Waterford GAA thread - mod warning post #1 and #51

DiscoStew wrote: »

Based off Ballysaggart’s two games? Are people not suggesting he calls people in based on their club championship performances? There’s a case to be made for Bennett, but it certainly isn’t that!

Deisegodeo wrote: »

is that joxer from lismore the ballyhale manager ?

Deisegodeo wrote: »

is that joxer from lismore the ballyhale manager ?

emergingstar wrote: »

Is it time for a Senior B or Premier intermediate in Waterford in butch football and hurling

I think a third grade would make the championships more competitive and way more enjoyable

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

Stop with your common sense. Don’t you know preserving The traditional values of the divisional boards far exceed the importance of improving the standard of games in the county

emergingstar wrote: »

Surely if a club put in a proposal, clubs would back it?

Gardner wrote: »

One rule for the Ladies Football another rule for the rest of us in the GAA so

Giveitfong wrote: »

Team of the Senior Hurling Championship

One of the beneficial side-effects of the pandemic was the facility to view (for the first time in my case) all the Waterford senior championship games via live stream. This provides the basis for selecting a Team of the Championship.

It would be easy to just name Ballygunner as the Team of the Championship, such was the ease with which they dispatched all the opponents pitted up against them. However, the way they play as a well-oiled machine isn’t designed to throw up standout individual performances. The emphasis in their game plan is on hard work, excellent first touch and laying the ball off to unmarked team mates. This allows them to give players in the midfield area the space and time to look up and deliver telling ball into the forwards – either stick passes to hand or directed balls into space for the speedy inside men to run on to.

Part of this is down to individual vision, but the main ingredient is a set of well-rehearsed moves, where players in possession know immediately what the available options will be. As a result, a lot of their scores are tap-overs (or tap-ins) by unmarked players rather than heroic-type scores.

In any case, for what it’s worth, here is my take on the team of this year’s senior hurling championship. Some of the players named are not named in the positions they actually played in, due to a combination of excellence on the part of the players concerned and a lack of standout performers in certain positions.

Goalkeeper: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)

Sockie’s main contribution to Ballygunner this year was in delivering the primary possession from which a large proportion of the team’s devastating passing movements originated. This he did through well-directed puckouts and frees and clearances (usually following a pass-back from a team mate).

Right full-back: Ian Kenny (Ballygunner)

No contest here. His marking, skill levels, pace and layoffs were all consistently top-class. He should be on the county panel where cover in the corner back positions is thin.

Full-back: Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)

Excellent throughout the championship, and especially in the semi-final and final. Admittedly, the kind of ball being played in by opposition teams suited his close-marking skills, and he almost always had a corner-back for company, allowing him to attack the ball.

Left corner-back: Conor Prunty (Abbeyside)

Actually played mostly at centre-back, although better-known at intercounty level as a full-back. He was consistently good for Abbeyside, even when all those around him went missing.

Right half-back: Shane McNulty (De La Salle)

Was outstanding in all games played (with the possible exception of the second half of DLS’s game against Mount Sion). Has really benefitted from having a regular starting place on the county team.

Centre half-back: Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)

Player of the championship. A constant bulwark against opposition attacks and source of good possession for team mates. Opponents repeatedly played into his hands by playing a long-ball game perfectly suited to the sweeper role which he performs so well.

Left half-back: Iarlaith Daly (Lismore)

Mainly played at centre-back, but performed consistently with great assurance in all of Lismore’s games.

Midfield 1: Paddy Leavy (Ballygunner)

Although in his second senior year, Leavy emerged as a key player for Ballygunner this year. Really good at making himself available as an outlet for passes, at reading the break of the ball, and moving the ball onto the forwards. His height and strength are great assets in gaining and keeping possession. A real prospect for the future.

Midfield 2: Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion)

His return from abroad made a huge contribution to his club’s somewhat revived fortunes this year. Apart from his free-taking, his playmaking was of the highest order.

Right half-forward: Austlin Gleeson (Mount Sion)

Lit up games when he got going. His point against Passage in the semif-final was score of the year.

Centre half-forward: Owen Connors (Passage)

Provided great leadership for his mainly young team mates and was the key figure in their march to the county final.

Left half-forward: Jack Prendergast (Lismore)

Superb in his first three games. Poor sideline management probably the main reason for this anonymity in the semi-final against Ballygunner.

Right corner-forward: Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner)

What more needs to be said? Apart from his excellent score-taking, he also has great vision and creativity in his play.

Full forward: Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)

Produced the individual performance of the year in the group game against Ballysaggart. Also did well in his other games except the semi-final, in which he should have been moved outfield from early on.

Left corner-forward: Mark Ferncombe (Abbeyside)

Played very well in all of his three games. Unfortunately for him (and Conor Prunty), the rest of the team underperformed seriously in two of these games.

Among those players who were also in serious contention were Colm Sheahan and Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner), Cárthach Daly and David Prendergast (Lismore), Seán Walsh (Fourmilewater), Eddie Barrett (De La Salle) and Patrick Curran (Dungarvan).

upthedeise16 wrote: »

I heard this for the last 5 years and they’ve won 2 championships in that time......write off Stradbally at your pearl

tommylad1212 wrote: »

Wrote off for this year anyway!