Waterford & Clare do battle to see who plays Cork in Munster Semi final.

Those that know me will know that whether right or wrong, there is times when I have something to say I won’t pull back from doing so. Then there is time that I might not be a happy chappy when I am writing in particular and will hint so without actually saying what is on my mind.

In previewing last weeks Munster Minor Hurling Championship first round game between Waterford and Tipperary on here was one such occasion that I was not happy.

In my preview I questioned if the team released by the selectors was in fact the team that would take to the field. I did so because I for one and I know others were the same was not happy with the way the selectors had it line out.

However, I was not privy as to how the team had trained, how they had gone in challenge games etc. so was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt to those that had seen them over the past few weeks and months.

To me there were players who I would normally class as forwards played in the backs, there were players I would regard as backs played in the forwards, and I was not overly excited about the centre field pairing either. And then there was those that would start in the game sitting in the stand who I felt were good enough to start the game, even if they had played a lot of hurling in the run up to the game and who normally could have done with a bit of a rest.

This morning, the team to play Clare in a play off to see who plays Cork in the semi finals was released and I have to admit that I am more confident of a win this week than I was last week.

The selectors have brought in Cormac Curran at wing forward which is a welcome move. Another welcome move is bringing in Conor Gleeson who impressed a lot with Clonmel High School in the Dr Harty Cup over the past few months. They have also brought in Barry Whelan from Tramore, a player I must admit I know nothing about at wing back, in place of team captain Kevin Daly, DJ Foran and Cian Leamy.

I was not in Walsh Park for last Thursday’s game so am not quite sure if the duo picked up any injuries or not. I do know that Kevin Daly was with drawn for the last ten minutes or so of the game. If the duo are omitted for any other reason for an injury, it will come as a bit of a shock, as the two for this level of hurling are very experienced players, having played at the highest level of hurling at this grade over the past year or two and have also played in the senior ranks with their club last year.

Christy Breathnach is another player that has impressed over the past few months and must count himself unlucky not to be starting, as could Stephen Bennett who continues his recovery from surgery some months back.

After facing serious opposition last week in Tipperary, they can expect another stiff battle this week against Clare.

Hurling has been experiencing a bit of a revival in the Banner County in the last few years and have experienced a number of great days over the past few years at minor and under 21 levels.

In the last few years at minor level they have a great record winning at least one game in the last seven years in the championship, a record that is slightly better than Waterford’s who have won at least one game in each of the past five years. For one of these teams that impressive record will come to an end at Fraher Field.

Over the past few years, Clare’s record is by far the best in Munster, winning nine of their last twelve games, winning the titles in 2010 and 2011. Waterford’s last Munster Final success came in 2009.

The two sides met in the first round of last year’s championship at Ennis. The game was expected to be close and so it proved. So close was the game in fact that Extra time was needed on the night to decide things after which Waterford came out on top on a 1-20 to 3-13 scoreline.

Clare last week went under to Cork by four points. They are likely to include at least six players that played in the game against Waterford last year in their starting line up.

They have in Bobby Duggan a player that Waterford will have to keep a close eye on. He hit 2-8 of his sides 2-14 against Cork last week and even if much of this came from placed balls, he will be instrumental for the Banner men, while David Begley and Ian Galvin could also prove to be equally as effective for the visitors.

Waterford as pointed out has changes made to the team which lost to Tipperary. The players coming in are strong and will strengthen the team but the players that have been omitted are also strong and will be a lost to the team. Will one be able to cancel each other out? I don’t know.

Last week Patrick Curran hit eleven of Waterford’s sixteen scores. Can we rely on one player to do the bulk of the scoring this time around? Something tells me, the coverage that Patrick Curran has received in the last few weeks will have been noticed by the Clare mentors and no doubt they will have try and come up with a plan to try and keep him quite. Will they succeed and if they do will other players be able to take up the mantle?

This latest battle could well prove to be equally as close and don’t rule out extra time. This game was originally fixed for Walsh Park, but was rightly moved out of the Keane’s Road venue on Friday night last. There was a suggestion made that the game could start at 6-30pm but even if this was to happen and the night was bad one (weather wise) and the game did go to extra time, there is the possibility that the full eighty minutes could not be played without the use of lights.

Despite doubts I have, something is telling me, playing on home soil and hopefully with a large home support inside the ground to cheer them on, Waterford can come out on top in this game. The starting fifteens could well prove to be even but the players that Waterford could have at their disposal as the game goes on could well prove to be the difference between the sides.

Waterford Minor Hurling Team to play Clare. Sean Clancy (Clonea); William Hahessy (Clonea), Sam O’Neill (Erin’s Own), Barry Whelan (Tramore); Tom Devine (Modeligo), Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart); Michael Harney (Bonmahon), Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank); Cormac Curran (Brickeys), Colm Roche (Shamrocks), Adam Farrell (De La Salle); Patrick Curran (Dungarvan),  Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater), Michael Kearney (Ballyduff Upper).