There's been plenty of talk and debate surrounding the hurling hand pass over the last number of weeks as the Allianz National hurling league gathers pace. Waterford overcame Tipperary by 1-28 to 0-21 in Walsh Park on Sunday to maintain top spot in Division 1(B) ahead of the final round tie away to Kilkenny on March 20th.
Former Déise defender and WLR analyst Brian Flannery featured on Monday evening's "On The Ball" programme, and the Mount Sion clubman admitted that there's plenty of discussion around the hand pass and the way that it's being applied or not being applied; The onus is on the player, a clear striking action, if you don't display that it's a clear striking action and you concede a free, well that's your own fault. I think there has been a lot of discussion on it but it's up to coaches to coach better, you go into any club of a Saturday morning you'll see 7 and 8 year olds correctly executing the hand pass, it isn't that difficult!"
The rule book states that there has to be a clear striking action, it'll be very interesting over the next few weeks and indeed heading into the Championship which is only six weeks away.
Flannery has been impressed by Waterford so far in the league campaign with the Déise looking good to qualify for the last four. Stephen Bennett shot 1-16 last Sunday as he picked up the man of the match award.
Brian Flannery says a competitive panel will be important coming into the white heat of Munster Championship with the round-robin series back in place; "It probably shows the strength and depth that is being created and I think you have to give Cahill and his management great credit for that. They are using a lot of players and players are getting their opportunity, it very much looks like that there's an awful lot of players that are up to the standard and are capable of coming in and maybe doing a job later in the year". Waterford will take on Tipperary in Round 1 of the Munster SHC on Easter Sunday in Walsh Park.
There's a break from the hurling league this weekend, with the final round of games on March 20th which will see Waterford travel to Nowlan Park to face Brian Cody's Kilkenny who are second in the table, it's a game that we'll have live for you on WLR, thanks to George Corbett Skoda.
You can catch the full-Interview with Brian Flannery here.
