Sunday Next – Croke Park – 1.30 p.m. Electric Ireland All Ireland M.H.C. Final Waterford Vs. Galway Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork). When Waterford line out against Galway in next Sunday’s All Ireland Minor Hurling Final it will only be the county’s second final appearance since winning the title for the second time in 1948 and also a second final meeting with Galway, the county that denied us on our last appearance in 1992. While it took over forty four years for a Waterford minor team to get back to Croke Park after the title win of 1948 and a further seventeen to the next semi final appearance in 2009, the upsurge in our underage fortunes in recent years, and the ‘back door’ system, has seen Waterford teams follow on into the minor quarter final of 2010 and the semi final of 2011. On each occasion high hopes of a third All Ireland title were dashed, by next Sunday’s opponents in the final of 1992 and the semi final and quarter final of 2009 and 2010 respectively and then by Dublin in the semi final of 2011. Despite those disappointing defeats Waterford teams are now serious contenders for underage titles and on Sunday next the opportunity presents itself to make the long overdue breakthrough. In Galway we face a county that has established itself as Minor Championship specialists since beating Waterford to win the 1992 title. In the twenty one years since then Galway teams have won the Minor All Ireland title on seven occasions, more than any other county in that period, and appeared in the final on seven other occasions. It is a very impressive record and so tradition is very much on the side of the Connaught side going into this game. FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING While Galway teams have never beaten Waterford in a Senior Championship game the feeling might be out there, as a result of the three defeats suffered at the hands of Galway since ’92, that Waterford have never beaten Galway in the Minor Championship. That is not quite true for in the All Ireland semi final of 1948 Waterford followed up their Munster title success with a resounding 8 – 12 to 3 – 2 win over Galway in the All Ireland semi final at Croke Park. Up to then Galway had never won a minor title but now they are established as the kingpins in the grade and their dramatic win over Limerick has seen them rightly installed as strong favourites to collect their ninth title. It has been two weeks of unprecedented pressure on the youngsters of Galway, and indeed Waterford, following the decision of the powers that be in Limerick to seek a replay of their semi final with Galway because of the ‘Hawkeye’ error. The game went to extra time, Limerick had every chance to win it and the better team came out on top. Heartbreak certainly, for the Limerick players, but how often have teams been hard done by in terms of wrong decisions by referees or umpires and having had to just take it on the chin. That this whole charade was dragged out to the weekend before the All Ireland Final reflects poorly, not on the Limerick players, but on those who made the decision to pursue this matter to such lengths when the outcome was always likely to be the confirmation of the result on the field. There are many who will argue that Waterford’s presence in the Minor final is tarnished by the fact that they have already lost two games in this year’s championship, to Tipperary in the first round and to Limerick in the Munster Final replay. The ‘back door’ system is there and it has already been availed of by teams who have lost in their provincial championship and recovered to win the All Ireland in senior and minor and no one could argue but that the best tem in the country won the All Ireland. In Munster the losers of first round games get a second chance and, having lost narrowly to Tipperary in Walsh Park, Waterford took full advantage to turn in a much improved performance against Clare before going on to defeat a well fancied Cork side on their home patch in dramatic fashion. No one will argue that Waterford were not the better team against Limerick in the final at the Gaelic Grounds and would have won the game but for a bout of cockiness in the closing minutes. Likewise there can be no arguing the fact that Limerick were the better side in the Thurles replay and in one way Waterford will be sorry not to have the opportunity to put the record straight against the Shannonsiders in the decider but on the other hand there are a number of scores to be settled against Galway. The Galway side that defeated Limerick was much improved on the team that beat Laois in the quarter final at Semple Stadium and no doubt that semi final win over Limerick will bring them on further. They have some exceptional hurlers on board particularly in centre back Sean Cooney, midfielder Eanna Burke and front line forwards Brian Molloy and Brian Burke. Mattie Murphy has been turning out superb teams off the conveyor belt for some years now and this present side looks as good as any of them. Galway teams know how to win minor finals but this Waterford side has come through as tough a campaign as any side ever to reach this stage and are by now a battle hardened outfit that will not go down easily. Their best performance of the campaign was, arguably, the first fifty minutes against Limerick in the drawn final while the most spirited display was in coming from behind against Cork to secure victory in extra time. GREAT SPIRIT In terms of spirit this side will not be found wanting and the win over Kilkenny in Croke Park will stand to the players as they achieved what the previous Waterford teams did not and that was a championship win in Croke Park and over Kilkenny at that. Waterford’s 2 – 12 to 0 – 13 win over Kilkenny was more emphatic than the score line would suggest and it remains to be seen if there will be any changes to the starting line up for the final. Since the semi final the players have come through a round of minor club championship games and many have played senior, intermediate or junior championship games. All appear to have come through unscathed so it remains to be seen if the selectors will stick with the fifteen that started against Kilkenny or the fifteen that finished the game. The defence is likely to be unchanged from the semi final with Shane Bennett available having been sent off on a second yellow card in that game. Certainly, one tactic that gave cause for concern in that game was the use of the short puck out. It just did not work and the risk of danger that comes from a fumbled effort outweighs any benefit that might come from a well executed one. Every Waterford player will have to step up to the plate on Sunday against very good opponents. It will be a big test for the Waterford defence and particularly the full back line against the exceptional Brian Molloy in the corner and the powerful Brian Burke at the edge of the square. They will be well up for the challenge with Kevin Daly ready to play a captain’s part and well capable of matching Burke’s physicality and skill. Austin Gleeson will have to be at his best in front of him and his long clearances can have a big influence on the game. The midfield partnership of Mark O’Brien functioned well against Kilkenny and the selectors have a strong back up here with Cormac Curran and Conor Gleeson available to start or come on as they did against Kilkenny. In Stephen Bennett and Patrick Curran Waterford have two of the best young forwards in the game and a good supply of ball in front of them will see the Galway defence under strong pressure. DEISE CAN DO IT Waterford have not enjoyed the best of luck since winning the Munster title in 2009 and there is a volume of opinion out there that this side is better than that side. Only a victory on Sunday will provide the answer to that question. The management team has done everything possible to get things right and now it comes down to the players who will take the field on Sunday. It has been a long road for this bunch of players. They have already shown that they possess the skill and commitment to win but they will only do so if they produce it in Croke Park on Sunday. I believe they can and will do it. c Waterford News & Star
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 13:14:52 +0000
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