Will Tadhg de Búrca play the sweeper role again? Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
That is the question for Waterford as they prepare for Sunday’s showdown.
The tactic worked well to an extent in the Munster final as Waterford shut down Tipperary’s goalscoring opportunities.
But the problem that the Déise face now is the accuracy of Kilkenny’s long-range shooters.
Manager Derek McGrath will surely not allow Richie Hogan those pockets of space he loves to operate in.
And if Waterford deploy the sweeper in a deep-lying role, Kilkenny will feel confident of counteracting the impact of the spare man by hitting points from distance. A fascinating tactical battle lies in store.
2. The weight of history
Waterford haven’t beaten Kilkenny in senior championship hurling since 1959.
They did, however, score a notable success over the Cats in the 2007 National Hurling League final and have gone toe to toe with the Noresiders in All-Ireland semi-finals in 1998, 2004, 2009 and 2011.
Kilkenny won all four of those last four encounters, however, and scored a massive victory in the 2008 final that left long-lasting psychological scars.
Waterford did push Kilkenny to extra-time in a memorable 2013 All-Ireland qualifier in Thurles but couldn’t get over the line.
The Cats were vulnerable that summer, however, and were bounced out of the championship by Cork in their next assignment.
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3. Is this Waterford’s best ever chance of beating Kilkenny?
It appears so. Kilkenny are without injured pair Jackie Tyrrell and Richie Power, while midfield colossus Michael Fennelly is nursing groin and back injuries.
There were also whispers during the week that ace attacking duo Richie Hogan and TJ Reid were struggling with back and toe problems respectively.
Waterford are without injured forward talisman Pauric Mahony but otherwise have a clean bill of health.
Pauric Mahony is a loss to Waterford.
The Déise’s Munster final defeat was a setback but they recovered well to get past Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Having suffered a first competitive loss in League and championship all year, Waterford showed the mental strength to regroup and prolong their summer.
4. Will we see goals?
Quite likely. Waterford didn’t score any in the Munster final but they hit three against Cork and two in the victory over Dublin in this year’s championship.
Kilkenny managed just the one in their Leinster final success against Galway but hit Wexford for five at Nowlan Park in the provincial semi-final.
Waterford’s defensive set-up will aim to shut down the space for Kilkenny’s forwards and avoid a situation where the Cats are running in straight lines and looking for an offload left or right to provide a better-placed player with the chance to raise a green flag.
At the other end, Waterford will look to exploit any perceived weakness in a Kilkenny full-back line shorn of Jackie Tyrrell and with Joey Holden still settling into the number 3 shirt.
We can’t envisage a goal-fest as both managers will have their teams extremely well-organised but it’s still likely that the green flag operator will be called upon to bend his back.
5. The touchline battle
In the black and amber corner stands the master of them all, Kilkenny boss Brian Cody.
In his 17th season as Cats supremo, the James Stephens man is aiming to collect an 11th All-Ireland crown.
It’s a quite remarkable record but now he’ll pit his wits against Derek McGrath in championship hurling for the very first time.
Can Derek McGrath get the better of Brian Cody? Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Not too many men have got the better of Cody on a championship Sunday. In fact, just eight managers have managed to score summer victories against Cody – Jimmy Barry-Murphy (twice), John Conran, Noel Lane, Conor Hayes, Anthony Cunningham, Donal O’Grady, Liam Sheedy and Anthony Daly.
It’s a quite remarkable record but McGrath will fancy adding his name to that list.
On the flipside, Cody will relish the challenge of outfoxing one of the most tactically astute young managers in the modern game.
The Offaly whistler is one of the game’s most respected officials and he took charge of last year’s All-Ireland final replay between Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Gavin has already refereed two high-profile summer fixtures – the Leinster quarter-final replay between Galway and Dublin and the Munster clash involving Limerick and Tipperary.
Both were one-sided affairs and Gavin got through them with minimum fuss.
But there will now be intense scrutiny on his handling of the game as the Clara man is regarded as a man who lets the game flow.
Kilkenny have mastered the art of tackling and turning over possession and in tight confines, Waterford will look for some leeway from the man in the middle.
6 talking points ahead of Kilkenny and Waterford's All-Ireland hurling semi-final
1. To sweep or not to sweep?
That is the question for Waterford as they prepare for Sunday’s showdown.
The tactic worked well to an extent in the Munster final as Waterford shut down Tipperary’s goalscoring opportunities.
But the problem that the Déise face now is the accuracy of Kilkenny’s long-range shooters.
Manager Derek McGrath will surely not allow Richie Hogan those pockets of space he loves to operate in.
And if Waterford deploy the sweeper in a deep-lying role, Kilkenny will feel confident of counteracting the impact of the spare man by hitting points from distance. A fascinating tactical battle lies in store.
2. The weight of history
Waterford haven’t beaten Kilkenny in senior championship hurling since 1959.
They did, however, score a notable success over the Cats in the 2007 National Hurling League final and have gone toe to toe with the Noresiders in All-Ireland semi-finals in 1998, 2004, 2009 and 2011.
Kilkenny won all four of those last four encounters, however, and scored a massive victory in the 2008 final that left long-lasting psychological scars.
Waterford did push Kilkenny to extra-time in a memorable 2013 All-Ireland qualifier in Thurles but couldn’t get over the line.
The Cats were vulnerable that summer, however, and were bounced out of the championship by Cork in their next assignment.
3. Is this Waterford’s best ever chance of beating Kilkenny?
It appears so. Kilkenny are without injured pair Jackie Tyrrell and Richie Power, while midfield colossus Michael Fennelly is nursing groin and back injuries.
There were also whispers during the week that ace attacking duo Richie Hogan and TJ Reid were struggling with back and toe problems respectively.
Waterford are without injured forward talisman Pauric Mahony but otherwise have a clean bill of health.
The Déise’s Munster final defeat was a setback but they recovered well to get past Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Having suffered a first competitive loss in League and championship all year, Waterford showed the mental strength to regroup and prolong their summer.
4. Will we see goals?
Quite likely. Waterford didn’t score any in the Munster final but they hit three against Cork and two in the victory over Dublin in this year’s championship.
Kilkenny managed just the one in their Leinster final success against Galway but hit Wexford for five at Nowlan Park in the provincial semi-final.
Waterford’s defensive set-up will aim to shut down the space for Kilkenny’s forwards and avoid a situation where the Cats are running in straight lines and looking for an offload left or right to provide a better-placed player with the chance to raise a green flag.
At the other end, Waterford will look to exploit any perceived weakness in a Kilkenny full-back line shorn of Jackie Tyrrell and with Joey Holden still settling into the number 3 shirt.
We can’t envisage a goal-fest as both managers will have their teams extremely well-organised but it’s still likely that the green flag operator will be called upon to bend his back.
5. The touchline battle
In the black and amber corner stands the master of them all, Kilkenny boss Brian Cody.
In his 17th season as Cats supremo, the James Stephens man is aiming to collect an 11th All-Ireland crown.
It’s a quite remarkable record but now he’ll pit his wits against Derek McGrath in championship hurling for the very first time.
Not too many men have got the better of Cody on a championship Sunday. In fact, just eight managers have managed to score summer victories against Cody – Jimmy Barry-Murphy (twice), John Conran, Noel Lane, Conor Hayes, Anthony Cunningham, Donal O’Grady, Liam Sheedy and Anthony Daly.
It’s a quite remarkable record but McGrath will fancy adding his name to that list.
On the flipside, Cody will relish the challenge of outfoxing one of the most tactically astute young managers in the modern game.
6. The referee
Brian Gavin is clear to take charge of Sunday’s tie after it emerged that he was facing the prospect of a one-month ban following an incident in a recent club game.
The Offaly whistler is one of the game’s most respected officials and he took charge of last year’s All-Ireland final replay between Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Gavin has already refereed two high-profile summer fixtures – the Leinster quarter-final replay between Galway and Dublin and the Munster clash involving Limerick and Tipperary.
Both were one-sided affairs and Gavin got through them with minimum fuss.
But there will now be intense scrutiny on his handling of the game as the Clara man is regarded as a man who lets the game flow.
Kilkenny have mastered the art of tackling and turning over possession and in tight confines, Waterford will look for some leeway from the man in the middle.
– First published 07.45
Check out this bunch of Americans playing ‘dizzy hurling’ in Pittsburgh
‘I don’t think sweepers have come off the planet Mars in the last few months’
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