IN ONE SENSE, Waterford have already bettered 2015.
Last year they slipped away in the closing nine minutes as Kilkenny turned water into wine and a two point lead became six by the end.
Fast forward 12 months and they survived a titanic semi-final with Brian Cody’s men, but didn’t quite do enough to win.
There’s a feeling that Waterford will have to up their performance levels even more for the replay on Saturday evening in Semple Stadium if they’re to stand a chance.
It’s extremely rare that Cats produce two poor displays in the championship back-to-back. It’s also hard to see Jonjo Farrell, Colin Fennelly, Walter Walsh, John Power and TJ Reid being as quiet this time around.
Deise defender Noel Connors says the squad are focused on improving for the next day out.
“We’re probably going to go back and look at our strengths and some of the developmental areas where we need to go up on. If that’s maybe pushing up when they’re getting quick puck-outs in the last five minutes.
“If that’s something we need to put our finger on and do something different there, we’re certainly going to do that. But it’s very much go out and play with a freedom and the abandonment that Derek has been talking about in the last couple of weeks.”
Allowing Kilkenny the space to go short with their restarts gave them a higher platform to launch their attacks. The late 1-1 arrived after goalkeeper Eoin Murphy twice went short with his puck outs.
Connors says Waterford weren’t expecting so a long period of added time.
“Maybe we thought the five minutes of added time…we didn’t probably think it would be as much as that.
“It’s something we maybe have to look at next week. It’s probably a small bit of fatigue as well. I suppose we had opportunities ourselves to give quick puck outs but we went for the long ball in, to try and keep the pressure off the full-back line and half-back line. It worked for long periods of the game.”
The test now is psychological as much as it is physical. Derek McGrath is a keen purveyor of sports science and Connors expects a week “rest and relaxation” in preparation for the rematch.
“You’re not going to change much in the space of six days or even less. We’ll get back and get into the sea or whatever for recovery, make sure you’re eating right and sleeping right for the next few days.
“All the hard work is done from October, November, December and throughout the league, that’s when you do the dog work.
Kilkenny have a formidable record in replays under Cody — losing just one from four during his tenure.
“I don’t know is it tradition or is it just the mentality of Kilkenny. But it’s a mentality that champions have. In fairness to them they’ve been a phenomenal side and still are, probably the best team ever to grace a hurling field.
“You have to respect that but also go out with the best of intentions to try to win the game.”
A failure to find the net again on Sunday means Waterford have scored just one goal in four championship games.
“I think if you do that [score goals] then that’s probably more of a tool in your armour where you win games. Kilkenny have probably been the benchmark of that as well, the incredible amount of tackles they put in, their physicality, just overall commitment to the game.
“I suppose that’s probably something that’s always been the cornerstone of their team and we try to do that as well. I think hopefully that was evident again today with the amount of tackles, hooks and blocks. It was a great game to watch, I think it was a fantastic spectacle and I think hurling is alive and well thank God.”
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