Dunford’s roving role is key to how Waterford set their team up.
The Colligan dynamo provides a more than useful link between midfield and attack for the Déise, operating in that crucial middle-third warzone to good effect.
Dunford’s boundless energy levels allow him to cover an extraordinary amount of ground over the 70 minutes.
With ball in hand, he’s capable of hurting Tipperary with direct running and the Dungarvan Colleges graduate can pick off long-range scores.
The question for Tipperary is how to deal with him and deploying a player like Michael Cahill in a man-marking role could be the answer.
Callanan is in a rich vein of form and can wreak havoc against Waterford with the right supply of ball.
The key for Waterford is to stop supply at source by flooding the middle third of the pitch with bodies.
If Callanan gets ten or 12 deliveries to his liking, he’s capable of picking off 2-4 or 2-5 from play.
The nightmare scenario for Waterford is for full-back Barry Coughlan to find himself isolated in a one-on-one situation with Callanan.
But Déise boss Derek McGrath is unlikely to display a similar naivety as Limerick did, when Callanan ran riot against Richie McCarthy.
Seamus Callanan was in the wars against Limerick. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
3. John O’Dwyer
Tipperary love their forward double acts. When the Premier County won All-Ireland titles in 1989 and 1991, it was Nicky English and Pat Fox.
Fast forward to 2010 and Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett were the blue and gold dynamic duo.
Now it’s Callanan and John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer picking up the attacking slack.
Both players won Allstars last year and appear to have taken their games to a new level.
O’Dwyer went within a HawkEye call of sealing All-Ireland glory for Tipp last year and he picked up where he left off with a scintillating display against Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
O’Dwyer is deadly in front of goal but an improved work-rate ensures that he’s not afraid to run the channels either. A couple of points from the touchline against Limerick were breathtaking scores.
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John O'Dwyer was superb against Limerick. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
4. Austin Gleeson
Gleeson is the new Ken McGrath in Waterford. For years we wondered whether McGrath was better in defence or attack but he eventually became one of the finest centre backs of his or any other generation.
Gleeson has made the step from minor to senior with relative ease and frightening speed.
A colossal figure at the back for Waterford, he stars in an impressive half-back line that also contains Tadhg de Búrca (who tends to sit a little deeper) and Philip Mahony.
Gleeson was marked out as one to watch from a long way out and was arguably the star of the 2013 All-Ireland minor winning crop.
Having announced his arrival on the senior stage with a stunning goal against Cork last year, the Mount Sion man has gone from strength to strength.
‘Brick’ has gone from back to front to aid the Waterford cause. He might not have scored against Cork in the Munster semi-final but there’s much more to Walsh’s new role than that.
With Pauric Mahony out injured, Walsh is now the fulcrum of the Waterford attack.
His work ethic and link play allow the players around him to rack up the scores, as Walsh gets about his business with minimum fuss.
As a former centre back, Walsh was one of the best in the business but a player who preferred to hold his position.
Now that he doesn’t have to look laterally or over his shoulder to sense oncoming danger, he can have a big influence further forward and his years of experience provide a calming influence on the younger players around him.
Michael 'Brick' Walsh celebrates victory over Cork. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
6. Darren Gleeson (Tipperary)
Gleeson’s puckouts are a key weapon in Tipperary’s armoury.
If Waterford decide to sit back and allow Gleeson to pick out his corner backs, that could spell trouble for the Déise, allowing Tipp to hammer direct ball into a lethal inside line.
Against Limerick, Gleeson also pulled off a number of fine saves.
His shot-stopping ability may have been called into question last year but the Portroe man is a fine all-round goalkeeper and earned an Allstar award last year.
It may have taken Gleeson time to settle into the number 1 shirt vacated by The42‘s Brendan Cummins but he’s now the main man between the sticks and his distribution is of the highest quality.
Darren Gleeson's puckouts will be crucial to Tipperary. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)
Maher’s early season form is Hurler of the Year material.
A dominant figure at centre back for Tipp, the Thurles Sarsfields man is blessed with the vision to spray diagonal passes into space for forward colleagues to collect.
Superb under dropping ball, Maher is an imposing physical specimen and whoever Waterford deploy on him will have his hands full.
Maher has also helped his younger brother Ronan to settle into life as a senior intercounty hurler.
Ronan made his full championship debut against Galway in last year’s All-Ireland qualifier and played his first full Munster championship game against Limerick last month.
Both half-back lines are key on Sunday and Tipp can match up to Waterford in this regard, with combative Kieran Bergin sited at number 5.
Padraic Maher is a powerful figure for Tipperary. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
8. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford)
Shanahan was sublime in the Munster semi-final victory over Cork, shooting 1-9 after taking over free-taking responsibilities.
Having missed a couple of early range-finder, Shanahan was very much in the groove after that, scoring seven frees and a 65.
His goal was a thunderous effort too, fetched over the head of Damien Cahalane before a blistering finish.
Shanahan faces a step-up in class against James Barry, however.
The Tipperary full-back is dominant in aerial exchanges and a good, technical player too.
But if Shanahan can produce another big display, it would go a long way to securing a Waterford win.
The ‘Bonner’ Maher is a cult hero with Tipperary fans. His selfless workrate allows other players to flourish, similar to ‘Brick’ Walsh for Waterford.
Maher added a nice scoring touch to his game against Limerick too, hitting three long-range points.
It’s a feature of his play that Maher has worked on during the winter and the results were evident at the Gaelic Grounds.
With ball in hand, Maher is often an unstoppable force on a charge towards the opposition goal.
He usually takes the right option with a pop pass at the right time and the likes of Seamus Callanan and ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer can profit when Maher breaks the line.
The 9 key players in Tipperary and Waterford's Munster hurling final
1. Colin Dunford
Dunford’s roving role is key to how Waterford set their team up.
The Colligan dynamo provides a more than useful link between midfield and attack for the Déise, operating in that crucial middle-third warzone to good effect.
Dunford’s boundless energy levels allow him to cover an extraordinary amount of ground over the 70 minutes.
With ball in hand, he’s capable of hurting Tipperary with direct running and the Dungarvan Colleges graduate can pick off long-range scores.
The question for Tipperary is how to deal with him and deploying a player like Michael Cahill in a man-marking role could be the answer.
2. Seamus Callanan
Callanan is in a rich vein of form and can wreak havoc against Waterford with the right supply of ball.
The key for Waterford is to stop supply at source by flooding the middle third of the pitch with bodies.
If Callanan gets ten or 12 deliveries to his liking, he’s capable of picking off 2-4 or 2-5 from play.
The nightmare scenario for Waterford is for full-back Barry Coughlan to find himself isolated in a one-on-one situation with Callanan.
But Déise boss Derek McGrath is unlikely to display a similar naivety as Limerick did, when Callanan ran riot against Richie McCarthy.
3. John O’Dwyer
Tipperary love their forward double acts. When the Premier County won All-Ireland titles in 1989 and 1991, it was Nicky English and Pat Fox.
Fast forward to 2010 and Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett were the blue and gold dynamic duo.
Now it’s Callanan and John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer picking up the attacking slack.
Both players won Allstars last year and appear to have taken their games to a new level.
O’Dwyer went within a HawkEye call of sealing All-Ireland glory for Tipp last year and he picked up where he left off with a scintillating display against Limerick in the Munster semi-final.
O’Dwyer is deadly in front of goal but an improved work-rate ensures that he’s not afraid to run the channels either. A couple of points from the touchline against Limerick were breathtaking scores.
4. Austin Gleeson
Gleeson is the new Ken McGrath in Waterford. For years we wondered whether McGrath was better in defence or attack but he eventually became one of the finest centre backs of his or any other generation.
Gleeson has made the step from minor to senior with relative ease and frightening speed.
A colossal figure at the back for Waterford, he stars in an impressive half-back line that also contains Tadhg de Búrca (who tends to sit a little deeper) and Philip Mahony.
Gleeson was marked out as one to watch from a long way out and was arguably the star of the 2013 All-Ireland minor winning crop.
Having announced his arrival on the senior stage with a stunning goal against Cork last year, the Mount Sion man has gone from strength to strength.
5. Michael Walsh
‘Brick’ has gone from back to front to aid the Waterford cause. He might not have scored against Cork in the Munster semi-final but there’s much more to Walsh’s new role than that.
With Pauric Mahony out injured, Walsh is now the fulcrum of the Waterford attack.
His work ethic and link play allow the players around him to rack up the scores, as Walsh gets about his business with minimum fuss.
As a former centre back, Walsh was one of the best in the business but a player who preferred to hold his position.
Now that he doesn’t have to look laterally or over his shoulder to sense oncoming danger, he can have a big influence further forward and his years of experience provide a calming influence on the younger players around him.
6. Darren Gleeson (Tipperary)
Gleeson’s puckouts are a key weapon in Tipperary’s armoury.
If Waterford decide to sit back and allow Gleeson to pick out his corner backs, that could spell trouble for the Déise, allowing Tipp to hammer direct ball into a lethal inside line.
Against Limerick, Gleeson also pulled off a number of fine saves.
His shot-stopping ability may have been called into question last year but the Portroe man is a fine all-round goalkeeper and earned an Allstar award last year.
It may have taken Gleeson time to settle into the number 1 shirt vacated by The42‘s Brendan Cummins but he’s now the main man between the sticks and his distribution is of the highest quality.
7. Pádraic Maher (Tipperary)
Maher’s early season form is Hurler of the Year material.
A dominant figure at centre back for Tipp, the Thurles Sarsfields man is blessed with the vision to spray diagonal passes into space for forward colleagues to collect.
Superb under dropping ball, Maher is an imposing physical specimen and whoever Waterford deploy on him will have his hands full.
Maher has also helped his younger brother Ronan to settle into life as a senior intercounty hurler.
Ronan made his full championship debut against Galway in last year’s All-Ireland qualifier and played his first full Munster championship game against Limerick last month.
Both half-back lines are key on Sunday and Tipp can match up to Waterford in this regard, with combative Kieran Bergin sited at number 5.
8. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford)
Shanahan was sublime in the Munster semi-final victory over Cork, shooting 1-9 after taking over free-taking responsibilities.
Having missed a couple of early range-finder, Shanahan was very much in the groove after that, scoring seven frees and a 65.
His goal was a thunderous effort too, fetched over the head of Damien Cahalane before a blistering finish.
Shanahan faces a step-up in class against James Barry, however.
The Tipperary full-back is dominant in aerial exchanges and a good, technical player too.
But if Shanahan can produce another big display, it would go a long way to securing a Waterford win.
9. Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
The ‘Bonner’ Maher is a cult hero with Tipperary fans. His selfless workrate allows other players to flourish, similar to ‘Brick’ Walsh for Waterford.
Maher added a nice scoring touch to his game against Limerick too, hitting three long-range points.
It’s a feature of his play that Maher has worked on during the winter and the results were evident at the Gaelic Grounds.
With ball in hand, Maher is often an unstoppable force on a charge towards the opposition goal.
He usually takes the right option with a pop pass at the right time and the likes of Seamus Callanan and ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer can profit when Maher breaks the line.
HawkEye won’t decide Sunday’s Munster hurling final in Thurles
A key Tipperary midfielder will play no further part in championship 2015
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Austin Gleeson Munster SHC GAA Let Battle Commence Patrick Maher Tipperary Waterford