Cork Prove Just Too Strong

Waterford’s interest in this years All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship ended in disappointment in Thurles on Sunday afternoon last, when Cork proved marginally too strong in what was an entertaining game, but one that could not be counted amongst the classics that we often speak about when the two counties clash.

As expected, it was just a puck of the ball that separated the sides after seventy minutes of hurling.

The final outcome was in doubt right to the end, and had lady luck shun on Waterford, the county could not be looking forward to another appearance in an All-Ireland semi final in the coming weeks.

There is an old adage that goals win games and sadly from a Waterford perspective in this game, it was to prove correct in this game. Cork hit the only goal of the game on 16 minutes when Jamie Coughlan, a call up for Conor Lehane who had to cry off on Saturday evening following a bout of illness finished to the net.

All year goal scoring was a problem for Waterford. Eight competitive games were played in 2012 and in these games just six green flags were raised for Waterford.

Michael Ryan, Ken McGrath and Sean Cullinane have been ratified to remain in charge again in 2013 and no doubt that as the local championships enter the knockout stages in the coming weeks that they as well as members of their back room staff will be trying to take in as many games across the grades as is possible in a bit to find some new talent that might be able to hit the goals which were lacking this year, if given the chance.

Will they be able to find the players that will solve our problems is hard to know. Yes there is some good young players coming through, as we have seen from the Minor and Colleges scene in recent years, but the step up from these levels to Senior Inter County Hurling and all its demands is huge and right now its hard to know are the players ready for such a jump.

Waterford began this game poorly. After fifteen minutes, Waterford trailed 0-5 to 0-2 and within seconds that defecate was doubled when Coughlan found the Déise net meaning that the signs were not looking good for Waterford.

However, credit the players and credit those on the line. They rolled up their sleeves and Waterford began to hit back. Maurice Shanahan moved into the full forward line, John Mullane came out the field, Kevin Moran moved to the middle of the field and Philip Mahony went to the wing back position.

The moves worked a treat and Waterford hit eight of the next ten scores which saw the sides draw level with three minutes of the opening half to play. And when Maurice Shanahan pointed the wheel had turned full circle with thirty five minutes played.

However, seldom do you see a Cork side roll over. The might have relinquished a good lead, but they managed to finish the stronger of the two sides and in first half stoppage time they hit two unanswered points to retire to the dressing rooms leading 1-9 to 0-11.

For much of the second half, Waterford dominated, and at the hour mark, Waterford were leading by three points.

Cork came back and put in a storming finish. They made better use of what they had on their bench and many of those that came in for the closing stages of the game were able to make telling contributions including Cathal Naughton who makes a habit of putting in some of his better performances when facing a white shirt.

Waterford did have chances in the closing minutes of the game to draw if not win the game.

Eoin McGrath for a long time to come will have nightmares watching the ball slip from his grasp when a score was on the cards. Shane Casey too was guilty of a bad miss near the end, and then there was the chance that hit the post and no Waterford player was able to capitalise on the ball coming back into play. What we would have given at that point to have someone like Tony Browne or Eoin Kelly two players who we know who can react to a dropping ball to be lurking in front of the Cork goal at the time.

And so another inter-county year comes to an end in Waterford. It has been a long one and at times a little controversial. Many will be disappointed that the county will not get our now annual visit to Croke Park in August. Our report card will read much the same as in other years, ‘doing well but could do better’ and we might have dropped a grade in the processes.

We could see some changes in 2013, but hopefully they will be kept to an absolute minimum. Rumours and counter rumours will do the rounds in the coming weeks and months in relation to the likes of Tony Browne, John Mullane, Eoin Kelly, Seamus Prendergast and possibly Eoin McGrath. It would be nice to see as many as these players remain involved for another year or two.

We know we have some very good young players coming through. Stephen O’Keeffe, Philip Mahony, Stephen Daniels, Gavin O’Brien and Dean Twomey are amongst those that got their chance to impress this year and all have done well. In the last few years players like Noel Connors, Pauric Mahony and Maurice Shanahan etc. were given their chance by Davy Fitzgerald.

However for them and for others involved that are still relatively young in the panel, if the likes of Tony Browne, Seamus Prendergast and John Mullane are not around, they could find it harder to make the real big break through and become the players we know that they could become, as the older players will play a vital roll in their progress. Every county has their quota of experienced players involved with the panel and it’s vital that we too have them.    

Cork: A Nash; S O'Neill, S McDonnell, B Murphy; T Kenny, E Cadogan, S Óg O hAilpin; D Kearney, P Cronin; N McCarthy, C McCarthy, J Coughlan; P O'Sullivan, L O'Farrell, P Horgan. Subs: D Sweetman for D Kearney, C Naughton for N McCarthy, J Gardiner for E Cadogan, S Moylan for J Coughlan, L McLoughlin for C McCarthy.

Scorers: P Horgan 0-7 (4f), J Coughlan 1-1, C McCarthy 0-3, P O'Sullivan, P Cronin, C Naughton 0-2 each, L O'Farrell, S Óg O hAilpin 0-1 each.

Waterford: S O'Keeffe; N Connors, L Lawlor, S Daniels; T Browne, M Walsh, K Moran; S Molumphy, Philip Mahony; M Shanahan, S Prendergast, Pauric Mahony; J Mullane, S Walsh, T Ryan. Subs: E McGrath for T Ryan, S Casey for S Walsh, R Foley for T Browne.

Scorers: M Shanahan 0-9 (6f, 1 '65'), P Mahony 0-3, J Mullane, S Walsh 0-2 each, T Browne (1f), S Prendergast, S Molumphy 0-1 each.

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)

Waterford and Cork to renew rivalry

Down the years, Waterford have been on the wrong end of some bad defeats against Cork.

A Number of classic encounters, most in the last two decades have been fought out and in our fair share of these games, Waterford have emerged as the victors.

Its interesting to note that since 1991, in Championship Hurling, the there has been never no more than six points to separate the sides which shows how close the two sides have come from the days in the early years in the 80’s when the sides clashed in successive Munster Finals and when Waterford were on the end of two heavy defeats.

This Sunday, the two sides clash again in Thurles and for the victors, the prize is a place in the semi finals of this years All-Ireland Championship against Galway in mid August while the losers on Sunday will have to wait till January when the Munster Council plays the Waterford Crystal Trophy for its next competitive game.

Not for the first time in recent years, Waterford will go into a game as the underdogs, but this is something that will not phase Waterford too much as we all know that when Waterford are the underdogs, the Déise often plays its best hurling and pulls off that the minority were predicting.

When Michael Ryan was appointed as Waterford manager in succession to Davy Fitzgerald last October, its fair to say that the appointment was not met with universal approvement.  In facts its fair to say that even in the early months of 2012, most did not agree with the appointment made by the County Board and it was not until Waterford recorded a rare win in Galway in the National League that most Waterford supporters began to accept the appointment.

A win over Clare in the Munster Championship and a spirited display against Tipperary in the Munster Final has won a few of the doubters over and if Waterford were to win a place in the All-Ireland semi finals this weekend, its possibly fair to say that even more of the doubters will be won over.

As the year has progressed, Waterford under Michael Ryan and his present selectors Sean Cullinane and Ken McGrath have improved game by game. Waterford have returned to a style of play that we got accustomed to see Waterford play for much of the past decade, and it appears that many of the players are now training and playing with a smile on their face once again.

Heading into this weekends round of games, both sides have changes made to the side they started two weeks ago.

Cork’s Jimmy Barry-Murphy is not happy with a defence that has leaked a large amount of scores in this years championship. Mindful of the treat that the Waterford attack is likely to be on Sunday, the rebels have made three changes to the team that played Wexford recently and two of these changes are in defence.

Stephen McDonnell has been named at full back against Waterford on Sunday. This will be the first time he has played in the championship for Cork this year and they also bring in the very experienced Seán Óg Ó hAilpin to curb the threat that the Waterford attack could be on the Rebels goal.

Cork’s third chance sees Daniel Kearney come in to play in the middle of the field, an area where Waterford have been strong in their two previous championship games this year.

Michael Ryan and his selectors have also made changes and as expected they have kept them to a minimum. Gavin O’Brien had a poor game last time out against Tipperary and also failed to impress with the under 21’s in their recent defeat against Clare has been left out and Tallow’s Thomas Ryan comes in to replace him.

The Tallow man has been part of the Déise Panel for the past few years but apart from coming on as a sub in a number of games, has got little opportunity to show what he can do.

He received some harsh reviews of his performance after coming on against Clare earlier in the summer. There is no doubting his ability and not that he is getting a place in the starting team he will be keen to impress and with his lightening pace and with an eye for the posts, he could well cause all sorts of problems to the Cork defence on Sunday.

Sunday’s game may not go down as one of the classics that we have seen fought out between the two sides in recent years, but it is expected to be close. If after seventy minutes the sides could not be separated, it would not be a major surprise and neither would it be a surprise if the sides had to re-meet in the days that follow this game.

However, despite the fact Waterford will go into this game that Waterford will go into the game as the underdog, I expect them to come out on top.

John Owens steps down after 3 years as Deise Boss

After three years in the helm, John Owens has decided to stand down as Manager of the Waterford Senior Football team.

He has become the fourth manager to stand down this summer following his sides exit from the championship. Armagh’s Paddy O’Rourke, Carlow’s Luke Dempsey and Monaghan’s Eamonn McEneaney have also stood down in recent weeks.

The County Down native took over Waterford in 2010 and immediately tasted success with the Déise County leading them out of Division four of the National League, and taking them to a rear appearance for the Waterford footballers at G.A.A. head quarters after a number of near misses under his predecessor John Kiely.  

His last game in charge of Waterford was for the recent All-Ireland Qualifier in Aughrim where Waterford conceded a late point which gave the home side the chance to take the game to extra time where Waterford eventually lost out on a 1-17 to 0-15 scoreline.

Earlier this year in the Munster Championship despite a good first half against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds, the visitors in the second thirty-five minutes had to play second fiddle to the home side who ran out 2-12 to 0-7 scoreline.

In his first season in charge, John Owens lead Waterford out of Division four of the National league and played Limerick in the league final in Croke Park but on the night narrowly lost out on a 1-16 to 1-14 scoreline.

His first season in charge also saw Waterford record a win over Clare in the opening round of the Munster Championship and in the semi final despite playing much of the game with 14 men after Tommy Prendergast was controversially sent off, Waterford narrowly lost out. In the Qualifiers, Offaly beat Waterford in the Déise sides first game in the competition.

In his second term in charge, playing in Division three of the National League, Waterford were relegated despite playing some very good football and maybe with a bit of lady luck could have been challenging for promotion rather than fight for relegation.

In the Munster Championship, Waterford suffered a heavy defeat to Cork in the Munster Semi final and in the qualifiers travelled to Ruislip to play a fancied London in the second round of the qualifiers and came home with a first ever victory in the qualifiers. Limerick provided the opposition in the third round of the qualifiers and again the Treaty-men proved a bogie side for John Owens men in a major game.

Playing back in Division four of the National League in 2012, Waterford were expected to challenge but when it was required most Lady Luck was to evade Waterford, and were out of contention for a promotion place before the last round of games were played.

With Waterford now about to commence a search for a new manager, one name that is bound to come up in a number of conversations is that of former Waterford footballer Jason Ryan.

The De La Salle Club man has been with the Wexford Footballers in recent years and has tasted success with the model county.

Following their exit from the Championship recently he was non committal on his future with the “Yellow-Bellies” and now that a vacancy has arisen in Waterford it can be expected that his name will be mentioned on more than one occasion.

Déise ladies head to Dublin

Having already secured their place in the All-Ireland semi finals at the end of August, Waterford’s Intermediate Camogie team travel to Blanchardstown in Dublin on Saturday to play a Derry side that have also qualified for the semi finals in the last game in the league section.

Both sides make the journey to the half way venue with full points from their two games played to date and for the victor of Saturday afternoon’s game the prize will be what is perceived as an easier draw in the semi finals.

The Déise Ladies who are once again coached by Mark Cooney this year have made the step up from the junior grade last year which they won after some near misses in previous years, with relative ease, even without some of those that helped them win the junior title in 2011.

In their first game in this year’s championship Waterford had a 4-8 to 1-14 victory over Limerick in Kilmallock.  Despite Limerick hitting the first score of the game it was Waterford that settled best and two goals from Trish Jackman helped her side to a 2-7 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Waterford had to play second fiddle for much of the third quarter and it was not till the eighteenth minute of the half that they managed to hit their first score of the second half when Zoe O’Donoghue who was only on the field three minutes replacing the injured Grainne Kenneally hammered the ball in the Limerick net for a third Waterford goal.

Playing with the wind at their backs Limerick hit back with three points in quick succession. A Shona Curran point was quickly cancelled out and when Ruth Geoghegan goal it gave Waterford a six point lead with time ticking down. And while Limerick did manage to hit a goal late on in the game, it proved to be but a mere consolation score.

Last time out it was another trip to the Capital to play Antrim. The northerners were expected to provide stiff opposition for Waterford but on the day proved no match as Waterford ran out comprehensive winners on a 7-11 to 3-10 score line.

Group A of the Intermediate championship is made up of second string sides that are playing in the senior championship.

Heading into this weekends round of games it Galway that top the group with maximum points from their three games played to date. Wexford have three points from their three games and are followed by Tipperary who have the same amount of points with a game less played and Cork with two points from their three games played also have an outside chance of reaching the semi final stages of the championship.

Intermediate Fixtures for this Saturday.

Wexford V Kilkenny in Enniscorthy  at 12 noon

Galway V Tipperary in Athenry at 1-30pm

Limerick V Antrim in Newcastle at 1-30pm

Waterford V Derry in Blanchardstown ay 3-00pm

Clare prove too strong for Waterford.

Clare had 19 points to spare over Waterford at Cusack Park in the Munster under 21 Hurling semi finals, and have set up a showdown against Tipperary on August 8.

Clare went into the game as favourites and from the off there was only ever going to be one outcome to this game.

On the night, many of the Waterford players expected to shine failed to do so, and County Senior manager Michael Ryan who was watching from the stand will have been far from satisfied with what he saw from those in his senior panel apart from goal keeper Stephen O’Keeffe who saved Waterford on more than one occasion from further humiliation on the night.

Clare’s full forward line of David O'Halloran, Conor McGrath and Cathal O'Connell on the night was magnificent and gave the Waterford full back line a torrid time over the course if the hour.  So much did Clare dominate this game that the Banner management team had the luxury of withdrawing Seadna Morey, Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin and David O'Halloran long before the final whistle.

The sides traded early points through Brian O’Halloran and Cathal O’Connell before Aaron Cunningham gave Clare the lead in the fifth-minute, one which they never relinquished. David O'Halloran and Cathal O'Connell increased Clare’s lead to three before O'Halloran finished to an empty net after Stephen O'Keeffe had saved Conor McGrath's initial shot.

Clare were able to breach the Waterford defence all too easy and they could have added another goal on 17 minutes but Stephen O'Keeffe managed to deny Aaron Cunningham with another good save.

Eamonn Murphy put over an excellent point from the right side line ending Waterford's long scoring drought, but Conor McGrath made no delay in restoring Clare's double digit advantage at the other end of the field. Martin O'Neill hit two frees with a Tony Kelly effort sandwiched in between to give Waterford some hope heading into the second half for which they would have the wind at their backs but Cathal O'Connell completed the first half scoring in stoppage-time, giving his side a 1-11 to 0-4 heading to the dressing rooms.

Any hopes of a Waterford come back in the second half were quickly dashed. No score was hit by either side until the sixth minute of the half when Pauric Collins finished to the net after Stephen O’Keeffe had done well to keep Galvin’s effort out.

Conor McGrath and Martin O'Neill swapped points before the home side hit unanswered points from David O'Halloran (2) and Cathal O'Connell. O'Neill replied for Waterford, but further scores from midfielder Shane Golden and O'Connell had Clare coasting to victory on a 2-19 to 0-6 scoreline with just under 10 minutes to play.

Eamonn Murphy and Padraic Mahony hit late scores for Waterford to give their side of the scoreboard a degree of respectably. O’Connell and O’Neill swapped points in the closing stages of the game and on the hour mark Peter Duggan brought a miserable evening for Waterford to a close with the last score of the evening.

Final score – Clare 2-22 Waterford 0-9.

CLARE: R Taaffe; P Flanagan, D McInerney, K Ryan; S Morey, C Ryan, P O’Connor; C Galvin, S Golden; A Cunningham, P Collins, T Kelly; C O’Connell, C McGrath, D O’Halloran. Subs: C McInerney for D O’Halloran; S O’Halloran for S Morey; P Duggan for T Kelly; J Colleran for C Galvin; E Boyce for C O’Connor 57.  

Scorers: C O’Connell 0-10 (4f, 2 65s); D O’Halloran 1-4; P Collins 1-0; A Cunningham 0-2; C McGrath 0-2; C Galvin, S Golden, P Duggan, T Kelly, 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; J Barron, S O’Keeffe, Phillip Mahony; P Prendergast, D Fives, E Madigan; R Barry, G O’Brien; B O’Halloran, E Murphy, F Murray; Pauric Mahony, M O’Neill, J Dillon. Subs: D Breathnach for R Barry 30; J Prendergast for D Fives; M Wyse for Madigan; I Galgey for F Murray; S Roche for G O’Brien.

Scorers: M O’Neill 0-5 (4f); E Murphy 0-2; Pauric Mahony, B O’Halloran, 0-1 each.

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).

Some final thoughts from this game, I know managers, coach’s and selectors etc are there to do a job and do it to the best of their ability, but when will a management team name a team that will be the actual team that will play. I and I’m sure many others know that in putting out a dummy team on paper, they are fooling no-one. Why cant players be played in positions that are their best, and when will the primary tactic of the game be six forwards taking on six backs with two lads in the middle of the field and one between the posts.

Confidence has to be taken from Munster Final display despite defeat.

Goal win games and this was certainly the case in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday when Tipperary put back to back Munster titles together beating Waterford having seven points to spare.

Going into the game few expected Waterford to win, but everyone expected a better performance served up that what was given at the same stage of the competition in 2011.

To say that Waterford got a better performance would be an understatement. What was served up by the players was a performance that few if any could fault.

Yes, there were mistakes, but these happen in every game. However, two mistakes that were made led to goals.

Michael Walsh made a rare mistake which allowed Boner Maher to set up John O’Brien score the first goal of the game, and a mistake by goal keeper Stephen O’Keeffe from a long range free lead to Tipperary’s second goal, but these are things that happen in every game, only sometimes you are lucky and get away with them. Have no doubt that the Waterford players will have learned from these mistakes and will come back better and stronger players.

Goal scoring seems to be a problem for Waterford in recent games against Tipperary. And this was the case again in this years provincial final. Maurice Shanahan did have a chance towards the end of the first half which Brendan Cummins did well to stop and put out for a ’65 but apart from this, we had no real chances to test the long standing Tipperary man. Half chances were presented in the second half, but to beat Cummins with one of these would rely on luck more than skill. There were also chances to eat into the Tipperary lead in the second half when a number of chances for minor scores went unusually wide.

Both sides went in at the break as they came out, with nothing separating them on the scoreboard. Waterford had started well, but Tipperary helped by John O’Brien’s goal had the better of the middle third of the opening half but Waterford recovered well and deservedly went in all square but at the same time unlucky not to have gone in with an advantage on the scoreboard.

After an even start to the second half, Tipperary soon stole a march on Waterford as O’Meara, Noel McGrath, John O’Brien and Cahill all hit scores for the defending champions.

Waterford however were able to stay in touch but a goal on 55 minutes which gave Tipperary a five point advantage made it very difficult for Waterford to come back.

Overall, while defeat was their lot, Waterford will be happy. They showed that they are nowhere near the score line of the 2011 final suggested, and with the draws made for the remainder of the year, Waterford will take a lot of confidence from this game.

Cork will hold no fears for Waterford. The Déise lads will no doubt be hoping that their good run of results in recent years in the championship will continue when the sides meet in Thurles in little over a weeks time and with Galway set to face the winners, Waterford if they were to come out of the game with Cork, they will feel that they can also beat the Tribesmen.

Kilkenny after their shock defeat to Galway in the Leinster Final should have too much for an emerging Limerick side in the second quarter final game which will set up a game with Tipperary, a repeat of the last two All-Ireland Finals at the semi final stages of this years championship.

Tipperary will hold no fears of Kilkenny, and we all know now that they are beatable and if they are to be beaten again this year, you can’t but feel that the best place to do it would be in the penultimate round of games in this year’s championship.

This could well set up a repeat clash of the Munster Final in the All-Ireland final and if it was to happen, Waterford would not fear Tipperary and who knows, if it was to happen that long famine we all refer to could come to an end.

But let’s not get carried away too much at this stage. Lets get over Cork first and then we will se what will happen from there.

Four in a Row for Waterford.

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team have won the Munster Intermediate championship for the fourth year in a row after they overcame the challenge of a strong Tipperary side at Pairc Uí Rinn in Cork.

From the off the Premier Ladies took the game to Waterford. They were first to score through Gillian O’Brien and when they added a second point soon afterwards again from Gillian O’Brien, it looked good for the challengers. In fact by this stage they could have been even further in front as they squandered a good chance to plant the ball in the Déise net. Waterford by this stage had hit just one point, player of the match Elaine Power finding the target.

It was from here however that Waterford took over control of the game.

Michelle Ryan levelled matters on seven minutes and when Elaine Power added her second of the game on ten minutes, Waterford were in front for the first time in the game. Waterford soon extended their lead to two when Michelle Ryan put over a free.

Tipperary’s Edel Hanley pulled a point back for Waterford eleven minutes from the break, but Waterford wasted little time in putting some day light between the sides as just three minutes later Róisín Tobin hit the only goal of the game.

Waterford continued to dominate the games happenings and a brace of scores from Shone Curran helped Waterford to a 1-7 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Waterford could have been even further in front at this stage, but some fine goalkeeping by Helen Kennedy in the Tipperary goal kept The Premier Ladies in contention with thirty minutes to play.

Waterford continued to dominate much of the second half. A Michelle Ryan free four minutes into the half extended the Déise Ladies lead and when Elaine Power added her third score of the game, the signs were looking good from a Waterford perspective.

Tipperary however refused to throw in the towel too early and without a fight. Three points from Gillian O’Brien brought them back into contention.

Waterford however held out strong and ran out deserved winners on a 1-12 to 0-9 scoreline.

After the game after been presented with the winners trophy from the president of the Munster Ladies Football association team captain Michelle McGrath in a nice touch paid a moving tribute to Mary Enright who was heavily involved in Ladies Football within the county for many years and who died tragically earlier this year and dedicated the win to Mary’s memory.

WATERFORD: A Jordan; A Landers; G Enright; N Dunphy; R Tobin; G Kenneally; K McGrath; M McGrath; E Power; M Wall; M Ryan; E Fennell; A Wall; S Curran, H Landers. Subs: T Fitzgerald for H Landers, M Revins for Curran.

Scorers: M Ryan 0-5 (3f), E Power 0-3, R Tobin 1-0, S Curran 0-2, M Wall and E Fennell 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: H Kennedy; C Walsh; C Carroll; S Delahunty; T McGrath; S Carew; B Ryan; J Grant; A Ryan; B Ryan; G O’Brien; S Ryan; E Carroll; S Lambert; E Hanley. Subs: B Feeney for A Ryan, A Staunton for B Ryan, C Bowles for Hanley, K Lyne for Delahunty, G O’Gorman for G O’Brien.

Scorers: G O’Brien 0-4, E Carroll 0-2 (2f), S Lambert and S Ryan 0-1 each, E Hanley 0-1 (1f).
 
Referee: M O’Keeffe (Cork).

The hearts saying one thing, but the head another.

People tell me that in a two horse race, I’m most likely to pick the second horse to come home. If this is the case, I’m going to say this early and get it out of the way, Tipperary are going to win this years Munster Senior Hurling final.

In the last decade and a half, Waterford and Tipperary have met in championship hurling on ten occasions and the record of both counties is five wins a piece, so which ever comes out on top this weekend for now will have some sort of bragging rights.

This time twelve months ago, the same two sides met at the same stage of the championship, and we don’t need any sort of reminding as to what happened on that occasion.

However, this time around, things are expected to be much closer. In a post match interview after Waterford’s win over Clare a month ago, team manager Michael Ryan told us that there would be no repeat of the 2011 final when he told us that there would be no hammering handed out this year.

The build up to this year’s final seems to be very low key, something that will possibly help Waterford. Other events such as the match venue, sweetener’s or lack of, depending on who is talking, failed concerts and the County Board’s financial problems are making all the headlines, both locally and nationally. While most would not wish for this to happen, there is one good thing about these headlines, its allowing the players build up for Sunday’s final almost un-noticed.

Like many others, even though I will not be travelling to the game, I am disappointed with the venue. Cork traditionally has been hard to get in and out of and let’s face it, the Stadium is a little out of date and you have wonder, how health and safety would allow the game to go ahead in such a venue.

It’s slightly amazing that the Munster Council have never done something to put this right. In Leinster and Ulster, for their big finals (football and hurling in Leinster, football in Ulster), Croke Park and Clones are used for their big finals each year regardless of who is in them. You can’t put wonder why the same cannot happen in Munster.

A Munster Final might not make the money it once did for the Munster Council. People quite rightly have complained about the pricing structures etc., but it’s possibly fair to say that people might make a little less noise if they were travelling to a venue that is relatively easy to get in and out of and where they can move around with some degree of comfort once inside.

Surely it would not be totally impossible for Munster Council chiefs and the six counties to come together and agree that all Munster Final’s regardless of who is in them would be played in Thurles. A agreement could be made whereby the participating counties would receive a portion of the overall gate receipts from all games played in the championship, the Tipperary County Board would get an agreed fee for the hire of the Stadium for the day, and that the Munster Council would look after all other things on the day, like agreeing who should provide different catering facilities inside the ground, the cost of putting a programme together and the sale of it etc.

For a number of the present panel to win a fifth Munster Senior Hurling Medal on Sunday is not going to be an easy task. In fact, they and their fellow team colleagues could have it all to do.

Last year, Tipperary well and truly beat Waterford, but there is no way that there is twenty-one points between the sides. This year expect thing to be much closer.

Tipperary are without doubt the second best team in the country in the past five years or so, and will go into Sunday’s final as favourites and rightly so.

Last time out, while it could be argued to be a degree of luck attached to it, they beat a fancied Cork side and did so without Eoin Kelly, Seamus Callanan, James Woodlock and more importantly Lar Corbett starting the game. In doing this they showed what strength they have in their panel. These are players with Munster and All-Ireland winner’s medals and you have to ask, why other county could leave players like this start a game sitting in the stand.

The two sides have met in the last of the four championship seasons, and the win ratio from these games is 3-1 to Tipperary. Waterford’s last win came in 2008 in the All-Ireland semi finals, while Tipperary have won the last three games, hitting fourteen goals against Waterford in the process, while Waterford have hit on average one in the three games.

This is something that is bound to be of some concern to Waterford heading into the game. We cannot leave the Tipperary players too many chances to shoot at our goal as if they will, the chances are going on previous games we will be punished.

Tipperary have named their starting team early this week, and have included Lar Corbett for his first start in a Tipperary Shirt for the first time this year. While the 15 named as likely to start, its fair to say that there could possibly be some tweaking made to the team, especially in the forward line.

Waterford are expected to name their starting team later this evening and it will show changes to the team which started against Clare. Aidan Kearney is a definite non starter and his place could well go to Noel Connors who replaced the Tallow man at half time against Clare.

It is possible that there could well be at least one if not two further changes to the starting team for this weekend. Richie Foley, the last day out did not have the best of games. To his credit however, he is only coming back after a long lay off and could have further worked on his fitness. If he does miss out, there are a number of players that could take his place. Players like Tony Browne, Darragh Fives and even Philip Mahony who played in the middle of the field last time out could well take ownership of the number five shirt for this game.

If the Abbeyside man does miss out and Michael Ryan and his selectors were to opt to move Philip Mahony into the half back line where he possibly would be more comfortable, it would mean that a place would become free in the middle of the field and if this was to happen, it could well lie to between Jamie Nagle or Dean Twomey, two players who are playing well this year to fill the void.

Up front, its likely that the management will give a vote of confidence to the sextet that started against Clare. There has been suggestions that Eoin Kelly could miss out after a disappointing day against Clare, but in the Club Championship this year he is in fine form and if he was to transfer this to the inter county scene, then it could be a massive boost to Waterford.

If the Passage man was to miss out, many would expect Martin O’Neill or Thomas Ryan would come in to replace him, but in recent days, it has come to light that Pauric Mahony is back after a recent injury. There is no doubt that he has retained his fitness while he was out, the only concern might be his sharpness.

There is nothing more I would love to see on Sunday is for Michael Walsh to lift the Munster Cup for the second time in his career. I have already said, a little tongue in cheek it must be pointed out that Tipperary is going to win.

As much as I would love to see Waterford win, I like many others can’t see it happening, but we can live in hope