long time reader of this forum

so what better way to kick off my first post by creating this thread

TheBlaBoi (Waterford) - Posts: 24 - 27/07/2015 20:16:36    1759999

Hello TheBlaBoi, Welcome to the message board; it's a good time to join with Waterford facing Kilkenny in a semi in under two weeks time.

From what I've seen so far I'd be quietly confident about Kilkenny beating Waterford. I think Waterford's direct running at defenders could a be concern, though I'm sure Cody will be preparing a plan for that in training.

Tipperary v Galway is a tough one to call. How good were Galway and how bad were Cork in the quarter-final? I thought they played reasonably well against KK in the Leinster final, but they were beaten by a better team on the day.Tipp will be ready and for Galway to beat them they'll have to play better than they did against KK.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2446 - 27/07/2015 21:55:03    1760045

You can be sure most of the country will be cheering for Waterford but I don't think they have that know how just yet to take a big team. I feel a good performance should set them up nicely for next year. They had chances to score goals against Tipp and it ultimately cost them in the end.One thing you dont do is give these Kilkenny lads time on the ball. While I feel Waterford will put up a big performance I expect Kilkennys big game players Reid , Hogan , Fennellys & Alyward to take the game away from them. Whatever happens on Sunday Waterford have had a great year and to say you only lost to Tipp & KK would be no huge set back. I think next year Waterford will be in phase 3 of McGrath's plan and will be even harder to break down.

Tipp playing the old nemises Galway!!!Time and Time again when a Tipp team is expected to beat them we someone throw it away. Galway wont win easy puck outs like they did against Cork as Gleeson plays a smart puck out strategy. Tipp defenders better beware though as the Galway forwards wont retreat like Waterford do and allow our backs time on the ball to clear up the field. This is going to be a close one but at this stage I think Galway have a bit of a run like Tipp had last year and in big games like these that game time counts. Galway have played 5 games so far and put up some colossal scores at times but Kilkenny exposed their defensive and Tipp will have to do the same. Hard to know what to make of Tipp really its been fairly quite in the county since the Munster Final win. Players are not in the media like they used to so maybe their heads are firmly in the game.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 28/07/2015 10:03:00    1760084

Really can't see Waterford beating Kilkenny and IMO I really fear there could be a hammering on the cards for Waterford. It would one of the greatest upsets in the Championship in a long time. I just think Kilkenny are even better than last year and Waterford will struggle in Croke Park.

Its hard to know how good Tipp are. They looked like certainties for the AI in the league but they beat a poor Limerick team and strugled to beat a flat enough Waterford in the Munster final. Galway hammered an awful Dublin and never really looked like beating Kilkenny. The 2-28 vs Cork is a huge score no matter how bad the opposition are. The Galway defence will have to be unreal vs Tipp if the have a chance of winning. If Tipp can reach their potential (which I think they have fallen short of so far) they will be comfortable winners. If Galway have 1-15 in top form and Tipp aren't 100% I can see them winning this one.

Kikenny to win by 8
Tipp to win by 5

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 28/07/2015 10:32:49    1760103

Don't know why but there is something dodgy about this thread. A chap's first post followed up with 2 Kilkenny lads saying they will win, or hammer Waterford ............

But anyway.

To stop Kilkenny you need to do two things:
1 - Stop them creating an overlap in the final third which gets them goals
2 - Stop their forwards from changing the direction of the ball in mid air.

Two ways of doing it:
1 - Manic work rate (Tipp 2010 AIF, Galway 2012 LF)
2 - Deny them the ball (Cork 2004 AIF)

Out of the sides left I think Galway are the best prepared to beat Kilkenny. I fancy a Kilkenny v Galway final but the questions will be can Galway do it two big days back to back. Waterford have been a breath of fresh air this season but I think Kilkenny will be a step too far.

But if I could pick, it would be a Galway v Waterford final. By God both of those counties would relish winning the big one & hurling would thrive if they got to the final.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 28/07/2015 10:58:34    1760127

At this stage i have a slight fancyfor Galway to beat Tipp.To create 50 odd chances against Cork,with the normally accurate Joe,having a bad day infront of the posts,is a massive haul.Joe will hardly be as poor again.Im sure C Barrett will mark C Mannion and this will be worth the admission fee alone.I would like to see M Cahill back in the other corner for Tipp as i feel hes a better option than P Stapleton.Where i feel Galway will have an edge over Tipp is in the half forward line.Bergin/R Maher/M Breen will be under serious pressure from Galways wing forwards.Flynn/Glynn/Canning are great to win primary ball in the air.Bergin was easily beaten by R Power in air for Kilkennys crucial goal last year.I havnt seen enough quality hurling from R Maher to say hell deal with this aerial threat.If P Maher is out,or not fully fit,i would fear for Tipp.Midfield looks even enough.Tipp have two marquee forwards - Bubbles & Callinan.If even one of these can b e held to under three points from play,im not sure the likes of O Meara,Bonnar,Forde,B Maher have the scoring potential to make up for this.I always felt N McGrath was a massive loss.Tipp needed to find another forward.Not lose one of their star men.Slim chance that he will be back id imagine.Callinan is due a big game and will fancy his chances on Hanberry if given the right ball.If Callinan gets on top,Tipp will go for the jugular,and try to bury Galway with goals.Early days yet to be predicting,but ive a slight fancy for the tribesmen.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 28/07/2015 10:59:25    1760129

Looking ahead to the semi finals, I think Kilkenny will have too much for Waterford, who are still evolving as a team. If Maurice Shanahan is held to a few scores, I wonder if the other forwards will step up, he scored 1-12 last Sunday. Jackiie Tyrrell looks like he will be out for the semi final, could be a big loss to Kilkenny.
Galway will find it harder against Tipp than the Cork game. Scores will be harder to get, and Galway's defence will have to sit on Callinan and O'Dwyer. It will be an interesting game, I feel Galway are improving since the Leinster Final. Tipperary are aiming for an All Ireland this year, Galway created 53 scoring chances last Sunday, it's unlikely that will be repeated, Tipp might just edge it, but don't write off Galway.
Last Sunday both Waterford and Galway had teenagers playing in a big game, Shane Bennett and Conor Whelan scored a goal and a few points, but Facing Kilkenny and Tipperary in an All Ireland semi final will be a huge occasion for them.

Like all neutrals I would love to see a Galway Waterford final, it would do wonders for hurling.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 28/07/2015 12:06:21    1760173

KK to beat WD...but could be a great game.

Tipp & Galway could go either way...wouldn't call it.

Two great semis I hope.

Muilleann (Tipperary) - Posts: 114 - 28/07/2015 12:26:56    1760189

Been honest I think Kilkenny will have too much, TJ, Larkin, R Hogan and Fennelly are serious quaility, TJ for hurler of the year. But I think we have yet to see Waterford peak this year, their pace will trouble Kilkenny but a good performance and another year or two will set these lad up well. Giving Paddy Curran and the two Bennetts another year. I think Tipp full forward line will cause Galway full back line problems but all Galway forwards were in some form against Cork. Another game with that intensity would put any team under pressure. I want Galway V waterford but I assume the auld Kilkenny v Tipp final is on the cards

BanagusGorm (Waterford) - Posts: 19 - 28/07/2015 12:51:09    1760205

Thank all of ye for the welcome.It wouldn't let me post last night, said the comments were closed.

What's dodgy about me setting up this thread. I have being reading this with years and finally decided to take part in the discussion. To few Waterford people on here. Mostly people from Dublin Cork and tipp. And a few other counties.
Let's get to the brass tax lads.
While we have being written off so many times over the years. I don't even listen to that BS anymore there are 4 counties left in the race for Liam. Any one of the four has a great chance of winning. Okay KK having the best chance since they have being great ambassadors of the sport. And they have the medals to back it up. But KK are not the power house they once were lot of old players on that team now.and even more retirements over the past few years. While we have youth and pace on our side. So in that sense we should be evenly match. We do not fear KK and I will relish the chance to play them. I think KK will win against us, by 3-4 points. Deise Abu its being a great year for us can't complain really.

Tippv Galway tipp could win this depending on what Galway side turn up. They seem to blow hot and cold. The great matches coming up best of luck to all.

TheBlaBoi (Waterford) - Posts: 24 - 29/07/2015 10:44:11    1760639

Welcome aboard blaboi.Your right there are too few Deise men/woman on here.I think this has the makings of an excellent Waterford side.Some of the young lads are a breath of fresh air.Legs to run all day,with the requisite skill levels to cope at the highest level.These lads dont have the mental scars of old that some Deise players had v KK.
KK are the best ball winners in the air in the game.Can the Waterford backs cope with the likes of Larkin,Hogan,C Fennelly & TJ Reid in the air?Tadg De Burca will have his work cut out sweeping up behind him as KK will win their usual huge amount of ball in the air.Ye have the legs to match KK,but time will tell whether these young bucks have the savvy and Croke Park street smarts to outwit the cutest of them all.If ye can stay in the game upto half time ye have a great chance.Kilkenny will want to blitz ye early and sow seeds of doubt in inexperienced minds.Couple of early goals could kil the game off.I expect a big performance from Waterford and to give the cats a right fright.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 29/07/2015 11:06:58    1760652

They'll need to be classics to save this year's Championship. It's been full of cynical play, sweepers and poor skill.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 29/07/2015 13:36:24    1760790

If Waterford play a sweeper against the Cats Ritchie Hogan will go to town.McGrath will need to have his thinking cap on.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 29/07/2015 14:58:57    1760853

TheBlaBoi
County: Waterford
Posts: 3

But KK are not the power house they once were lot of old players on that team now.

The Kilkenny team that started against Galway in the Leinster Final contained two players over 30 - Jackie Tyrrell 33 and Eoin Larkin 31. Of the remaining thirteen players, eleven were aged 26 or under.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2446 - 29/07/2015 16:38:50    1760923

Good call cockney.Certainly no old team.The one area however where Kilkenny may struggle is in a tight game with 20 mins to go and Cody looks to his bench.What he will see is a bench devoid of some of the biggest characters to ever play the game.All good players no doubt,but not the same type who would put the fear of god into the opposition.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 29/07/2015 16:51:32    1760932

Oh how some people never learn, never ever ever ever write of a Kk team no matter how poor some people think they are. They will brush this Waterford team aside within the first half, play a sweeper against Kk and we could see Kk put 30 to 35 points on the board.
As for Tipp and Galway watch the Cork Galway game from 45th minute till 60th minute and then judge. Galway left the game open to be won and a very very poor Cork team held on until last 10 minutes, what really cost Cork was Cork in the 58th minute 4 points in it and made two huge mistakes within 40 second and Galway were 6 points up.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 29/07/2015 18:07:44    1760977

It is true realtmo that Galway were worryingly only 4 points ahead at that stage,but on another day,if even half their wides went over,theyd have been 15 points up and game over.Joe had some really poor wides.What if the Galway forwards have their eye in v Tipp?Revenge is a powerful motivator also.Last years collapse to Tipp in Thurles will have hurt Galway.Tipp really have dominated the tribesmen over last 5 years.Galway are due a win against Tipp.My feeling is it could be in 3 weeks time.Realtmo,is there any chance N McGrath will make an appearance in the game?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 29/07/2015 19:12:09    1761006

Though I hate to say it, and would love to be wrong, I just don't see past a KK win. Would absolutely love An Deise to prove me wrong though.

Tip v the Tribesmen? Too close to call and as per feckin' usual, a lot will depend on which Galway turns up. Tipp are showing just a bit more consistency this year, and although we held KK close in the Leinster final, we never looked like winning... So if I had to call it, I'd say Tipp by 3 points.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 29/07/2015 19:14:28    1761007

I adore Kilkenny hurling and have always loved Tipps style of hurling so if they meet in yet another final I for one won't be upset.

But how good would it be for hurling to have Waterford Galway in the final. It would be a huge lift.. Galway are flying. Waterford are to but getting some very unfair criticism of there style of play. It will take Waterfords best ever display to beat Kilkenny.

Galway Tipp hard to call but it will come down to which defence holds stronger if Galway can hold Callinan advantage Galway. But if Tipp hold Mannion and fords advantage Tipp.

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 29/07/2015 19:39:20    1761022

Cue both Tipp and Galway are similar enough as I don't have much faith in either of them. You talk of last year's collapse V Tipp I believe if Galway were playing a better team last week the same collapse would of happened again. I think Tipp and Galway both don't have that killer instinct that KK have, would Kk of left Cork in the game up until the 59th minute ? now Tipp are no better at killing of games.
Noel McGrath will be back for Galway game but will 100% not start but is possible we will see him at some stage as he is back in full training.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 29/07/2015 20:01:59    1761033