MUNSTER SHC SEMI-FINAL:ALTHOUGH IT'S surprising Clare have won three of the last four meetings between the counties over the past eight years, the more interesting statistic is all four matches have gone against expectation.
At Limerick in 2008 the apparent disinclination of Waterford’s players, apart from John Mullane, to play for Justin McCarthy led to an abrupt changing of the guard, as Clare – well-drilled by Michael McNamara – racked up 2-26 for an emphatic win.
But at that stage Clare were still a Division One team with a good bit of experience. This afternoon they start half of last year’s successful under-21s, a process that normally requires a more incremental rate of change. Ger O’Loughlin acknowledges the county is embarked on a long journey rather than a quick fix.
Their poor display in the Division Two final illustrates the length of the journey and lowers expectations going into Thurles.
Yet the conditions for another upset would exist were Clare’s circumstances a little more elevated. Waterford have established a practice of starting championship seasons in low gear. There is a sense David Fitzgerald is still ruminating over his best team and the selection policy in recent challenges has been unsettled.
In the attack only Mullane is expected to start in his named position and there was no clear consensus amongst even close observers about who would be given the number three jersey, which in the event went to Liam Lawlor, whose experience at full back during the NHL was far from an incontrovertible success.
There were also differences of opinion on the choice of Jamie Nagle, a more natural centrefielder, at wing back ahead of Aidan Kearney and concerns that prominent newcomer Maurice Shanahan is struggling for form, as recently seen in last week’s under-21 walloping by Cork.
Clare will raise their game for this but unless there’s a disastrous fall-off in Waterford’s delivery, the gap between the teams – not least the physical terms in which the underdogs were pushed around by Wexford in Thurles last month – will be too wide.
CLARE:D Touhy; P Vaughan, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, D McMahon, P Donnellan; B O'Connell, N O'Connell; S Collins, J Conlon, J Clancy; F Lynch, D Honan, C Ryan.
WATERFORD:C Hennessy; E Murphy, L Lawlor, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, J Nagle; S O'Sullivan, R Foley; D Shanahan, K Moran, S Molumphy; J Mullane, E Kelly, M Shanahan.
Referee:Brian Gavin (Offaly).
In the last episode:Two years ago Clare brought the curtain down on Justin McCarthy's tenure as Waterford manager with an industrious and focused display despite a dazzling eight-point haul from play by John Mullane.
You bet:Waterford 1 to 4, Clare 7 to 2 and 12 to 1 the draw.
On your marks:Liam Lawlor is the latest Waterford championship full back but if he begins to struggle on Fergal Lynch or Darrach Honan there are options, with Ken McGrath on the bench and Michael Walsh fit again should the much-touted switch to the edge of the square be deemed necessary.
Gaining ground:The counties' four most recent championship matches have been played in different venues – Limerick, Ennis, Thurles and Croke Park – but the Semple Stadium fixture six years ago was the only one Clare lost, although they did so resoundingly.
Just the ticket:Stand €30 and terraces €20.
Crystal gazing: Waterford have advantages in physique, bench quality and experience and should prevail.
