Mount Sion's recent dismal performance in the Munster club hurling final must have been very depressing for hurling supporters in Waterford... Once again, a team from the Déise county failed to rise to a big occasion. Of ten starts in Munster club finals, Waterford teams have now lost nine. Given their marvelous tradition and high-status players, one might have thought that this time the city club would go one better than Ballygunner, who went down to different clubs from the Banner County four times in the last six years. But for the weary Déise fans, it was another case of 'the same old story'.

Sixmilebridge came to Thurles with one simple objective: victory. Whatever Mount Sion had on their minds, they were woefully unprepared for what was required to win this game. Where the 'Bridge drove in for the ball, Mount Sion waited for it to arrive. When the ball broke, there were several 'Bridge players swooping on it with no Sion player in sight. What appeared to be 50:50 balls always seemed to be won by the Clare men.

When Mount Sion did get the ball, they frequently tried things which might have worked well in August (flicks, hand passes) but which were totally inappropriate even for the wonderful Thurles pitch in late November. When the 'Bridge men got the ball, they drove it down the field. Time and again, Mount Sion allowed the ball to hit the ground before attempting to take it in hand - several possible scoring chances went astray as a result. They even had a forward wearing fancy dan boots designed for high summer: not surprisingly, every time he tried to turn, he ended up on his behind.

Ultimately, however, it was Mount Sion's failure to compete and general lack of 'bottle' which was most dispiriting about their display. For anyone who didn't see the game, the final score gives a very distorted view of the actual trend of play. Apart from winning by six points, Sixmilebridge hit 18 wides plus the upright and crossbar, and brought several excellent saves from Sion goalie Philly Flynn. With two of Sion's goals coming somewhat fortuitously from frees, this could have been a complete massacre. Only for a brief period in the middle of the second half when Mount Sion came close to their opponents did they begin to get stuck in around the field. However, this fleeting show of commitment quickly dissipated after the 'Bridge knocked in two goals in rapid succession. The fact is that the Clare men were prepared to suffer in quest of victory. When an inviting ball came across the Clare goalmouth in the first half, a Mount Sion forward chose not to take the wallops and shkelps required in order to get the ball bundles over the line. That was the essential difference between the sides.

Sixmilebridge had leaders all over the field, and especially down the middle where John O'Connell, Pat Hayes, John Reddan and Niall Gilligan were in complete control. Gilligan subsequently deservedly received the accolade of 'Sports Star of The Week' from Dr O'Reilly's Middle Abbey Street Organ, for his performance in this game. By contrast, the Mount Sion big-name players were largely anonymous, with the exception of Ken McGrath, who at least tried his heart out. Tony Browne (who had played superbly in the Waterford championship) spent the game expressing his annoyance at the way things were going to various Sixmilebridge players and the referee - a classic indicator of lack of focus. Mícheál White finally encountered a referee who was wise to his tendency to overcarry the ball. Even Brian Flannery, normally the most reliable of performers, failed to make any great impression.

From a structural point of view, Mount Sion's biggest problem was the inability of their halfback line - the key line in any hurling team - to gain any kind of clean possession. As a result, their fullback line was under constant pressure from half forwards running at them, their midfield was getting no decent ball and there was a scant supply of any kind of ball to the forwards. Their tactic of playing three small but fast players in the full forward line could only have worked with well-directed low balls into space coming from out the field. Too often, instead, they were faced with high lobs hit under pressure which were 'meat and drink' to the alert Sixmilebridge fullbacks.

With whatever game plan they had in disarray, the response of the Mount Sion mentors was pathetic. They desperately needed to establish some kind of parity in the halfback line in order to stop the flow towards their own goal and get some decent ball up to their own forwards. The obvious moves would have brought Ken McGrath to centre back and Tony Browne to wingback where at least they would have been more involved. Instead, the halfback trio remained intact for the entire game, while both unfortunate midfielders were moved. The decision to substitute Eoin Kelly immediately after he had scored a goal and a point in rapid succession was a fair reflection on how clueless the Mount Sion sideline team were.

A Mount Sion victory would have provided a great fillip for the game in Waterford. Even a good performance would have been some consolation. Instead, the view that Waterford hurlers are imbued with a culture of defeat and don't have the bottle for the big occasion has received further corroboration.

There was a time when any Waterford team would have regarded a game against opposition from Clare as a routine task prior to moving on to the next round. The reversal of roles in recent years has been remarkable, and ultimately is a testament to Ger Loughnane's impact on Clare hurling. An Moltóir will return to this topic again...