Re: OFFALY V WATERFORD.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:50 am
A shambles, a sorry shambles..
The only good thing that could be taken from yesterday’s game was the fact that we managed to win and all but guarantee promotion. Had we been playing a half decent team, there’s no doubt we would have lost! Apart from a 10 minute spell leading up to half-time, we looked every bit the Division 4 side that we are.
Our ball handling was poor with simple passes being dropped, we were over elaborate everywhere with always a hop or solo too many or just a stupid pass across field to slow down any chance of a quick attack. Our distribution into our forward line was awful and even when we got good ball in, we lost possession too easily
After we ran amuck down in Aughrim, Waterford were clever enough to play the extra man in front of their full back line to deny our inside forwards and this definitely hampered us all day. To compound matters though, our free man was Niall Darby and he was left in the full back line for the 70 minutes when surely better use could have been made of an extra man around midfield.
The individual performances were poor with only McManus, Niall Smith, Paschal and to a lesser extent Niall McNamee, Niall Darby & John Reynolds coming out of the game with any credit.
The sideline looked on and did feck all as is their want. Despite Waterford taking over after the break and pulling back a 5 point deficit to draw level, they did little or nothing. Smith moved to midfield and we brought on Jimmy Coughlan for the half time sub Ken Casey. Although he hadn’t played well, it was hard on Casey and likely to be a major blow to his confidence. Niall Mac also appeared around midfield but it was hard to know whether he was under instruction or he just took it upon himself such was the complete disarray we were in at that stage.
Fortunately we lifted our game (McManus & Keeleghan in particular) for about 5 minutes to pull away again and it was just about enough in the end as Waterford pushed for a goal while we seemed to be in complete panic mode in defence with clearances going straight back to Waterford time after time.
The only good thing that could be taken from yesterday’s game was the fact that we managed to win and all but guarantee promotion. Had we been playing a half decent team, there’s no doubt we would have lost! Apart from a 10 minute spell leading up to half-time, we looked every bit the Division 4 side that we are.
Our ball handling was poor with simple passes being dropped, we were over elaborate everywhere with always a hop or solo too many or just a stupid pass across field to slow down any chance of a quick attack. Our distribution into our forward line was awful and even when we got good ball in, we lost possession too easily
After we ran amuck down in Aughrim, Waterford were clever enough to play the extra man in front of their full back line to deny our inside forwards and this definitely hampered us all day. To compound matters though, our free man was Niall Darby and he was left in the full back line for the 70 minutes when surely better use could have been made of an extra man around midfield.
The individual performances were poor with only McManus, Niall Smith, Paschal and to a lesser extent Niall McNamee, Niall Darby & John Reynolds coming out of the game with any credit.
The sideline looked on and did feck all as is their want. Despite Waterford taking over after the break and pulling back a 5 point deficit to draw level, they did little or nothing. Smith moved to midfield and we brought on Jimmy Coughlan for the half time sub Ken Casey. Although he hadn’t played well, it was hard on Casey and likely to be a major blow to his confidence. Niall Mac also appeared around midfield but it was hard to know whether he was under instruction or he just took it upon himself such was the complete disarray we were in at that stage.
Fortunately we lifted our game (McManus & Keeleghan in particular) for about 5 minutes to pull away again and it was just about enough in the end as Waterford pushed for a goal while we seemed to be in complete panic mode in defence with clearances going straight back to Waterford time after time.