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What’s the point?
By Tony Tighe
 Waterford
1-12
London 0-3
NFL Division 4
London manager Noel Dunning said last week he was on a hiding to nothing
travelling over to Waterford and he was proved right as the Exiles suffered
yet another crushing defeat.
The visitors managed just three points in 70-plus minutes of football
and look destined to fight it out with Kilkenny over who finishes bottom
of the National League pile.
One can’t help but have sympathy with Dunning who only seems to
have certain players available on certain weekends. Just seven of the
team that started against Tipperary began the game in Dungarvan with some
players unavailable due to already-booked holidays for St. Patrick’s
Day and another even refusing to play because of an argument he had with
a fellow player who is seeking a transfer from his club side.
Should this happen in any other county in Ireland there would be uproar
with those players who opted for a knees-up more than likely never getting
the opportunity to don their county colours again. But this is London
and seemingly players’ attitudes change once they cross the Irish
Sea.
So many changes from game to game would upset the balance of any side
and once again it leaves London as the whipping boys of the National League.
Maybe their approach will change for the build-up to the visit of Connacht
champions Sligo on May 25 but with less than 15 players reportedly turning
out for training sessions the future looks far from bright.
Players from Ireland don’t seem to have the passion when playing
for London, a foreign county of sorts, and perhaps that’s the problem.
Until London-born players make up the majority of the team — players
who will take pride in the jersey — things don’t look like
changing.
Croke Park are keeping a close eye on London this season and they will
have been less than impressed with their League showings to date. After
a decent performance in the League last season where they trounced Carlow
and were narrowly defeated by Leitrim, the suits in GAA headquarters would
have expected London to at least compete in this year’s campaign.
Yet on Saturday afternoon they offered futile resistance. Waterford —
who were seeking a third consecutive win for the first time since 1989
— were already in cruise control after 14 minutes, Connie Power
converting a penalty to give the Deise a five-point lead.
John Doran fired London’s only points in the opening period and
minutes after the restart Mark McNulty kicked the Exiles’ only point
from open play. Waterford refused to relent however and with Power in
superb form they quickly put the game beyond any doubt.
While London strive for their first League points Croke Park will be wondering
what is the point.
Waterford: T Wall; E Rockett, T O’Gorman E Walsh; J Phelan, S Briggs,
M O’Gorman; M Ahearne
(0-1), G Hurney (0-1); D Casey, C O’Keeffe, P Hurney (0-2); L O’Lionain
(0-2), A Hubbard, C Power (1-5). Subs: S Cunningham for O’Keeffe,
T Grey (0-1) for M O’Gorman, J Walsh for Casey, S Kelly for O’Lionain,
L Lawlor for Hubbard.
London: B McBrearty; B Casey, C Beirne, G Flanagan; P Morgan, J Callery,
N Spain; P O’Donoghue, D Gallagher; J Doran (0-2), C Moroney, A
Dillane; J Moynagh, M McNulty
(0-1), B O’Mahoney. Subs: Tommy Moriarty for McNulty, Thomas Moriarty
for Doran, A Shanaghy for Flanagan.
Referee: M McGann (Clare). |
