Déise Hurlers Seek Fourth League Title.

Waterford senior hurlers on Sunday afternoon next set out to win what would only be a fourth ever National Hurling League Final when they take on a fancied Clare side at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The meeting of the two is the first since the sides met at Cusack Park in Ennis in March 2014 when the home side ran out 5-18 to 0-20 winners, a for Davy Fitzgerald’s side that went a long way towards relegating the county they he had managed previously.

As we all know now, Waterford played in Division 1B last year, a division they won with some ease and went on to win the league proper beating Cork in the final. By strange coincidence Waterford as they do this year played the side they were due to face in the Munster Championship last year a few weeks later where again Derek McGrath’s side recorded a win over the rebels and will be hoping that history repeats itself this year.

Clare will head to Thurles looking for a first win in a league final since 1978 and are appearing in their first final in eleven years.

Twelve months ago Davy Fitzgerald’s side were relegated from Division 1A when they lost a relegation play off to Kilkenny, and like Waterford last year came through the Division 1B league this year with some ease and will be looking to do on Sunday what Waterford did twelve months ago winning the league outright from the second level of the competition.

While the two sides at Thurles on Sunday have a big clash five weeks later at the same venue, neither side will go in the game looking ahead of this clash. Waterford certainly won’t. All talk of the Munster Championship and what might come after it will have to be put to the back of the minds of the players and the supporters.

This Sunday’s game is a National Final and when it comes to such events and hurling in Waterford they are like hens teeth. Win or loose the Munster Championship game between the two sides both sets of players will have another chance to win an All-Ireland Medal something every player craves for, but loose on Sunday and whether you or the youngest or oldest man involved you might never get the chance again to play in a league final again let alone win one.

On the respective semi final results Clare will have to go into Sunday’s game with the favourite’s tag around their necks.

Waterford were full value for their win over Limerick but it must be said that the side laboured in the first half, while Clare had a good win over Kilkenny and any day you beat Brian Cody’s side you do well and it will give you plenty of confidence for the next day and will believe now that they can beat the holders this weekend.

Most will expect Sunday’s final to be a cagey affair with defences on top but in the two semi finals we saw the forward units of both sides hit some impressive tallies and if they were to be at the top of their game again this time around then both sets of defences could well be in for a tough afternoon.

It will be interesting to see how both Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath will line out their teams on Sunday, but both would be expected to be along familiar lines.

Patrick Kelly will be between the posts for Clare while the likes of Oisin O’Brien, Cian Dillon, Patrick O’Connor, Brendan Bulger, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey and Conor Ryan will fight it out for places in defence.

David Reidy and Colm Galvin could well start in the middle of the field while in attack John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell are reported doubts but is this a case of paper never refusing ink. If they are out however Davy Fitzgerald will still have plenty of options open to him with the likes of Conor McGrath, Podge Collins, Aaron Cunningham, Bobby Duggan, Darach Honan, Colin Ryan and Tony Kelly to call on.

Waterford too should be along familiar lines. Maurice Shanahan missed the win over Limerick and is reported to be a doubt as well again this weekend. If the Lismore club man does not start it will be a blow to Waterford but as we know there is plenty of other options open to Derek McGrath.

Stephen O’Keeffe will start with the number one on his back while Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives, Noel Connors, Austin Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca and Philip Mahony forming the full back line while Darragh Fives will drop back as well from centre field where he will be partnered by Jamie Barron.

In attack should Maurice Shanahan miss out expect Kevin Moran, Shane Bennett, Michael Walsh, Patrick Curran, Jake Dillon and Colin Dunford all to start in the Clare half of the field at the start but there would be no surprises either if the likes of Brian O’Halloran, Shane McNulty, Tom Devine, Pauric Mahony or Shane O’Sullivan got get the nod to start and if not to play a major part in the game as it goes on.

Expect this year’s league final to be a much closer affair than the one twelve months ago when Waterford beat Cork much easier than anyone expected. Clare after beating Kilkenny in the semi final will have to be considered favourites. Confidence is going to be high in their camp.

But come tea time on Sunday there can only be one winner and I am expecting that it will be the supporters from the Déise County that will leave Thurles the happier of the two.