Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 2011-2012

Limestone1 wrote: »

Did anyone else think that we didn't seem as fit/sharp as Clare . Definitely faded and a few Waterford lads stretching limbs towards the end.

To be fair I think this was just due to the constant pressure on our midfield and half back line due to our forwards inability to hold possession - everything they put forward was coming back with interest and that takes its toll, much like a soccer team who continuously kicks the ball away.

For what it's worth I thought the referee was appalling. He gave us nothing all day despite our forwards consistently having their jerseys pulled.

@Kevirl I'm pretty certain it's a home and away draw through out the qualifiers until maybe phase 3. Clare definitely played Dublin in Cusack Park, and Limerick played Antrim in the Gaelic Grounds if I'm not mistaken, though their game against each other was in Thurles (I think).

As for a lack of intensity, well I dunno what it looked like on tv, but maybe a combination of a stadium to big for the crowd and the fact that their is a huge gap between league and championship. Is it 9 weeks (more?) since we last played. You could hardly be expecting a classic in those circumstances.


I also don't agree that Clare looked a hungrier side from start to finish, once we got the goal we dominated for the rest of the first half and could have been (perhaps should have been) further ahead. We were going well after a very poor start in which we were struggling to win primary possession (which was the theme of the second half) and it was quite worrying. A terrible mistake by the Clare center back brought us back into it, though Dillon took the goal brilliantly, as he did his point.

As has been highlighted already, the three missed opportunities at the start of the second half were important. I think we should have converted at least two of them. Instead, Clare got the first score of the second half and that must have been a huge psychological boost.

I'm sure most were expecting a purple patch from Clare in the second half, not sure how many expected a purple half! For the last 30 mins they were vastly superior, and the root of the problem (and as anticipated key area where the game would be decided) was our half-forward line. It's been a problem for a long time and when you see the line up out there you'd say they aren't really all that physically imposing. I do, however, feel strongly that Iggy's puckouts weren't good enough. Dunno how others feel, maybe I'm overestimating it on account of having a preconceived idea that they wouldn't be of sufficient quality but in fairness I don't think the Clare supporters themselves think their halfback line are as good as they were made look for at least the last 20 mins of the game. I might have a look tomorrow and see how many clean catches they made in that period, I'd say it's pretty horrifying. They won all the breaks as well though.

The problem then was that it's the one position where you won't see managers make a change. I saw SOK warming up with 15-20 left and wondered would he come on but it's always something managers will be slow to do. I guess from their own perspective if it didn't help things, a lot of questions would be asked, and I would imagine Iggy would be very upset. The worst thing though was the lack of any alternative puckout strategies. In the first half they tried a few shorter ones, maybe to just inside our own half or that with midfielders coming towards it. Might not always work, but when you are being absolutely cleaned in the halfforward line you have to try something else. We didn't though. Where as Clare won the ball, then supported the man and had plenty of time in midfield to see where the space was in behind our half backline and find one of their men. Simple stuff, made easier by us not winning any ball.


Moving away from that, while it was a disappointing defeat I have to say there seems to be an over reaction here. To lose by as much certainly was frustrating, but considering that we were missing three starters from a team that has lost one of our greatest forwards ever and a player who won two man of the match awards last year coupled with Brian O Halloran clearly being severely hampered by injury before coming off (could have made a big difference), I think to say it was one of our most disappointing defeats is maybe slightly OTT? (I know we are all probably desperately trying to erase the memory of Pairc Ui Caoimh in 2011 and Croker in September 2008, but I don't think today's games can be compared to those experiences)

We would have needed a fair amount of luck to win the game in reality, we were very light on subs as the squad is quite thin.

On a positive note, all our forwards that started (bar O'Halloran, understandably) scored from play. Jake Dillon took his goal well and he'll surely only grow in confidence after today. Thought Shane Sully played very well in midfield for most of the game, good to have him back.

I think that Brick should never be judged on what his man scores (unless maybe he scores 2-6 by running down the center or something ridiculous). 0-4 points really isn't that big a return on him considering Brick still had plenty of influence on the game. In RTEs analysis, I think they said they targeted Brick but the only clip they showed of Clare winning the ball off him showed him being blatantly fouled. Wouldn't say he was the second best player on the field though I have to say.

Thought all the backs played well, the only one who I thought actually noticeably under-performed was Moran. I think he was nervy with the captaincy and I think as a result the qualifiers will do him good as much as it will the young players.

Jamie Nagle, after a shaky start, stormed into the game and I was always told it's the sign of a very good player when you can play well having made early mistakes. It shows character, and he wasn't phased by Davy putting Peter Duggan (another giant) in to mark him. Naivety probably on Davy's part to expect a 19/20 year old with no experience to have a big impact, but I think Nagle deserves huge credit as he was excellent.

All in all, I really don't think the qualifiers is a bad road to take. Teams have shown in the past that the momentum built from it can be a bonus and give them fresh impetus as they progress. And while I don't think there's any room to be cocky, I certainly am not one to ascribe to a fear of being beaten by any of the teams that are presently in the qualifiers.

An Rinn final in the senior football comortas peile live on TG4 at 3.30 against Donegal oppostion. Best of luck to them fly the deise flag proudly lads

What changes do people see being made the next day? There arent too many other options really so depleted is the squad. Normally when we get beat we have plenty excuses about such and such a person will be back the next day. This time though there isnt really anyone to come back. Shane Walsh the only one I can think of of any note. SOK will probably come back in maybe shane fives aswell but other than I cant really see any scope to freshen it up/change it around