Clonmel to host Waterford and Tipperary Clash

After going under to Clare last weekend in the opening round of games in this year’s National Football League Waterford will need to collect a first brace of points in this year’s campaign when they take on Tipperary in Clonmel on Sunday afternoon.

The two sides met twice last year in competitive games.

In the semi final of the McGrath Cup in Tipperary Town, the two sides finished all square after seventy minutes and after two extra periods of ten minutes; it was the home side that emerged as victors.

When the two sides clashed in the league at Fraher Field a few weeks later, the outcome were reversed as Niall Carew’s men followed their win in the opening series of games up with a second successive win.

That win gave many in Waterford much hope and confidence for the remainder of the league, but they were to suffer four successive defeats in the games that followed and even though they beat Carlow in the last series of games, Waterford’s interest in the league was well over by that stage.

While hurling just as is the case in Waterford is the number one game in Tipperary, the Premier Men can be a formidable side.

Football in the South of the Division is strong, and those further north showed that while it is traditionally a hurling region, they too can play football as Loughmore-Castleiney last year won a first senior football championship, creating a piece of history as they became the first side in the Premier County to win a Senior Hurling and Football double in the one year.

They also have put together some very good underage teams in recent years, and they have enjoyed much success at minor and under 21 levels and many of the players involved in these successes have broken into the county senior football panel.

In recent years when these two sides clash, little separates the two sides. On any given day either of the two sides are capable of beating the other and this could well be the case again this time around.

Tipperary last weekend had an excellent win away to Carlow. They put 2-24 past their fellow South-East Rivals while just 1-8 passed the Tipperary defence.

While Tipperary put up a big score against Carlow, they will not be getting carried away with the final outcome, as Carlow are possibly the weakest team in the group, and the Tipperary team will know that they will face much tougher opposition in the remainder of the league.

Last weekend Waterford disappointed when playing Clare at Fraher Field.

Playing with the aid of the elements at their backs in the first half, Waterford went to the dressing rooms at the break trailing 1-5 to 0-6.

In the second half they added just 1-3 to their first half total all coming from Paul Whyte.

The second half did start well last weekend for Waterford as the Kilrossanty sharpshooter who will have much of the pressure on Gary Hurney’s shoulders transferred to his this year hit a point inside two minutes of the restart, but Waterford would allow the visitors to put 2-5 past them before the home side would score again in the final minutes of the game.

A much improved performance will be needed for Waterford this weekend. Another defeat could well mean that for the remainder of the league Waterford would only be going through the motions.

Last weekend, Waterford were somewhat muscled out of the game in the middle of the field, and they cannot allow the same to happen this weekend.

Waterford manager Niall Carew it is well documented is operating with one if not the smallest panel of players in this years league.

Only players that could give a full commitment were invited to be part of this year’s panel.

Last weekend Niall Carew gave three players their debut from the start of the game and during the course of the game he allowed others to get some game time coming off the bench. What changes if any, he makes to the team for the game against Tipperary remains to be seen.

Whatever fifteen are sent out to do battle with Tipperary will know that it is a battle that they have. A win is a must and is very much a possibility.