Déise sweat over De Búrca
Few options for McGrath if ban confirmed
ONE statistic, more than any other, underlines the importance of Tadhg de Búrca to Waterford. Up until Fergal Horgan, on his linesman’s advice, flashed a red card in front of the defender’s face near the end of the recent All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford, De Búrca had played every moment of Championship hurling in Derek McGrath’s tenure.
Even in the manager’s difficult first season of 2014, when he had yet to truly stress-test the system that has turned De Búrca into a star, the Clashmore-Kinsalebeg man was always there. An everpresent and mainstay. And that was his maiden year as an intercounty player.
Only goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe can boast a similar feat. Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran and Jamie Barron may all be woven into the fabric of this Waterford side, critical cogs that are needed to ensure the Déise functions properly. But McGrath has seen fit to call them all ashore at some point in games. That has never happened with De Búrca.
The 2015 Young Hurler of the Year has always been there — mopping up loose ball, spotting potential danger, feeding a teammate, adding extra cover to his full-back line. The manager’s trust in De Búrca has helped to develop him into the best sweeper in the game and McGrath recognised that his possible absence would leave a gaping hole in his team following the win over Wexford.
‘What I will put on record is that Tadhg has been central to everything we have done well over the last four years,’ the manager said at the time. ‘He made his debut on the wing in 2014 and has been hugely central to how we play and what we have done.
‘He is a purist, an absolute purist in his approach. I will have to see it and then we will leave due process take its course. It would be massive. It would be a huge blow, it would probably change things.’
De Búrca’s case to lift his onematch suspension will be heard this evening by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA). Already, the Central Hearing Committee and Central Appeals Committee haven’t been turned by representations made by Wexford’s Harry Kehoe, whose helmet De Búrca is said to have interfered with in the 66th minute at Paírc Uí Chaoimh.
It is not a stretch to say that Waterford’s prospects of reversing the result of the Munster semi-final with Cork this Sunday rest with how the DRA adjudges De Búrca’s case. Indeed, the team’s hopes of ending Waterford’s long All-Ireland famine probably rest with the body being sympathetic to De Búrca’s plight. Dan Shanahan, McGrath’s assistant, tried to play down his possible absence at Waterford’s press night last week.
‘It’s not the Tadhg De Búrca show. It can work both ways. If things start going badly and fellas start missing Tadhg around the middle ... he plays such a pivotal role and he’s so good at it … but if he’s not playing, it might spur the lads on.
‘Dealing with a lad that is out — we had to deal with that when Pauric Mahony broke his leg. We have had other injuries and suspensions.’
The problem is that nobody plays the sweeper role like De Búrca. In little more than three seasons, he has perfected the art of being the seventh defender. The counter-argument, among traditionalists who despair at the sight of a sweeper, is that it is easy to look good when you are not marking anyone and are in yards of space. But when he is in possession, he is rarely hooked and always pops up in the right place at the right time.
It is the sort of specialist role that can’t be learnt in a rush. It can’t be fast-tracked. If one of Waterford’s forwards were facing a one-match suspension, McGrath is not short of options to replace them. Or even another of the defenders. But De Búrca’s specialist role requires time and graft to perfect.
Gleeson could probably step into the role given his abundant gifts. But he will be needed further up Croke Park on Sunday.
If Waterford are to overturn the five-point deficit from June, they will need Gleeson nailing the wondrous scores that saw him named Hurler of the Year last year.
Darragh Fives is the most obvious candidate to play the De Búrca role. He has been one of their most impressive players this summer, driving forward from midfield and mopping up plenty of possession around the middle third. Fives’ contribution in the first-half against Wexford was crucial in breaking down their opposition’s massed defence. Cork won’t defend in quite as many numbers this weekend — but taking Fives out of centrefield is not without its risks.
Given the wealth of attacking options that McGrath has on the bench — which was evident in extra-time against Kilkenny in Semple Stadium — he doesn’t have the same riches in his defence.
Shane McNulty has been used sparingly by his manager, but it has been suggested by some that he has the necessary hurling skills to fill the De Búrca role. But throwing in front of a possible crowd of 60,000 in Croke Park will also be a risk.
If Fives is moved back, it will free up a position further up the field. There is talk of Maurice Shanahan being used from the start, although that will feel like robbing Peter to pay Paul given the lift the full-forward gives his team-mates and supporters when he comes off the bench.
Decisions, decisions. There are plenty of hard calls for McGrath, Shanahan and their backroom team to make if the DRA upholds De Búrca’s suspension tonight as they look to finally scale the AllIreland semi-final hurdle at the third time of asking.
And if De Búrca is marked absent, it could mean that in a match that has the potential to define his whole reign as Waterford manager, McGrath may have to go for something new and untested.
Gleeson could step into the role, given his abundant gifts