GOING into last Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final in Thurles I had a real fear of Wexford.
Whatever has happened, Wexford cannot seem to play against Kilkenny anymore. They act like rabbits caught in the headlights when they come up against the Cats.
They played a good forty minutes against Kilkenny in the Leinster final but that was never going to be good enough to win. However, they always seem to have a one good match in them every s eason, as they had against us in 2003, the same year they drew with Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 2004 when they beat Kilkenny and also last year when they beat Tipperary in an All-Ireland quarter-final.
They had also beaten us in the National Hurling League earlier this year. Then if you add in our less than convincing display against Offaly it all left me feeling apprehensive about the trip to Thurles. I actually think that the fact that this game was played in Thurles was a huge boost to Waterford as Wexford would have been a lot more familiar with Croke Park.
We had answered some of the questions asked of us in this topsy turvy season against Offaly but we were still along way off the form that we showed when lighting up last year’s championship.
Against Offaly we depended too much on the red-hot Eoin Kelly and his colleagues in the full-forward line. We would have to continue our rate of improvement under Davy if we were to see off Wexford and in fairness we did. BRILLIANT BROWNE
We looked shaky in defence in the first half with only the brilliant Tony Browne playing to the standard required at this level. Ken got in some good blocks and clearances in this period but he still doesn’t look comfortable or happy in this position. However, I don’t see Davy and his selectors changing Ken from full-back at this stage so I suppose us supporters will have to get used to it. Ken now has three championship matches in his new position under his belt so I expect a player of his skill, talent and determination to adapt, continue to improve and hopefully put the shackles on Tipp’s Lar Corbett the next day.
To be fair the lads did well to get back into this game in the first half to lead by a point coming up to the break before Eoin Kelly’s rasper of a goal set us up nicely. Despite not playing well we still went in at half-time, four points up.
The second half was not easy viewing for either set of supporters. We leaked two bad goals and if Damien Fitzhenry had scored that penalty it probably would have been curtains for us.
Credit though must go to the Water-ford players as they did not fold when those two goals went in. Then the score that we’ve been waiting for all season arrived and at last Dan got us a goal that set us up for victory. John Mullane in particular was flying at this stage gaining possession and running at the Wexford defence, who were continually forced to foul him and Eoin Kelly’s final point was a worthy match winner.
I know Davy and his selectors and all the players know that this display would not be good enough to topple Tipp. However, we are improving with every game. I felt we hit a lot of aimless balls into our full-forward line without trying to pick out our man. We continue to lose possession from our own puck outs where our half-forwards just don’t seem to compete forcefully enough under the high ball.
Our defence was opened up way too easily for Wexford’s three goals and I feel Ken will have to learn to play a more negative game if he continues at fullback. Davy has stood behind some of the best defenders in the game and I expect his experience in this area will be essential over the next three weeks. Our full-forward line is red hot an the moment and now that we have Dan back scoring goals maybe things are not so bad.
UNDERDOG TAG
Waterford don’t do favouritism too well so it will suit us that we will be under-dogs against Tipperary. I thought Cork should have beaten Tipp in the Munster championship but failed to drive on to victory when well ahead. Clare would have troubled Tipp in the Munster Final if they had not had so many wides. This team will die on their feet to get to an All-Ireland final so maybe just maybe we can win a semi-final at long last.
WHO ARE THEY CODDING?
Who do the GAA authorities thing they are codding by telling us that there were only 37,812 at last week’s matches in Thurles. There was hardly a ticket to be had anywhere last week and I just don’t know where they have put another 15,000 people into a ‘full’ Semple.
