Giveitfong wrote: » There obviously is much interest in, and speculation about, how much change we will see in the Waterford hurling panel this year under Liam Cahill’s management. Thus far, there has been only limited sign of change. Of the 31 players who togged out for the Munster League games against Cork and Kerry, just nine were newcomers: Iarlaith Daly, Kieran Power, Neil Montgomery, Jack Fagan, Tom Barron, Shaun O’Brien, Dessie Hutchinson, Shane Ryan and MJ Sutton (the only one to get no game time, as far as I am aware). I think Jack Fagan may have been on the extended panel at some stage in the Derek McGrath era, but he is an effective newcomer. While obviously Cahill excluded a couple of high-profile members from the outgoing panel (Noel Connors and Maurice Shanahan), it appears to have remained mostly intact, apart from those who have retired (Brick Walsh, Philip Mahony, Brian O’Halloran, Shane Bennett). It seems that Thomas Ryan is not on the panel, but I don’t know if he was simply excluded or left of his own volition. I had been of the impression that Darragh Fives had also been left out by Cahill, but some posters here seem to think that he is still in the frame. Another member of the outgoing panel whose position is unclear is Colm Roche. I am a great admirer of Roche, who I think got a raw deal from both Derek McGrath and Padraig Fanning and is, in my view, a far better hurler than some of the deadwood which is still on the panel (and featured in the recent Munster League games). Apart from his excellent under-age record with Waterford, Roche was a member of the UCC team which won last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup, scoring three points in the final. Another member of the outgoing panel who has reportedly been in training but who has yet to make an appearance is Michael Harney, and I wonder what is the position regarding him. We still have to see who from Ballygunner will secure places on the panel, apart from Dessie Hutchinson and Peter Hogan, who played against Kerry. Obviously Pauric Mahony and Stephen O’Keeffe will be involved. It has been reported, but not confirmed (that I am aware of) that Barry Coughlan has returned to the panel. Other players who impressed me during the Gunners’ recent club championship campaign include Ian Kenny, Paddy Leavy, Conor Sheahan, and Billy O’Keeffe. There are several other players whom I thought would have been worthy of at least getting a chance to state their claims, but of whom there have been no signs. These include Lismore full back David Prendergast, a very talented player who was on the Mary Immaculate College team which got to last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final; Andrew Casey of Ballyduff Upper, who impressed greatly in the 2018 Under 21 game against Cork and who started for UCC in last Wednesday’s Canon O’Brien Cup game against Cork; and Dungarvan’s John Curran who was a regular on the DCU team which was very unlucky in last year’s Fitzgibbon Cup. Then there is Colm Roche’s brother Shane who was an ever-present for UCC for three years, and was very impressive whenever I saw him play, but never got a look-in for Waterford. He was on the panel at one stage but dropped out, reportedly due to not getting any game time. I am also thinking of another Shamrocks player, John Paul Lucey, who played for the University of Limerick last year and who has excellent aerial ability. Given the value of players able to win ball in the air, it seems to me that players with this ability (including also DJ Foran) should be made special project players with the aim of developing their general skill levels and physicality. I am reminded of how Ger Loughnane succeeded in converting a very raw Ollie Baker into an outstanding intercounty competitor back in the 1990s. I expect that Liam Cahill has been using the lead-up to the Munster League in order to get a general look at the lie of the land in terms of available resources and to give members of the outgoing panel a chance to stake a claim for continued membership of the panel. With little chance of relegation in the National Hurling League, I further expect Cahill to continue the experimentation there, but hopefully with the deadwood gone and some further new talent being given an opportunity to show what they can do. In this respect he will probably be looking closely at performances in the Fitzgibbon Cup over the next few weeks, although unfortunately it overlaps with Waterford’s league games against Cork and Westmeath.
Giveitfong wrote: » I am also thinking of another Shamrocks player, John Paul Lucey, who played for the University of Limerick last year and who has excellent aerial ability. Given the value of players able to win ball in the air, it seems to me that players with this ability (including also DJ Foran) should be made special project players with the aim of developing their general skill levels and physicality. I am reminded of how Ger Loughnane succeeded in converting a very raw Ollie Baker into an outstanding intercounty competitor back in the 1990s..
enoughtaken wrote: » From WLR Waterford Minister of State John Halligan has confirmed that the County Board is set to receive €3,753,750 under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund #WLRSport Great news for Walsh Park. Drive on now after this years championship.
PTH2009 wrote: » Great news about Walsh Park and get the bulldozers in a few days after the Cork Championship game Is there anyway they could start work before this years Championship moving our league games up to Dungarvan and have a few bits done in time for May ??.
big_drive wrote: » Is Stephen O’Keeffe dropped from panel?
Cake Man wrote: » Would it be fair to say SOK may not even be guaranteed the number 1 jersey? Could be the first season in the last 6 or 7 that he will have to fight for it as Billy Nolan is a decent keeper and could dislodge him. Would still expect SOK to take it but it might be close?
thesultan wrote: » Would Ray Barry be worth a look?
Billy Ocean wrote: » Derek McGrath confirmed as been involved with Faythe Harriers in Wexford town this year. They had to win the relegation final this year but won last 2 minor premiers so have some talent coming through, he'll be hoping the new ross bypass opens soon.Lee Chin their most well known player.
Alf Tupper wrote: » Has McGrath ever managed anyone but young lads that he can manipulate?
emergingstar wrote: » Was there any changes to the championship structures from that meeting Friday night Will they go ahead with the county leagues
Stopitwillya wrote: » Great result for WIT beating LIT by nine points in the first match of this years fitzgibbion cup. More importantly 9 of the starting 15 were from Waterford.
Giveitfong wrote: » I came across a report of the Tony Forristal tournament final for 2020 (in which Waterford beat Kilkenny 2-8 to 2-6) the other day. It made for interesting reading. Colm Roche was full back with Eddie Hayden in the corner. MJ Sutton was at midfield with Conor Gleeson at centre forward. Patrick Curran and Dessie Hutchinson were in the full forward line. Shane Bennett was an unused sub. According to the report “Conor Gleeson is certainly one to watch for the future. His ability to catch ball in the air, take on the defender and deliver intelligent ball into his inside forward line was one of the talking points of the weekend”. While I appreciate Gleeson’s defensive abilities, I have always felt that he should be tried in the forwards, where he spent his early under-age years. Good forwards are always harder to get than good defenders, and I feel that Gleeson’s wonderful skillset could make a bigger contribution in the forward division. The report stated of the full forward line of Dessie Hutchinson, Patrick Curran and Andrew Crawford (Cois Bhríde) that they “wreaked havoc on their Kilkenny opponents and showed a level of composure and skill way beyond their years. Watch this space!” Hopefully we will see a repeat of this in the coming year and two, at least in the case of Curran and Hutchinson. I wonder what became of Crawford, a big lad who caused major problems for Kilkenny in the early stages of the game in particular, causing Kilkenny to move their best player, Liam Blanchfield, back to mark him. The other members of the Waterford team were Seán Daly (Abbeyside) in goal, Craig Brown (Sacred Heart) corner back, half backs Mark Shanahan (Sacred Heart), Jack McCarthy (De La Salle, who got man of the match) and Shane Murray (Cappoquin), Edmond O’Halloran (Clashmore) midfield, and half forwards Shane Ryan (De La Salle) and Seán Colfer (Tramore). Billy Egan of Dungarvan was a second-half substitute.
DiscoStew wrote: » Submissions for structures had to be put in by Friday. I think they are being discussed at Monday’s County Board meeting.
