By John Harrington

The ‘system’ devised by Derek McGrath that won Waterford the 2015 League title and brought them as far as the All-Ireland semi-final was not to everyone’s liking.

The critics believed it erred on the side of caution by putting too much emphasis on defensive solidity at the expense of attacking ambition. But it is becoming apparent now that those critics were premature in their judgement of McGrath’s tactical master-plan.

Last year was the first year he implemented it and the defensive structure was always going to be the easiest element for the players to master. The transition from defence into attack is a trickier discipline, but according to Austin Gleeson the Waterford players now have a better understanding of exactly what it is that McGrath wants them to do on the pitch.

“We more so have the system kind of developed I suppose than last year,” says Gleeson. “We know more what way to go about it now than last year when we were going into games and it took us 20-25 minutes. Nowadays more so we're into games and we are kind of starting well and better than last year. It's not really much of a difference but I know we've all kind of been in the gym a bit more this year too, that's after hitting a lot of the lads. We still have a long way to go yet but hopefully we're on the right track.

“We're trying to get fit enough that we can get up and down all day but it's more so the players trying to develop it than the management because the management know exactly what way they want to go about it and what way they want to implement it. It's just for the players to get into their heads how to go about it. I think it's starting to kind of recognise with a lot of players but we still have things to learn and mistakes to cut out because at the moment it's nowhere near perfected yet. We've a long way to go but we're working on it and seeing where it goes.”

Waterford’s development into a an increasingly offensive team is down to more than the players developing a better understanding of McGrath’s tactical master-plan. The team is dominated by players in their teens and early twenties who are also now physically better equipped to carry out their orders. It’s no easy thing to be a player in this Waterford team, and only the strong can survive.

“Mentally it might have a bit of an affect, but if you kind of get it into your head that you're going to be okay, you're going to be grand and you get your breaks throughout the game when you can, it's grand,” says Gleeson. “I know all the lads kind of felt it the Sunday night (of the League Final replay) but come Monday, surprisingly we were actually okay. Even though it's such a task to do what we're doing. It's a task to do it for 70 minutes and that's why he's trying so many fellas in so many different positions, so if one fella has to come off with an injury or whatever, another fella can just slot in and he knows exactly what to do. That's the way he's probably looking at it so just hopefully it keeps going.”

Until Clare’s late revival, it looked like Waterford’s system was overpowering Davy Fitzgerald’s team in the Allianz League Final replay four weeks ago. On Sunday they play each other for the third time in quick succession, and it’ll be interesting to see who has learned most from the previous two matches and who can throw something new into the equation. Gleeson is certainly expecting Fitzgerald to tinker with his tactics.

“Ah, sure look, they are always going to have something in the locker because they have a couple of lads to come back in from injury. Look, whatever happens with them we have to apply our game and hopefully it works out for us, but we know it’s a massive task whatever way they go about it. A couple of lads know Davy and he always has a different plan, and that kind of way.  We don’t know what he’s going to do.  He could throw anything at us and we just have to be ready for it, and hopefully the lads are ready for the tactics battle.”

What makes Sunday’s game so intriguing is that Waterford also have the ability to improve on their League Final performances simply by introducing players who played little or no part in those games. Maurice Shanahan and Pauric Mahony are both fully fit again and capable of giving the Waterford a new and different sort of threat.

"Oh yeah, absolutely,” says Gleeson. “You have Maurice, you have Pauric, you have Stephen Bennett is kind of getting back into it as well and I suppose Shane (Bennett) didn’t really have his best day the last day so I suppose there are four forwards to come back into it. It’s a headache for the management. I wouldn’t like to be in their position of who they want to play.  We are looking forward to it and hopefully everyone is getting back fit and we have no injury concerns going into the game.”

The prospect of Stephen Bennett playing some role for Waterford this year is an intriguing one. He was a bigger underage star than even Gleeson himself, but his progress has been slowed by a series of hip operations. He’s finally fit again now though, and Gleeson has no doubt about Bennett’s quality.

“Oh absolutely. I grew up playing with him since the Tony Forristal and he was always the one that the other team were just dead worried about and always the one that we tried to target and get the ball to him I suppose. He was 15 playing minor, the same as Shane, and he was just leading the line even then. We know what he’s capable of but it’s very hard for him the last couple of years with the hips to get fit and stay fit. He’s looking very fit for us in recent weeks so hopefully he can make an impact.”

Another reason why Waterford are now posing much more of an attacking threat this year than they did last year has been the emergence of Patrick Curran. He opted out for most of 2015 to focus on his studies, but is fully integrated this year and has been arguably the best young hurler in the country.

“Anyone who grew up with Waterford knew Patrick was going to make it,” says Gleeson. “In the minor I think he got 1-7 in the All-Ireland Final and that kind of lay down a marker that he was going to make it up and last year he didn't come into the panel until late because he was doing exams in college and he wanted to concentrate on those so once he came into the panel he ended up gradually getting into the team. Look where it's after taking him and we can't complain, he's after being a great player for us this year and hopefully he keeps going the way he's going.

“He's such a natural hurler, so free-flowing his striking, he's very rarely going to get hooked or blocked down because he strikes the ball so differently I suppose, it's so natural to him to get the ball away and everybody kinda knows what he's capable of.”

It’s not just a greater affinity with McGrath’s system and the continued blossoming of their young players that is making Waterford a more complete team this year. Now that they have a better understanding of the structure the Waterford manager has put in place, they also have a greater licence to express themselves within it.

“When we go out on the pitch the first 10 or 15 minutes is in your head, you have to do this, you have to do that, get into the game and then after that it’s just freedom," says Gleeson. "He’s just gives you the license, not to do what you want, but don’t be stopped by any kind of a system that’s in place.  Go out and use your own initiative and whatever happens, happens.”

*** Austin Gleeson spoke at Centra’s Live Well hurling launch in CLG Na Fianna which included the announcement that the retailer will continue its sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship up to 2019. As part of this year’s campaign, Centra has introduced a series of #GetActive hurling challenges to encourage fans of all ages to pick up a hurl, test their skills and upload their videos to win big prizes. For more information on how to take part go to www.centra.ie or follow Centra Ireland on social media. **