Waterford GAA Thread - Mod note post #1

Would James Woodlock be worth a chance? I’d expect he’ll probably move up to Tipp U20, but if Cummins was to remain at U20 and Woodlock was available he’d be an interesting appointment. He’s done a very impressive job with Tipp minors over the past few years.

Whether he could translate that to a county outside of his own and especially at senior intercounty level, would be interesting to see.

Saying that, I fully expect Derek McGrath to get the gig.

Lads with Shefflin available suddenly there is a clear and obvious candidate available, if he wants it.

I agree with this, people will jump to appoint someone from another county based on either club or underage success but then will say the likes of Sean Power or Darragh O Sullivan don't have the experience or credentials for the role.

That always baffles me.

unlike DOS he is currently available and actually has intercounty experience. If your willing to dismiss him because he didn’t do anything with Galway then your writing off every other Galway manager of the past 35 years bar Donoghue aswell, I’d be happy to give him the reigns there are no outstanding candidates but if you say he has ruled himself out then conversation over

Thanks to Davy Fitzgerald for his service. I'm not the biggest fan of his management style and would have preferred him to go last summer, but he did reasonably ok for Waterford this year in comparison to 2023. Credit where it is due.

I have long been amused by the level of animosity towards Derek McGrath's management style on this forum. We got to within 3 points of winning an All-Ireland final in 2017, the closest since 1963 and yet his tenure is reviled. I get it that many people did not like the defensive style of play etc, but no other former manager has as many committed detractors in Co. Waterford. It is as if there is some other sort of resentment behind it…..

The bottom line is that DMG is a really good hurling coach and manager of players and their personalities. Perhaps he could benefit from assistance on the management side from someone who is good at dealing with the co. board, fundraising etc and maybe there could even be a case for a co-manager type situation. But in terms of hurling coaching and knowledge of the game, the guy is well up there. In a Kiely/Kinnerk set up, he could be better in the Kinnerk role. He would also be good to find and bring new young players forward to the senior set up, which is badly needed due to our team's age profile.

I am not that naive to think that the current board would be likely to offer him a role (unless they come under pressure from the public to do so) and I doubt he would ask them for it, only to be then refused. So I guess we will just get whoever is handily available, with some sort of name recognition and stumble on without getting out of Munster.

Having said all of that, I would have no objection to Darragh O' Sullivan getting the job, were he to be offered it. He would also be good at bringing on new talent. I do not see a role as manager yet for any of the management team just gone. Perhaps in the future, but right now we need a safe pair of hands who will also bring in more young players and get them ready for the top level.

Fair play to Clare for getting that result yesterday without firing on all cylinders. If they were to hit peak form in the final, who knows but that they could win it.

If we’re playing fantasy manager, how about a Seán Power/Derek McGrath ticket? Could they get on? One of them might be more suited to a forward facing role and the other working away from the glare of the cameras. Two of the most successful Waterford managers of all time.

Right, I’ve convinced myself.

Only for we slipped up against Tipp, Cork would have been out and now they're in the AI final.

On the managerial front at least our stock is a little higher than it would've been 12 months ago if Davy walked out then. The few decent championship performances might bring one or two interested parties in that otherwise wouldn't have considered it but I suppose the reality is we'd be looking at the same names anyway.

I don't envy the new man that comes in, he'll have a job and a half on his hands trying to plot a course through Munster next year. This year was set up perfectly fixture wise, next year doesn't look like it's going to be any easier. Even now, most will believe Munster is already sown up next year with the only question being which 1-3 positions Clare, Cork and Limerick will occupy. So from the start the new boss will have to create a bit of a siege mentality.

Cork's win, while great for hurling, only looks like a route out of Munster for us becomes harder in 2025. As decies alluded to above, if only one of our lads rugby tackled that Tipp player out at the sideline a few months ago in the dying minutes, Cork would've been gone. Tiny margins.

God almighty what a rant. Brick Walsh was exceptional at wing forward, winning an all star in 17. Take a deep breath. Players you mentioned watching on all got ample opportunities.

I think the rogue goal v tipp ruined us that year, Gleeson caught a ball on the goal line that was deemed to have been taken over the line with the tv cameras showing later that it was never a goal. Then something like 5 players getting injured almost one after the other in Cusack park……😡😡😡

re this year tiny margins killed us and let Cark progress. Tipp game followed by the 65 v Clare that the umpire didn’t actually know that to give and another day Tadhg de bourka would have caught the ball and whistle would have blown….😡😡😡

3rd and 4th team in Munster are being penalised? Cork finished 3rd and are in an All Ireland Final? I'm not sure what you mean here?

To anyone who thinks 4 should qualify from a group of 5 just look at the farcical structure that hasn't worked in the football championship.

the snr. Camogie seems to have a format like the above if I’m not mistaken……Munster and Leinster totally separate followed by an ‘all Ireland series’ with two groups of the top teams….would this work in the hurling…?

It's the councils that will keep the system in place. We know this well ourselves from the East/West self serving divisional boards and everyone's desire to be a chief that means sensible structures often don't prevail if it threatens the existence of those that serve on the boards. Or even simply diminishes their power.

The system is the system. Let’s not look petty because it hasn’t worked out for us. Focus on the play on the pitch. Whoever comes in, I’d throw the budget at a **** psychologist.