One To Forget
The Waterford senior hurlers travelled to Nowlan Park on Sunday last to face Kilkenny in the fifth and final round of the Allianz National League and their fate in the current competition very much in their own hands. After seventy odd minutes the Deise supporters were left with a result thast should at best be forgotten having gone down 4-22 to 0-14 to the home side. With Brian Cody and his management team very much in the rebuilding stage of another challenge to reclaim the Liam McCarthy Cup, there was distinct positive vibe from within the Deise that perhaps a positive result could be garnered from the banks of the Nore. Following the total collapse in the opening half against Clare the previous weekend and the subsequent huge peformance of the second half in that Ennis encounter there was reason to be at least optimistic. The belief was that if Waterford could repeat the second thirty five minutes of that Cusaack Park game maybe, yes maybe, that quarter final place was achieveable.
The Deise, defending the country goal, opened brightly with Paudie Mahony ppointing a free within thirty seconds following a foul on Shane O'Sullivan. A few minutes later and Maurice Shanahan, recalled by Derek McGrath and his management team, paved the way for Jamie Barron to point. In the fifth minute it appeared that Shane o'Sullivan was held but referee James Owens gave Kilkenny the free which Richie Hogan put wide. In the 6th minute Paudie Mahony again converted a free as an out of form Henry Shefflin saw another effort drift outside the post. Waterford teenager Austin Gleeson was yellow carded in the 10th minute but Shefflin was off target with the resultant free. Both teams then hit wides but as the quarter hour mark passes Kilkenny finally got on the scoresheet as Shefflin put Colin Fennelly through for a point 0-3 to 0-1. Brian O'Sullivan playing as a lone target man for Waterford was wide with a scorable effort in the 16th minute. Indeed the playing of a lone full forward was not paying dividends for Waterford. A loose pass was snapped up by Henry Shefflin and he pointed and he added another a minute later to level as Michael Walsh was yellow carded. In the 19th minute the Waterford citadel was breached as Eoin Larkin collected and drove through the defence before parting to full forward Mark Kelly. The big O'Loughlin Gaels attacker saw his shot blocked but Jonjo Farrell followed up to goal 1-3 to 0-3. Within a minute a misplaced puck out saw Walter Walsh point to leave Kilkenny four ahead. Two points from Paudie Mahony saw Waterford back within two but Colin Fennelly added one for Kilkenny before Richie Power replaced Farrell in the home attack.A Paudie Mahony converted free was followed by a point from midfielder Shane O'Sullivan following good work by Michael Walsh 1-5 to 0-7. Flooding the midfield area Waterford were competing well and making life difficult for the Kilkenny attack. Unfortunately there was little threat in front of goal from the one man Deise attack as Brian O'Sullivan got more and more isolated. A defensive error allowed Padraig Walsh in for a point in the 30th minute as Barry Coughlan replaced Jamie Nagle and Maurice Shanahan was replaced by Ray Barry who pointed with his first touch of the ball. A Richie Hogan point for Kilkenny saw the Cats lead 1-7 to 0-8 at the break. This was not an insurmountable lead and the Waterford management team would have been reasonably happy knowing that they had the slight breeze at their backs in the second half. The real worry was that Waterford were not creating goal chances.
News filtered through that both Dublin and Galway were ahead in their respective games so Waterford knew exactly where they stood with regard to league quarter final qualification or relegation playoff.
The opening minutes of the second half saw a long free from Kilkenny goalkeeper cleared by the Waterford defence. Eoin Larkin collected and fired over 1-8 to 0-8. Austin Gleeson pointed a line ball to edge the Deise closer but the defence was breached again in the 40th minute as Larkin was at the end of a flowing move to billow the net past a helpless Stephen O'Keeffe 2-8 to 0-9. Brian O'Sullivan pointed but Walter Walsh replied for Kilkenny after a short passing move out of the Waterford defence was intercepted. Richie Power added another and there were seven points between the sides. Ray Barry had his second point for Waterford but over the following six minutes the game was gone from the Deise. Walter Walsh, Henry Shefflin (free) and Richie Power all added points without reply 2-13 to 0-11. In the 47th minute Eoin Larkin and Richie Power opened the way for Mark Kelly to goal. Power and Richie Hogan added a brace of points (3-15 to 0-11) as Seamus Prendergast replaced Austin Gleeson in the Waterford attack. Waterford began to lose shape as their heads visibly dropped. Ray Barry had a point for Waterford but Henry Shefflin pointed for Kilkenny. Goal number four was not long in coming as Richie Power, so influential since coming into the game, put Mark Kelly through for the easiest of finishes 4-16 to 0-12. Waterford were dead and buried. Walter Walsh, Eoin Larkin, Richie Hogan and a brace from Henry Shefflin saw the Cats 4-21 to 0-12 ahead. Brian O'Sullivan had a Waterford point as Eoin Larkin did likewise for Kilkenny. The final act of this most disappointing game saw Ray Barry add a point but by this stage it was game, set and match to Kilkenny and the quarter final place was secured. This was a most disappointing and depressing game from a Waterford point of view. Where were the Dublin, Galway and second half Clare displays. I don't have the answer but on this performance Waterford will find life very difficult in the relegation playoff against a Dublin side buoyed by a win over Kilkenny and a close run affair against Tipperary. A huge task ahead next weekend but we have a good track record against the Dubs and a goal or two would certainly help with the confidence. As the heading says "a game to forget". Let's forget it, consign it to history and get on with the job at hand next weekend.
GAA Coaching & Games Development Notes
Carriganore Blitzes April
In April we will have an U8 & U10 Hurling blitz in Carriganore. U8 will take place Sat 12th April & U10 on Sat 26th April. The U8 blitz will be part of the National Go Games week where a Go Games blitz will take place in every county in the country during that week along with a Croke Park blitz. All clubs are asked to attend the U8 blitz as part of the National Go Games week programme.
Easter Programmes
Across the county we have a number of programmes planned for Easter holidays. In Walsh Park from Tue 15th – Thur 17th there is U12 Hurling Coaching programme in place. In Fraher Field on the same dates we have a Teen Programme in place. Full details of both have been sent to all clubs in the county and bookings are being accepted now. For further details please contact John Quinn for U12 & Michelle Power for Teen Programme.
Kellogg's GAA Cul Camps
The application forms for the Kellogg's GAA Cul Camps will be sent to all clubs and schools in the coming fortnight. Online bookings will be available from 31st March for those who wish to book online at http://www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie We have 37 camps in Waterford this year and hope to have another great summer of camps. We will be announcing some new initiatives in the coming month as part of the promotion of the camps
Hurley/Helmet Subsidy 2014 now available to clubs
Clubs can avail of the 2014 Hurley/Helmet Subsidy and make orders on helmets. All helmets will be subsidized by €10 and clubs will receive a rebate of €5 per hurley once invoices are paid to hurley maker in full and copies received by Coaching & Games. Application forms and information letters have been sent to all club secretaries.
