Waterford - A Hurling review (Part 2).

To most, it is how a counties senior team finish the championship that determines whether it was in fact a good year or otherwise.

However, how a counties underage team fairs during the course of the year is just as important. It could be said even that it is more important. After all if a county is not producing good underage teams and teams that play under the senior team, what chance do you have going forward.

Underage success does not always mean success will follow at adult level, but it is a help. In Waterford over the past number of years, we can proudly claim that we are producing some good underage players, playing on good underage teams, which all goes well (hopefully) as we look to the future.

2013 was a great year for minor hurling in Waterford. Prior to September of this year, Waterford had not lifted the Irish Press Cup in Croke Park since 1948, a team that contained a number of players that went on to play in Senior Munster Finals over the following decade and a quarter, winning and going on to contest the All-Ireland Finals of 1957, 1959 and 1963, winning the 1959 All-Ireland Final against Kilkenny after a replay.

For Waterford to win the All-Ireland was not an easy task. To do so they had to go on the longest journey in recent years and even possibly the longest journey ever. It stretched to eight games with extra time needed along the way.

The journey began with a game against Tipperary at Walsh Park. It was a game where Waterford began brightly racing into a 0-7 to 0-5 lead with Patrick Curran playing a key role.

However, Tipperary were to finish the half the stronger of the two sides, heading to the dressing rooms leading 1-10 to 1-9.

In the second half, Tipperary proved to be the better of the two sides with Josh Keane proving to be a thorn in the side of the Waterford defence, hitting 2-9 as his side ran out 2-18 to 1-15 winners.

Waterford’s defeat meant it the scenic route to Croke Park.

Clare were next up for Waterford. The Banner Men had put up a good showing against Cork in the opening round of games and were expected to provide stiff opposition for Waterford who nominated Fraher Field as the venue for a home game this time around as there was fears that if the game needed extra time, with no lighting at Walsh Park, the game could not be completed.

The game with Clare was called off at very short notice as strong winds blew across West Waterford on the night of the game, resulting in the referee deciding that it would be unwise and unsafe to start the game.

The two sides returned to Fraher Field in May for a re-fixture. On the night Waterford proved too strong for Clare, putting in a powerful second half performance to win 4-18 to 1-0, Stephen Bennett, Cormac Curran and Conor Gleeson rattling the Clare net to set up a semi final against Cork.

It was off to Pairc Ui Rinn for the semi final. At underage levels (minor and under 21) Waterford had never beaten a Cork side on Rebel soil. Early in the game this statistic looked as if it would remain in tact, but the thing about such statistics is that they have to end sometime.

Cork had a tonic start. They hit 1-7 in the opening eighteen minutes of the game and while Waterford did manage to come more back into the game in the closing minutes of the half, Cork went to the dressing rooms holding a 1-7 to 0-4 advantage.

If Cork had a tonic start to the first half, it was Waterford that had it in the second half as Colm Roche and Stephen Bennett crashed early second half goals.

The reminder of the game proved to be a humdinger with the ball travelling from end to end and it was no surprise that the game ended in a draw (2-12 to 1-15).

As in the original 60 minutes, it was Cork that opened extra time the brighter of the two sides and after the first extra ten minute periods, they held a 1-18 to 2-14 advantage. However, the Rebels cause was not helped by the fact that wing back Alan O’Callaghan was sent off in extra time after collecting a second yellow card.

How fair this was however is questionable. A side that have a player dismissed in normal time can have him replaced for extra time. Sometimes it makes you wonder if this can be done, could a rule be introduced whereby any player that picks up a booking in the original sixty (or in the case of senior 70 minutes) not have the booking knocked off for extra time. What is considered to be good for the goose should be considered good for the gander. If you are not penalising a team who have a player sent off for the whole game, by allowing them to replace him for extra time (which some consider to be a new game) then should not bookings collected in normal time be scrapped as well.

In the second half of extra time, as the players on both sides grew tired, Waterford with its numerical advantage were able to exert extra pressure on Cork and when DJ Foran struck a third Waterford goal there was only going to be one outcome to the game.

Waterford’s opponents in the Munster Final were Limerick who shocked a fancied Tipperary side in the semi finals.

The game was played at the Gaelic Grounds, ensuring that with Limerick also involved in the senior final, there was going to be a huge local support in attendance.

Both sides really gave it their all, and with time almost up, Waterford looked as though they had one hand on the trophy, but Limerick put in a storming finish and in the end, the two sides had to share for a share of the spoils.

The replay took place in Thurles. Limerick had a great start to this game, but Waterford’s ability to strike goals brought them back into contention and at one point in the second half it looked as though victory was going to go to Waterford, but for the second game running, Limerick put in a magnificent finish, and ran out winners on a 1-20 to 4-8 score line.

They say there is no rest for the wicket and there was no rest for Waterford either. The replayed game with Limerick was played on a Tuesday and the following Sunday Waterford were back on the road, travelling to Ashbourne to play Antrim in the quarter finals.

Antrim proved to be no real match for Waterford. Sean Power’s charges ran out easy winners 4-20 to 1-9 in a game which ended prematurely following a long delay for the arrival of an Ambulance to remove Antrim full forward Jude McCurdy to hospital after an accidental blow to the neck.

The semi final against Kilkenny proved to be another epic.

Both sides went into the game fancying their chances. While Waterford came out on top, it was a game that could just as easily be lost.

Waterford should have known about Alan Murphy heading into the game. All year long, he disciplined team teams for any indiscipline that they showed, and he did so again in this game putting over ten frees, but Waterford’s ability to strike for goals (DJ Foran and Adam Farrell) saw Waterford advance to the All-Ireland Final for the first time since 1992 winning 2-12 to 0-16.

And so we reach September 8, 2013 the date that many in Waterford will not forget for sometime to come.

After much debate, it was finally confirmed in the days leading up to the final that Waterford’s opponents would be Galway. Much debate had taken place since the semi final between Galway and Limerick as to whether Limerick should have won the game, be awarded the game or at the very least be awarded a rematch.

The controversy came about as a result of hawk-eye, something that I have had doubts about since it was announced that the GAA would be using it this year, as I believe that human error should never be removed from the game, be it that it goes for or against you.

Waterford and Galway took to the field 21 years after they did so in 1992. On that day Galway won, and since then they have dominated the minor championship, contesting 14 finals since 1992, and the manager of the Tribes-men in 1992 Mattie Murphy was in charge again in 2013 as he set out to win his seventh title as Galway Manager.

Waterford settled very early in the game, going two points up with two minutes on the clock, Patrick Curran twice putting over for Waterford, both from frees, the first a close range one, the latter one from his sides end of the field.

Galway pulled a point back on four minutes when Brian Molloy put over a close in free. It was quickly followed by an effort from Stephen Bennett who’s effort in turn was cancelled out by a Darragh Dolan effort.

By the ninth minute the sides were level as Conor Whelan put over a point and two minutes later, Galway were in front after Adrian Morrissey put over a well executed side line cut.

Waterford in the middle of the first half would hit a purple patch as Patrick Curran put over a free which was followed with a brace from Colm Roche before Patrick Curran put over a ’65 and Michael Kearney from play pointed which gave Waterford a 0-8 to -4 advantage with 19 minutes played.

Patrick Curran and Ronan O’Meara swapped scored to keep four between the sides, with eight minutes remaining on the clock for the first half.

Patrick Curran again pointed for Waterford put the effort was cancelled out by an effort from Darragh Doyle.

Two Ronan O’Meara points brought Galway right back into the game but Stephen Bennett put over an excellent score to put three between the sides with two minutes still remaining.

In added time both sides notched one further score a piece. Darragh Dolan pointed for Galway but it was cancelled out by a DJ Foran effort which gave Waterford a 0-12 to 0-9 advantage as the sides made for the exit to the dressing rooms under the Cusack Stand.

Waterford began the second half as they did in the game with Cork with the sides from the off trying their luck for goal. Stephen Bennett had an excellent chance but Cathal Tuohy in the Galway goal was equal to it, making a good save but from the rebound Michael Kearney split the posts.

Patrick Curran and Brian Molloy swap scores from frees to keep four between the sides with as many minutes of the second half played.

Brian Molloy from a free and Ronan O’Meara add points for Galway to leave two between the sides with eleven minutes of the second half played. Brian Burke puts over another point for Galway which was cancelled out by one from Michael Kearney, however Galway were to go straight back down to the other end of the field and Brian Molloy added two further points to leave one in it once more to level matters.

Galway was now on a bit of a role and it was important that Waterford would score next or the game could slip away.

With nine minutes of the game remaining, Tom Devine struck a magnificent score from almost sixty metres to give Waterford the lead once more. The score not just lit up the Waterford support within the ground, but it also gave the team a massive boost.

Cormac Curran and Colm Roche landed scores for Waterford to stretch Waterford’s lead with six minutes remaining.

Michael Kearney added another Waterford point before Patrick Curran struck the games only goal. Stephen Bennett added a brace of late scores and while Galway added a late point, the needed a lot more and there was not enough time to stop Waterford winning what was only a third All-Ireland title at this grade.

While much credit will go to the Minors this year on their success and to a lesser extent to the seniors for performing much better than most expected them to, it could be easy to forget that Waterford had other teams involved this year, all who play a part in forming a senior panel in the future.

At both Intermediate and Under 21 levels Waterford lost to Clare. In Intermediate, fielding what was almost an under 21 team minus a few players from the senior panel at Ennis, Waterford went under to Clare on a 2-21 to 0-16 and while the under 21 team put up a better performance, but still had to settle for second best against a strong Clare outfit at Walsh Park on a 2-15 to 0-17 score line.

Waterford also had teams involved in tournaments from under 14 to under 17 levels. (Different sources were not able to provide me with the counties best results in each competition).

These competitions also play a vital role towards putting in place a plan for the future and give us an indication of where we are going. They also give us to see who the stars of Waterford hurling will be in the future as the players involved hope to emulate the likes of John Mullane, Tony Browne, Paul Flynn, Ken McGrath, Dan Shanahan who before making a name for themselves on the national scene played in such tournaments.

The colleges competitions also play a vital role in the development of players for the future, with many of the best college players each year going on to make a name for themselves in the years ahead.

This year, there was celebration in the double on the colleges hurling scene in Waterford as Dungarvan Colleges retained the Harty Cup that they won in 2011/12, beating Our Lady’s from Templemore in the final this time round and went on to beat Saint Kieran’s College and Kilkenny CBS in the semi finals and finals to add the Dr Croke Cup to the Dr Harty Cup.

In the Munster ‘B’ Competition, Dungarvan CBS reached the final for the fourth year in a row, winning it for the second time accounting for St Joseph’s from Tulla (Co Clare) in the final after extra time.

In the quarter Finals Colaiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir were easily beaten at Touraneena, and in the semi finals Heywood Community School had to settle for second best after extra time against a powerful Dungarvan CBS team in Carlow Town.

In the final St Mary’s from Belfast were Dungarvan CBS opponents. On the day Dungarvan CBS received a great deal of support. The Co Antrim side were no match for Dungarvan CBS who ran out 3-18 to 1-5 winners.

A fair deal of work has been carried out to develop Waterford hurling in recent years. The rewards are now beginning to be seen, but a great deal continues to be done. Having won two colleges Munster Finals and two Colleges All-Irelands and a Minor All-Ireland Final shows that the work is been put in, but it would be foolish now to rest on our laurels, something I doubt anybody will allow happen.