Waterford GAA thread - mod warning post #1 and #51

Mulbert

Giveitfong wrote: »

We have identified six good-quality specialist full back line operators here. Surely at least one of these is worthy of a place on the county senior hurling panel.

Excellent post, but you, not we, have identified six specialist full back line operators. Unless this whole post is part of a discussion and not entirely your own opinion.

mickmackmcgoo

Damien Tiernan tweeting Waterford playing both Munster matches at home this year with capacity at 11,000 and work commencing on ground straight after

Tunc Nagiloc

Giveitfong wrote: »

There are likely to be just two Waterford hurlers starting in next week’s Fitzgibbon Cup final following this week’s semi-finals. Colm Roche (Shamrocks) has been a regular starter for UCC and was listed at left corner forward in the starting line-up for their fortuitous win over DCU, thanks to a last-minute converted penalty. Dara Lynch (Passage) came on as a late sub, as he has done in the most recent games having been a regular starter in the earlier games in the competition.

The UCC/DCU result might have been different were it not for the absence of the Curran brothers (Dungarvan) from the DCU line-up. Both were substituted in DCU’s quarter-final win over WIT and this is presumed to have been due to injury, as neither was listed among the DCU substitutes for the semi-final. Patrick’s absence from the Waterford team for the game against Carlow on Saturday night is a further indication that he is injured. His absence, having just recently returned from injury, was a big blow to DCU.

Lismore’s David Prendergast was in the MIC team which won the other semi-final against against NUIG. Prendergast has been a regular at fullback for this very talented team, but was listed at right corner back for the semi-final.

The presence of several Waterford players who operate in the full back line for frontline Fitzgibbon Cup sides (David Prendergast for MIC, John Curran for DCU and Colligan’s Ross Brown for IT Carlow) brings up the continuing lack of cover in this line in the Waterford senior hurling panel (a deficiency which blew up in Derek McGrath’s face last year). It would appear that Shane Fives, Conor Prunty (despite his placing at wing back for the Offaly game) and Noel Connors are the first choice full back line, with Shane McNulty filling in for Fives who was injured against Offaly. While a skillful hurler, I would not regard McNulty as up to intercounty championship hurling in the full back line.

It may be that Darragh Lyons, when he recovers from injury, will also be looked at to provide corner back cover, although his credentials in this position remain to be proven. Conor Gleeson and Kieran Bennett might also be able to do a job here, but really we should be looking to specialist corner backs to perform this function. Apart from Prendergast, John Curran (who impressed for the Waterford Under 21s against Cork last year) and Ross Brown (an ever-present for IT Carlow for the last four years), other possibilities include Shane Roche (Shamrocks) and Willie Hahessy (Clonea). Roche (Colm’s brother) was ever-present in the UCC full back line for three years and spent a period on the Waterford panel before dropping out, reportedly due to getting no game time under Derek McGrath. Hahessay was on the 2013 Minor and 2016 Under 21 All-Ireland winning teams, and had an excellent game in the Under 21 All-Ireland final. He was also a key figure in Clonea’s march to Intermediate honours last year. I am not the only person who is mystified by the fact that he has never been involved in the senior panel.

Another possibility is Ballygunner’s Ian Kenny, who was very impressive in their game against Ballyhale last Saturday. He was on the senior panel but dropped out at the end of last year (possibly again because of lack of game time, even during Waterford’s defensive crisis following the injuries in the Clare game).

We have identified six good-quality specialist full back line operators here. Surely at least one of these is worthy of a place on the county senior hurling panel.

“Specialist” full backs. Prendergast maybe but the rest are all corner backs or half backs!
Prunty a work in progress but if not him SFives or CGleeson

KevIRL

When did we last play Carlow in a competitive match?

BloodyBill

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

Damien Tiernan tweeting Waterford playing both Munster matches at home this year with capacity at 11,000 and work commencing on ground straight after

That would be some fillip for Waterford. To play two games at home would be fantastic. The capacity of 15,500 for the new Walsh Park is terribly inadequate. Disappointing.

PTH2009

Horrible weather up here
FloodLights still not turned on

KevIRL

Yep, absolutely rotten night for hurling

tommylad1212

KevIRL wrote: »

When did we last play Carlow in a competitive match?

24 years ago

PTH2009

Carlow up for this and putting in a great effort. Very bad conditions with our performance being average at best

PTH2009

Better 2nd half and nice too see some new players get a run out like Harney, Callum Lyons and Shane Ryan.

Serious stuff starts now with Dublin/ Galway and QF in the coming weeks

Qf
Away if were playing Tipp, Kilkenny, Limerick

Coin toss for home advantage if were playing Wexford, Clare or Cork

Giveitfong

Waterford 3-15 Carlow 0-10

In my view, hurling should not be played under lights, and in particular in Fraher Field where it is difficult (for me anyway) to see what is happening in the far side of the field. What made tonight’s game even more difficult for players and spectators was the strong blustery wind blowing continuous rain across the pitch, although it cleared up a bit in the second half.

I would say that Carlow were a better team than either Offaly or Laois. Physically big, they were good in the air around the middle of the park and had good close ball skills. They concentrated on playing a short-passing game, and were good at holding onto possession under pressure.

They started well and dominated the play early on, leading by 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. Two Waterford goals in the 10th and 11th minutes were a big setback for them, but they still held their own for the remainder of the half, which finished with Waterford 2-7 to 0-7 in front. The first goal came from a Shane Bennett sideline which came into the Carlow goalmouth and may have gone straight to the net, although Tommy Ryan may have got a touch. A minute later Stephen Bennett won a good ball on the Carlow end line to the left of the goal and then passed back to brother Shane who blasted to the net from 20 metres. The feature of the first half was a marvellous solo point by Jamie Barron, who careered through the Carlow defence from midfield, sidestepping players left and right, before shooting over the bar from 30 metres.

The second half was something of a procession. Carlow persisted with their short-passing game, and while this allowed them to frequently play their way out of defence, ultimately they were unable to make any impression on the Waterford defence. Waterford, without reaching any great heights, gradually added to their score, the highlight being their third goal when the impressive Jack Prendergast soloed past several Carlow defenders before passing the ball forward to Shane Bennett who again fired past an unsighted goalkeeper to the far corner.

On a night when referee John Keenan dished out multiple cards, Carlow had two players sent off in the second half. They also lost their main sharpshooter, Martin Kavanagh, to injury late in the first half. They did hit a couple of good points late in the game when everyone’s focus was on getting into the shelter of the dressing room.

It is very hard to make any useful observations on individual performances in a game of such poor quality played in such difficult conditions. The remarkable Brick Walsh was Waterford’s busiest player throughout and probably man of the match, although his second half attempts to set up attacks kept going astray. He started at centre back but then went to right half back in a swap with Austin Gleeson midway through the first half. It was good to see Gleeson back, as well as Jamie Barron who showed some lovely skills during a good outing at midfield. Shane Bennett was much more involved than in the Offaly game while Jack Prendergast also showed up well.

Waterford brought on four subs in the second half – Callum Lyons for Jordan Henley, Shane Ryan for Tommy Ryan, Michael Harney for Colin Dunford and Stephen Roche for Shane Bennett. Again, you would wonder why the full complement of subs was not used on a night when the result of the game was a foregone conclusion from early in the second half.

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Shane McNulty, Conor Prunty, Noel Connors; Austin Gleeson, Brick Walsh, Jordan Henley; Jamie Barron (0-2), Colin Dunford (0-1); DJ Foran (0-1), Mikey Kearney (0-1), Jack Prendergast; Tommy Ryan (1-1, I think); Stephen Bennett (0-8, 7 frees); Shane Bennett (2-0).
Subs: Callum Lyons for Jordan Henley (50 mins); Shane Ryan for Tommy Ryan (55); Michael Harney for Colin Dunford (59); Stephen Roche for Shane Bennett (65).

Note: I am not certain about some of the scores, for which I blame the lights.

Official attendance: 2,478

Giveitfong

Tunc Nagiloc wrote: »

“Specialist” full backs. Prendergast maybe but the rest are all corner backs or half backs!
Prunty a work in progress but if not him SFives or CGleeson

Where did I make reference to "specialist full backs" in my piece? I mentioned "specialist corner backs" once, and "specialist full back line operators" once. Which of the six players identified is a half back?

Giveitfong

I should have attributed a point to Callum Lyons in my report. I think he got the last score.

KevIRL

Impossible conditions and impossible to read anything into the match or indeed individual performances. One comment I'll make is that again this full forward line showing their eagerness to go for goals. It's great to see.

KevIRL

Giveitfong wrote: »

I should have attributed a point to Callum Lyons in my report. I think he got the last score.

Yep he did.

Also like you I thought the second goal was Shane Bennett but all other reports have it as Stephen with the goal.

Deise189

KevIRL wrote: »

Yep he did.

Also like you I thought the second goal was Shane Bennett but all other reports have it as Stephen with the goal.

Yeah Stephen got the goal, set up by Shane who caught the ball and passed it out.

Tommy Ryan also got a good flick on Shane’s sideline cut for the first goal.

TheScoringGoal

Giveitfong wrote: »

Waterford 3-15 Carlow 0-10

The feature of the first half was a marvellous solo point by Jamie Barron, who careered through the Carlow defence from midfield, sidestepping players left and right, before shooting over the bar from 30 metres.

This never happened. Barron got two points. One late in the second half. The other was in the first half after a series of passes across the pitch which opened up space for him to strike.

He did go on one weaving run in the first half but was fouled for a free that Stephen Bennett converted.

Mastermcgrath

Dublin game next will be interesting. We’ll get a look at where were really at and should get more of an idea of what the championship team will look like.

When are the Ballygunner fellahs expected back?

Tunc Nagiloc

Giveitfong wrote: »

Where did I make reference to "specialist full backs" in my piece? I mentioned "specialist corner backs" once, and "specialist full back line operators" once. Which of the six players identified is a half back?

Correct and apologies picked it up wrong.

Curran, Lyons , k Bennett would be naturally more so half backs than corner

hurler on de ditch

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

Dublin game next will be interesting. We’ll get a look at where were really at and should get more of an idea of what the championship team will look like.

When are the Ballygunner fellahs expected back?

according to fanning after the game back training later this week

hurler on de ditch

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

Dublin game next will be interesting. We’ll get a look at where were really at and should get more of an idea of what the championship team will look like.

When are the Ballygunner fellahs expected back?

according to fanning after the game back training later this week

KevIRL

Was in Nowlan Park today. Serious statement from limerick although Kilkenny were awful. Not a whole lot better than Carlow last night.

PTH2009

KevIRL wrote: »

Was in Nowlan Park today. Serious statement from limerick although Kilkenny were awful. Not a whole lot better than Carlow last night.

Serious performance from Limerick and I would not like too play them in the knockout stages of the league

In 1B Galway beat Dublin 0-20-1-11. A win for us in Dublin next Sunday will set up a 1st/2nd clash against Galway in 2 weeks time

We deff knw we will finish in the top 3 of 1B this avoiding the 1st placed team in 1A in the QFs.

puzl

PTH2009 wrote: »

We deff knw we will finish in the top 3 of 1B this avoiding Limerick in 1A in the QFs.

FTFY

Let's be honest, with limerick on 6 and Wexford on 4 with every other team on 2 it is *highly* unlikely that limerick won't top 1A.

But whatever way you look at it, any of the other teams from 1A will make for a challenging QF and a perfect test of where the team is after a 1B campaign. I'd love to see them square up to KK or Tipp tbh.

PTH2009

puzl wrote: »

FTFY

Let's be honest, with limerick on 6 and Wexford on 4 with every other team on 2 it is *highly* unlikely that limerick won't top 1A.

But whatever way you look at it, any of the other teams from 1A will make for a challenging QF and a perfect test of where the team is after a 1B campaign. I'd love to see them square up to KK or Tipp tbh.

Only way limerick would be knocked off top if they lose there last 2 games and other results go against them

Away trips for us if were playing Tipp, Kiilkenny or Limerick

Wexford, Clare and Cork all coin tosses

Motivator

puzl wrote: »

FTFY

Let's be honest, with limerick on 6 and Wexford on 4 with every other team on 2 it is *highly* unlikely that limerick won't top 1A.

But whatever way you look at it, any of the other teams from 1A will make for a challenging QF and a perfect test of where the team is after a 1B campaign. I'd love to see them square up to KK or Tipp tbh.

I met someone today who was nearly crying when Waterford were relegated last year and is now hoping we avoid the bigger teams in the latter stages of the league. Why on earth would anyone be “hoping” Waterford avoid the bigger teams in 1A. I would love to see the team playing Limerick or Tipperary and if we get beaten then so be it. What’s the point in avoiding teams in February or March? Having a go off these teams early in the year gives management and players an idea of where they are and what they have to do to get up to speed. No disrespect to Carlow yesterday evening but they were awful, bigger tests await and the sooner in the year we get them the better.

PTH2009

Motivator wrote: »

I met someone today who was nearly crying when Waterford were relegated last year and is now hoping we avoid the bigger teams in the latter stages of the league. Why on earth would anyone be “hoping” Waterford avoid the bigger teams in 1A. I would love to see the team playing Limerick or Tipperary and if we get beaten then so be it. What’s the point in avoiding teams in February or March? Having a go off these teams early in the year gives management and players an idea of where they are and what they have to do to get up to speed. No disrespect to Carlow yesterday evening but they were awful, bigger tests await and the sooner in the year we get them the better.

You would get feed up at hammering teams week in week out but it was just the way our draw worked out. Next 3 weeks will be an indication of where we are.

Parnell park is not a good ground for us, could be wrong but was it 2009 we last played a league game there and were beaten ???. We played Dublin in Croke Park in our last league meeting in 2017. Dublin actually have a decent league record against us relegating us in 2014 in Walsh Park

Dick phelan

If we have ambitions to win an AI and i presume Munster i can't see why we should be hoping to avoid teams. Got to play them at some stage, personally i hope we play the best team possible so we can really see where we are.

Mastermcgrath

Motivator wrote: »

I met someone today who was nearly crying when Waterford were relegated last year and is now hoping we avoid the bigger teams in the latter stages of the league. Why on earth would anyone be “hoping” Waterford avoid the bigger teams in 1A. I would love to see the team playing Limerick or Tipperary and if we get beaten then so be it. What’s the point in avoiding teams in February or March? Having a go off these teams early in the year gives management and players an idea of where they are and what they have to do to get up to speed. No disrespect to Carlow yesterday evening but they were awful, bigger tests await and the sooner in the year we get them the better.

Sounds to me like you met PTH2009

puzl

I mean ,not just being in 1B but the order of our games, with each progressively more difficult and then a crack at someone decent in a knock out game is a perfect start to the year, win or lose.

Another day out in a semi would be superb, but would be hard earned against any 1A team. Intensity has been lacking in 1A but you can still see everyone means business this year.

Mastermcgrath

puzl wrote: »

I mean ,not just being in 1B but the order of our games, with each progressively more difficult and then a crack at someone decent in a knock out game is a perfect start to the year, win or lose.

Another day out in a semi would be superb, but would be hard earned against any 1A team. Intensity has been lacking in 1A but you can still see everyone means business this year.

I’d be weary of Dublin next weekend. There will surely be a kick in them after losing to Galway and they won’t want to have gone through the league having not beaten any of the top teams.

blueflame

Yes it is very early days and the opposition so far has been quite poor, however you can only play what is put in front of you, and in this regard Waterford have dispatched these three teams with ease, while giving lads a chance to impress and without many of our marquee names.

For me there is much reason to be optimistic about the next couple of years - i honestly believe there is little or nothing between the top seven teams and I include Waterford in that collection. Limerick appear to be the top dogs, but this time last year nobody could see past Galway, and nobody was talking about Limerick.

I am the first to admit I was somewhat concerned about Paraic Fanning's appointment, but all i can say is that based on the evidence so far, he is making great strides, and showing lots of promise. On what basis you might say:

1. He is giving plenty of players a real chance to impress as part of a team, not throwing a full reserve side out for the odd game, and saying go ahead and nail your place down based on today.

2. Generally he appears to be looking genuine options for key places by playing players in positions to which they are genuinely suited - i.e. Conor Prunty at full back, Gleeson at centre back, Foran at Wing Forward etc.

3. We are playing with a real purpose and posing a genuine attacking threath. Under the previous management against the likes of Offaly, Laois and Carlow we would have set up in our normal defensive lines and tried to wear the opposition down over the duration of the game. Under the current management we are looking to put teams to the sword from the word go , by looking to create and take goal opportunities and not allowing them to settle into games. There is some really good movement and energy in our forward line and we re not frightened to take on shots at goal instead of taking a handy point.

4. We are working just as hard but also a lot smarter, by applying pressure in the opposition half and making sure that opposition backs are under pressure clearing the ball giving us a better chance of winning it back early, rather than letting them build out from back and then working hard chasing back trying to win the ball.

5. So far at least, lads seem to be enjoying playing again, and getting the likes of the Bennett's and Billy Nolan back playing is a massive plus for us. I would like to see the likes of Shane Roche encouraged to give it another go and also to have a look at David Prendergast and Eddie Hayden who for me was very underrated in Ballygunner's run this year and was a huge loss at halftime against Ballyhale.

I am not getting carried away, by any means, as a first defeat can quickly change the mentality, but at the same time, i do not think we can ask for much more, than what we have seen so far.

DiscoStew

Mastermcgrath wrote: »

I’d be weary of Dublin next weekend. There will surely be a kick in them after losing to Galway and they won’t want to have gone through the league having not beaten any of the top teams.

I think it’s a game both teams will be targeting. Dublin will be definitely looking for a reaction to yesterdays defeat and will be a very stern test in Parnell Park. I don’t think we’ll see the Ballygunner contingent in action if they are only joining up this week. Probably give them game time in the Galway game. A win this week would be huge as PP hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us. I think getting to a league semi final would be a successful league for us this year, having seen a lot of players during this campaign.

PTH2009

prob be asked so here it is

The League for 2020 will be as follows

Group A
1st placed team in 1A 2019
4th placed team in 1A 2019
Winner of 1A 5th/6th playoff 2019
2nd placed team in 1B 2019
3rd placed team in 1B 2019
div 2A winner

Group B
2nd placed team in 1A 2019
3rd placed team in 1A 2019
Loser of the 1A 5th/6th playoff 2019.
1st placed team in 1B 2019
4th placed team in 1B 2019
Winner of the 1B relegation playoff 2019 (5th vs 6th)

Groups to run on a two year cycle (2020, 2021)

– To be redrawn for 2022 and every two years thereafter based on formula above (“5th placed team Div 1B” to change to “Relegation final winners” for this purpose).

– Relegation from 2020 onwards to be after Relegation Play-Off between bottom placed team in Group A and Group B.

– Winner of Div 2A final is promoted annually to replace relegated team

1st placed team in each group to advance directly to Allianz Hurling League Semi Final. 2nd and 3rd placed teams from each group to meet in “crossover” quarter finals (2nd 1A v 3rd 1B and 3rd 1A v 2nd 1B).

Mastermcgrath

DiscoStew wrote: »

I think it’s a game both teams will be targeting. Dublin will be definitely looking for a reaction to yesterdays defeat and will be a very stern test in Parnell Park. I don’t think we’ll see the Ballygunner contingent in action if they are only joining up this week. Probably give them game time in the Galway game. A win this week would be huge as PP hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us. I think getting to a league semi final would be a successful league for us this year, having seen a lot of players during this campaign.

Yea I think it’s important that we beat either one of Dublin or Galway in the next 2 games at least, set us up nicely for a quarter final against a 1A team that has been playing higher quality opposition than Lais Carlow or Offaly. When you look at it there is only potentially 3 more competitive games before championship. We can only beat what’s in front of us up until now, but it’s time to kick into gear from here in.

mountgomery burns

A 5th/6th playoff in a year with no relegation. How do they come up with this shi*?

deisedude

mountgomery burns wrote: »

A 5th/6th playoff in a year with no relegation. How do they come up with this shi*?

What was wrong with the previous format? The league had turned into a really good competition with tight games each week. This year is just meh

PTH2009

mountgomery burns wrote: »

A 5th/6th playoff in a year with no relegation. How do they come up with this shi*?

According too Hoganstand it's still called 1A relegation play-off

You have too wonder how intelligent these GAA heads are

puzl

deisedude wrote: »

What was wrong with the previous format? The league had turned into a really good competition with tight games each week. This year is just meh

The two tier system is being abandoned in favour of two groups of roughly equal strength.
The league matters even less now with the round-robin provincials, so I think this is a good move, personally.

deiseach

I think it's a mistake to go back to the format that we saw around the turn of the millennium with two Division 1's of roughly equal strength. I remember how the likes of Down and Derry would come up from a division in which they were way too good and find themselves in a division in which they were way too bad. The current format smooths out the progression for a county like Carlow. The team who gets promoted from Division 2 in 2020 is going to get a rude awakening when they play Division 1 in 2021, and I don't see what good that will do them.

DiscoStew

deiseach wrote: »

I think it's a mistake to go back to the format that we saw around the turn of the millennium with two Division 1's of roughly equal strength. I remember how the likes of Down and Derry would come up from a division in which they were way too good and find themselves in a division in which they were way too bad. The current format smooths out the progression for a county like Carlow. The team who gets promoted from Division 2 in 2020 is going to get a rude awakening when they play Division 1 in 2021, and I don't see what good that will do them.

You can’t overlook the fact that being in 1B has been a huge advantage to teams in the past few years though. The last 2 All Ireland champions have come from 1B. Derek McGrath basically said last year that getting relegated to 1B would be a big plus for the incoming manager.
If it’s an advantage to be in what is essentially the second division then the system is flawed somewhere. It will be tough on the weaker teams in those groups like Carlow, Laois etc but I don’t know how that can be rectified really. Eventually they have to make the step up.

deiseach

I'll believe it when I see it. But it's great news if true.

Walsh Park ready to bring Waterford hurling back home
County insist they will host home games in championship before ground is redeveloped

Ian O'Riordan

Waterford County Board officials are now adamant that Walsh Park will host their Munster hurling round-robin matches this coming May and June, before work will then immediately commence on a €7 million refurbishment project to bring the county ground’s capacity up to 16,500.

Following a year of indecision, full planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála last Friday, and county chairman Paddy Joe Ryan told The Irish Times it’s now “full steam ahead” on the project.

However in the meantime he said Walsh Park would be fit to host Waterford’s two home games this summer – against Clare on May 12th, followed by the All-Ireland champions Limerick on June 2nd.

“That’s no longer in question, the Clare and Limerick games will both take place in Walsh Park,” said Ryan.

“The Slattery Report has put the capacity at 11,040 people, that’s allowed, subject to some remedial work, which is already started, I believe today [Monday].

“Everything will be ready for the championship. There was an issue with a wall as well, which was in danger of falling, but that’s being taken down. There was some other remedial work, in the short term, some small health and safety things. But we don’t see any obstacle now whatsoever. It’s full steam ahead.”

After reaching the All-Ireland final in 2017, Waterford’s hurling ambitions fell considerably short last summer when they failed to progress from the round-robin phase of the Munster championship. At that stage Walsh Park was given a reduced capacity of just 8,000, deemed unsuitable for their home matches by the Munster Council.

As a result, the Waterford seniors (and minors) played their “home” games in 2018 in away venues – drawing with Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, and losing to Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles. They also lost “away” to Clare and Limerick, and this failed to progress. Fraher Field, with a capacity of some 15,000, wasn’t considered suitable either.

New hurling manager Páraic Fanning, who succeeded Derek McGrath, has also been quietly insisting that Waterford’s home games in 2019 be played at home. The Munster Council had also voted against the possibility of staging the games closer to home, possibly at Nowlan Park, as that was outside the province.

Several submissions

Preliminary planning permission for the refurbishment work was approved last year, but An Bord Pleanála received several submissions, two regarding traffic management issues, which have now been addressed.

“An Bord Pleanála have now signed off, we got the go ahead on Friday,” said Ryan. “All going to plan, the bulldozers will move in immediately after Waterford’s last home game. The existing stand on Slievekeale Road will be upgraded as will Keanes Road which will be a covered terrace; there will be an uncovered terrace on the northern bank. The project is also set to include four new dressing rooms, office space and shops, plus off-street parking for team buses.

“The plan is that the day after the Limerick game, we’ll start the redevelopment, the knocking and the reconstructing,” added Ryan.

“Ideally, we’re looking at 11½ months, which would have it ready for our first championship game next year (2020), against Cork. There’s very little knocking. It’s more just building up the new terrace behind the goals. And when it’s finished we’ll have seating for around 11,500, 6,500 covered, around 5,000 uncovered. And a standing terrace, covered, behind the goals, standing for another 5,000.

The cost of the project has been put at €7 million, significantly less than the now €95.8m bill facing the Cork County Board for the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

But Ryan explained there’s is a far more modest project: “That’s the latest figure that was put to the clubs and the county boards, and we’d be hopeful of keeping it at that. We’re still in the process of approving that funding from all the various people involved, Government sports funding, Central Council funding, Munster Council funding, and the raise we needs to raise ourselves from within the county.

“But everything has been budgeted for, and the funding plan has already presented to the county board. That’s passed by the county board, and hopefully the job will going to tender this week.”

Walsh Park last hosted a Munster championship match in 2003, when Waterford hosted Kerry in the first round.

“We’ve needed this for a while now, and when it’s finished, we’ll have a beautiful compact stadium, 16,000-16,500. And we might only fill it twice a year, as long as this championship format continues, so it’s plenty big. The bigger the stadium the bigger the cost, and this is absolutely big enough for what we want.”

“And our manager as also been insisting all along that our championship games be played in Walsh Park this year. I believe the new director general Tom Ryan also mentioned it in his annual report, to Congress, that Waterford’s games should be played in Waterford.”

Waterford are currently top of division 1B, beating Offaly, Laois and Carlow by double-digit scores, and face Dublin and Galway in their remaining games.

PTH2009

deiseach wrote: »

I'll believe it when I see it. But it's great news if true.

Yeah hope it's true but then the elephant enters the room

Tickets for the games ??? Surely it's going to be tight as there's sponsors/TV crew etc/players families/county board members and season ticket holders both Waterford and Clare/limerick supporters

The may 12th game will be the 'free' game for season ticket holders

STIG83

Would anyone know where I could buy a Waterford Gaa hoodie?
Cant find one anywhere.

deise08

STIG83 wrote: »

Would anyone know where I could buy a Waterford Gaa hoodie?
Cant find one anywhere.

Sportsdirect.com

Tunc Nagiloc

deiseach wrote: »

I think it's a mistake to go back to the format that we saw around the turn of the millennium with two Division 1's of roughly equal strength. I remember how the likes of Down and Derry would come up from a division in which they were way too good and find themselves in a division in which they were way too bad. The current format smooths out the progression for a county like Carlow. The team who gets promoted from Division 2 in 2020 is going to get a rude awakening when they play Division 1 in 2021, and I don't see what good that will do them.

I would change to 2 so called equal Div 1 groups but I’d cut bottom 2 teams from current 1B and only have 10 teams not 12 in Div 1.
It would mean one less thing but is that a bad thing considering league starts in Jan!

Potential for very competitive Div2 if Offaly and Laois or Carlow were put in with the other top Div 2 teams like Kerry, Westmeath, Antrim

Why not have the divisions based on ability not just magic number of teams that gives even numbers in groups ?!

Ropaire

"Fraher Field, with a capacity of some 15,000, wasn’t considered suitable either."

That can't be right, is Fraher that big?

PTH2009

Ropaire wrote: »

"Fraher Field, with a capacity of some 15,000, wasn’t considered suitable either."

That can't be right, is Fraher that big?

Must be wrong there was little over 2700 there Saturday night and it was hard enough getting out of the stand

mountgomery burns

Sure Walsh Park was 15000 10 years ago. Somehow that had halved last year when they actually inspected it.

deiseach

Anyone got any insight into parking near Parnell Park? Feel free to say "don't even think about it boi."