Kilkenny v Waterford

Foregone conclusion?


Hard to make a case for Waterford winning this, the only thing in their favour is that there is little or no expectation on them going into this game, the last time this happened was 2008 when they got the better of Tipp, although that was an average enough Tipp side compared to their current team and this Kilkenny side.

It will be interesting to see how Kilkenny line up, talk is that JJ Delaney is out, with either Dalton or Paddy Hogan likely to replace him, twould be no harm for kilkenny to get a right test here as opposed to winning pulling up like they did v Wexford and Dublin, given that they would have 4 weeks to prepare for the final. Shefflin will probably remain at left half forward with Power starting at 11 which would certainly ask big questions of Brick who is a fine centre back to domaite his patch but is not much of a marker and very seldom follwos his man while Fennelly v Moran/O'Sullivan at midfield should be a good contest, all big strong men who like to carry the ball. I have the feeling Waterford will give a decent account of themselves and keep into Kilkenny for the most part, something similar to their 2009 semi final but Kilkenny will just have too much fire power. Probbaly the last time the likes of Seamus Prendergast, Tony Brown and Clinton Hennessey will be seen in the Waterford colours

Credit to Waterford good battling performance from them but were never going to win what was a poor enough game of hurling truth be told. Kilkenny certainly look short of the incredibly high standard they have set for themselves over the past 5 years and you would feel at this point in time if tipp get over Dublin and play anywhere near their form of the last 12 months or so they will win the final with a bit to spare


Good to see Waterford have restored a bit of pride after the munster final, presume that Browne, Prendergast x2, Hennessey & Eoin Kelly days are numbered. But even for a side in transition over the past 4 years they have consistently been the 3rd best side in the country, albeit a long way off the top two. But since the defeat to Clare in early 2008 only Tipp and Kilkenny have beaten them, doesn't say much for the rest of the country.

They will surely have a new manager next year and Liam Lawlor had a fine performance this afternoon and has lost the bit of greenness he had last year and a spine of Lawlor-Brick-O'Sullivan/Moran-Mullane-Walsh is a good solid spine to be blooding some of the fine young hurler they have coming through around. They will be still be more often than not in the A/I semi finals in 5 years time and I doubt we will see a dramatic slide in their fortunes like we did with Clare/Wexford/Offaly when their key men walked away

Yeah poor game. Cats looking very ordinary - pity they didn't play a bit like that in the Leinster Final. Last 10 minutes were bizarre - like a game of tennis between Tyrrell and the Deise half back line. Waterford needing goals and popping balls into the FF line and not a fooking sinner there - madness. Mullane gave his all as usual - but all that fist pumping must be taking a bit out of him. Fitzgerald's substitutions were baffling too. Eoin Kelly, Maher - he needed goals and definitely points and he takes these off??? Tactical he ain't ....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Yeah poor game. Cats looking very ordinary - pity they didn't play a bit like that in the Leinster Final. Last 10 minutes were bizarre - like a game of tennis between Tyrrell and the Deise half back line. Waterford needing goals and popping balls into the FF line and not a fooking sinner there - madness. Mullane gave his all as usual - but all that fist pumping must be taking a bit out of him. Fitzgerald's substitutions were baffling too. Eoin Kelly, Maher - he needed goals and definitely points and he takes these off??? Tactical he ain't ....

Eoin Kelly was well off the pace and was rightly substituted, looks a shadow of the player he was between 2002 & 2007. They actually rallied and had their best period of the second half soon after the substitutions.

there was no Maher on the Waterford side, presume you mean Walsh

Mullane rallied them on his own. Meant Padraig Walsh is it? So where was the FF line in the last 15 when they needed at least one goal?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Mullane rallied them on his own. Meant Padraig Walsh is it? So where was the FF line in the last 15 when they needed at least one goal?

Shane Walsh, apart from picking up a couple of handly ball in the first half Hickey had his number and with Kilkenny keeping their fullbackline deep in the second half Walsh was never going to get the room to create a goal chance, he had gone out of the game and I wouldn't be criticising management for taking him off, in fairness to Richie Foley, Shanahan & young Ryan that came on they upped Waterford's workrate which had slacked off since half time and brought them back into the game somewhat

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Yeah poor game. Cats looking very ordinary - pity they didn't play a bit like that in the Leinster Final. Last 10 minutes were bizarre - like a game of tennis between Tyrrell and the Deise half back line. Waterford needing goals and popping balls into the FF line and not a fooking sinner there - madness. Mullane gave his all as usual - but all that fist pumping must be taking a bit out of him. Fitzgerald's substitutions were baffling too. Eoin Kelly, Maher - he needed goals and definitely points and he takes these off??? Tactical he ain't ....

Just done enough didn't want to show their full hand with Anto watching-Dublin will have learned from the Leinster final and wont make the same mistakes in an All-Ireland final..

Shanahan did ok. Mullane parked on HF line and even with 15 to go was popping over points because there was no-one inside - which he knew wouldn't be enough. The amount of aimless balls that hopped into Herity's hands was amazing. Kilkenny didn't play well but were helped over the line by the Waterford bench. And Mullane knew it too.

Waterford played to their level today and albeit for a lack of concentration towards the end of the first half, had Cody and co thinking about things for sure. Were the Kats ever proper worried though?

no, were they fook

Better decision making by Waterford and it could have been alot closer.