Make or break for Waterford

IT’S 50 years since Waterford won an All-Ireland. I didn’t see that one, but I did see many of those Waterford players, the likes of Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan, Philly Grimes, Austin Flynn, Frankie Walsh, Ned Power, Seamus Power, Martin Óg Morrissey – they were big men, in every sense, great hurlers, part of a great hurling team.

Compare the Waterford team today with that of 59, and again you have great individuals, the likes of John Mullane, the Prendergast brothers, Eoin Kelly, Ken McGrath, Micheál Brick Walsh, Tony Browne in the last few years, likewise Paul Flynn, big Dan when he was going well; the difference is in the team. The 1959 individuals became a great unit, that hasn’t happened with this current side. They’ve come close — three Munster titles and a National League — but they have yet to win the big one. This is the make or break year for this team, and this is the make or break game. They reached the All-Ireland final last year, they’re back again but I believe that if they lose this game, then they are finished.

What these guys have to do is play as a team, something they failed to do last September. I’ve seen teams collapse many times over the years but never saw it happen as completely as in that All-Ireland final. That tells me a lot more about Waterford than any of their individual abilities, and that doubt is there again for tomorrow. If things start to go wrong for Waterford – and things often do, especially in games you’re expected to win – will they again start to act as individuals, and forget all their responsibilities to the team? Waterford will need everyone firing tomorrow – will their backs, a problem for them in the last few years – stand up to the pressure? Noel Connors, an outstanding underage player, might tighten up that area, and Eoin Murphy is well established in the other corner, so as long as Declan Prendergast holds up his end, in front of a very good keeper in Clinton Hennessey, Waterford should be okay here.

The real contest will be in the Waterford half-back line. If Ollie Moran does start at centre-forward for Limerick, then I’d prefer to have seen Kevin Moran in the central position, though Brick Walsh has been one of Waterford’s outstanding players for years.

No matter how they line out, however, here and everywhere else, the big challenge is to play as a unit.

In midfield, another very good player for Waterford in Stephen Molumphy, and I think this is his best position. Then we come to the half-forward line, and the big question here – can Ken McGrath get back to his best form? He’s been around a long time, can he get the hunger back, can he still reach the high notes? There’s no question over his ability, but there is a question over his temperament. Then we come to Seamus Prendergast, and here, to my mind, one of the real unsung heroes for Waterford over the years. A fantastic targetman for the puck-outs, tremendous work-rate, he’s a ball-winner.

Then you go inside, and look for the match-winners. John Mullane, Eoin Kelly, Eoin McGrath – the first two of those, again you’d have to suspect the temperament, though Mullane is much improved in that area over the last few years. There’s no doubt they can punish you, when they’re on song and everything is going their way, but what when it isn’t? Eoin McGrath is a very busy player, and very effective, but maybe he’s too busy, in too much of a hurry – if he learned to be a bit more composed, he’d be even more effective. But I like him as a player, good worker, puts everything in.

Then we come to Limerick. In 2007 they reached the All-Ireland final themselves, lost to Kilkenny, then last year they came out and collapsed. Down in the Gaelic Grounds, against Offaly in the All-Ireland qualifiers, their last chance saloon, they were absolutely dire, as bad as ever I saw a Limerick team, and I’ve seen a few. Even the most loyal of Limerick supporters were disgusted that day, and I don’t blame them. In fairness, I think the players themselves were disgusted with their own performance; it was a day when they’d have been better off staying at home.

YOU can blame who you like afterwards, but ultimately it rests with the players, they were the ones. Maybe, though, that’s a great way to be going into the championship this year — now, they are under pressure to perform, and big as this game is for Waterford, it’s massive for Limerick also. They have to win back the confidence and respect of their own supporters, but they also have to win back some self-respect.

Looking through the team, they have massive experience. In the full-back line, Damien Reale and Stephen Lucey, that’s as good as is around at the moment, with Mark O’Riordan — like Lucey, another dual player — also a good choice in the other corner. Any scores here will be hard-earned. Half-back line, a new man, Stephen Walsh, but again, two very experienced players in this line in Brian Geary and Mark Foley. A question mark over Mark, however — having missed the league, is he ready now for championship? I like the Limerick midfield, Donal O’Grady especially, I’d put him near the top in the country every year, very consistent. A lot of talk about Seamus Hickey, and he didn’t have a good year last year — he’s one of those under pressure now. He must concentrate on his game, let the referee alone, just hurl, and he’ll be a better player.

The Limerick forward line-up surprises me, especially James O’Brien — can’t see him as a full-forward. The Moran brothers we know about, in the half-forward line, and while Niall’s recent form has been good, Ollie is the same boat as Mark Foley, making one of his first starts of the year — is he ready? Then there’s James Ryan — a new man, but I know him well from my days with Garryspillane, and I believe James would be better off in midfield.

Inside, for Donie Ryan read Eoin McGrath, another man who needs to steady himself in possession. At full-forward, like I said, surprised to see James O’Brien — wouldn’t be surprised if Ollie Moran ends up here, James in the half-forward line. Finally, the man on whom so much has depended for Limerick over the last few years, the man on whom so much depends tomorrow — Andrew O’Shaughnessy. It’s time for someone to give Andrew a good kick up in the arse, time for him to wake up and start hurling again, because the last few games I’ve seen him in, he’s been strolling. Whatever problem he has, time for him to get over it and get back to what he does best — hurl.

Call it? I think this will be straight-forward, old-fashioned, in-your-face Munster championship game, the referee kept busy. Two teams with a point to prove, they will go at it hammer and tongs. I believe, though, that Waterford have the better hurlers, and should shade it.