give fringe players sufficient experience to allow them to step in effectively in big games where first-line players are injured or otherwise not available. Even more importantly, if players know that good performance in training will be recognised in terms of team selection, this will add the kind of edge to training matches which will benefit everyone in the squad. Brian Cody has practised that philosophy for years, avoiding meaningless challenge matches and favouring high-intensity training sessions.

The ultra-caution which Derek McGrath brings to his game plan is also reflected in his team selections. In both cases, in my view, this leads to less than sub-optimal outcomes.

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Losing to Tipp in Munster semi  wouldn't be the be all and end all, Id honestly fancy our chances against most teams in the qualifiers. Tipp and KK are the 2 teams we are a bit behind. If we beat Tipp in the Munster semi I believe we'd meet them again later and Id rather beat them in an AI semi or final than a Munster semi, It would be difficult to beat them twice in one year. They are an exceptionally good team and can play hurling the right way aswell. Some devastating forwards. A Munster final win would be nice but not that worried about it either. Weve won enough of them in the past to only underachieve after. Theres only one prize that we should be ultimately aiming for, and I'm not talking about retaining division one status.

mickotallow wrote: »

Where did you hear this rumour?

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Yep that's it, throwing off the shackles. But the feeling is were going to see more of the same this year in terms of game plan approach. Tipp showed last year how the game should be played if you utilise the quality that you have. KK I just don't think will go away like people are saying. Cody has brought in a few u21s to the squad for the coming year and expect them to freshen it up. Anyone that beats them will have to work for it. Galway I'm not sure. What about yourselves? TJ Ryan didn't seem to be able to integrate the young players into the side as quickly as Derek McGrath did. The big challenge for Kiely is to do that I guess....

robopaddy2 wrote: »

Nagle teaching in Ferrybank. either of those O'Sullivans wouldnt commit to senior intercounty for waterford, cant see them doing so for Cork. Would be surprised if its any of the Lismore lads they commited to the Lismore cause for the coming months I imagine.
I heard one of the Murrays that fell out with Cappoquin transferred to Blackrock in Cork, not sure how that went.