Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

What is the capacity of Fraher Field now? There was 5000 there today, will it be able to take that many for the Offaly match?

who does he start ahead of in the forwards if we have everyone fit, Davy fitz ruined him he was absolutely flying under Cahill

Patrick Curran is definitely worth a starting position. Mahony is not inter county standard. Gavin Fives did very well when he came on. Jack Prendergast made a huge difference in the second half. I'll be surprised if Kenny or Sheehan make the cut for championship. Dessie did some great things but once in a while it would be great to see him drop the shoulder and take on his man. Fitzy was badly missed today for that reason alone. Mark Fitz was a powerhouse all through. Stephen Bennett owes us nothing at this stage, what a gutsy performance today. His instinctive understanding with Patrick Curran is great to see, something that they've had since their underage days. James Owens is a clown. It's a pity he didn't become as involved when Austin Gleeson was being targeted off the ball by numerous different Cork players two years ago in the championship in Walsh Park.

I think all of the above will ultimately come in to the team. I Daly comes in at corner back with the other corner back position up for grabs. There are 2 half back positions up for grabs imo either Leavey or Kiely haven’t done enough to command a place yet. Midfield the same. Kieran Bennett I actually thought had a brilliant game yesterday and really seems to be putting his hand up for a starting place. Although he’s inclined to play on the edge a little and ended up on a yellow again yesterday. Plenty forward places up for grabs too, where does Aussie come in, Curran pushing for a start now, will Kiely end up back on the forwards? Mahony is done now surely, as someone else mentioned. You’d have to give Queally credit for how he’s managing this league and creating competition for places with some good headaches to have when the above lads come back

not expected back until after the league

I really hope we move Kiely back into the forwards. We need a physical presence up there to compliment Dessie and Patrick Fitz.

We definitely do but I can see why Queally wants Kiely half back with Lyons not available. I'd be more concerned about the full back line, Iarlaith Daly can't catch a break with injuries and I don't think we really have good quality cover there, particularly for the corners, something I think we have suffered for over the years.

I thought yesterday was a patchy performance at best but the few standouts were Dessies touch in soft conditions, he just didn't get enough ball second half, Stephen Bennett was outstanding as was Mark Fitzgerald, even though he was caught out the odd time. Dublin were the better side for much of the game but the flip side we created some good goal scoring opportunities. Going to be so tough to get out of Munster though.

Good win yesterday although it was very much a smash-and-grab and had we lost by a few points I don’t think we would have had many complaints. Felt Dublin were slightly the better team throughout and no doubt would have felt unlucky to go home with nothing.

To be fair the lads dug deep at the end and for me the most satisfying thing was winning a game that was on a knife edge in the dying minutes. How many times in the last few years have we nearly always seemed to come out the wrong side of these kind of games? Limerick in championship in 2023 and then a comically large number last year with Clare and Tipp in championship, then Clare, Wexford and KK in the league (all lost by 3pts or less and the infamous Tipp game last year where we threw away a few point lead in injury time) are the notable ones that spring to mind.

Credit to Curran, Stephen Bennett and Mark Fitz, all did very well. Dessie was great first half but as others have said didn’t get much decent ball second half. Onwards to Westmeath Sunday, you'd imagine it should be a handy enough win as Westmeath have lost every game so far - 3 of those against teams we put away easily so going by the form lines it should be a routine win and in the driving seat for promotion.

https://www.wlrfm.com/sport/stephen-bennett-back-best-439443

interesting interview here Stephen Bennett. Seems he was all but retired but Queally talked him around by offering a role with more freedom.

https://www.wlrfm.com/sport/waterford-hurling-review-committee-appointed-443896

I'm getting Deja vu here, did this not already happen a few years ago with Michael Walsh also chairing that?

Team for Sunday, TDB and Aussie back on the bench

I think the previous one came at the start of Seán Michael Regan’s reign. Seems to be standard practise now. Hopefully divisional championships get the road with this one!

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic

Obviously encouraging to see tdb and Gleeson back. Agree Curran deserves a start, I think they might be giving him impact sub role though, which in itself might not be a bad thing. Gavin fives v deserving of a start based on his performance off the bench during first half the last day

100%, the coaching structures in the county have clearly fallen off the cliff. We rested on our laurels from the minor win in 2013 and u21 in 2016, we’ve scarcely won a game in either grade since? The core of the current senior panel is late 20s/early30s

Also the demographics in the county need to be addressed. Some many rural clubs only hanging by a thread with dwindling population and playing numbers and an ever growing monstrosity out the eastern side of Waterford city. Even many of the other city clubs now are struggling aswell as a result

I don’t think this is 10 years away from crisis point, I think its an inevitability only a couple years off