WHEN WATERFORD WERE submerged by an avalanche of Tipperary goals in the 2011 Munster final, Davy Fitzgerald convened his side early on the Monday morning to pick over the bones of the defeat.
That season Waterford managed to revive themselves to dismiss Galway in a quarter-final and challenge Kilkenny in a semi-final.
That challenge now faces them again. On Sunday they suffered another bad beating in a Munster a decider, Tipperary administering the punishment once more.
There was no group chat at dawn on Monday this time, instead the first steps at rehabilitation took place last night.
“We didn’t meet up, we’d had a chat after the match,” revealed captain Kevin Moran.
“Everybody just wanted to get out of Limerick and get home and we’ll meet up tonight, have a chat and a small bit of training.
“It’s important to get back among each other, regroup and focus on what’s ahead of us.”
There’s been a school of thought since Sunday’s game that a result of that nature is beneficial in pushing hurling back towards more 15 v 15 contests.
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Moran is mystified as to how such a savage loss can be regarded in that way.
“I try and distance themselves since the match from things like that. I don’t know how that could be a victory for hurling when a team is hammered like that and a team that has come from where it has been over the last number of years to being quite competitive and bringing some exceptional young hurlers onto the team. I wouldn’t agree with it, to be honest.”
The De La Salle pinpoints Waterford not tracking Tipperary runners as central to their demise.
“Darren Gleeson was hitting 100 yards puck-outs high into the air that were very difficult to catch. They were aware on the breaks and feeding the runners on the outside.
“Obviously, we’ve to look at ourselves and say why weren’t we following those runners and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“We have to learn from our lesson and realise teams like Tipperary, if they get half a chance, are going to annihilate you and they didn’t take the foot off the gas on Sunday.”
A dejected Waterford boss Derek McGrath after their Munster final loss Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
As a survivor from that 2011 loss, Moran can compare the two. He regards that defeat as a more harrowing experience.
“I think 2011 was worse because conditions were perfect. We were under the cosh from the first minute.
“If we look back at the first half the other day, I don’t think it was a systems failure or a total disaster of a performance.
“I think they took a goal that shouldn’t have happened. We had an opportunity of a goal that didn’t happen and we missed chances
“In the second half, yes, it was an absolute onslaught and it was such hard conditions, the rain was coming and there was a huge downfield wind, winning the ball we were up against it.
“Even when we got inside to win the ball and try and score it was tricky. That’s what I’m clinging on hope to anyway.
“I think we have the right guys there in the dressing room and around the team to pick ourselves back up and get a performance Sunday week.”
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'I don’t know how that could be a victory for hurling when a team is hammered'
WHEN WATERFORD WERE submerged by an avalanche of Tipperary goals in the 2011 Munster final, Davy Fitzgerald convened his side early on the Monday morning to pick over the bones of the defeat.
That season Waterford managed to revive themselves to dismiss Galway in a quarter-final and challenge Kilkenny in a semi-final.
That challenge now faces them again. On Sunday they suffered another bad beating in a Munster a decider, Tipperary administering the punishment once more.
There was no group chat at dawn on Monday this time, instead the first steps at rehabilitation took place last night.
“We didn’t meet up, we’d had a chat after the match,” revealed captain Kevin Moran.
“Everybody just wanted to get out of Limerick and get home and we’ll meet up tonight, have a chat and a small bit of training.
“It’s important to get back among each other, regroup and focus on what’s ahead of us.”
There’s been a school of thought since Sunday’s game that a result of that nature is beneficial in pushing hurling back towards more 15 v 15 contests.
Moran is mystified as to how such a savage loss can be regarded in that way.
“I try and distance themselves since the match from things like that. I don’t know how that could be a victory for hurling when a team is hammered like that and a team that has come from where it has been over the last number of years to being quite competitive and bringing some exceptional young hurlers onto the team. I wouldn’t agree with it, to be honest.”
The De La Salle pinpoints Waterford not tracking Tipperary runners as central to their demise.
“Darren Gleeson was hitting 100 yards puck-outs high into the air that were very difficult to catch. They were aware on the breaks and feeding the runners on the outside.
“Obviously, we’ve to look at ourselves and say why weren’t we following those runners and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
“We have to learn from our lesson and realise teams like Tipperary, if they get half a chance, are going to annihilate you and they didn’t take the foot off the gas on Sunday.”
As a survivor from that 2011 loss, Moran can compare the two. He regards that defeat as a more harrowing experience.
“I think 2011 was worse because conditions were perfect. We were under the cosh from the first minute.
“If we look back at the first half the other day, I don’t think it was a systems failure or a total disaster of a performance.
“I think they took a goal that shouldn’t have happened. We had an opportunity of a goal that didn’t happen and we missed chances
“In the second half, yes, it was an absolute onslaught and it was such hard conditions, the rain was coming and there was a huge downfield wind, winning the ball we were up against it.
“Even when we got inside to win the ball and try and score it was tricky. That’s what I’m clinging on hope to anyway.
“I think we have the right guys there in the dressing room and around the team to pick ourselves back up and get a performance Sunday week.”
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Deise Debacle Hurling 2016 Munster Final team:Tipperary Tipperary Waterford