Waterford and Cork clash again to see who play Clare

Two weeks ago Waterford and Cork not for the first time in the last twenty years or so, played out an exciting Munster Senior Hurling Championship game at Thurles.

The game was not the classic the previous games between the same two counties in recent years, but still it will live long in the memories of many supporters of both sides for some time to come.

For that game, I opted for Cork to win, and feel that it would be wrong to change horses at the mid way point. However, in opting for Cork to advance, I for one am much more hopeful of Waterford’s chances having seen how they played last time out.

In the drawn game, it was the younger players on both sides that made the biggest impact.

Many will remember Austin Gleeson’s goal for years to come. Scoring great goals is not something new for Semple Stadium. If you are a certain vintage you will remember John Fenton’s goal against Limerick back in the mid 1980’s, and you don’t have to be as old to remember Paul Flynn’s strike against Cork from a free back in 2004.

Tadhg de Burca also had a great game for Waterford two weeks ago, while Colin Dunford also impressed in the white shirt before he was replaced.

For Cork Alan Cadogan was outstanding and was a constant thorn in the side of the Waterford defence.

What impact these players will have this week remains to be seen. It would be wrong of us to expect the same again. The two respective managers no doubt will have come up with a plan to try curbing the danger that these players served up in the drawn game.

Cork it could be argued the last day used their get out of jail free card, as they came from nine points down as the game reached the half way point in the second half.

Waterford will not be happy that they left the lead slip and will know that if they were to build such a lead this time around, they cannot afford to let it slip.

Waterford could well prove to be a stronger side from the off this time out. Shane O’Sullivan comes into the team having served his suspension as a result of his sending off against Dublin in the League Relegation play off final. The Ballygunner Club man will bring with him a wealth of experience at this level into the team.

The inclusion of Shane Fives is also good news for Waterford. He must have counted himself to be very unlucky not to have started in the drawn game. He played for his club side Carrigtwohill in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship last weekend where he impressed scoring four points.

Up front Waterford has plenty of players that know how to take their points. Scoring goals however remains to be a problem. Rumours in the Dungarvan area with the past day or two is that the sextet of forwards picked is not the sextet that will start. There are also rumours that the players will not start as selected. If the rumours prove to be correct, then many will welcome the changes as some would argue that the moves could allow for goals to be scored.

Up front last day, Cork had an off day. The Rebels very much relied upon Patrick Horgan and Alan Cadogan for the bulk of their scores, but we all know that the other forwards are likely to have that off day again. The likes of Seamus Harnedy, Conor Lehane, and Patrick Cronin need no introduction to hurling supporters. Bill Cooper after coming in the last day as a sub and scoring 1-1 keeps his place in the team from the off and will needed to be watched carefully by the Waterford defence.

In the drawn game, the goals and the subs used were the difference between the sides.

After Waterford raised a green flag after Austin Gleeson’s individual piece of brilliance hit just five further scores.

Minutes later when Bill Cooper was in the right place at the right time to capitalise on a brilliant Stephen O’Keeffe saved, Cork hit another ten scores.

Waterford going into the drawn game had their options severely limited. They were further cut when Eddie Barrett had to retire early with an injury. Later in the game when players began to tire, the options that Waterford would have liked available to them were not there.

This weekend, reports are that Waterford will have a much stronger bench. That has to be a good thing for Waterford as the teams can no longer rely upon 16 or 17 games to see you through a seventy plus minute game.

Waterford last time out played much better than anyone expected. The question is now can this be repeated. Cork in the drawn game were slow out of the traps. Many of their forwards did not play as they can and the whole side needed Austin Gleeson’s brilliant second half side to wake them up.

As a Waterford supporter I hope I am wrong, but I can’t see the bulk of the Cork forwards play below bar again this time out. In the past sides usually got one chance to beat Cork. Does the same still apply? We will see tomorrow.

Some time back, a well know hurling supporter within the county told me that a prediction to win by me is like hammering a nail into a coffin. In predicting that Cork will win this game on Sunday, as a Waterford supporter lets hope he is right.