Any chance of a final to remember?
There will be a lot of build-up, a lot of celebration, torch processions and all that – the one most important celebration I’d like to see is a good game, something like the final of 1984, the 100th anniversary, which was also in Semple Stadium, and also involved Tipperary.
They lost that one, that late goal against Cork when goalkeeper John Sheedy brought down a ball that was going over the bar – a very common occurrence with modern goalkeepers but rare back then – only for Seánie O’Leary to pounce on the rebound.
Seánie was an annoying goal-poacher, if you know what I mean, especially if you weren’t from Cork – he was never that prominent, and when he did score it wasn’t usually a net-buster, just a flick, probably didn’t even reach the back of the net. The ultimate cute Cork hoor.
Anyway, not to get too caught up in the events of 25 years ago, what I’m hoping for tomorrow is a game to match the occasion.
And we’re going to need that kind of a game, because up to now, the hurling in the Munster championship has not been good.
In fact I’d go so far as to say that the worst game I ever saw in Munster was the drawn game between Waterford and Limerick. The Tipperary-Cork game was good for about 20 minutes, same thing in Tipperary-Clare, Tipp deciding to take their foot off the pedal when they thought they had it won after going nine points up. But no real intensity for 70 minutes, no two teams going at each other hell for leather for the whole game with little between them, even at the finish. We need a game like that tomorrow, a hard-hitting, close encounter with none of the looseness we’ve see too often up to now.
Are we going to get it? I’m hopeful we will. In fairness to Waterford, they’ve been involved in some fantastic games over the last decade, against Cork especially, and several of those have been in the final. They’ve given great value for money in Munster.
In fairness to the Waterford supporters too, I must pay them tribute, because they have brought great colour, great excitement and humour to the Munster championship in that period.
They’ve spent a lot of money following their team, will be out in force in the square in Thurles again tomorrow. And a side issue here, but I do think it’s relevant — to show respect to those supporters, the Waterford management should keep its focus on the Waterford players, on the Waterford team, and leave other counties to mind their own business.
You don’t hear Justin McCarthy criticising Cork, for example, and he would have plenty of ammunition — every manager has enough to do in his own patch, should concentrate on that. Never take your eye off the ball, that’s a truism in hurling whether you’re playing or managing.
It’s no coincidence Waterford have played in so many outstanding games over the last several years – they have outstanding players, and a lot of them. I’ll start at the back; Clinton Hennessey is very underrated nationally as a keeper — I rate him very highly; Eoin Murphy is an outstanding corner-back, Tony Browne and Brick Walsh have been at the top of the pile for years now; similarly Stephen Molumphy, Seamus Prendergast, Eoin Kelly and above all, John Mullane. At this moment, Mullane is probably the best forward in the country, on fire against Limerick in the drawn game and replay. If you were picking a hurler-of-the-year today he would be out in front, and well out in front.
The one criticism of this Waterford team, and it applied especially in last year’s All-Ireland final — when they’re bad, they’re bad as a group, a total team collapse. This happens especially when they concede a goal at a crucial time, the heads seem to go down right away. That’s a major worry about any team.
To Tipperary. If this game were to be played over 40 minutes I’d be going for Tipperary to win well. They have developed the habit of starting very well, building up a big lead, then sitting on it. It’s the 15 or 20 minutes after that first 40 that they seem to fall down, relax, before regrouping again in the final few minutes. Is it because of their youth, so many of them lacking experience at this level? Or is it something else? We’re hearing constantly that Shane McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Conor O’Mahony, aren’t fully fit – well if they’re not, they shouldn’t be playing in a Munster final, simple as that. There’s no questioning the ability of these players but the Munster championship isn’t a tea-party, you need the full of your health. Whatever it is, they’ll need to have it sorted out by tomorrow. Mind you, if he is fit, I like the move of Eoin Kelly to full-forward, with McGrath and Corbett — youth and experience — in the corners. There’s real potential here, real danger, if Woodlock and McGrath, two good operators in midfield, let the ball in early. Word of advice for Seamus Callanan – lose the celebrations, Seamus. And you’re going to need to be really on your toes tomorrow because you’re up against one of the best Waterford players of recent years, one of the most consistent, in Brick Walsh.
Tipperary have massive ambitions for this year, and Munster is a major stepping-stone in that. It’s in Thurles, it’s a chance for them – and for the Sheedy household – to erase the bad memories of 1984. I think they’ll do it.
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