Time right for Déise new boys to make mark
Going back over the last 15 years it is fair to say the greatest games in the Munster championship have involved these two counties. Epic after epic served up, they never failed to disappoint.
One of the real star men during those battles was Waterford’s Ken McGrath. Ken, unfortunately, hasn’t had the best of health in the last number of months. I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he will be back enjoying hurling very soon.
Ken was one of the most entertaining players in the great era between this pair. And wouldn’t Waterford love to have someone of his stature and quality playing tomorrow.
Indeed, wouldn’t they relish to have back just one or two in the long list of outstanding players who have moved on in the past number of years — Dan Shanahan, John Mullane, Paul Flynn, Tony Browne and Eoin Kelly.
It is up to the present hurlers to return this rivalry to the level it was at in the middle of the last decade. This is their time.
What I always find striking with regard to the Déise is their failure to succeed either at Munster or All-Ireland level under the guidance of a local manager. The vast majority of their success stretching back into the last decade came under the leadership of an outsider.
Derek McGrath is very enthusiastic, but he will be wary of history. Take the last Waterford man to hold his position, Michael Ryan — he was not allowed continue even though he wanted to. Hopefully history won’t repeat itself and Derek will be given the time he needs and deserves, regardless of results. There also seems to be a problem between the West Waterford man and the Waterford city man. The rivalry is so strong and it is a manager’s responsibility to bring all those players together. The outside manager never had a problem in this regard, but local bainisteoirs have had difficulties.
I was surprised by Derek’s selection and his decision to hand championship debuts to four players. Take someone like Colin Dunford, who starts tomorrow yet never pucked a ball during the league.
I find it strange to put a player in a championship situation without any league experience. Clearly they know something we don’t.
Where questions hang over this Waterford team is with regards their forward unit. Pauric Mahony will have to lead the attack. It is a big ask for a 22-year-old.
At the end of the day, Waterford will again depend on the likes of Kevin Moran, Noel Connors and ‘Brick’ Walsh. How long can they continue to shoulder responsibility, particularly when you are losing?
Turning to Cork, their main problem area is easily identifiable — defence.
The management have embarked on corrective surgery with Mark Ellis located at centre-back and Damien Cahalane behind him. Cahalane’s DNA is proven and if he is half as tenacious as his father was, Shane Walsh will be in for a tough 70 minutes.
Keeping with the Rebel rearguard, Shane O’Neill, Stephen McDonnell and Christopher Joyce are all good hurlers, but are they good defenders? The players wearing the shirts numbered two through seven are good hurlers, but I would stop there because Cork are conceding big tallies. Ultimately, that is what cost them last year.
Cork have done the right thing by putting Aidan Walsh at midfield and his athletic ability will be crucial.
Consistency up front is another central issue. Conor Lehane and Patrick Horgan are two fantastic craftsmen, but are too inconsistent. Sometimes you wonder if either are involved in a game, too often drifting in and out.
Cork still need to fine-tune that defence and they obviously realise it is an issue otherwise you wouldn’t bring in a completely new central spine. Nonetheless, I expect Cork to prevail.
Outside the whitewash, there has been virtually no talk about this game.
Perhaps it is symptomatic of the fact people don’t expect the type of hair-raising game we were routinely treated when these two counties locked horns in the past. I would fear for a poor attendance. We need a good crowd, hurlers rise to the occasion in front of large audiences.
Hopefully, Cork and Waterford will rise to the levels of old tomorrow.
