Waterford and Tipp’s big rematch: Venue switch refusal, hurling’s pull and local rivalry
LONG TIME WAITING: Waterford manager Paul Shankey, right, celebrates with Alan Dunwoody after last year's Munster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Waterford and Tipperary at Fraher Field. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
For Tipperary, this is a real rivalry. Waterford secured a first win 36 years over them last year in the Munster SFC quarter-final. They wanted to redo it on the border in Clonmel. That request was denied.
Tipperary manager Philly Ryan submitted a request on behalf of his players to have their Munster SFC quarter-final moved from Semple Stadium to Clonmel, but it was seen as too small a venue. That doesn’t mean last year’s defeat is weighing on their mind.
“It’s a different group,” said Ryan at the Munster championship launch in Killarney. “It’s a different management team, and it’s a different mindset. There is a local rivalry. We’d love this game to be played in Clonmel and bring a crowd in because geographically, you’ve Rathgormack, The Nire, different pockets of Waterford football. Clonmel, just on the outskirts of it is Grangemockler, Mullinahone, Ardfinnan, all very good traditional football areas and they’d really love a clash of Tipp and Waterford in Clonmel.”
Former captain and All-Star Conor Sweeney has since retired while several key players including Seán O'Connor and Steven O'Brien are battling injury. In the end, they lost four of seven games in Division 4.
“We got, I don't know, was it 12, 13, or 14 new starters in during the League campaign and we introduced, in total, 16-17 fellas into inter-county football," reflected Ryan. "In Division 4, you might think you can get away with that but you can't. It is too high a level and it's too competitive at the moment.”
Much of Munster has a similar issue. Turnover is a constant challenge. Waterford’s Tom O’Connell kicked 2-3 in that famous triumph last year but is now with the senior hurling panel. Paul Shankey is in his second year at the helm and walked into the job with his eyes wide open. The former Meath footballer has lived in Waterford for 20 years.
"Any player at the moment, everyone wants to be a Waterford hurler — that's the reality. It's the same for Limerick, it's the same for Tipperary, it's the same for Clare. But I'm fully convinced that there are 25, 30 players outside of the lads who play hurling that can still compete. And that's the way it has to be.”
He continued: “We have very similar backgrounds in terms of the turnover of players. I wouldn't read too much into last year's game. I think historically, all the games have been quite competitive. There's a great rivalry there along the border, from Clonmel to The Nire.
“All these guys know each other, some of them went to school and college together, so there's a great local tradition there. Traditionally, the games have been quite tight. But I wouldn't read much into previous games.”
What Shankey has invested in is the environment. His alma mater is the University of Limerick. The co-op scheme there means Waterford people can assist with sports science while on placement. That was one major takeaway from 2024.
“I suppose we had a very small backroom team last year. It's not easy to get people in to volunteer, to coach and do S&C stuff," he explained. "One of the big things was to get more help from the background and just give players that breathing space towards the end of the year when they finish with their clubs, to give them a good break. And to try and put stepping stones in place in terms of S&C, in terms of fitness and things.
“Obviously with the new rules coming in, it's a blank canvas for everyone. The good thing about that is that it's the same for everyone. Whether you're Kerry or Waterford, we're all getting used to these new rules and that's been great over the last couple of weeks.”
