Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

Weather horrible and made a mess of the game but LC gave it a huge effort and only for a few good saves from Soky it could of been a much closer game.

Ballygunner will be relieved and know themselves an effort will not do against Kilmallock next month (why its not til early January I don't know, Leinster final taking place next weekend with the Ulster decider on today)

Possibly be missing some of the Ballygunner players for the first few rounds of the league.

That Ballygunner team aren’t built for hurling in December on a wet and windy day. To come off a 6 or 7 week break to play a team with huge momentum in weather like that, I don’t know what you expected to be honest.

Ballygunner scored 1-03 in the second half and still won by 5. They don’t give a hoot about the performance, on days like today it’s all about the result.

The diving and feigning injury was disgraceful today.. Kevin keegan quote surely added to it

Kilmallock will be delighted to see Ballygunnar are still picking him Coughlan full back.

having had the pleasure of working with barry i can tell you he's an extremely mild mannered man and nothing but a gent, very unassuming and not an air or grace on him ,now duck off back to your wine ,you need to drink your sour grapes

Personally I thought both red cards were harsh. To be fair to the ref he made both decisions on the advice of his officials as opposed to seeing them himself.

Horrendous conditions on the day along with the general condition of Fraher Field made this game a lottery - the level of scoring from both sides is a testament to that. Game should have been played first and not under lights - the Kilmallock, Middleton game was the one that should have been under lights.

Looking at the conditions when i saw who was down to referee the game my first thought were that this is going to be an absolute lottery as he has bit of a history of making "unusual decisions" against both sides. The Noel McGrath sending off was wrong, however to any observer looking from either side of the ground, the momentum of the shoulder made it look as if the Hurley was used to strike, and before anyone comments on Leavy going to ground, he was caught totally unawares with a shoulder to the chest and i am sure it did knock the wind out of him - Noel McGrath is a very experienced player and should have known better than to get involved like that, but did not deserve to be sent off. That being said, in my opinion, and as often happens, the ref then proceeded to hand a number of very soft scoreable frees to Loughmore, almost like an attempt to balance things out.

The second sending off personally I have no idea what the penalty was awarded for, but John McGrath must be kicking himself for a stupid rash decision - he is again experienced enough to know better that to even make an attempt to strike - especially as he was already on a yellow card - it was a moment of complete madness and Barry Coughlan did not do anything that hurlers all over the country do day after day after day - it has unfortunately become an accepted part of the game and experienced inter-county hurlers especially should know much better at this stage. Discipline has become so important in the modern game, where the simplest of indiscretions are being punished. And yes, Barry Sullivan can count himself extremely lucky that he did not see red for his high reckless challenge - he should be counting his blessings this morning that he is not facing a suspension for the final.

In terms of the outcome I think Ballygunner will be relieved but happy, especially when they look back on the video - Socky made at least three outstanding save, ( but them missed a penalty), The conditions yesterday are the worst nightmare for a side like Ballygunner, who play a precision passing game, . so wet windy muddy conditions are always going to be a greater test for them. They will certainly be hoping for better conditions and a better pitch next day out, going to Dungarvan was never going to suit their game - so fair play to them for coming through. Tipp champions, no matter which club are always going to be extremely tough opponents going into any game.

For those who keep harping on about it is now of never for this team, do they realize how young in general this team is and how it has evolved over teh last number of years - yes Socky, Coughlan, Shane O'Sullivan and the two Mahony's have been around the block a good while but are not by any means over the hill for club hurling. But look at all the younger lads who have continued pushing through over the last couple of years - gone are Wayne and JJ Hutchinson, Shane Walsh, David, Brian and Timmy O'Sullivan, etc, being replaced by Kevin & Mikey Mahony, Paddy Leavy, Conor Sheehan and Dessie Hutchinson. This is a team that is constantly evolving

Special mention for Dessie yesterday, anytime he got any sort of ball into him yesterday he was a nightmare for Loughmore defence. A beautiful flick for the first goal coupled with a run that took the Loughmore defender across the goal and opened it up for Mahony inside to take his goal. for the second a beautiful little hand-pass inside when many others wold have tried to pull the trigger, and then got pulled down for the penalty. Thought he gave a sterling display yesterday in conditions that were most definitely not suited to him.

Looking forward to the final which will hopefully be played in better conditions but certainly on a better pitch - a very even match in prospect with very little to choose between both sides.

Lost a lot of respect with who? Ballygunner are well used to having plenty of knockers in Waterford, losing respect from further afield won’t matter much to them.

Noel McGrath’s sending off wasn’t a sending off I think we all know that. That isn’t Paddy Leavy or Ballygunners fault, that’s on the referee. Leavy was met head on with a shoulder to the chest when he wasn’t looking. Anyone that says he shouldn’t have gone down has never been on the receiving end of one of those hits. For those who think he went down to easily, have a look at Jackie Tyrrell’s hit on Callanan in the 2009 all Ireland final. I don’t recall anyone saying Callanan went down too easily.

John McGrath’s sending off was a red card though. He was already on a yellow anyway so it was pure stupidity from him. Coughlan had his back turned and McGrath swiped at him on the wrist with the Hurley. Barry had his wrist broken by a similar swipe a few years ago if I remember correctly. I heard the slap from the stand so it wasn’t as if McGrath didn’t touch him which is what some people are saying.

The referee took no action so that’s not on Paddy Leavy that’s on the referee. The McGraths are sharp enough to know you’re putting yourself at risk by retaliating. Conor Gleeson has fallen foul of it at county level a couple of times.

Coughlan has taken unbelievable punishment off players over the years and hasn’t had much protection from umpires or referees and I don’t like hearing any supporter calling him or anyone else a coward. I’m not a Ballygunner man, far from it, and our clubs have had serious battles over the years but one thing I have for the club is respect. They’re representing Waterford hurling so I will naturally always root for them once they step outside the county championship.

Levy wasnt met with a full frontal run shoulder. There is a massive difference. The running looking for cards has no place in hurling

He’s one of the most natural hurlers you’ll ever see if you bothered to watch him when plays wing back. People love to throw that line out about not just him but other full backs. What is the job of a player at full back?

He's a complete liability as a full back. He is on every ref and umpires radar for years. He was so bad at tearing and dragging off the ball in one Munster club match in Walsh Park that the ref went to the Ballygunner manager at half time to tell him to take him off or he would be sent off if he fouled once more in the second half. He was hanging out of John McGrath all day yesterday. That's the most annoying thing then when he throws himself down like he's been shot when he gets a little tip.

But it's horrible and they lost a ton of goodwill on Sunday going by the backlash on twitter..

I still stick to my point on what they give to the county is brutal. Eight in a row, only one certain starter. If that was mount sion they would have about six.

Ballygunner are very much a self-sufficient club who are run well by their members and have huge success but their catchment area and population obviously has a huge part to play in this.

Such is their financial superiority to other clubs is seen is how they don't have Deise draw members and don't promote it and have a very successful in house draw. Other clubs depend on Deise Draw as they get a large proportion back.

Ballygunner players have been unbelievable servants for Waterford and I don't question their commitment one bit but I do feel that the standard within their own club and their relentless bid to win an All-Ireland has made the decision to retire or not commit to Waterford easier for the likes of SOK, Coughlan, Mahony etc. Other lads go back to their clubs and it is chalk and cheese compared to intercounty set-ups but Ballygunner are not far off the professional approach of intercounty teams and this group will leave no stone unturned in their bid for an All-Ireland , perhaps prioritising it over playing for Waterford.

never had a red that i've seen so thats bollocks