By Richie Power
The big questions heading into Sunday’s replay between Clare and Waterford were which team would have learned more from the drawn game, and what relevance it was going to have on the Championship meeting in early June?
In the first game between the sides, Waterford were definitely the happier team leaving Semple Stadium after that last-minute Maurice Shanahan free.
However, I’m sure they were disappointed that they didn’t finish the job in normal time.
If Shanahan had been on from the start that day, I think Waterford would have won the game easily in the end.
But it was a credit to Clare that they too kept going and a draw was a fair result.
I was surprised to see both sides being very attack-minded from the start last Sunday, which was a complete turnaround from the previous week.
Both managers were possibly afraid they had shown too much in the drawn game. From a neutral point of view, we would love to see the same again in four weeks' time, but it definitely won’t be the case.
Both teams will have a sweeper in place, space will be at a premium inside on the 45-yard lines and it will be survival of the fittest after another gruelling 70 minutes.
We had an exceptional game of hurling on Sunday but don’t be fooled: Semple Stadium will be a cauldron on 5 June and I think whichever defence comes out on top will decide the outcome.
Waterford set their stall out early last Sunday with Patrick Curran smashing the ball to the net, beating his man quite easily in doing so.
However, would he have run through so easily had Clare’s sweeper been in position?
As early as the third minute we saw Podge Collins pick up a loose ball on his own 21-yard line and this was where we saw him for the duration of the first half.
He still found time to pop over a point in the fifth minute, however, before the white flag was raised he was already on his way back behind Cian Dillon at number six.
I certainly think Podge is the right guy to play that roaming role, but he would be more effective around the middle third.
Some of his link-up play with Tony Kelly in the first half was very useful. When forwards run direct like that, it is very hard defend against.
The loss of Pat Donnellan in the sweeper role is huge to Clare and this will become more evident as the championship unfolds.
Would Waterford have scored those goals had Pat been positioned in behind Cian Dillon? I don’t think so.
Davy Fitzgerald said after the game that the only reason Waterford scored both goals was because Clare didn’t have a sweeper in place. He will not make the same mistake again and I expect Clare to resort to the same tactics as the drawn game for this Championship clash.
"The problem may occur at the other end when the need for a green flag is at its greatest"
What really stood out to me was the pace and fitness levels of Clare. They looked like they had plenty left in the tank even at the end of the game, which is worrying for other teams going forward.
Tony Kelly, who missed the majority of the league, covered every blade of grass and was still going strong in the 73rd minute.
He is definitely hitting the heights that saw him crowned Hurler of the Year in 2013.
Waterford, on the other hand, were clinging on and trying to close out the game. I think we have seen the running game take its toll on this team in the past and it’s very hard to play that style for a full 70 minutes at championship pace.
The return of Shanahan will give Waterford that target man they were craving last Sunday.
Maurice proved last year that he can play that role and was sorely missed.
A huge positive for Waterford was Austin Gleeson being used as a target man for puck outs. He showed great strength and power in the air which led to some crucial scores throughout the game.
His point in the first half was majestic where he caught the ball over the head of David Fitzgerald and split the posts on the turn.
Looking at Waterford, I tried to see if they were ready to take that big step forward and walk up those steps the first Sunday in September.
The full-back line of Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan and Noel Connors remain ever-present and with the protection Tadgh De Burca offers, it makes them a very tough unit to break down.
Apart from a great Tony Kelly goal on Sunday, I don’t remember Stephen O’Keeffe having much to do.
If Waterford can maintain this brilliant defensive record in stopping goals they give themselves a great chance every day they play.
I think the problem may occur at the other end when the need for a green flag is at its greatest.
They scored two goals on Sunday, but I can’t see Clare and Davey allowing this to happen in the future. Where is that creativeness going to come from and do Waterford have the forwards to break through a half-back line and create the overlap? I believe so.
I certainly think placing Gleeson at 11 will give them that strength and power. As well as the target-man role, Shanahan can also take over the free-taking duties.
Curran did very well on Sunday but had Waterford a consistent free taker in the first game there wouldn’t have been a replay and the league title would have remain in their county.
The prospect of Pauric Mahony returning to the fold will also strengthen their attacking options and I hope we see the Ballygunnar man back in action come the summer.
So after part two of this trilogy what have we learned about both sides, and what can we expect in the big finale?
I fully expect Clare to revert back to the game plan from the drawn game as mentioned, and what really impresses me about them is how they utilise both half-backs by pushing them forward to the half-forward line under the puck outs, which gives them a huge advantage in winning primary possession.
Expect more of the same come championship.
It’s crucial that Clare keep Tony Kelly fully fit this summer and if he hits the heights of 2013, he will play a huge part in this year’s championship.
Waterford’s approach last year secured them a league title last year and an All-Ireland semi-final.
But I have a small inkling that Derek McGrath might just be holding something in reserve. They came up just short last year so I fully expect Waterford to bring something different for summer 2016.
I don’t think their defensive tactics will change very much but I have a sneaky suspicion the green flag will be raised a lot more this year and they will find that key to scoring more goals. That will be their major test in early June.
We have seen the appetiser over two games in the league final and now all roads lead back to Thurles in four weeks for the main course.
Let the mind games begin.
