Giveitfong wrote: » Then there was the terrible shooting by both sides. If half of the 39 wides had been scored, both teams would have exceeded thirty points and we would have been marvelling about that. The key point here is that, despite the systems, there was no shortage of scoring opportunities, with the actual number of scores being restricted by poor execution.
Dick phelan wrote: » Let's be fair though the main problem on Sunday was our shooting and not the system, we badly missed Maurice and Paudie for the frees i counted i think 6 missed free's several which were easy chances, Had our shooting been decent we would have won that game by 5-6 points, system needs tweaking yes but we were the better team imo for the majority of the match just didn't take half the chances we had.
Psychedelic wrote: I wonder though are the poor wides because of not enough (or any!) shooting practice in training, with too much focus on winning "dirty ball" and tactics?
Psychedelic wrote: » The other thing is, with the system the players usually have to shoot from further out, so there's a greater chance of missing. I'd like to see one of those heat maps of where all the points and wides were from.
carter10 wrote: » €25 again on Sunday, Typical GAA suck as much money out of the supporters as possible. Sickening greed. Stuck an extra €2 on the programme last Sunday as well. Treating supporters like suckers.- While I'm at it-on the week of a lot of publicity about Hillsborough- left the old stand last Sunday to be greeted by everyone having to leave by the ONE open exit, very dangerous situation. Not a steward to be seen and although there were numerous mentions about it on Social media- no comment or apology from the gaa. Again treating the supporter like a sucker.
con89 wrote: » Either or, if not both, Maurice Shanahan & Pauric Mahony need to start Sunday. Had Maurice started I think Waterford would have won. Lost count of how many frees Waterford missed before he Maurice came on with 15 minutes left. No reliable free taker on the field, Patrick Curran, Austin Gleeson & Shane Bennett were swapping free taking responsibility. Shane Fives my man of the match, seemed to catch every ball around him. Maurice, Tommy Ryan, Brian O'Halloran & Tom Devine all had a positive influence after coming on. Nobody had a bad game, although Jake Dillon didn't seem to see much of the ball. Gleeson wasn't up to his usual high standards but still played well. Bennett & Curran had great games from play.
danganabu wrote: » €25 for a national final seems pretty reasonable to me, if you can find a cheaper equivilant in any other sport Id be amazed. Programmes are done by Thurles Sarsfields themselves so the price is out of control of Croke Park or the stadium management.
carter10 wrote: » Its not reasonable at all and its not 'any other sport' its an amateur association based on supporters not customers. Mostly it will be the same people next sunday as last and again the same people for the munster first round. They could even have taken off a token €5 in recognition of this but no the grab all association wouldn't think of it. Most of these people like myself are already paying into club draws and joining supporters clubs etc. How much more money do they need to suck out of us? Thurles Sarsfield charging the extra 2 euros is typical of gaa greed. Always looking for more off the loyal supporter.
Psychedelic wrote: » On KK being defensive, I don't think we ever saw them play with only two forwards in their opponent's half?
Deskjockey wrote: » I have a picture from a Kilkenny league game from earlier this year where they had exactly that. I took it with my own phone. Kilkenny people seem to be conveniently blind about this at times, it seems to me.
mountgomery burns wrote: » The Tipp game I'd say? Ryan telegraphed that they were going to play direct which was a mad idea anyway against Kilkenny and Cody duly brought them all back against the wind. Donal Og highlighted it in the second half of the all ireland last year, the pictures from that night don't lie. And then he is labelled as a Kilkenny hater, you couldn't win with them.
redlead wrote: » I've just stopped buying the programmes. With the way the Waterford team is named they never have accurate teams on them anyway and that's all you want from them. The rest of them are a load of crap. I just have the two teams on my phone and save the money. 25 for a national final is great value in my opinion.
mountgomery burns wrote: » Some thoughts on the general state of play: 1) Progression I have noticed a lot of dismay at no obvious signs of progression this year. I'm not exactly sure what was expected but I'd like to offer a counterpoint or two to the worries about the attack. This time last year, Maurice Shanahan and Paudie Mahony were the two best forwards on the Waterford team. Could you imagine last year knowing they wouldn't be available against Tipp in Thurles this year, or in a league semi and final? Do you think we would have thought we'd beat Tipp, score 3-23 against Limerick or be a last minute of additional time free from winning the league again? Last year Shane Bennett played very well for his age but he has come on a lot in the space of a year and his been outstanding this year. Patrick Curran only came late into the panel, and has made some strides in 12 months. He was outstanding in the air on Sunday, tough as nails. Their mettle will be tested in the championship but with Maurice back you go from a forward line dependent on one player to one with options. There's room for improvement but let's not forget it's May. I think some people believe the backline and midfield cannot get any better than last year but the very addition of a fit Darragh Fives is huge, even in terms of the options it gives. And I think there was plenty of scope for improvement all the same and I think the duly have improved. 2) The System There really is too much talk about this. An extra man comes from midfield to cover center back while the center back drops in front of the full back. A corner forward roams around the middle to provide support play, and pace to attack and create overlaps in the opposition defense. And when not in position the team work to get back, work very hard. It's really not that complicated, intricate or indeed original. But it is effective and it has helped cultivate a belief that we can win every day we go out. Which was some turnaround from 2014. But it cannot be used as the basis for how every game is won/lost. At the end of the day, the team did everything right except put the ball over the bar on Sunday. I agree that playing with reduced numbers and deeper lines means that when the ball moves quickly up the field sometimes a long range shot is the only or most convenient option. But I do think on Sunday there was some poor shooting from play and particularly from frees. What I think is being missed though is that when you work so hard to create chances and win frees it can get on top of you fairly easily when you miss a few. I believe there was a chain reaction on Sunday to that, and the confidence was dented. That can happen any day you go out, god knows there were days we hit plenty of wides in the heyday of Waterford hurling's attacking prowess. And there was no system to blame then! The talent and work rate of the players first and foremost wins them games, how they setup (as has been proven by some imitations) merely complements their abilities. 3) Contenders Now the most bemusing thing of all is the fact that we are being written off in some quarters to not being able to win later in the summer, that ultimately we are heading down the same road as last year. The bottom line is Waterford have not played a championship match since Kilkenny last year. They won the league already last year, so I think there's this expectation that unless they win every game by 10 points this year they haven't improved and it will be the same story. I think that is beyond unrealistic. Ultimately, they cannot improve on last year's championship until they actually play in this year's championship. There is a tendency too I think to laud displays of great attacking flair where defense is neglected and bias towards it where great defense isn't heralded the same way. Clare beating Kilkenny a prime example of that, it was bizarre to see three pundits on Seo Spoirt on Friday tipping Clare to win. Despite what Waterford have done in the past year, a unanimous verdict in favour of Clare. Case and point really. Moreover, we know enough about the heartbreak a leaky defense can cause. It's got a very talented Tipperary team beaten on more occasions in big matches now than bears mentioning. And further still, there are plenty of question marks over a lot of teams. Tipperary are not contenders according to their own, would not rule them out but at the same time it's hard to see what has been found that has not been there in the last 5 seasons. Galway could still be contenders, it's not beyond them, but it will be a tough road for them. Clare might well be, they are still missing a few but again they have more to prove than Waterford in my opinion. And Kilkenny are still rightfully the favourites and are until they are knocked out, but the bottom line is Tyrell is gone, Power is gone, Aylward is injured, Mick Fennelly managed to get himself fit 3 times last year and was massive but you're expecting a lot to think that can continue, and Larkin has not hit a ball in the first 5 months of the year. It's not getting any easier for them, and the assumption that they'll all be available is exactly that. And when you assume...etc If Waterford keep bringing the tenacity to matches the way they have done so far this year and can stay as relatively injury free as they have been to be fair in the past two seasons, then they will be contenders. And in May, there is no more than you can ask for.
Topcat32 wrote: » Agree with your thoughts on assumptions, this time last year who would have thought Ger Alyward, Shane Maloney or Conor Whelan would make such an impact in the championship. I have a feeling that Kilkenny will get Fennelly fit but this could be his last year, Larkin will also be strong, he was excellent when he came back from Kosovo, I think Liam Blanchfield will be given his chance to impress as will Rob Lennon if they can keep him fit, Waterford an Clare have to be the favourites tho.
redlead wrote: » 25 for a national final is great value in my opinion.
DiscoStew wrote: » Pleasantly surprised to see that the Ladies football national league final replay between Waterford and Tipperary will take place before the men's league final Sunday. Hopefully Déise fans will be able to get in early and support both teams.
JesusRef wrote: » 100% this - make us crap to watch, make us hated, make us winners - and feck what anyone else thinks
deiseach wrote: » Joined-up thinking! Whatever next, someone opening more than one gate out of the stand?
seananigans wrote: » i sent the story to the tip off email of the42.ie see will they pick up the story, wonder if some of ye might do the same for other papers ? if one crowd ring them for comment theyll have to cop the f on
