**By Cian O'Connell **

Having bagged three goals in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League semi-final success over Limerick, Waterford manager Derek McGrath is adamant that the Deise can continue to score majors in crucial contests.

Waterford had only struck one goal in their previous five matches, but McGrath reckons encouraging signs were evident in the Limerick win.

"It should be a help," McGrath said about Waterford's return to goalscoring form. "There is no escaping the fact that we weren’t getting goals. We talked about it as a group without it becoming ingrained in our approach to the extent that it hamstrung us in our approach. We got a few at the weekend, but there is no guarantee we’ll get goals against Clare.

"There wasn’t a huge tactical shift either against Limerick at half-time whereby we said, “this is the way we’re going to play”. 

It was just the way the game materialised. Shane’s penalty, there was a collective sigh of relief that we’d gotten a goal."

Striking the correct balance between defence and attack is Waterford's mission according to McGrath.

"Whether it will free us or not, only time will tell. That transition between having a good approach with your defence and going forward, that’s a challenge for us.

"If you take the model of the Waterford under-21s this year where the forward line will probably be Patrick Curran, Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine, Micheal Kearney, six fellas who play or come on for us.

"I think you’ll see Waterford under-21s get a lot of goals, play a certain way. In time, it could be three or four years, the threat that other forward lines offer, when the whole thing levels out, Paddy and Shane and those guys I think they’ll offer that threat in time."

Despite the drop in goals scored in Division 1A this spring McGrath believes that the game 'isn't losing any of its instinctive nature' as the summer approaches.

"We’re not alone," McGrath commented about the figures. "Just look at the last round of league games: Wexford set up with seven against us, Clare set up with seven at the weekend, Limerick set up with seven. It’s changed. People are putting more and more thought into the game.

"But I don’t think it’s losing any of its instinctive nature as well. There are many moments of brilliance within the game. There’s a realisation now that tackling and winning that dirty ball, that ruck ball, is hugely important to any team’s development. People are putting more thought into winning the games at all cost.

"Clare set up with seven (at the back) the last day and scored 4-22. There’s elements maybe in people’s approach, that while they might be defensive minded, opens up more attacking options."

McGrath also confirmed that Maurice Shanahan will undergo a scan on a hip injury today (Wednesday), while Pauric Mahony, who recently returned to action, is unlikely to start the Allianz Hurling League final against Clare.

"He is progressing very well," McGrath said about Mahony, who featured as a substitute in the Limerick triumph. "We were keen to get him a game, some action, in Thurles. He needs games. 

"We probably envisage him being involved in some capacity on Sunday week, and then the two games with Ballygunner on May 8 and 15, and then when they come back to us ahead of the second Clare game he will hopefully be ready to go then.  As regards a start, not yet anyway."