All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round 1 -
Waterford v Laois, Walsh Park, 7.0:
Everything you know about recent hurling history would point towards a Waterford victory, but there is a psychological side to this game which actually favours Laois. They come in with six championship matches behind them, the most recent of which was a two-point defeat to Galway, the team which then went on to raise hell against Kilkenny.
In fact Laois may well take further heart from that result, to add to their already justified belief that one of these days, and soon rather than later, they are going to take a major hurling scalp. Manager Seamus Plunkett has also developed a level of consistency that suggests they won’t fear travelling into the den of Waterford hurling that is Walsh Park.
There, they’ll meet a team in a fairly fragile psychological state, given how poor Waterford were in their Munster quarter-final replay against Cork. There is however the realisation that Waterford are unlikely to be as poor again, especially given the fact they had Cork on the ropes the first day. Darragh Fives returns from injury for his first start of the summer, with debutant Ryan Donnelly named at corner forward, as Shane Walsh switches to full forward to replace the suspended Brian O’Sullivan.
Truth is Waterford boast one of the best records in the hurling qualifiers, winning seven on the trot before losing to Kilkenny last year, after extra time. They’re not going to have it easy against Laois, but they do surely have enough believe in their own tradition to make it through to round two.
Offaly v Antrim , Ballycastle, Sunday 2pm
Offaly have a habit of creating magic out of turbulence but this has been a tough year for the Faithful County.
One of the best dual counties are on the rack in both hurling and football and Brian Whelahan will have to summon something special out of his team if they are to salvage anything out of the season.
The 5-32 to 1-18 defeat by Kilkenny gave them a vivid picture of how far out of the picture they have drifted. Sean Cleary has returned to full fitness and will be available.
But Kevin Ryan has spoken about the importance of making this home tie count for Antrim and the Saffron County have been consistent this year.
Three early goals cost them dearly against Wexford: if they avoid such errors here, they can complete a miserable year for Offaly.
