Now every person that has played GAA at various different levels is well aware of the tactic of “dropping the man back” and playing a free role in an attempt to shore up the defence and I myself am well-accustomed to it. We have seen this deployed at senior club level and at inter-county level and undoubtedly can have its success. However, in the championship this year Waterford under the stewardship of Derek McGrath have used this tactic and advanced it to become one of the most defensively minded teams in the country. Throughout the championship Waterford only conceded 3 goals which is an extremely impressive return and deserves to be praised in itself but only managed themselves 5 goals, 3 of which came in defeating cork in the 1st game of the Munster Championship. The following day out when they came up against the Premier men in the Munster final, arguably one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the sporting calendar they once again adopted there defensive approach but on this occasion Eamon O'Shea identified this and countered it with similar tactic themselves which lead to one of the most disappointing Munster Finals in recent times with Waterford managing a mere 16 points throughout the 70 minutes of action. Throughout the game it was obvious to see Waterford’s plan in sniffing out any goal opportunities and depriving Seamie Callanan of a yard of space which after his virtuoso display against Galway later on in the series is not easily done. Once any Tipperary attack was broken down Waterford attempted to break out and by delivering ball up to the Waterford attackers namely Maurice Shanahan the primary target. More often than not he was surrounded by opposition defenders usually completely out numbering the amount of Waterford attackers because the majority of the players are under instruction to retreat back with the main objective being defensive orientated. Once it was evident that this tactic was not working Waterford had no plan B or C and the game itself ended in Tipperary claiming another Munster title.
As the dust settles on the 2015 hurling championship and the All-Stars are handed out recognising the country’s top players for their outstanding performances throughout the year, we look back on the main talking points from this year’s championship. Kilkenny retaining Liam McCarthy once again, TJ Reid in irresistible form, Galway and Tipperary serving out a cracker in the semi at HQ and the re-emergence of Waterford as a top tier contender for the Holy Grail. As a Waterford man and hurling supporter I was delighted to see my own county lift a league title and again begin to be a reckoning force in the championship but to me their results isn’t what I find significant it’s how they achieved these results with the deployment of the “sweeper” is what interests me.
Now every person that has played GAA at various different levels is well aware of the tactic of “dropping the man back” and playing a free role in an attempt to shore up the defence and I myself am well-accustomed to it. We have seen this deployed at senior club level and at inter-county level and undoubtedly can have its success. However, in the championship this year Waterford under the stewardship of Derek McGrath have used this tactic and advanced it to become one of the most defensively minded teams in the country. Throughout the championship Waterford only conceded 3 goals which is an extremely impressive return and deserves to be praised in itself but only managed themselves 5 goals, 3 of which came in defeating cork in the 1st game of the Munster Championship. The following day out when they came up against the Premier men in the Munster final, arguably one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the sporting calendar they once again adopted there defensive approach but on this occasion Eamon O'Shea identified this and countered it with similar tactic themselves which lead to one of the most disappointing Munster Finals in recent times with Waterford managing a mere 16 points throughout the 70 minutes of action. Throughout the game it was obvious to see Waterford’s plan in sniffing out any goal opportunities and depriving Seamie Callanan of a yard of space which after his virtuoso display against Galway later on in the series is not easily done. Once any Tipperary attack was broken down Waterford attempted to break out and by delivering ball up to the Waterford attackers namely Maurice Shanahan the primary target. More often than not he was surrounded by opposition defenders usually completely out numbering the amount of Waterford attackers because the majority of the players are under instruction to retreat back with the main objective being defensive orientated. Once it was evident that this tactic was not working Waterford had no plan B or C and the game itself ended in Tipperary claiming another Munster title. |
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