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

IanVW wrote: »

Yeah came on as second half sub. Actually think most of the players needed this run out. I was at the game and looked like alot of them were clearly lacking match fitness. Austin gleeson was out on his feet for allt of the game so wont do them any harm. Thought Tommy Ryan looked dangerous when introduced i think for Jake Dillon who was poor

Stacksofwacks wrote: »

All over 1-17 to 0-13. Lismore met a good team today but didnt play well enough anyway. Got 2 players sent off near the end.

Giveitfong wrote: »

Ahascragh Fohenagh 1-17 Lismore 0-13

A poor all-round performance saw Lismore slump disappointingly to defeat to Ahascragh Fohenagh in the All-Ireland Intermediate club championship semi-final in Tullamore today. The game was played in wet conditions on soft underfoot conditions made worse by the preceding junior semi-final. There were 3,444 paying customers, a large number of whom left the ground after the first game.

There was a general systems failure here on Lismore’s part, and it would be hard to identify one of their players who had a good game, although I thought their full back line fought admirably all through. Probably the biggest problem for Lismore was the failure of their half back line to exert the kind of control which we saw in earlier games during the year.

A second major problem for them was a simplistic game plan involving hitting as many long balls into the opposition goal area as possible, in the hope that Dan Shanahan would inflict some damage inside. In the first half, playing into the breeze, too many of these fell short and were gobbled up by the Ahascragh half backs, especially their powerful centre back Pádraig Mannion. However, even in the second half, this persistent tactic never once produced a scoring chance, as Shanahan’s double markers repeatedly denied Dan clean possession.

Ahascragh were a better organised side with a good game plan involving good passing movements with a clear emphasis on getting possession to their other county player, Cathal Mannion, who gave a towering performance, especially in the second half. He ended up with twelve points, four of them from play.

Even then, Lismore created more than enough scoring chances to win this game. They hit 14 wides to Ahascragh’s six, three of which came in the closing stages when they had the game won. While Maurice Shanahan did convert eight frees, he also sent four wide, and had the misfortune to hit the crossbar from a 20 metre free midway through the second half. He also failed to score from four further attempts at goals from close-in frees in the last five minutes. The frustration finally got the better of him, and he received a straight red following a skirmish in the closing minutes. I thought myself that Ray Barry might have had a shot from one or two of these frees.

The first half was fairly evenly contested, with both teams having their periods of dominance. Jack Prendergast started well for Lismore, with Maurice also causing problems down the left wing. Lismore got their only clear goal chance in the 20th minute, but Prendergast’s well-struck shot was well stopped by the Ahascragh goalkeeper.

Ahascragh’s goal in the 26th minute was something of a disaster for Lismore. A long ball into the Lismore goal area broke behind the defence, but they had two or three defenders in position to clear the danger. However, one of them seemed to panic, sending a mis-hit clearance across his own goal to the unmarked Luke Cosgrove who finished gratefully to the net. This goal was to prove an anchor around Lismore’s neck for the rest of the game.

With the wind assistance to come in the second half, Lismore’s half-time deficit of four points (1-10 to 0-9) seemed quite retrievable. However, a series of bad wides sucked the life out of them while at the same time putting additional wind into Ahascragh’s sails, as reflected in the number of times they emerged with the ball out of rucks, with their supporters’ cheers giving them extra momentum.

Lismore dominated the closing stages as they desperately sought to save the game, but in the mucky conditions, and with Ahascragh packing their defence, the goal they desperately needed never materialised. A goal from one of the late series of close frees might have changed things, but it was not forthcoming.

Lismore: Seanie Barry; Stevie Barry; David Prendergast; Pat Hennessy; Eoin Bennett; Ray Barry; Paudie Prendergast; John Prendergast (0-2); Jordan Shanahan; Brendan Landers (0-1); Jack Prendergast (0-1); Maurice Shanahan (0-9, 0-8 frees); Peter O’Keeffe; Dan Shanahan; Brian Bennett.

Subs: Anthony McGlone for Brian Bennett; Seán Reaney for Jordan Shanahan; Ronan Landers for Peter O’Keeffe; Aaron Whelan for Brendan Landers.

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Kevin Moran is not an inter county center back.

tomwaterford wrote: »

HatchetMan7 wrote: »

1. Billy Nolan
2. C Gleeson  3. T de Burca  4. N Connors
5. D Fives  6. K Moran  7. R Barry
8. J Barron  9. Colin Dunford
10. Shane Bennett  11. Austin Gleason  12. P Mahony
13. P Curran  14. Stephan Bennett  15. M Shanahan

Subs: S O Keeffe, B. Coughlan, S Daniels, S Fives, Phillip Mahony, Brick Walsh, T Devine, B O Halloran, T Ryan, M Kearney, Rest of 2016 U21 winning team etc.

Controversial? I would see that as maybe our best hurling 15. Although Brick deserves a place on the team. Could Kevin Moran do a good job at no. 6 though?  You need your half back line to be very strong in the air and i think this is where Philip Mahony could lose out.

T d bura and moran are wide open to beibg exposed for pace there

What ray barry has done to merit beibg the starting 15 ahead of shane fives remains to b seen???

That forward line is an excitibg prospext howevrr