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You are > Home > Waterford made to work for win away to Tralee
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Waterford made to work for win away to Tralee
BY PHIL FANNING
WATERFORD 2-13 IT TRALEE 3-05
With some of the players lining out for the fourth time in eight days and others for the third time it was inevitable that Waterford would experience some signs of fatigue after the long journey to Tralee on Saturday last and while they were made to work harder than might have been expected the visitors were never in any danger of defeat despite having to make a few substitutions due to injuries.
Involvement with their colleges in the earlier rounds of this competition ruled out such as Adrian Power, Noel Connors, Shane Fives, Thomas Connors and Richie Foley and with a few other players down with flu the selectors were a little more limited in their options than in the other games played last week.
The team showed five changes in personnel from the starting line up against Cork IT with Aidan Kearney starting in defence in place of Mark O’Brien and Eoin Whelan coming in for Eoin Kelly in midfield. In attack Shane O’Sullivan, Martin O’Neill and Gary Hurney replaced Eoin McGrath, Shane Walsh and Thomas Ryan.
There was nothing between the teams in the opening twenty minutes, the end of which saw the teams level at 0-3 each, but Waterford’s troubles were added two when Shane Casey was forced off after just four minutes with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
Waterford took control of the game in the 24th minute when Casey’s replacement Shane Walsh shot to the net to maintain a good scoring average in all four games over the past week. Maurice Shanahan added a number of points from frees and Waterford were well in charge as they went in at the break with a 1-8 to 0-3 lead.
The injured Kevin Moran did not reappear for the second half to replaced by Nicky Jacob but within two minutes Waterford reaffirmed their superiority when the outstanding Michael Walsh made a great run out of defence and deep into the Tralee half before setting up teenager Martin O’Neill for a superb goal.
Maurice Shanahan increased the lead and the visitors were never in danger though Tralee battled hard and in the last quarter forced their way back into the game with Eoin Ryan at centre back and Nicky Quaid in midfield impressing. With defenders Jerome Maher, Jamie Nagle and Declan Prendergast being forced off injured Tralee struck for goals from Fergus Kennedy, Padraig O’Connor and Denis Crowley to cut the Waterford lead to just five points at the final whistle but an upset was never really on.
It was certainly a satisfactory week’s work for the Waterford management in which they managed to run the rule over most of their interim panel and as I have already said the biggest problem facing them now will be who to leave out when the league campaign starts such is the commitment and effort coming from all the players.
On top of that there will also be concern at the number of injuries picked up in Tralee on Sunday particularly as there is another busy week mapped out culminating with a Crystal Cup semi final away on Sunday next to the winners of this evening’s floodlit quarter final between Tipperary and Clare in Borrisileigh.
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