Saturday 13 May

Munster SHC round 3

Waterford v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 6pm (GAAGO)

Ref: John Keenan (Wicklow)

After losing their first two matches of the campaign to Limerick and Cork, Waterford are very much in the last chance saloon as far as their hopes of making the All-Ireland series are concerned.

After an encouraging performance in that first round clash against All-Ireland champions Limerick, a game they could and maybe should have won, Waterford were very poor the last day out against Cork.

Even manager Davy Fitzgerald admitted as much, and perhaps more concerningly wasn’t sure why his team played so below par.

“It was absolutely terrible,” said Fitzgerald after the defeat to Cork. “Lack of energy, lack of drive – it was just very disappointing.

“I’d love to tell you why, I just don’t know. It wasn’t the same team that lined out last week. Maybe I got something wrong during the week, I don’t know.

“That desire to get to the ball in front – we knew that, from puckouts, they’d pull a lot in like Limerick and leave that space but we didn’t attack it.”

You can be sure that Fitzgerald will be demanding more energy from his team this time around, and a response is surely inevitable.

He’s made three changes to the team that lost to Cork, Iarlaith Daly replaces Tom Barron in defence and Peter Hogan and Austin Gleeson come in for Colin Dunford and Michael Kiely in attack.

If Waterford are to turn their championship campaign around, it’ll surely require Gleeson to be at his inspirational best.

They’ll also need to bring something different tactically to this match than they did against Limerick and Cork.

Clare have conceded seven goals in two matches so that’s an obvious weakness to exploit, but Waterford didn’t score a goal against either Limerick or Cork so perhaps a more direct approach is required today, or at least keep proven finishers like Stephen Bennett, Gleeson, and Dessie Hutchinson higher up the pitch than they’ve been thus far.

Clare, unsurprisingly, have named the same team that produced a sensational victory over Limerick last time out.

Eibhear Quilligan in goal and Rory Hayes brought stability to a defence that was shaky against Tipp, John Conlon hurled up a storm at centre-back, a midfield trio of David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone, and Ryan Taylor hurled a huge amount of ball, and a forward line of many talents really clicked into gear.

With Tony Kelly, Aidan McCarthy, Shane O’Donnell, Peter Duggan and Mark Rodgers all looking very sharp, and other excellent finishers on the bench in the shape of Ian Galvin, Shane Meehan and Aron Shanagher, Clare have enviable firepower in their ranks.

On current form they certainly carry much more of an attacking threat than Waterford to, and that’s why they go into this match as warm favourites.

WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Calum Lyons, Jack Fagan; Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron; Peter Hogan, Jack Prendergast, Neil Montgomery; Stephen Bennett, Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson. Subs: Shaun O’Brien, Conor Ryan, Tom Barron, Paddy Leavey, Patrick Curran, Colin Dunford, Patrick Fitzgerald, Padraig Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony, Carthach Daly, Seamus Fitzgerald.

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone; Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Aidan McCarthy; Ryan Taylor, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers. Subs: Eamonn Foudy, Cian Nolan, Ian Galvin, Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher, Aaron Fitzgerald, Robin Mounsey, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Jack Kirwan, Seadna Morey.