Not a bad day
2 Likes
Bench looks a good bit stronger for Waterford today with Conor Gleeson and Iarlaith Daly back.
1 Like
Shane Fives looks done for the season with that injury. Darragh Fives will not be ready for next week. If they were to make a semi final he might be fit enough for that.
Thatâs a fine Waterford team. Wouldnât be one bit surprised if they were hurling December 13th
I have been very impressed with them every day I have seen them this season. There is a real purpose about them. Less noise and guff around the set up too. Cahill has them playing and is not giving or accepting excuses or fellas not digging in and putting a shift in.
A big thing for next week is parking the loss and recovering enough to lift it again.
1 Like
Theyâll beat whoever they meet next weekend
They will need to get more scores from some of the other forwards. And the half forwards line needs to win a lot more of those aerial battles. Soky needs to brush up on his puck outs too. But a lot to like after today, I just would like for them to make a semi final and see where we go then.
1 Like
Conor Gleeson should come in and in fairness is a better defender than either Fives.
3 Likes
Conor Gleeson is five times better than your average defender
1 Like
Not one for moral victories, but considering the low base we came from, youâd be happy enough with todayâs performance. If we can get one or two more of the forwards in the game we might be hurling in December.
3 Likes
When it comes to defending both the Fives can be at sixes and sevens.
Clare have been a horrible banana skin for Waterford over the years.
The missed Paul Flynn long distance free to win the 1998 drawn Munster Final.
The Clare thuggery and roughing up of Waterford before the start of the 98 replay and then administering a hammering.
Waterford winning their first Munster in 39 years in 2002 only to lose to Clare in the All
Ireland semi final.
A heavy loss to Clare in the 2008 Munster Quarter Final which cost Justin McCarthy his job in Waterford.
2016 League Final.
Waterford horror seasons in 2018 and 2019 both kicked off with opening day round robin defeats to Clare. Maybe an opening day Waterford win could have changed the dynamic in either season.
Waterford really owe Clare one. Owe them a good few at this stage. Such is the vice like psychological grip that Clare have over them though, youâd really fear for Waterford on Saturday. 6 turnaround for Waterford from Munster final defeat yesterday is a big advantage for Clare as well.
1 Like
Iâm going to bump this. Just because.
1 Like
Thatâs some turnover of players. I just had a look there at the match programme from the 2017 final. I think it was actually 7 - Stephen OâKeeffe, Tadhg de Burca, Kevin Moran, Jamie Barron, Kieran Bennett, Jake Dillon and Austin Gleeson.
Of the other 8 starters from 2017, Barry Coughlan, Philip Mahony and Brick Walsh have retired. Noel Connors was axed. Pauric Mahony out with a long term injury, Darragh & Shane Fives out more short term injuries and Shane Bennett has opted out.
Of the 5 subs that saw action in 2017 Final, Maurice Shanahan, Tommy Ryan and Brian OâHalloran are all gone as well. Patrick Curran came on as a sub as well yesterday and Colin Dunford is possibly still involved, but well down the pecking order.
Dunford was on the bench yesterday. If he has his confidence back heâd be a great addition
Conor Gleeson, one of the best hurlers in Ireland, then and now, was suspended. So it was really eight.
1 Like
Correct. Mind you it was Kieran Bennett who came in for Conor Gleeson when he was suspended for the 2017 final. Gleeson is on his way back from injury, he came on as a sub yesterday and youâd imagine must be pushing for a starting place on Saturday.
I think CG is the most underrated hurler in Ireland. Darragh Fives is also tremendously skilful and Shane Fives is handy.
Waterford had and have a fine team. Just unfortunate that 2018 and 2019 were write offs.
If Austin Gleeson could fire up front, and if Shane Bennett would return, they would be in rude health, with a JB-CG midfield and the current back six plus the two Fives brothers. Kevin Moran will be only retirement in the next few years â bar maybe SOâK.
The problem with Darragh Fives is heâs forever out with niggly injuries. Sick Note they call him after the Tottenham Hostpur winger, Darren Anderton who suffered from the same affliction.
Shane Bennett would be a huge addition if he could get his motivation and hunger back. Its a hazardous business predicting big things for minors but Patrick Fitzgerald from Ballygunner looks a very special, generational type player. Still at least 2-3 years away though before that could come to fruition.
At the risk of opening a can of worms would Maurice Shamahan not be a valuable impact sub with this group? I know he put some big scores for lismore in the club championships