'You're fighting fires' - Déise boss Fitzgerald laments glut of goals given up against London
HARD WATCHING: Waterford manager Ephie Fitzgerald. Pic: INPHO
Another troubling result for the Déise footballers, and this one stings for Ephie Fitzgerald given how self-inflicted their first-round Tailteann Cup hammering by London was.
“I mean, four of the five goals were our own fault, really, they were crazy,” Fitzgerald said after the loss. “We’re very critical of ourselves, but to give them… we actually gave them three goals in the first half.
“At that stage, you're fighting fires. We created a couple of goal chances ourselves and didn't take them. So, all in all, I don't think that scoring reflects the type of game it was, but unfortunately, when you concede goals, it's going to be difficult to recover from it.”
They never did recover from the dreadful start, London’s early blitz ensuring there was never any doubt as to who would win. The first goal came inside a minute, a Joe McGill point attempt deemed to have been dropped over the line by Paudie Hunt. The second arrived in the ninth minute, Kristian Healy's shot blocked before Shay Rafter finished the rebound.
The third followed on 19 minutes, a poor kickout intercepted by McGill and worked through Daniel Clarke to James Davis for the finish, leaving it 3-1 to 0-3.
The fourth was the one London worked hardest for, a neat move involving Clarke, Seán O'Donoghue, Rafter and David Gouldson, the latter finishing from close range to make it 4-1 to 0-4 just before half time.
“I just said to the lads, you know, it was a poor performance from us defensively, but they've given me everything,” Fitzgerald explained. “I can't ask for any more. Regardless of your abilities and that, if you give an honest effort, that's all I can ask of them.
“But I do think the future of Waterford football has to be looked at. Both in terms of the team that's there now, but also the people that are available, and the clubs getting more involved, and the clubs encouraging fellas to play football.
“I would say we're a third poor relation to hurling and soccer in Waterford, if the truth be known.
“You have a lot of guys who want to play hurling with Waterford, and that's fine,” he added. “But if you're not getting a game, you're not getting on the panel, I mean, what's the point?
“Whereas, they'd be stars with us. I could name seven or eight guys who were involved with the hurling this year, who would absolutely improve our team, to no end, but didn't get a game with the hurling.” Alan Dunwoody’s first-half black card was another blow that left the Déise down to 14 until the second half, though he returned to kick three second-half points and take his tally to 0-4.
But that was the only bright spark in a second half that passed in limbo for Waterford, and London’s run of 1-7 unanswered including a fifth green flag from Finbarr Crowley compounded their misery.
A Dunwoody (0-4, 0-1 f), M O’Brien (0-3 f), A Ryan (0-2), S Curry (0-1).
S Rafter (1-2), D Gouldson, J Davis, J McGill (1-1 each), H Walsh (0-3, 0-1 f), F Crowley (1-0), L Gallagher, K Healy, C Diver, C O’Donohue (0-1 each).
P Hunt; C Ó Cuirrín, B Hynes, T Martin; L Mulligan, A Crawford, G Power; C Walsh, D Ryan; D Walsh, M Curry, M O’Brien; S Curry, A Dunwoody, A Murray.
A Ryan for C Walsh (HT), D Fitzgerald for Power (46), P McCarthy for O’Brien (60), K Flynn for D Walsh (65).
A Walsh; S O’Donoghue, D Rooney, L Gallagher; D Gouldson, C O’Donohue, J Davis; C Gallagher, D Clarke; J McGill, F Crowley, K Healy; M O’Reilly, S Rafter, C Diver.
T Barry for Clarke (32), C McKeon for O’Reilly (49-53 temp), McKeon for Gouldson (56), L Murphy for Rooney (60), H Walsh for Barry (63), G Durrant for Diver (65).
S Lonergan (Tipperary)
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