Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

gave u your answer read it I said Munster is obviously more competitive

Jesus lad am talking about the hurling season ending in mid may for two good teams in Munster . It’s not that bloody difficult to understand 😂

The old format where we potentially only got one game and were out is irrelevant in my opinion. That was certainly the case for sure but players, management and even the hardcore fans were not putting in anything like the effort and commitment we see today. Up to the back door system, there was still a huge drink culture and “a day out” environment about it all. Players completely out of shape with zero first touch in the league and just about getting it together for championship and taking it handy on the drink the nights before. Nowadays, it’s gone to professional levels of commitment and I do agree that the previous “back door” system was a bit fairer and also the reason that the standard was raised. I also don’t believe that winning Munster nowadays is celebrated any better than it used to be with teams almost secretly delighted to come third. It’s brilliant to see such great games but it would be nice to play someone different for a change in a serious game. We used to have great battles with Galway and Kilkenny for example.

But in the current format, we’re just not good enough to get out and it’s as simple as that. All three games so far were essentially knock out games for us and we didn’t win any of them.

On a combined all ireland championship, be careful what you wish for. We would be exposed to relegation and could face a year in Joe McDonagh. If you compare us to Wexford, I think we are in a much better position long term being in Munster; high quality opposition and sell out games are much better than the dross in Leinster. I do agree with the point of the season being over too early. Would like 2 games between every match but then there's the club player to be considered.

On Queally; the main thing I would say that's killed us this year is availability of players. Injuries to stop lads taking to the field but also training in the 6 weeks before championship. There's also the availability of lads like Fagan, Lyons and Monty. The former two taking time to get back up to speed and the latter missing. The most likely indicator of an injury is a previous injury in the same spot. Lot's of these lads were getting injured as teenagers; this is a failing of the county boards over last 10-15 years not Queally. Lads leaving the panel over the last few years I blame on the county board for hiring Davy Fitz.

In 2020; our all ireland run was based around a middle third that would overrun other teams physically. This year we have improved selection with each game but we're still not as good as we were back then. Time, injuries and absentees have left us less dynamic here with Mackey the only new addition this year and Gavin Fives and Reuben Halloran out injured.

Our skill level is also way behind other teams. This is most apparent in early rounds of the league when we could barely hit a twenty yard uncontested stick pass to hand. Striking and touch are all honed individually in the ball alley , shooting with a bag of thirty balls on the pitch. This is the responsibility of the players and I would like to know what sort of a ball alley culture is in the team. Easy to hit the gym in Winter, harder to go outside.

I would be most critical of him around selection. Kiely last year in half back line. Shane Bennett as sub over Tadhg yesterday. Starting Kenny with a dodgy hammer. I also don't like the poor mouth excuses about format.

EDIT: Please for the love of God, I never want to see Mark Fitz at full back again. Let the lad loose out around the middle.

But as manager your mainly responsible for creating the environment and the lads are playing tooth and nail for him. Tactically he fired last years coach and we look better coached this year. We also looked more physical in the league until the injuries started happening. I would give him another year.

One final word on Dessie, he just can't win his own ball consistently at inter county level up against more athletic players than club level. Unfortunately that's the primary skill of any inside forward.

Just gets more depressing

The gate receipts from munster are off the charts,with near enough every game a sellout. i can't see the munster council voting to give that up

The province’s 11-game senior hurling championship comprised €8.381m or 88% of its gate receipts for the year.

Yes he wants to remove mark fitz from full back forgetting he was only there as injury cover. we could just not play a ful back at all …

Some good points there but I wanted to note that I thought Shane Bennett did well yesterday. Also, Kiely wasn’t in the half back line for championship last year. It was the early league games that he was tried there and it wasn’t that crazy. He played centre back for the Waterford minors and plenty of other counties are converting forwards to wing backs as the game evolves. Cahill even did that with Jack Fagan.

I’d play billy centre back, miles better than anyone there that’s available anyway

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I've seen it mentioned a couple of times that to receive a black card the player you foul must be in possession of the ball. Any know if this is actually correct

way too complicated just need Munster and Leinster knockout championship and seeded all Ireland championship with mixed Munster and Leinster teams

rule above. possession of ball is mentioned.

https://www.waterford-news.ie/sport/gaa/mark-fitzgerald-cleared-to-play-in-trip-to-limerick_arid-97554.html

Mark cleared to play next week

Any update on Bennett’s injury? I know he won’t be available next week but hopefully it’s not the cruciate with a long recovery ahead of him. He’s been through enough.