Another Munster Final appearance looms

The day we have all looked to for some time is upon us. This Sunday – summer officially starts in Waterford (and hopefully it will be a long one) when our senior hurlers enter the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at the Semi Final stages against Clare, who this year are managed by Davy Fitzgerald, having served a three and a half year apprenticeship as an inter county hurling manager in Waterford.

Going into this game, much is been made of Clare. Many are saying that Davy will have them well wound up. This is a certainty. Many are saying the team will be made up of a number of players that formed parts in recent successful underage teams in Clare and in recent colleges’ successes in both Clare and Limerick.

But lets not forget something, Waterford too have success at underage and the colleges scene in recent years.

De La Salle won two Dr Harty and Dr Croke Cups in recent years. Other Colleges have also tasted success. Colaiste na nDeise, Blackwater Community School in Lismore, Dungarvan CBS, St Augustine’s College in Abbeyside, St Declan’s Community School in Kilmacthomas and St Paul’s in Lisduggan have also put together good teams in recent years and many of the players involved in these successes are not involved with the Senior Inter County panel.

Waterford have also had a number of very good Tony Forriestal teams and some of the players involved in these teams are not beginning to make a name for themselves on the National scene. Again we have had some good minor teams and these players are coming through as are some of the players that appeared in an Under 21 Munster Final a few years back now.

And another thing we should not forget is that in the last ten years, Waterford have appeared in more Munster Final’s than the likes of Cork or Tipperary and many of those that have played in most if not all of these finals are still around and are key to the Waterford set up, so when Michael Ryan, Sean Cullinane and Ken McGrath sit down later this evening (if they have not done so already, which I suspect they have) to pick their team to play Clare they will have a lot of experience to call upon.

Success at underage level does not always carry forward to adult level. Galway have shown this with years, winning many underage All-Ireland Finals in recent years but have not climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand in September since the late 1980’s.

Much has been made of Clare since Davy Fitzgerald taking over the hot seat, but lets not forget a few things, which I hope will not come back to hit me in the face.

OK, Clare won Division 1B of this years National Hurling League but we should not forget that the standard of Division 1B is somewhat off what you would expect in Division 1A, something that was clear to see when Clare went on to take on Clare in the League Semi Final.

We should not forget 12 months ago, Clare lost to Tipperary in the Munster championship on a score of 4-19 to 1-19. I know Waterford lost to Tipperary by an even greater margin, but it’s my view that there were plenty of other factors which influenced that defeat.

After loosing to Tipperary, Clare went out the next day in the qualifiers and lost to Galway on a score of 4-25 to 0-20. The Tribesmen then lost to Waterford in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on a 2-23 to 2-13 scoreline.

The question should be asked, has Clare improved as much as some say they have in the last twelve months. And while some say Waterford has gone backwards over the past year, there is no way that we have gone back as far as some are saying. We will know for definite what way the two are going in the coming days.

The argument has also been made that Davy Fitzgerald will know the Waterford players inside out and upside down from his time involved with Waterford. Its well documented that he will know the strength and weakness and will or should know how to exploit where weaknesses may lie.

However the opposite is also through. Many of the players will know Davy and what to expect of him and of Clare.

In his three and a half years involved with Waterford, Davy for much of the time used ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan A’ only. It will be interesting to see has he come up with second or third plan if things are not going right for him and his charges. If he does not have another plan, then surly the Waterford players will know exactly the best way to counteract what Davy will try and serve up.

There is many that are arguing that when the team is named later this evening (June 14), that it could contain a number of players with little or no Championship experience. I for one don’t think this is going to happen.

Davy in his time with Waterford did name a team in 2010 that included many players that made their championship debut. But this was against a Limerick side that was far from their strongest side and Waterford almost caught out. I don’t think Michael Ryan, Sean Cullinane and Ken McGrath will take such a change and will opt for as much experience as is possible.

It can be taken as a four gone conclusion that Stephen O’Keeffe will make his championship debut in goals. In front of him, Liam Lawlor is expected to fill the full back position with Aidan Kearney on his right. After a long lay off Noel Connors is reported to be going well in training and if fully fit, expect him to line out at left corner back, but if the selectors are not prepared to gamble on him, expect the position to go to either Philip Mahony or Stephen Daniels.

Michael Walsh has to start at Centre back. Some are suggesting that Tony Browne may be carrying some sort of injury picked up since Mount Sion lost to Fourmilewater in the Club championship recently. If fully fit, the Mount Sion man has to start at right half back and there is a good chance that Wayne Hutchinson could start on the other wing, but Philip Mahony and Stephen Daniels could also come into the reckoning.

In the Middle of the field, it’s my view that the selectors will go for experience and versatility and name Kevin Moran and Stephen Molumphy at eight and nine.

There is some saying that Eoin Kelly will start at Centre Forward, but my view is he will start on the wing. For me, the centre forwards position will be filled by Maurice Shanahan who could cause consternation in the Clare defence if selected there with his pace, height, strength and eye for the posts. There is plenty of options open to the selectors for the other wing forward position but I would expect the final call to rest between Seamus Prendergast and Martin O’Neill with youth possibly getting the not and experience to be sprung from the bench if needed.

I don’t think its going to be too hard to second guess the selectors with the naming of their full forward line. Shane Walsh has to start at full forward and if he is not flanked by John Mullane and Gavin O’Brien it will be a major surprise.

Something Waterford have going for them in this years championship is a strong bench. Ian O’Regan, Darragh Fives, Richie Foley, Jamie Nagle, Eoin McGrath, Dean Twomey, Shane Casey, Paul O’Brien and Thomas Ryan are players not yet having got a mention and who if called upon are players that will not let the side down.

The bookies are making Clare the favourites for this game, something that must be music to the ears of Waterford. Waterford often play their best hurling when the bookies make them second favourite in a two horse race and I believe that they will again show up the bookies here, winning by a margin bigger than most would think they will, maybe with Clare needing two pucks of the ball to get something from the game.