1. Tactical battle lies in store
Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald has already warned that Sunday’s League decider might not be the ‘prettiest’ of games.
Both teams boast mean defensive records heading into the showpiece decider and Fitzgerald may well be proven right.
Clare have conceded just four goals in the entire League campaign to date – and just one from play to Kilkenny’s Jonjo Farrell.
In their seven games, Waterford have leaked just five goals and it may be a day for long-range shooters to strut their stuff in an attempt to ‘beat the blanket’.
One thing is for sure, a fascinating tactical battle awaits and how Fitzgerald and his Waterford counterpart Derek McGrath try to break each other’s team down could provide some clues ahead of the Munster SHC semi-final between the counties on 5 June.
2. Goal threat
Waterford had scored just one goal in their six previous League outings before they hit three in one half against Limerick last time out.
In Patrick Curran, Shane Bennett, the Déise have players who know where the back of the net is and the key for Waterford is to open up the space for their sharpshooters to exploit, with Maurice Shanahan tipped to make an appearance off the bench at some point.
In what could be a relatively low-scoring game by senior hurling standards, goals could prove critical but the 17/2 odds on offer for no goalscorer in the game will tempt many punters.
Clare scored five goals in as many group games in Division 1B but have found the back of the net six times in their last two matches – two against Tipperary and four in the remarkable semi-final victory over Kilkenny.
Aaron Cunningham and Conor McGrath are proven goal-getters but John Conlon’s absence through injury is a massive blow in this department as he netted four times in the League this year.
3. Sweepers
Managers Fitzgerald and McGrath are renowned as two of the more tactically aware in the modern game.
Clare’s sweeper system, with Patrick Donnellan fulfilling that role, swept them to All-Ireland glory in 2013 and McGrath is into year three of a similar project in Waterford.
Tadhg de Búrca played the sweeper role to near perfection last year and a string of impressive performances earned him the Young Hurler of the Year award.
With Donnellan sadly sidelined with cruciate knee ligament damage, joint-captain Cian Dillon has stepped into the sweeper role with Clare and is doing exceptionally well.
Goal chances could prove to be at a premium in Thurles as both teams set up with seven defenders each and it would come as no surprise if Dillon or de Búrca claim man of the match honours.
4. Championship clash looming
Will this be a phoney war, an exercise in shadow boxing, or will both teams go at it hammer and tongs?
That’s one of the key questions that will be answered at Semple Stadium as Clare and Waterford face off five weeks before meeting again in a Munster semi-final.
The message from both camps is that they’ll both go for it and they can hardly afford not to.
It’s the first time that Waterford have ever contested back-to-back Division 1 finals and winning the title for the second successive year would create a nice piece of history.
Clare haven’t won this competition since 1978 and victory would enhance already strong championship credentials.
Waterford also have the benefit of being in this situation before. Last year, they played Cork in the League decider before beating the Rebels again in their championship opener.
5. Mutual respect
Managers Fitzgerald and McGrath are rivals in name only as they enjoy a healthy relationship off the pitch.
When McGrath was going through a tough time in Waterford two years ago, Fitzgerald went on local radio station WLR FM and urged supporters to stick with him.
Fitzgerald was a former Waterford manager himself and is still held in high esteem in the county.
His words at the time were music to McGrath’s ears and the pair have met regularly, phoned each other on numerous occasions and also exchanged text messages in recent years.
But the lines of communication have shut down since the counties were pitted against each other in the championship draw and for 70 minutes on Sunday, and again on 5 June, their friendship will be put on hold during matches of huge consequence.
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