Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 3 Updated Mod Note Post 1

robopaddy2 · 25-02-2016 02:45AM

cul beag wrote: »

Shanahan doesn't seem himself and doesn't seem to be firing fully yet either. Maybe the time away might help him regroup.

He set his own bar pretty high last year he was like a man possessed. Every shot seemed to go over the bar no matter what the angle be it from frees or open play. Hard to expect the same level from him this year but unfortunately for Maurice that is the level he will be judged against. He he has still probably been our best forward in the opening 2 games and don't forget he was quite enough in the league last year and only exploded into life in the championship after Mahony got injured. I'd have no worries about him, he proven himself to be a big game player.

PTH2009 · 25-02-2016 03:17AM

robopaddy2 wrote: »

He set his own bar pretty high last year he was like a man possessed. Every shot seemed to go over the bar no matter what the angle be it from frees or open play. Hard to expect the same level from him this year but unfortunately for Maurice that is the level he will be judged against. He he has still probably been our best forward in the opening 2 games and don't forget he was quite enough in the league last year and only exploded into life in the championship after Mahony got injured. I'd have no worries about him, he proven himself to be a big game player.

hopefully in 10 years time when he is possibly retired he will have an All Ireland Senior medal to his name. he is a player/person in which if god exists deserves the best after his depression battle.

myself and every other waterford person does not want this golden generation team being the should haves/nearly men of hurling like our great past teams who missed out. If we win one medals should be given to John Mullane, Ken, Tony and all the waterford greats lol.

robopaddy2 · 25-02-2016 03:38AM

PTH2009 wrote: »

hopefully in 10 years time when he is possibly retired he will have an All Ireland Senior medal to his name. he is a player/person in which if god exists deserves the best after his depression battle.

myself and every other waterford person does not want this golden generation team being the should haves/nearly men of hurling like our great past teams who missed out. If we win one medals should be given to John Mullane, Ken, Tony and all the waterford greats lol.

Couldn't agree more. The more I see of these Laochra Gael profiles of our golden generation, Flynn, Mullane and now Ken the more it breaks my heart that these lads never won an All Ireland. They have to go down as the greatest team in history never to win one, hurling or football. Don't think I can fathom the thought of another golden generation passing by without winning one. We live and hope.

cul beag · 25-02-2016 07:22AM

robopaddy2 wrote: »

He set his own bar pretty high last year he was like a man possessed. Every shot seemed to go over the bar no matter what the angle be it from frees or open play. Hard to expect the same level from him this year but unfortunately for Maurice that is the level he will be judged against. He he has still probably been our best forward in the opening 2 games and don't forget he was quite enough in the league last year and only exploded into life in the championship after Mahony got injured. I'd have no worries about him, he proven himself to be a big game player.

Yes you are right he was exceptional last year and we need him firing on all cylinders again this year but his body language doesn't look right. God knows we all know what he has come through personally and it is an enormous credit to himself and everyone involved but in my opinion he looks like he is lacking a bit of confidence. Maybe it has come from the Kilkenny game where the frees didn't go well for him and it has progressed from that. It goes without saying we all want nothing more than for himself and this squad of players to win an All Ireland this year. On song he is one of the first names on the team sheet, his goal against Cork last year was sheer brilliance and hopefully he will get back to that level of consistency that he brought to it last year. I don't think I could agree that he has still been our best forward in the first 2 games but as you said he set the standard so high last year that unfortunately that is what he will be judged on.

O Riain · 25-02-2016 09:54AM

Maurice needs to cut out the dirt, there's that unnecessary bit in his play that you don't usually see in the Waterford team and don't want to see.

I had a look at the clip where he got sent off and he did flick the hurley down afterwards, absolutely no need for it and now he is gonna do the time.

How long is he likely to be gone for?

DiscoStew · 25-02-2016 02:29PM

Maurice will just miss one game, the Tipp game.

Deise_2012 · 25-02-2016 09:52PM

Lads don't be judging Maurice yet, he's the kinda fella that needs the hard ground. As another poster stated, last year he wasn't in sparkling form during the league and looked what happened during the summer, I don't think we've ever seen a Shanahan in great form during February or March have we?

So regarding the starting 15, I know he works really hard for the team but I think Dillon has to be dropped for Mahony, We have Brick to win dirty ball, if I had to choose between him and Dillon to start I'd choose Brick all day. Presuming Mahony is going well in training I think he has to come back into the team. Tadhg has to come into the back line too, he's too good not to be playing. Patrick Curran is a guy who can make something happen out of nothing, I think he brings something extra to the team. Dunford is playing very well, his shooting has improved, unbelievably burst of pace to get himself out of difficult situations. My first 15 would be ..SOK, Shane Fives, Coughlan, Connors, Darragh Fives, TDB, Mahony, Barron, Moran, Gleeson, Shane Bennett, Brick, Patrick Curran, Maurice and Colin Dunford

Edit: I can't even find a place for Paudie Mahony in my starting 15, I've no idea who to drop either....fu_k I'd hate to be Mcgrath trying to choose this!!

Deise_2012 · 25-02-2016 09:57PM

Dunford or Patrick Curran will make way I guess....providing Mahony is showing up well. If he's not, I'd ease him back slowly and get him ready for the latter stages of the Championship

tomwaterford · 25-02-2016 11:04PM

Deise_2012 wrote: »

Dunford or Patrick Curran will make way I guess....providing Mahony is showing up well. If he's not, I'd ease him back slowly and get him ready for the latter stages of the Championship

I don't wish to be argueing about anyone coming back in...but the only possible way I could see a working back in for de burca would be to drop Dillon

Moving/naming gleeson/Moran further upfield....pauric Mahoney may struggle to get back into the team if they leave it much later (as a big fan of his...he was awesome in league last year....and I genuinely feared for waterford in championship without him)

Dick phelan · 25-02-2016 11:12PM

Really don't think he should drop Curran lads going really well Mcgrath has some problem deciding who to drop assuming Mahony and TDB are back fully fit and ready.

Cake Man · 25-02-2016 11:32PM

And this is all assuming nobody else on the panel (i.e. outside the usual 15)starts to show up well in training/challenge games. If somebody like Devine, Stephen Bennett, BOH, Mikey Kearney, McNulty Roches x2 etc. start pushing very hard for a spot in the first 15, it just makes selection more difficult!

Certainly not a bad headache to have as it gives plenty of options off the bench.

tomwaterford · 25-02-2016 11:49PM

Cake Man wrote: »

And this is all assuming nobody else on the panel (i.e. outside the usual 15)starts to show up well in training/challenge games. If somebody like Devine, Stephen Bennett, BOH, Mikey Kearney, McNulty Roches x2 etc. start pushing very hard for a spot in the first 15, it just makes selection more difficult!

Certainly not a bad headache to have as it gives plenty of options off the bench.

100% agree....all we ever wanted was for waterford to have quality options for each position and no one gaurenteed their place on the team

The talk that de burca and Mahoney are too good not to be playing....it would be unbelievable harsh and hard to justify any backs being dropped for de burca as it stands

Much like start of the league it would have been hard to justify taking shanahan off the frees (going on last summer)....but now you'd have to think Mahoney is in with a shout again

(Again unreal harsh on shanahan....but if waterford are to dream atal of ever winning an all Ireland...it's near perfection they'll have to aim for)

PTH2009 · 25-02-2016 11:52PM

I think we are playing a challenge game this weekend. Anyone knw who its against and where it is ???

DiscoStew · 26-02-2016 09:38AM

PTH2009 wrote: »

I think we are playing a challenge game this weekend. Anyone knw who its against and where it is ???

Some of the players that hadn't seen action during the 2 league games were playing a game against Na Piarsaigh last night. Anyone hear anything about how it went?

O Riain · 26-02-2016 06:17PM

Cadogan got 2 much ban for his swing back on Coughlan. Cork to get relegated.

cul beag · 26-02-2016 08:40PM

O Riain wrote: »

Cadogan got 2 much ban for his swing back on Coughlan. Cork to get relegated.

That is because its his 2nd sending off of the year already.

KevIRL · 28-02-2016 04:37PM

Carlow 0-15 Waterford 3-15 FT. Well done to the footballers

PTH2009 · 28-02-2016 07:24PM

Read somewhere that If our tactical plans gel together we could do a number on some team

I'd love to hammer Dublin or galway when we play them in a few weeks.

If we finish 1st/2nd in the league we will have an easier qf (likely vs offaly, wexford or Kerry), don't want Clare in ennis in the qfs

mountgomery burns · 28-02-2016 07:25PM

Ken McGrath, Waterford's greatest son.

seananigans · 28-02-2016 09:58PM

http://www.tg4.ie/en/player/home/?pid=4776847000001

Link to Kens laochra gael anyone who needs it

robopaddy2 · 28-02-2016 11:42PM

Good to remember Ken and appreciate what an absolute legend of a player he was. We see too many guys retire and sort of disappear but Ken deserves to be remembered as one of our greatest ever. Out of all the 'golden generation' of hurlers that came and went over the past 20 years Ken was head and shoulders above the rest for me. Literally had it all as a player. And the ultimate team player to boot. A guy who left nothing out on the field. A gentleman off the field, and got on within his business on it. Not afraid to mix it up too as anyone who played against him will tell.
I always remember when he came to our primary school around 97 when he would have been around 18 or 19 he was promoting feile na nagel which was on in Waterford that year, they say to never meet your heroes but he was everything you wanted your hero to be. Really classy fellah with great way with us as kids, having the banter and had a puck around the schoolyard.
He mentioned 08' in the documentary that was the beginning of the end unfortunately for Ken. Davy playing him fullback he was never the same after that even after he was moved back centre back later in the summer he confidence was shot. Injuries hampered him in 09' and by the time he was fit again in 2010 it was obvious Davy wanted rid of him it was a sad way to finish up but he had a brilliant career and was a fantastic ambassador for his county.

paddy13 · 28-02-2016 11:42PM

mountgomery burns wrote: »

Ken McGrath, Waterford's greatest son.

I was almost crying, my greatest sporting hero along with many others I presume.

PTH2009 · 28-02-2016 11:50PM

Brillent documentary on Ken one of the greats of Waterford hurling. He's lucky to be alive really if his hemorage was never discovered then we wud be remembering him in a much sadder tone.

Hopefully Tony gets a loachra gael next season (he was a massive servant of Waterford hurling). Surprised they never released a DVD boxset of each series

blue note · 29-02-2016 12:14AM

PTH2009 wrote: »

. Surprised they never released a DVD boxset of each series

Or box sets by county!

Ropaire · 29-02-2016 01:45AM

I knew watching Kens last league game in Walsh Park he was going to call it a day, thought it was lousy of Davy to put him out midfield when he hadn't the legs anymore after injuries. He deserved more than that after the service he gave the counry and the game, and would have still done a serious job somewhere like full forward at the time like.

Dan put it well when he said if every lad gave what Ken did what would we have won. Absolute warrior!

PTH2009 · 29-02-2016 02:58AM

I wonder if Justin mac had of moved on after the 2005 season would we have won that all Ireland ??. We would of got a big name manager in 2006 (o Grady, English, loughnane etc).

robopaddy2 · 29-02-2016 04:58AM

PTH2009 wrote: »

I wonder if Justin mac had of moved on after the 2005 season would we have won that all Ireland ??. We would of got a big name manager in 2006 (o Grady, English, loughnane etc).

Easy to be wise afterwards. There actually wasn't too many alternatives out there at the time, be surprised think any of those names would have touched it to be honest. A bit unfair to say that Justin was a reason we didn't win an All Ireland. But he should definitely have gone after 07 semi defeat to Limerick and someone fresh come in at the start of 08 (not Davy Fitz), I think we could have had a right go at the All Ireland again. Instead we ended up in the final without ever actually having playing well at all, it papered over the cracks and ultimately we got found out badly in the final and the rest is history as they say.

robopaddy2 · 29-02-2016 05:09AM

Ropaire wrote: »

I knew watching Kens last league game in Walsh Park he was going to call it a day, thought it was lousy of Davy to put him out midfield when he hadn't the legs anymore after injuries. He deserved more than that after the service he gave the counry and the game, and would have still done a serious job somewhere like full forward at the time like.

Dan put it well when he said if every lad gave what Ken did what would we have won. Absolute warrior!

Was it not in Fraher Field against Cork? He was taken off at half time. It really was heart breaking to watch. I agree he could have had something to offer on the edge of the square. Definetly the previous year in 2010. but Davy Fitz effectively said if your not up to the job I want you to do then there's no place for you on the team which was his prerogative as manager I suppose.

cul beag · 29-02-2016 05:53PM

Tony Browne to train Lismore this year has anyone heard this? If true it would be a great appointment for them.

thesultan · 29-02-2016 06:46PM

A few things on Loachra Gael they really need to update the format. Focus on the player and not the team. A few things missing. While ken hit the lights out in the 02 Munster final he did the opposite in the next one against Cork and drove a ton of wins. He scored five points in the Wexford qualifier and there was no mention of this. They had a bit of Mount Sion winning Munster but nothing about his tour de force from midfield a few years later when he nearly dragged them over the line on his own. Strange seeing him with teeth as an eighteen year old. I remember him as a penalty taker for Mount Sion and a had a thunderous shot. Was at his peak of a forward in the year 2001 or so. Remember him having a great league and destroying most backs he was on at the time with the exception of Seanie McMahon. He was flying it full against tipp prior to his ankle injury against Tipperary. He played in a minor final against Lismore . Fairly sure he was a taken a 65. Missed the pick up and fell to his knees while striking and the ball sailed over the ball

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

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Waterford GAA Discussion Thread 3 Updated Mod Note Post 1