Waterford v Galway:GALWAY MANAGER John McIntyre called Waterford an "ambush", but it can't be, because they know what is coming. When and where too.
In reality, this quarter-final seems is more straight forward than the undercard. Galway should provide us with further evidence of their All-Ireland credentials with a comfortable victory, perhaps hammering a final nail in the coffin of the current Waterford team.
Talk of the Deise hurlers raging against the dying of the light seems unlikely. Dan Shanahan being a case in point – 27 minutes into the Munster final and Davy Fitzgerald hauled off Jack Kennedy with Shanahan provided an opportunity to show us what a great player he still is. It never happened for big Dan, to such a degree that Shane Casey is preferred in the full forward line ahead of the man who was almost unstoppable just two seasons ago.
Ken McGrath, for so long the heartbeat of Waterford hurling, is laid up as well, leaving the emphasis weighing heavily on the shoulders of John Mullane and Eoin Kelly.
Really, though, it looks the right time for Joe Canning to make a nuisance of himself from play. His immaculate free-taking aside, he has yet to scale the heights of 2008 when he shrugged off Diarmuid O’Sullivan to end talk of the child prodigy and begin the era of a great full forward. That’s where he must start and remain.
Okay, it is the era of Kilkenny, but Galway have already shown the enthusiasm to grab hold of their coat-tails and create a genuine rivalry.
WATERFORD:C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, A Kearney; K Moran, S O'Sullivan; J Nagle, S Prendergast, S Molumphy; J Mullane, E Kelly, S Casey.
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, E McEntee, O Canning; F Moore, J Lee, E Lynch; G Farragher, K Hynes; A Callanan, C Donnellan, A Smith; D Hayes, J Canning, N Healy.
Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).
In the last episode: Galway have never beaten Waterford in eight championship meetings. Last March they won 1-21 to 2-12. You bet: Galway are 10/11 with minus four points. Waterford are evens with the same handicap.
On your marks: The "stop Joe Canning, stop Galway" mantra has already been rubbished but an equally effective containment plan needs to be conceived for John Mullane.
Gaining ground:Thurles is where every single player wants to be tomorrow. Hurling there will bring the best out of both teams.
Just the ticket:Stand tickets for €35. Pay €20 at the gate to get on the terrace. Kids are free into the terrace; students pay a fiver. OAP and students must buy stand tickets but receive a €20 refund on entry.
Crystal gazing:Galway to go through the gears, they might be forced to, because they can.
