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

Very happy with result, but large parts of performance left a lot to be desired, and cannot agree that tactics were spot on.

Our win had as much to do with Clare's inability to kill us off as anything we produced.

Once again for large parts of the game, particularly early in the second half we ended up with one player inside their 45, it was only for about a 10 minute spell we pushed on a bit and that got us the all important goal.

Yet despite the mass of bodies and numbers we had in in the middle of the field and in our defensive lines, the Clare players were able repeatedly to pick up ball in acres of space. At times yesterday marking a man tight (other than in the full back lines) appears to be a ting of the past, and it was not as if players had to work hard to find space, they just seemed to drift into it. At times yesterday we had three players looking at each other as a free Clare player picked up a ball asking who was supposed to be picking him up. This freedom of space allowed Clare backs put tons of good quality ball in on our full back line and we very nearly paid a hefty price.

Fortunately for us Clare adopted a similar tactic, just thankfully for us we got the second goal. Quite simply against the better teams such as Tipp and KK and possibly Cork, this tactic will not work, if we give a more direct opposition this kind of time and space, they will eat us up. I know it is early in the year, but quite frankly the set up of the team worries me greatly, I see little of no improvement in our structure and i do not believe we are getting near the best out of a very talented bunch of players. I am hoping against hope that this is part of some master plan for the championship but I have my doubts.

I knw the last 2 years we have played our 1st round championship opponents in league finals but what if we scrape too a league final and be thorn a new one by Tipperary in it. A hammering in a final by Tipperary before the championship could be damaging for morale

Even though Cork beat Tipperary yesterday everyone thinks the Munster QF will go Tipperary's way but I would not write off Cork in it who have improved a lot since last year

Deise_2012 wrote: »

Automatically Tipp make the league final PTH?

The are really going for this league. They will hammer Offaly in the Qf and should have enough for the winners of Kilkenny and Wexford in the semi

One of ourselves/Galway/Cork/Limerick in the final

fricatus wrote: »

Any word on whether the Galway match is home or away? It was to have been decided this morning IIRC.

Be announced around lunchtime I'd say. Coins tosses take a long time in the GAA

On the Galway thread that the game is in Salthill on Sunday 4pm as part of a double header. Havent seen it elsewhere yet.

crottys lake wrote: »

It doesn't really matter as no one takes him seriously.

By the way, Barry Coughlan had another outstanding game and is surely the best full back in the country at the moment. Well done to Derek and the team.

I really wonder at times are we watching different games? Mind blowning!

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Galway did win the toss yes. Long way to travel next Sunday.

Balls hopefully they will show it on TV

Would love too go but way too far and I'm heading to the Munster game on Saturday

cul beag wrote: »

crottys lake wrote: »

It doesn't really matter as no one takes him seriously.

By the way, Barry Coughlan had another outstanding game and is surely the best full back in the country at the moment. Well done to Derek and the team.

I really wonder at times are we watching different games? Mind blowning!

What exactly are you expecting the man to do? Shanagher only scored 0-2 off Coughlan which, in a high scoring game, is a good score to hold you man to.
Please don't tell me you are blaming the Podge Collins goal on Coughlan?

hmmm wonder what the odds of a coin toss throwing up this.....

[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Three of the quarter-finals will be played as part of attractive double-headers. [/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Galway's clash with Waterford will follow the Galway football team's pivotal Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Kildare in Pearse Stadium.[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Cork's clash with Limerick will follow the Cork football team's Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Down at Pairc Ui Rinn[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]While Offaly's clash with Tipperary will follow the Offaly football team's Allianz Football League's Division 2 match against Laois at Tullamore. [/font]

carter10 wrote: »

hmmm wonder what the odds of a coin toss throwing up this.....

[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Three of the quarter-finals will be played as part of attractive double-headers. [/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Galway's clash with Waterford will follow the Galway football team's pivotal Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Kildare in Pearse Stadium.[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Cork's clash with Limerick will follow the Cork football team's Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Down at Pairc Ui Rinn[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]While Offaly's clash with Tipperary will follow the Offaly football team's Allianz Football League's Division 2 match against Laois at Tullamore. [/font]

one sided coin

hard too see Waterford winning up in Galway (2012 was the last time we played up there), the main job for our league was to retain our 1A status and thats done now, so derek might go a bit experimental and go for a performance rather than a result. Galway owe us one to be fair (last 3 league meetings we won 2 and last year was a draw)

Long way up for a lot of supporters but hopefully a few will travel

carter10 wrote: »

hmmm wonder what the odds of a coin toss throwing up this.....

[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Three of the quarter-finals will be played as part of attractive double-headers. [/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Galway's clash with Waterford will follow the Galway football team's pivotal Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Kildare in Pearse Stadium.[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]Cork's clash with Limerick will follow the Cork football team's Allianz Football League Division 2 match against Down at Pairc Ui Rinn[/font]
[font=proxima-nova, sans-serif]While Offaly's clash with Tipperary will follow the Offaly football team's Allianz Football League's Division 2 match against Laois at Tullamore. [/font]

Cork Limerick wasn't a coin toss.
The odds of Offaly and Galway winning the coin toss had the same chance of any other combination. Will you be wearing the tinfoil hat up to Salthill? 😀

blueflame wrote: »

Very happy with result, but large parts of performance left a lot to be desired, and cannot agree that tactics were spot on.

Our win had as much to do with Clare's inability to kill us off as anything we produced.

Once again for large parts of the game, particularly early in the second half we ended up with one player inside their 45, it was only for about a 10 minute spell we pushed on a bit and that got us the all important goal.

Yet despite the mass of bodies and numbers we had in in the middle of the field and in our defensive lines, the Clare players were able repeatedly to pick up ball in acres of space. At times yesterday marking a man tight (other than in the full back lines) appears to be a ting of the past, and it was not as if players had to work hard to find space, they just seemed to drift into it. At times yesterday we had three players looking at each other as a free Clare player picked up a ball asking who was supposed to be picking him up. This freedom of space allowed Clare backs put tons of good quality ball in on our full back line and we very nearly paid a hefty price.

Fortunately for us Clare adopted a similar tactic, just thankfully for us we got the second goal. Quite simply against the better teams such as Tipp and KK and possibly Cork, this tactic will not work, if we give a more direct opposition this kind of time and space, they will eat us up. I know it is early in the year, but quite frankly the set up of the team worries me greatly, I see little of no improvement in our structure and i do not believe we are getting near the best out of a very talented bunch of players. I am hoping against hope that this is part of some master plan for the championship but I have my doubts.

Well said. Waterford were outplayed for most of that game yesterday and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. Clare's scores came much easier than ours and they bypassed our packed defence - with ease - often by hitting balls into the corners. Dublin did the exact same thing last year when they beat us at Walsh Park. The hit-and-hope long balls into our forward line were very evident again yesterday and are generally a complete waste of time. As blueflame said they inevitably put our backs under massive pressure when the one or two ffs we have are unable to get to the Hail Marys and the opposition backs have plenty of time and space to accurately work quality ball up to their forwards.
There is no way we will beat Tipp, KK or even a resurgent Cork using these tactics in the championship.

Barry coughlan out now with a broken jaw.
Who will be the new full back ??

tommylad1212 wrote: »

Barry coughlan out now with a broken jaw.
Who will be the new full back ??

How long for? Shane fives maybe?