Donal O'Grady wrote in this paper on Saturday that, with Kilkenny more than likely waiting in the wings for the winners, it might be more advantageous to lose the Munster final. Given Waterford's display, what do you think about that call now?
It was a very good performance from Waterford looking at the tape and while Cork would have preferred them to Kilkenny - as Limerick would have - Waterford should be favourites. The Betfair odds of 33/1 outsiders about Waterford, with even Limerick shorter, not to mind Cork, is baffling.
I think Donal was right to an extent in his thinking but all wrong to even consider either side would be contemplating that. Both wanted to win, 100%, then let the chips fall where they may.
Tipp manager Declan Ryan believes there's more to come from this team. Defensively they were very good yesterday, but they had to be. There was so much ball coming in on top of the half back line and full back line because the half forwards were struggling for clean possession. Whether this is as good as Tipp are, i.e. doing just about enough, or whether there is more in them remains to be seen.
The big stripey killer cat isn't quite as fearsome as it was. Agree with Daragh below, Waterford will give them plenty and have a couple of points still to prove. As for the ods on Cork/Limerick, who's setting those?
@Diarmuid OFlynn to be fair to Donal he didn't say either side would throw it, just that it was something to be considered
@dcr22B @jackie we thought that last year though and it didn't happen. There is no doubt Tipp were able to up it when they needed to yesterday and you felt they had that bit more class. But the goals were pretty dreadful. Stephen O'Keeffe thought he was Paudie O'Sullivan with a little flick out to the side?! @Diarmuid Betfair odds
Tipperary are moving up the gears slowly but surely. Yesterday had that air of the Dublin-Wexford football game - inevitability.
I think there's more in all the teams and will need to be; the way the knockout works, and you see this across all sports, it's the team that can time its run, that can keep improving, that will win out. Unless you've been Kilkenny for the last few years, in which case you just played as you play and watched the opposition crumble!
@Daragh that's just what I said Daragh, we don't know yet whether they're able to go up a gear or two.
That's what I'm saying Terry; he brought it up, wondered about it, then said both would still be going all out. Was always going to be the case.
There's a lot of maturity, experience and composure now in this Tipp team. But Declan has some selection headaches ahead of the semi-final. Shane Bourke is putting his hand up for a start every time he comes on, and in training.
The possibility of Kilkenny in the semis will ensure Tipp have to peak earlier but they're building all the time. There is a similarity to 2010 in that they're getting better with each game.
@jackie I'd prefer to have a selection headache than take ten seconds to pick the team
Timing Ger, timing, and as the boys are pointing out, Tipp learned from last year. You MUST keep improving to win an AI, though on the day itself anything can happen.
and obviously, Tipp will be wired to the moon against Kilkenny if that comes up. Will Lar be a quarterback long term? Very impressive though obviously the Waterford line messed up very badly in allowing that match-up with Tony Browne take place when Kevin Moran had nullified Lar in the first half. Just don't let it happen.
@dcr22B i watched the game again last night when I got home. i thought Pa was doing ok and had nailed a couple frees before he was taken off. Maybe it's because Declan was criticised last year for not making switches. This time, he's acting swiftly. But I thought Pa was slightly unforunate.
Don't know Murt, the plateau theory? Certainly you need to reach a consistently high level but on the day, it's all about peaking, then peaking again and again and again.
@Daragh That one will be very interesting Daragh. Lar might thrive better in the space afforded to him in that middle third of the field. He was tied up in the corner by Jackie Tyrrell last year and should have been brought out.
@jackie @dcr22B sometimes, when you have a panel, it's not even a reflection on the guy coming off. It's about getting the fresh, good legs of Shane Bourke, Seamus Callanan, Eoin Kelly on @jackie he sure was impressive once he got a bit of space. As someone said to me last night, he was doing a Pirlo on it. I'd prefer to say Scholes maybe....
What about the display by Tony Browne lads - is it a bad or good thing for Waterford hurling that he is still so influential?
@dcr22B that's just sharpness. There was one early in the game where he offloaded a pass when he should have went himself.
A new role for Lar but he's been doing that for Sars for a while, roaming the plains, suppying ball; Eoin Kelly at it too, and those drives they send in - perfect! Lar needs to go back to being a finisher too though.
@terry It's a good thing. Take his age out of it. He's a fine hurler. You just wouldn't necessarily put him on a mover like Lar. Sort of like Ogie and Damien Hayes
Lar gave Tony the run around in the second half but Tony had a good first half. It was simply a case of running out of legs. Clever move by Tipp moving Lar on him but why Waterford didn't react is baffling.
Bonner Maher and Corbett have sacrificed goal chances for passes the last couple of games. Might see more come August.
Good man Terry, far too much Tipp influence here this morning! Tony B is a one-off, no reflection whatsoever on the other Wfd players that he's still what he is, a great player. If you're good enough you're old enough (ref. Clare) AND you're young enough!
I'd be afraid, as much as Waterford have a great quarter-final record and a recent one against Cork, that they might read too much into yesterday.
Waterford aren't done yet by any means. Consider where they were a few months ago when Ken came on board, consider where they are now. Telling ye now again, they'll give Kilkenny plenty of it, and don't rule out a win.
They're playing Cork Diarmuid??
Ah, poor mouth from Ballyhea's finest!
I'd be afraid from Waterford's point of view that even though Liam Lawlor is their best full-back since the Déise Rock, they still find more and more ways to concede Keystone Cops goals. It must be so frustrating.
And there were a few times yesterday where Waterford got lucky. There was a bag of goals there for Tipp if they were more clinical.
It was a very good performance from Waterford looking at the tape and while Cork would have preferred them to Kilkenny - as Limerick would have - Waterford should be favourites. The Betfair odds of 33/1 outsiders about Waterford, with even Limerick shorter, not to mind Cork, is baffling.
Tipp manager Declan Ryan believes there's more to come from this team. Defensively they were very good yesterday, but they had to be. There was so much ball coming in on top of the half back line and full back line because the half forwards were struggling for clean possession. Whether this is as good as Tipp are, i.e. doing just about enough, or whether there is more in them remains to be seen.
Nice to hear Paul Curran acknowledge the Tipp minor and senior footballers #tipperarygaaby HuggingTheTouch via twitter 7/16/2012 12:10:22 PM