Originally posted by Baves:
U21 Hurling Final- match thread...no mention of venue allowed

Originally posted by GregsAngryTooth:
dont know much of the clare team but waterford got out of jail in a few positions v tipp. i think it was 1 of those games where everything ran right for them if it hadnt been we could have been in trouble. im not convinced with daniels at centre back. hopefully o hare doesnt start midfield again. does anybody know wht dean twomey isnt on the panel? having been on it the last 2 years.

Originally posted by Giveitfong:
For the benefit of Clare supporters. The Waterford goalkeeper Adrian Power is the senior sub goalie and many people believe he should be on the first team due to his sometimes unbelievable shot stopping abilities and his excellent puckouts, although he is also inclined to do crazy things. All three full backs are on the senior panel with Noel Connors in the first team. Full back Shane Fives was excellent against Tipperary while the other corner back Jerome Maher was possibly even better. This line`s performance was a key factor in the defeat of Tipp.

The half back line is the same as that which won De La Salle their first All-Ireland colleges title in 2007. Philip Mahony is also on the minor team and is the best hurler of the three. Stephen Daniels had a shaky enough first half against Tipp but was super in the second half: he is not physically big and relies on hurling and positioning. I though the other wing back David O`Sullivan was weak enough against Tipp.

The two big Abbeyside men who started against Tipp were both very poor, but only one of them - Seán O`Hare - was taken off, and his replacement Shane Walsh probably played the key role in turning the game Waterford`s way. I think the occasion got to O`Hare who is a better hurler than he looked that night, but I can`t for the life of me say what John Gorman is doing on the team   (well, I do have an opinion but can`t express it here  )  .

All six Waterford forwards are on the senior panel. Paul Murray is usually a defender but put in a great hour against Tipp and landed three points. Thomas Connors, brother of Noel, had a whale of a second half - strong and aggressive and can take a score. Maurice Shanahan is unreal - a much better hurler than Dan, with a bit of his father`s devil in him, and an excellent freetaker. Shane Casey has great pace and skill and also very good vision - did really well both a full forward and on the wing against Tipp. Thomas Ryan is small in stature but has great pace and skill and an eye for a goal   (got two against Tipp  )  . Brian O`Sullivan is very skillful but was the least impressive of the forwards against Tipp, but I think from his club form that he is capable of better.

Waterford played with a great combination of skill, commitment and discipline against Tipp and if they repeat that they will be hard to beat. Also 3-21 was a big score to get in a 60-minute match against a team with Tipp`s credentials.

Dungarvan is a big pitch and would always have been regarded as one of the best hurling pitches in Ireland. However, whatever they did with the drainage when they built the stand in the early 1990s it was never the same afterwards. They are after having a couple of gos at fixing the problem and I must say that for the semi-final it looked in the best shape I have seen it in 20 years.

Most people travelling to this game from Clare will probably come through Tipperary, Cahir and Clonmel. There are three roundabouts in a row approaching Clonmel from the Cahir side and I don` think any one of them as a signpost for Dungarvan. The best advice is to take the exit at around one/two o`clock   (looking at the roundabout facing you as a clock  )   i.e. the one after the exit for Waterford. This should bring you up to traffic lights   (petrol station on the left hand side  )   where you turn right   (over the river Suir  )   for Dungarvan, turn right at the roundabout at the far side of the river   (no advance sign for Dungarvan here either  )   and then turn left about half a mile further on. Very picturesque road between the Comeragh and Knockmealdown mountains but rather twisty in places.

Just west of Dungarvan the road meets up with the N72 from Killarney/Lismore   (at the Master McGrath monument  )   and just beyond this junction there is another junction with the road to Dungarvan off to the right and the road to Waterford to the left. You can approach Fraher Field by either road. Taking the Waterford road, take the next right turn and this brings you to the ground along the river Colligan. I believe there is parking at the Cattle Mart just before the ground. This might be the best bet for people coming late.

If you take the road into Dungarvan, turn left at the first roundabout   (petrol station on the right  )   and the ground is to the left of the second next roundabout you meet. However, the traffic situation in this area will be dire. If coming early, go straight on at the first roundabout which brings you into the town square - there are several car parks in the vicinity of the square, which is about ten minutes walk from the ground. Recommended pubs include the Local, the Lady Belle and Paddy Foleys   (all in one corner of the Square  )   and the Moorings and the Anchor on the Quay. The Park Hotel is next to the ground and is also a great meeting place for games.

Welcome to the Déise and enjoy everything about your visit except the match result!

Originally posted by Giveitfong:
For the benefit of Clare supporters. The Waterford goalkeeper Adrian Power is the senior sub goalie and many people believe he should be on the first team due to his sometimes unbelievable shot stopping abilities and his excellent puckouts, although he is also inclined to do crazy things. All three full backs are on the senior panel with Noel Connors in the first team. Full back Shane Fives was excellent against Tipperary while the other corner back Jerome Maher was possibly even better. This line`s performance was a key factor in the defeat of Tipp.

The half back line is the same as that which won De La Salle their first All-Ireland colleges title in 2007. Philip Mahony is also on the minor team and is the best hurler of the three. Stephen Daniels had a shaky enough first half against Tipp but was super in the second half: he is not physically big and relies on hurling and positioning. I though the other wing back David O`Sullivan was weak enough against Tipp.

The two big Abbeyside men who started against Tipp were both very poor, but only one of them - Seán O`Hare - was taken off, and his replacement Shane Walsh probably played the key role in turning the game Waterford`s way. I think the occasion got to O`Hare who is a better hurler than he looked that night, but I can`t for the life of me say what John Gorman is doing on the team   (well, I do have an opinion but can`t express it here  )  .

All six Waterford forwards are on the senior panel. Paul Murray is usually a defender but put in a great hour against Tipp and landed three points. Thomas Connors, brother of Noel, had a whale of a second half - strong and aggressive and can take a score. Maurice Shanahan is unreal - a much better hurler than Dan, with a bit of his father`s devil in him, and an excellent freetaker. Shane Casey has great pace and skill and also very good vision - did really well both a full forward and on the wing against Tipp. Thomas Ryan is small in stature but has great pace and skill and an eye for a goal   (got two against Tipp  )  . Brian O`Sullivan is very skillful but was the least impressive of the forwards against Tipp, but I think from his club form that he is capable of better.

Waterford played with a great combination of skill, commitment and discipline against Tipp and if they repeat that they will be hard to beat. Also 3-21 was a big score to get in a 60-minute match against a team with Tipp`s credentials.

Dungarvan is a big pitch and would always have been regarded as one of the best hurling pitches in Ireland. However, whatever they did with the drainage when they built the stand in the early 1990s it was never the same afterwards. They are after having a couple of gos at fixing the problem and I must say that for the semi-final it looked in the best shape I have seen it in 20 years.

Most people travelling to this game from Clare will probably come through Tipperary, Cahir and Clonmel. There are three roundabouts in a row approaching Clonmel from the Cahir side and I don` think any one of them as a signpost for Dungarvan. The best advice is to take the exit at around one/two o`clock   (looking at the roundabout facing you as a clock  )   i.e. the one after the exit for Waterford. This should bring you up to traffic lights   (petrol station on the left hand side  )   where you turn right   (over the river Suir  )   for Dungarvan, turn right at the roundabout at the far side of the river   (no advance sign for Dungarvan here either  )   and then turn left about half a mile further on. Very picturesque road between the Comeragh and Knockmealdown mountains but rather twisty in places.

Just west of Dungarvan the road meets up with the N72 from Killarney/Lismore   (at the Master McGrath monument  )   and just beyond this junction there is another junction with the road to Dungarvan off to the right and the road to Waterford to the left. You can approach Fraher Field by either road. Taking the Waterford road, take the next right turn and this brings you to the ground along the river Colligan. I believe there is parking at the Cattle Mart just before the ground. This might be the best bet for people coming late.

If you take the road into Dungarvan, turn left at the first roundabout   (petrol station on the right  )   and the ground is to the left of the second next roundabout you meet. However, the traffic situation in this area will be dire. If coming early, go straight on at the first roundabout which brings you into the town square - there are several car parks in the vicinity of the square, which is about ten minutes walk from the ground. Recommended pubs include the Local, the Lady Belle and Paddy Foleys   (all in one corner of the Square  )   and the Moorings and the Anchor on the Quay. The Park Hotel is next to the ground and is also a great meeting place for games.

Welcome to the Déise and enjoy everything about your visit except the match result!

Originally posted by redlead:
Does anyone know if this will be on WLR? TG4 wrecks my head.

Originally posted by bruce frawley:
Looking forward to this now although i will have to make do with TG4.
heart warming to see the Clare fellas getting wound up and excited about a hurling match again, its great to see.
A nice distraction for Waterford also, nice little thing to take the mind of the AI semi coming up next week.

Originally posted by redlead:
Does anyone know if this will be on WLR? TG4 wrecks my head.

Originally posted by suirboy:


Match coverage starting on WLR at 7.05 after the news.

Originally posted by seamusclancy:
Rise it Clare..

Im about to hit the road..lets hope some history can be made this evening

This message has been edited - 29-jul-2009 @ 14:27

Originally posted by deiseach:
The posts on the various threads about the match tonight have been remarkably mellow. A good clean match tonight and I think we can say with some certainty that the problems between the two counties which flowed from the debacle in 1998 will have been forgotten.

Although if Clare win, Colin Lynch is a bollix