Breaking ’Brick’ wall key for Clare

I’M intrigued to see what style or tactics new coach Ken McGrath brings to Waterford. McGrath was arguably the main man in a team who, at their best, played with a “swashbuckling” freedom.

But the buckle has become detached from the swash over the past few years with the retirement of McGrath, Paul Flynn and Dan Shanahan.

Only John Mullane and ‘Brick’ Walsh remain as present day leaders. Manager Michael Ryan and coach McGrath haven’t the same quality of players to work with and they’ll have to cut their cloth accordingly. Their plans will still have to revolve around the aforementioned duo and good support play. To win tomorrow at Semple Stadium Waterford will have to devise plans to ensure Walsh plays a central defensive role. Midfielders and half-forwards will have to double up on their roles by picking up the Clare centre-forward if he attempts to draw Walsh out to the wings or to midfield. Déise left half-back Kevin Moran is good at driving forward and should be encouraged to do so, but, defensively, keeping the half-backline in their positions must be the starting point for success. Up front, it’s quite simple. Plan A, B and C revolve around John Mullane being given quality ball in space that allows him to run at defenders.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald knows the Waterford panel inside out and he will seek a low scoring game. His tactics will certainly include negating Déise inside men Mullane, Shane Walsh and Gavin O’Brien. The well worn maxim that the best form of defence is attack could be his starting point. By this I don’t mean all out gung-ho attacks by the Banner. The source of most attacks is the half-back line. Clare will surely turn their half-forward area into a battleground with concerted skirmishes, harrying and harassing any defenders in possession. This tackling will prevent a supply of quality ball to the Déise forwards and make life as easy as possible for Clare’s defence and impressive full-back, Cian Dillon.

Players and managers have long memories. Clare targeted Cork centre-back Brian Corcoran in Munster in ’98 to very good effect. Clare full-forwards and half-forwards surrounded him quickly once in possession and forced big turnovers. Clare will probably employ similar tactics tomorrow on all Déise defenders, particularly Brick Walsh.

Picking up scores from forced turnovers are always important psychologically. They give intense satisfaction to the tackler as well as knocking the confidence of the defence. In the recent League semi final against Kilkenny, Clare employed their swarming tackling tactics, with forwards covering back quickly into midfield and beyond. It worked well in the first half but they ran out of steam thereafter. This requires an immense work-rate but it will be employed again tomorrow as Clare know that Waterford are no Kilkenny.

Clare and Waterford are in the easy side of the draw and the managers will view tomorrow’s game as a great opportunity to reach a Munster final. Clare manager Fitzgerald is building the future around the successful U21’s of 2009. They possess good forwards in the shape of Conor McGrath and John Conlon. But they are not noted goalscorers, unlike Waterford’s John Mullane and Shane Walsh, good finishers if chances come their way.

However, the Banner have some advantages. They approach the game in a relaxed frame of mind with nothing to lose. Their main ambition for 2012, returning to Division 1A of the League was bagged impressively in the Spring campaign. Any subsequent positives taken from the Championship will be filed under the “crucial experience gained” heading. They are a young fit team. Young players have a fearless type of confidence as no reputations are on the line and Clare will attempt to replicate the intensity and physicality of Kilkenny.

James McGrath handles the refereeing duties. Judging by the League final day, he will allow a good deal of close physical tackling and this will suit Clare. The pressure is all on the Déise. They are expected to win. Their league campaign was less than convincing and their management need a win to dispel any question marks hanging over them. Besides goalscorers, one key edge they have is motivation. Pride dictates that they will not want to be beaten by Davy Fitzgerald and pride is a great spur.