Only a week to go, can Waterford make a fight of this, their pride was hurt after the Munster Final but they've responded well. Think this could well be Davy's last game and I expect Waterford will throw off the shackles and just give it a go. Nothing to lose but I think their defensive frailties will come back to haunt them. As for Kilkenny, they're doing well so far, they've found a nice corner back in Paul Murphy and winning their matches quite well. But like Tipp, they haven't really been tested firmly. I expect them to win this though and make the final on the first Sunday in September.

Mulman (Tipperary) - Posts: 562 - 30/07/2011 17:26:46    998849

I think Waterford can win. OK Galway are probably THE most inconsistent side in hurling so it is hard to judge Waterford's performance in the quarter final but if Waterford keep the heads down, play man v man hurling, forget about tactics and systems and go back to what they are good at they have a chance.

Fitz showed a lot of strength and courage in how he & his players reacted to the Munster final defeat and this one could be where he makes his mark. This time three years ago they got past Tipp so nothing to lose, tear into it & if they're good enough they will progress.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 31/07/2011 12:37:50    999344

There has never been a lot between the teams, bar the 08 final, waterford should have no fear, everybody is expecting the final of recent years and i'm sure they'd love to spoil the party. Galway are inconsistent but they were well in touch at half time and a goal in the first minute of the second half would have tested waterford's bottle but to their credit they ploughed on. Just believe and keep attacking, they got a new lease of life with their free flowing style last week.

Mulman (Tipperary) - Posts: 562 - 31/07/2011 13:09:12    999408

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is the same it has been incorporated here.

Your views on the Waterford V Kilkeny match?


01/08/2011 21:15:28
Gaa.Supporter
County: Waterford
Posts: 6

Do you think the deise have the skills and stamina to pull it off next week?

01/08/2011 21:20:36
frankbhoy77
County: Antrim
Posts: 672

I really dont believe so im afraid. Waterford recovered well from their trouncing by tipp and have proven themselves because of it, kilkenny however is a bridge too far. Would like to be proved wrong, but i just cant see it

01/08/2011 21:25:16
whitegoodman
County: Tyrone
Posts: 258

Miracles needed im afraid but would love to see it

01/08/2011 21:25:51
booboo
County: Cork
Posts: 1059

Not under davy.....the team dont know whats required of them if they are to win they will need to tighten up the fullbackline considerably,also cody will know that the base of all the wford attacks start with brick so i can see quick ball going into power avoiding walsh if possible i genuinely cant see a hungry hurt cat team looking for another slap at tipp been beaten but if they are to be e kelly brown mullane walsh prendergast will all have to start and have the games of their lives

01/08/2011 21:28:22
derfil1
County: Kildare
Posts: 1064

I'd have my doubts but hope I'm wrong.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 02/08/2011 10:18:49    1001258

There were recent articles from walsh and delaney in which they said they'd love another crack at tipp, they'd want to be focused on waterford before they think of that. It would be funny if they took their eyes off the ball and waterford get one over them, probably won't happen.

Mulman (Tipperary) - Posts: 562 - 02/08/2011 10:58:12    1001291

Write Waterford off at your peril, but I think Kilkenny will just about sneak it. They will be mad to get another crack (and possibly a final one for a chunk of this team) at Tipp and try to win back Liam, but I think they will fail in that quest.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 02/08/2011 11:01:36    1001293

Can see waterford winning this one, I don't think the problems in the waterford full back line are fixed yet and Kilkenny have the firepower to take advantage of it.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 02/08/2011 11:14:00    1001307

I hope you're right pinkie, maybe if davy stops with the tactics and lets them play hurling, they can have a right go, just hope it isn't over after 10 minutes.

Mulman (Tipperary) - Posts: 562 - 02/08/2011 11:17:16    1001312

Man v Man Waterford simply don't have good enough players to beat Kilkenny (unless Kilkenny play below their average, which is unlikely in a semi final). Liam Lawlor is still very unproven as a full back who will be severely tested by Ritchie Power/Shefflin. Aiden Kearney is sorely missed also on their full back line. A bad full back line can lose you matches but a good set of forwards can win you matches and i feel this is where waterfords major problems lie. KK and Tipp dont rely on any 3 or 4 players to get a bulk of their scores. Each of their forwards and midfielders are more than capable of putting up the scores. However the same cant be said for Waterford who need Mullane,Shane Walsh,Eoin Kelly (who is barely holding his place on the team) and Mahony on the frees to provide for them. Simply not good enough when it comes to this stage of the championship.

So Davy has to try something tactic wise to stifle Kilkenny. I can see Waterford dropping extra men into their own half in order to keep it as tight as possible for the first half at least,no soft early goals (much easier said than done considering thats exactly what KK will be looking for!). Their forwards need to step up big time! they need 5-6 points out of mullane, i'm not sure if eoin kelly scored form play at all against galway?(maybe 1 point)! apart from mulane and shane walsh (although molumphy seems to be finding his scores recently in comparison to other years),they just dont seem to have the firepwoer up front anymore! Ritchie Foley came on at the end against galway,it would be a massive boost to have him back and hurling well against kk as he is a fantastic hurler and free taker!
It will be interesting to see who lines out at full back for KK with regard to the Tipp match also. Shane Walsh who has a good eye for goal and Waterford are going to need a few!

Having said all that,considering that this might be Davey Fitz's last year maybe waterford will just let loose like the previous years and take KK on Man v Man! Either way i just dont think they have the ability to win this game if KK perform as we know they can! We might just have to wait for the final to first really decent game of the year!

catch_it_wil_ya (Galway) - Posts: 541 - 02/08/2011 11:45:50    1001356

"So Davy has to try something tactic wise to stifle Kilkenny"

Davy's track record in regards tactics is so impresssive, also I think in his interview after the last game he'll be giving less focus on them and just let them play the game. I think the only way to beat kilkenny is take them on 15 against 15 and if you win the majority of the battles and get a but of luck you win the game. The thing is I can't see waterford winning the majority of these battles and the use of those defensive tactics playes straight into kilkennys hands.

Just can't see how they beat the they'll have to play out of their skin and hope kilkenny have an off day.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 02/08/2011 11:59:58    1001372

Typo.


Davy's track record in regards tactics isn't so impresssive,

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 02/08/2011 12:09:48    1001382

i agree Hag his use of tactics is pretty bad so far (Munster Final, enough said) but if he wants to beat KK his hand is almost forced to try something because Man for Man they simply dont have the men! Either way they could be in for a hiding depending on how well KK play,thats the real deciding factor in this game and they are not going to be stuck for inspiration with the chance of meeting Tipp in the final!

catch_it_wil_ya (Galway) - Posts: 541 - 02/08/2011 12:37:54    1001425

Whilst this may come back to hit me in the face, I can't see Waterford winning.

KK are flying in training. Playing fast ball with plenty of movement rather than the previous focus on strength etc.

The Waterford full back line are too suspect at this level. Galway never tested tham.

And I think the waterford forwards are no longer the force they were.

KK will steam roll waterford through midfield, even with Rice out, with Cha and Fennelly the likely pairing.

I actually don't recall any time tactics have worked.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 03/08/2011 12:24:27    1002294

@puddersthecat, Last time i checked our "tactics" worked against Galway!! As they say its the managers fault when they lose!! what about when they win?? ha

deiseblaa (Waterford) - Posts: 21 - 03/08/2011 13:05:14    1002353

What tactics was used in the 2008 final

222 (UK) - Posts: 864 - 03/08/2011 13:25:02    1002374

Waterford don't have the players to beat Kilkenny. The cats will win at a canter. I'll fall off my armchair in surprise if the game is even close!

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 03/08/2011 13:31:46    1002383

The tactics against Tipperary in the semi last year didn't work because every Tipp puckout & clearance that landed in Waterford's half was still contested 50/50 inspite of them having extra men back to help. The Waterford defender invariably tried to catch the ball over his opponent's instead of simply batting it down to the extra defender in front of him. The ball usually broke unfavourably & Tipp had sharp forwards to take advantage of this.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/08/2011 13:39:10    1002386

Pudders is spot on, KK are just too good for Waterford ( and the rest bar Tipp). Deiseblaa, your tactics did not win the Galway game the fact that ye were playing the most inept Galway team I have had the bad luck to see in a long time was the deciding factor there.If the cats are focused they will win with a bit to spare.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 03/08/2011 14:31:09    1002463

Keeper, You're kind of onto something I think. It's not very easy to bat the ball down to a waiting man. Very few hurlers would be able to perfect that art. Doubling on it ain't easy either. However, I reckon that if some inter-county side learns to use the hurley effectively in the air, to move the ball on without catching, to bat the ball out with some degree of accuracy, they could be the next big thing.

All sides are trying to win ball in the air these days. Nobody is going to learn the kind of skill level I'm talking about overnight. However, if I was sending a half forward line into the inter-county championship, and I knew they'd have to beat KK to win the AI, I'd spend weeks pucking out balls for them to double on. Put a fast full forward line inside, and you might just do a bit of damage.

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 03/08/2011 14:46:06    1002482

Could see an upset happening here....everyone is on about waterfords backs but Kilkennys full back line is very suspect......kilkennys performance against dublin in the league final showed these lads are running on empty.....i no they beat dublin but jackie tyrell dalton hickey delaney are there for the taking.....its irrelevant really becuase tipp wil beat both of them anyway.....wud be great for hurling if waterford won...mullane tony brownw brick walsh deserve another crack at all ireland final

GalwayBoy455 (Galway) - Posts: 26 - 03/08/2011 15:04:06    1002510