Not sure what type of responses I will get here but anyone have any thoughts on the current Waterford football team?
I have to admit up to this year I knew very little of Waterford (with exception to the Hurlers) but I read Damien Lawlors book a few months ago and found it a very entertaning read.
My interest grew and I followed them through their unbeaten run in the league and promotion to division 3.
While they were just beaten by Limerick in the Division 4 final, a hard fought victory against Clare yesterday in Dungarvan has set up a Munster semi final against Limerick at the same venue with winners to play either Cork or Kerry in the final.
The book title 'Working on a Dream' may already have been achieved (promotion to Division 3) but Waterford fans may be dreaming beyond this now?
A Munster final?
Fair play I say...the GAA needs teams like this. If you have not read the book, pick up a copy.....

Munsterboy (Kerry) - Posts: 11 - 24/05/2010 12:23:06    656382

fair play to them, it seems excellent work is being done down there. on another note whats da story ith clare football? it seems to have slipped even worse or is it just a case of waterford catching up to their level?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12122 - 24/05/2010 12:45:07    656414

I would love to see them in a Munster Final

nok02 (USA) - Posts: 534 - 24/05/2010 12:47:55    656420

They are making some decent progress. Limerick will certainly feel they should win the semi-final, but this isn't as straight forward a game as in previous years. Seems that the general standard of Football amongst Clare, Tipp and Waterford (and even Limerick to some extent) is on the up. Won't be many counties eyeing up a trip down the south-west in the qualifiers.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 24/05/2010 12:49:00    656422

I was the same as you, didn't know much about them and didn't rate them but after reading the book and realising the amount of work they put in i grew a bit of a fondness for them and found myself following Div 4 result hoping they would make the break through and was delighted when they did. I don't know if they will be capable of getting over Limerick but there not fat off them so who knows.

Louth Gael (Louth) - Posts: 1227 - 24/05/2010 12:58:48    656436

Tongo, while Limerick will rightly so be tagged as favourites (this will suit wterford), remember Waterford took home full points from the league outing at the gaelic grounds in a thriller. Now they are on home turf, it will be a very interesting game i think...you never know

Munsterboy (Kerry) - Posts: 11 - 24/05/2010 13:25:58    656501

Im the exact same.Brilliant book got me hooked on waterford football.Really would love to see them make Munster final and beyond
Waterford ABU

dubs4eva (Dublin) - Posts: 484 - 24/05/2010 13:50:42    656548

I think that book has got Waterford more fans than they ever could have imagined!

Fair play to them & good luck.

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 24/05/2010 15:39:14    656733

Fair point Munsterboy, but Limerick have made some decent strides in the Champo in the last couple of years. I'd still put them as favourites.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 24/05/2010 16:07:32    656777

Have two relations on the waterford football panel so would no a few of the lads and they are decent footballers but still Hurling is always going to be number 1 in the county.
The likes of Michael 'Brick' Walsh and the Prendergasts from Ardmore are very good footballers but wouldnt play both. I woulld go as far to say if Brick was from Kerry he would be midfield for them this year.
Think Limerick wil have to much for them but would love to see Waterford reaching the Munster Final.

dubshurling7 (Dublin) - Posts: 1017 - 24/05/2010 17:22:10    656943

FAir play to Waterford on their vast improvements. Should be a model for other aspiring counties.

maigh_eo (Mayo) - Posts: 1346 - 24/05/2010 17:32:20    656963

Your boy Ó Lionáin is supposedly as good as any forward in the country if he gets enough ball. They have a realistic shot at getting to a Munster Final because they have the ability to beat Limerick.

Should actually be a very good game.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13846 - 24/05/2010 17:33:35    656966

Well done

castlemaine (Kerry) - Posts: 546 - 24/05/2010 17:48:16    656995

I hope The Sunday Game actually give the game decent coverage and not the 2 mins if the Waterford vs Clare match is anything to go by. They showed alot of the Louth vs Longford match which was right & proper but why then only show a few clips of the Waterford game with a voice over commentator who wasn't there ??

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1156 - 25/05/2010 18:10:02    658227

Basically there has been good players in Waterford for a long time. I can remember them playing in three Munster U21 finals in the 90s, and played in two more finals in the 00's, finally beating a star studded Kerry team featuring the Gooch and Declan O'Sullivan in 2006. Their club teams are regularly challenging for provincial titles also.

What happened before was the game had low interest levels in Waterford City-the main population centre. As hurling got stronger football clubs in the West became more hurling, and many lads who would be the main players on the county team ended up being lost to hurling. One only has to look at the Brick Walsh who won an U21 in 2006, all star hurling centre back and would probably get in most football midfield pairings around, but will never tog out. Gary Hurney played with the Railway Cup team, but only recently returned to footall after walking out on the hurlers, and scored the winning goal against Clare.

I'm hoping they can brighten up the championship perhaps this year and the next few years if they can keep building their squad and build up a bit of local interest.

ringo (Wexford) - Posts: 384 - 27/05/2010 14:49:29    659965

Think the book did wonders for them in terms of boosting their profile, there was a fairly big crowd for their last league game I think?

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 27/05/2010 15:04:14    659989

Yeah but I found the book frustrating at the same time. I thought the author got too close, and fell in love with the romantic story of Jackson Kiely, doing it for the love of the game and sure if we win thats great.

It was a difficult scenario. On one hand he improved interest levels and the profile of the game a fair bit, but at the same time he was totally unprofessional and seemed to be holding them back towards the end. He seemed a bit bitter to be leaving. While on one hand they'd be doing savage training and weights and all that, they'd drive up to Cavan in their own cars, eat Mars Bars on the way in, and proceed to win the game! The lack of organisation on the London trip last year probably cost them promotion.

You also had this group of talented guys who wanted to take it to the next level and start to be taken seriously. With Owens they seemed to have achieved this, and best of luck to them. I'll be keeping a very close eye on them for the future.

ringo (Wexford) - Posts: 384 - 27/05/2010 15:33:06    660041

Well whatever about how close he got, I think every county except the one their playing will root for Waterford. We need a romantic story in the GAA as its too predictable. Limerick nearly gave us that last year when they were so so unlucky.

castlemaine (Kerry) - Posts: 546 - 28/05/2010 13:53:08    660805