Where to begin?
Over the past two decades Kilkenny hurling has become a by-word for an unrelenting search for quality, success, and domination.
But what are the parts that make up the fearsome black and amber beast? And how do Waterford prepare to play 15 men and not the aura that surrounds a thirty-five-time All-Ireland winning outfit in the last four of the championship?
Sports psychology consultant Emmett Hughes discusses how Waterford can dispel the myth around Kilkenny this Sunday.
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I think the first thing you have to do if you’re a side facing Kilkenny is to break down the mystique.
The county were always known for having skill and ‘wristy’ hurlers, but under Brian Cody they have become a team of massive physical intensity as well as a killer instinct. They will bury you early and then keep shovelling on the dirt.
In the build up to the game Waterford will come across all the general statements about being beaten in the All-Ireland a few years ago, their unbeaten run coming to an end against Tipperary and that they’re a ‘young team’.
Derek McGrath and his players need to go beyond those statements and get to the specifics. From a player and management point of view the best way to tackle any side, and especially a team like Kilkenny, is to become task focused.
It could be something as simple as making sure that Austin Gleeson gets 20 passes away, or that Kevin Moran makes seven runs down the sideline. Players thrive on detail and clarity.
It’s the approach that the Irish rugby squad would be most familiar under Joe Schimdt.
He brought a new word to bear with his focus on ‘accuracy’ in all aspects of the game. Rucks, mauls, line-outs and kicking as well as tackling all come under this idea of accuracy.
That clarity of purpose gives a team focus, it gives them confidence and you can see how players have reacted and how motivated Waterford are this year.
The second aspect Waterford need to focus on is de-constructing the idea of an ‘aura.’
But it’s make believe. It’s a public thing that has no place on a sportsfield. There is no special bubble that will insulate Richie Hogan from a hard hit or there is nothing extra in Michael Fennelly’s jersey that makes him unstoppable.
If Waterford fall into the trap of thinking they are playing the best corner back of all time, or last year’s hurler of the year, then you are just creating a negative mindset and creating a problem before the ball has even been thrown in.
That’s the last thing you want when playing Kilkenny.
The build up for Waterford will be the most crucial thing that McGrath will have to get right.
Have they prepared well for Kilkenny? Have they done everything they needed to to get their players right?
Have they worked through the various scenarios and problems that might arise?
Even something like the weather or what happens if they concede two goals early on must all be worked on.
If they haven’t you can be sure Kilkenny have.
What was it that Roy Keane said a few years ago about failing to prepare?
Cody and McGrath appear on the surface at least to be very alike. Cody despite being around almost 20 years never really gives too much in his interviews. I can only go on what they both say before and after games but they do sound very similar in their approach.
They never give away much but they are respectful and it’s all about performance for them. Neither manager gets too worried or say things that may give the game away a little bit. Both are too experienced and the occasion won’t get to ether of them.
I worry when I see a manager talk about the result, and only the result, instead of the performance.
Sometimes the result is all that matters but if the manager doesn’t care how it happens that has a siren going off in my head.
To me that sounds like bluffing and managers can let things get away from them and become the whole focus of the build up.
When I saw Lar Corbett running around after Tommy Walsh in the All-Ireland final a few years ago I was wondering what the hell was happening.
It was clearly pre-planned but it was total distraction from the performance and Kilkenny didn’t let it bother them. Tipperary did.
Tactically Waterford have to focus on playing Kilkenny but from a psychological point of view they’re not playing Kilkenny. They should be focused on a performance. And that should come against every team, no matter what jersey they wear.
However if they change their tact hugely and that seeps into their mental preparation, then that would be a huge worry.
Finally the man-management of both sides could be crucial to the result.
On either side you have, from a psychological point of view, ‘ego’ players.
This type of player responds to external motivation, some of what I’ve described above such as history and the aspect of facing his direct opponent.
This player will be one who Cody or McGrath will have identified as needing a one-on-one chat to remind them or tell them that today is the day to ‘roast that All-Star corner back’ or ‘put that midfielder back on his arse within 30 seconds’.
The ego player is the guy that wants to be the best and wants to be the very best in a group.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the best example in the world right now.
It’s no use asking him to give a 7/10 performance because that wouldn’t interest him. He always wants to do the spectacular and has more bursts of energy from that.
He’s the guy you see sticking the chest out and responding to the external stuff and maybe on Sunday those guys could be the difference.
You can contact Emmett Hughes here
