Preview: SHC quarter-final - Waterford v Dublin

July 25, 2015

Waterford Kevin Moran on the attack against Dublin at Walsh Park.
©INPHO/Ken Sutton.

Both Waterford and Dublin have rung the changes ahead of tomorrow's intriguing All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

Darragh Fives is preferred at midfield to Eddie Barrett for the Deise while Shane Bennett gets the nod ahead of his brother Stephen in the half-forward line.

Ger Cunningham, meanwhile, has made four changes in personnel from their win over Limerick with Cian O'Callaghan, Joey Boland, Niall McMorrow and Dotsy O'Callaghan all receiving call-ups.

Niall Corcoran, Shane Durkin, Daire Plunkett and Eamon Dillon are the players to make way.

The experienced Johnny McCaffrey will wear the the number eight jersey and the Lucan Sarsfields clubman has been impressed with what he has seen from Waterford so far this year.

"The main thing that stands out about them is that they work very hard for each other," McCaffrey stated.

"They are a very good hurling side but they work extremely hard and try get as many men on the ball. . . not just behind the ball but on the ball, and the right men on the ball as well.

"They have been a breath of fresh air and they have added massively to the championship. It's a big challenge for us."

As the Kevin Moran-captained Waterford attempt to bounce back from the disappointment of their 0-16 to 0-21 Munster final defeat to Tipperary, 2010 All-Star corner-back Noel Connors isn't expecting any favours from the Metropolitans.

"Dublin showed their pure aggression and pure steel against Limerick," he commented. "That's a Limerick team who were within a score of being in an All-Ireland final.

"So you have to look at Dublin that way, putting that up, against one of the best teams in the country, and coming out the better end of it.

"And Ger Cunningham coming into it has brought something different, and you can see the kind of style of hurling Dublin are playing. They're very robust, extremely fit and physical, and I think they use their strengths extremely, extremely well."

Verdict - Waterford.

Waterford team: Stephen O'Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Tadhg de Búrca, Austin Gleeson, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Darragh Fives; Kevin Moran, Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon; Maurice Shanahan, Michael Walsh, Colin Dunford.

Dublin team: Gary Maguire; Shane Barrett, Cian O'Callaghan, Paul Schutte; Chris Crummey, Liam Rushe, Joey Boland; Johnny McCaffrey, Niall McMorrow; Paul Ryan, Ryan O'Dwyer, Danny Sutcliffe; David O'Callaghan, Conal Keaney, Mark Schutte.

Match details: Sunday; Semple Stadium; 2pm.

Referee: Johnny Ryan.

Odds: Waterford 1/2; Draw 8/1; Dublin 11/5.


Most Read Stories