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

Lads Shane Bennett is something else. Defenders worst nightmare

Dis Clare team scares me when they click. One hell of a battle we have in June (and potentially may 1st too)

Fantastic second half display, jesus was the ref card happy or what, certainly wasn't a dirty game. The major positive from today has to be the attacking threat, we'v lacked goals badly during the league, to score 3 and create 3 other clear chances is great stuff, the backs again where as solid as ever. Should be a fierce battle against Clare in two weeks, they were awsome today, that said i think our backs won't give away two really soft goals like KK did today and hopefully Clare won't reach that level again in two weeks.

As I thought, we would win today comfortably. Limerick's same old failings surfaced again but in no small part to our own second half display. No doubt about it the final will be a humdinger and one that is too close to call. Clare's injuries if cleared up by then will slightly have an advantage with the calibre of players that they have injured but it will be a tactical battle where Cusack's influence will be tested again.
As for today,and it's a question that was discussed afterwards,do our forwards play better as a unit going forward when Maurice isn't there? Certainly Curran blossoms when he isn't or is it just a case of fellas sharing the extra workload when he's not available?

Don't mid this fooling and shadow boxing rubbish, just go out and play like we did in the second half and we'll be in with a shout. There's a league title at stake, which we can't say we've won too many of. Would be a great achievement winning back to back league titles.


Great second half by the lads, Shane Bennett and Curran were very effective. Don't think it was a penalty, Bennett looked as if he tripped over himself but the penalty itself was fantastic. Limerick seemed to just stop after that and we powered on. Brick also excellent and made some lovely catches and layoffs.
There are plenty of critics of a short passing running game but when it comes together it looks really good. The second goal was a good example of this with some nice layoffs and well finished on the ground by Curran.


The backs were very solid, Darragh and Shane Fives very commanding. Barron and Moran full of running. Austin did well at times with some great solo runs skinning a few Limerick players but again just needs to know when to lay the ball off rather then go for the spectacular or run into trouble. Some good points though.
Need to start a lot sharper the next day though, our stickwork was poor at times in the first half. Taking too long on the ball, taking too much out of the ball and running into tackles and losing possession resulting in coughed up scores.


All in all, very happy to be where we are. Onwards to Thurles for a crack at Clare. Well done lads.

Gardner wrote: »

you shouldn't be let near a keyboard.

Few pints aided that bs lol plus a bit of auto correct on my phone. the main point i was making was each management team will fool try and fool another imo in the league final

Very disappointed with League sunday last night, and the obvious targeting of Waterford's Brick walsh , in the "throwing" debate, by that snide,bitter just got bet Kilkenny ex Player, and i know he said he counted about 15 incidents over both games , yeah but the only clip to hand was Brick walsh's pass to P curran ? , a little bit of Balance here over the national airwaves, because there was no mention of any other player county , that "GOT AWAY" with such a travesty, jesus it was up there with striking with the hurl in poor beaten Eddies Mind, Don't mention it at all, unless it was a constant infringement with the same player on the same team, and it was resulting on said team, benefitting over a number of games, first time it was mentioned, first time it was highlighted, on National tv, on a day that Kilkenny were beaten, and it was put full and centre in all ref's mind that as it was done by a Waterford player, have to watch that from now on said every ref in the country , a bit of fair play please , would be appreciated.
To the game in question, don't think we're there yet in terms of where we're trying to go, thought Limerick ran out of steam, as they are unfit, R McCarthy clearly tapped Shane Bennetts heel for the Penalty, can't see why everyone is saying it was soft, ref called it right, thought when Darragh fives ring rust was shaken off at half time, we really took over, big game for kevin Moran, worked hard , gets some stick sometimes, but can never fault his endevours, thought Colin Dunford, was doing ok, was a little unlucky to be taken off, thought there was one or two more big plays in him, thought the game passed jake by, and i would have taken him before dunford, Brick was immence, De burca is an absolute gem, Coughlan again did alot of good work, played it simple and strong, soky was not threatened from general play, Shane Bennett is the real deal, i wonder does he have any appreciation for actuall how good he is, doing things at his own pace, yet five times faster in thought and action, with a higher degree of skill than most, real throwback, but works hard, P curran, should not be anywhere but hovering around the edge of the square, finishers finish, see his goal, shane o donnell like, a finisher with confidence and talent, Maurice will bring us more, don't agree with the waterford Play different stuff with him there, just gives us another option, does that mean we will play different again when P Mah is back, Devine is almost making sure he never starts, with his impact when he comes on, shows a wonderfull attitude, happy out, am not fooled by Kilkenny , if Waterford was missing Noel connors both fives, a fully fit P Mahony and were facing a Clare side on the up, we'd struggle yesterday, Clare are good, but Kilkenny having an off day[Panel has been shown now to be a bit bare], ref not pulling them for the same fouls their backs were being pulled for v Tipp, and Kilkenny missing at least three if not 4, of their biggest Performers, with a still not fully fit hogan and Tyrell[is he done???], in the side, Holden was done in though bowed the head , Keeper killed him, but was targeted , smellled weakness and Conlon killed him, Clare are coming big time, but i think a fully fit and organised kilkenny would have been a bigger test, but OVERWHELMING favourites for a league title, Over to you eddie , i'm sure you have a Balanced opinion, yeah and "the Greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist ", no Tactics in kilkenny, what ?, you'd never be up to them.

He's long been one of my favourite hurlers and was delighted to see him go well yesterday again, the mighty Brick Walsh. Must be the only hurler I've ever seen that can play an outstanding match without actually hitting the ball very much. His ball winning ability both on the ground and in the air and his vision with his short passes must be amongst the best the game has ever seen.

Just really really wish he was a Galway man. Can think of about 6 different positions we could do with him in! That Shane Bennett is a serious operator too.

Confirmed thurles Sunday 1st May 3.30pm

Wish we were getting a show like the football finals are getting next Sunday

deisedude wrote: »

Nah just the usual Saw Doctors song from 20 years ago being played on the tannoy I'd say

Might get the local Richie kavanagh tribute act to do a few numbers.

I noticed TDB played particularly forward yesterday, played really well, he's a quality hurler perhaps somewhat wasted just playing a sweeper role even though he is fantastic at it. Anyone think we see any changes for two weeks time assuming everyone is fit? Maurice will surly be back in but i wonder will he change anyone else.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/dan-shanahan-clare-are-streets-ahead-of-waterford-34639559.html

i see its started ....

Haven't posted for a while but have been watching with interest the comments over the last few months. In think the final has the prospect of being a fascinating game and like last year I believe both sides will want to win to keep the momentum going. I thought the Clare performance on Sunday was top class, but noticed two things. One they needed a couple of soft goals to put KK to the sword, and secondly their own full back line looked very uncomfortable at times. ( I suppose show me a line that doesn't) Outcome this is a very good Clare side but far from unbeatable, and they will face a very good and well drilled Waterford side, result a very tight and tense affair, to be followed by another very tight and tense affair a few weeks later.

Outlook for championship - KK are far from gone away but the miles continue to pile on the clock for them. A lot of guys to come back in, but other counties have made considerable strides and the gap has closed. I predict a very tight affair in Munster and a very open Championship overall.

From a Waterford viewpoint delighted with the progress we are making, showed last Sunday when we push up we can get scores, some super young hurlers added into the mix especially Curran and Bennett. Devine a revelation coming into the game, but to be fair tot he lads has never been given a proper chance to impress from the start, always isolated. Great to see Paudie back, but will need alot of game to get up to the pace - hopefully we will see the best of him come the real business end of the year and lets not forget Stephen Bennett, another prodigious talent who has been plagued with injury. Think if he can get back to full fitness and is played in the inside forward line , could be massive for us.

Things I feel need addressing:

Maurice, while being a big player for us has to become more of a team player - feel that way too often he looks for the score rather than the better placed forward. Shane Bennett can be a bit guilty this also but give him the benefit of doubt because of his young age, Maurice should know better. we need to improve our team work in this area.

Barron, another massive player, but is going to have to learn to vary his game plan and look for the pass earlier. too often he is running into traffic and is becoming predictable. Vary the game look for quick offloads t runners going past and even look to take a return pass. Has the energy and the ability, but just needs to become less predictable.

Aussie, most unbelievable talent but fear his frustration is growing with each passing game. We are persisting with starting him in corner forward and then bringing him out the field. While he has all the talent in the world I feel that he is a player who needs to be involved in the game all the time. The best inside forwards in the game are those who are patient and believe that the chances will come to them and when they do they will take them. A back can dominate a game for 65 minutes and be absolutely destroyed in the other 5. They wait for their moment. Aussie, maybe because of his age, gets impatient and frustrated and this becomes very visible in his play. We need to focus on getting him involved from early on in the game and allowing him to express himself. Hi ability to pick passes from distance, much like a quarter back in American football is unreal. Against Tipp this year he played three passes from my memory that were within inches of unlocking their defence for real goal opportunities - he sees space and has the ability to deliver the ball accurately and at pace into these areas which is vital to creating goal opportunities. We seem to think by putting big men inside they will create the goal opportunities whereas I believe it is more often the delivery and work from out the field that creates them

Looking forward to an exciting 5 weeks ahead.

decies wrote: »

Just checked GAA WEBSITE tickets on sale 25 euro for Thurles .

Time to dust down the auld student id