Tricky League Opener for Waterford

This year Allianz National Football League gets underway on Sunday afternoon for Tom McGlinchey’s Waterford Senior Football Team as they take on London in what will be a tricky assignment at Ardmore.

I say ‘tricky’ because the sides have met each other over the past few years, and on each occasion, the exiles have really put it up to Waterford and on more than one occasion they have got a favourable result.

Many have knocked Waterford football in the last few years, and there is a sizable amount of people that would stop all football, especially at inter county level being played in the county, but in truth, the standard overall is not as bad as some would suggest, with Waterford only needing a break.

A few years back, while John Owens was in charge of the County Senior Football Team it looked as if Waterford were going to get that break, when they won the Division four league final against Limerick in Croke Park, and while they lost out on that occasion, they were still promoted and the following year playing in division three, with two games still to play they had a very good chance of retaining their place in division three for the following season, but results went against Waterford and they were relegated as a result and have played in the bottom division since.

Last year in the league it looked once more that Waterford were going to get that break once more, but again results went against Waterford as they lost three of their game by a single score.

Waterford’s aim this year when it comes to football is to once more get out of this division and I for one think that we saw more than enough last year that Waterford under Tom McGlinchey are more than capable of challenging for the two promotion spots in this division.

What team London will bring to Ardmore we don’t know, but if they manage to bring as many of the players that have served them well in recent years, the likes of Dave McGreevy, Marty Carroll, Ciaran and Colin Dunne, James Moran, Liam Gavagan and Mark Gottche they will once more provide stiff opposition for Waterford.

No members of the Stradbally Club are named in the starting team released by Tom McGlinchey, which is a pity, as the club contains some fine players who would considerably add to Waterford.

None the less, Waterford have named a strong team.

Stephen Enright will guard the net, and will have Brian Looby, Thomas O’Gorman and Tadhg Ó hUallacháin in front of him.

Waterford will have a strong half back line with Stephen Prendergast in the middle with James McGrath and Ray Ó Ceallaigh playing either side of him.

Waterford played Clare and Limerick in the McGrath Cup, losing both narrowly, but in those two games Tommy Prendergast and Michael Curry built up enough of an understanding between them to retain their places for this game.

Paul Whyte is the team captain this year and is set to start at centre forward and will have Michael O’Halloran and Conor Murry either side of him in what could well prove to be a dangerous line for many sides in this division.

The inside forward line for Waterford could also prove dangerous for most sides, with Joey Veale flanked by Patrick Hurney and Donie Breathnach, but we can expect some movement from the forward line named.

There is an old Irish Saying which translated is “A Good Start is half the work”. Waterford going on results in recent year will know that they could have got an easier first game, but playing the game on home soil should be a plus.

Waterford has it in them to get a result in this game but it won’t be easy.