Waterford seek Second McGrath Cup Title, UCC seek a first.

When it comes to football, it must be said that although from time to time Waterford have produced some good teams down the years, there has been little to shout about.

To win a Munster Senior Football Final is always going to be a big ask for Waterford, as Cork and Kerry have dominated the Championship since its inception. Since 1935 when Tipperary won the last of their nine championships, only one county other than Cork or Kerry have won the championship, Clare winning it in 1992. For the other two Munster counties you have to go back even further for their last Championship success. Waterford won it in 1898, while Limerick’s last success came two years earlier.

In 1981, the four often referred to as ‘weaker counties’ were given the chance to win some silverware when the (Joe) McGrath Cup was presented to the Munster Council on the longest day of the year.

Waterford were the first winners of the competition. The Waterford captain on the day was Michael Coffey.

In the mid 90’s Cork and Kerry began to play in the competition. Kerry were the first of the big two to win the competition in 1996. Cork won it for the first time two years later. Since their admission to the competition, they have dominated it, just as they have in the championship, winning it 11 times between them since 1996. Prior to their admission to the competition, Clare ruled the competition winning it 8 times. Since the admission of the big two they have won it four times.

After the turn of the Millennium the major third level football sides in the province were admitted to the competition to help them prepare for the Siggerson Cup. Their admission made it even harder for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford to win the competition as they now had first call on all players from the counties as they had from Cork and Kerry for the competition.

In 2014 the four counties that competed in the competition back in 1981 did not take part in the competition as the players from the four counties opted not to participate in the competition as Munster Council chiefs voted to keep Cork and Kerry apart in the Championship till the final.

Since the turn of the Millennium both sides in this year’s final have records that they would like to have been better.

The students of UCC have played 17 games winning seven. For Waterford they have played 20 games winning just 6 of them.

UCC entered this year’s competition at the quarter final stages where they beat Limerick 4-16 to 3-9.

Heading into the final quarter of the game a hat-trick from Seanie Buckley separated the sides as Limerick held a 3-7 to 0-8 advantage, but goals from Thomas Hickey (2) as well as Adrian Spillane and Tomás Clancy in the last quarter turned the game around.

In the semi finals last weekend, the students recorded a 0-18 to 0-6 win over IT Tralee.

Played on a heavy sod coached by former All-Ireland winner and manager Billy Morgan UCC’s all-round strength, particularly their that of their full-forward line of Thomas Hickey, Conor Cox and Paul Geaney did most damage sharing 11 points between them.

Their defence restricted the Tralee college to one point from play in the 63rd minute.

UCC raced 0-10 to 0-2 clear at half-time with Conor Cox, Luke Connolly, Sean Kiely and Brian O’Driscoll impressing.

Waterford for their part played an extra game to reach the final, having to play University of Limerick in the first round.

All of Waterford’s games in the competition this year have been played on home soil.

The opener was played at the WIT Campus in Carriganore and resulted in a 1-16 to 2-7 win.

Waterford were always on top in this game held a 1-8 to 0-2 lead at the break. At one stage in the second half that lead was stretched to 11 points, but two Gearoid Hegarty goals in the second half made life a little more uncomfortable for the home side.

Waterford under new manager Tom McGlinchey for the first time on the day however managed to hold out putting in a good afternoons work, hitting 1-15 from play through nine different scorers won out 1-16 to 2-7.

In the quarter finals Waterford took on another college side CIT at Clashmore and won 1-11 to 0-9.

Waterford played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and after 25 minutes they lead 0-6 to 0-1.

However, the students in the last ten minutes of the half found their feet and turned around trailing by just two points 0– 0-7 to 0-5.

The students in the second half began well kicking four points in succession to help them into the lead.

The introduction of Liam Lawlor proved to be a master stoke for Tom McGlinchey as he helped keep the students at bay playing in defence.

Points from Gavin Nugent and Ray Ó Ceallaigh helped Waterford draw level and with eight minutes to play a high ball in front of Sean Barron unsettled the Ardmore man in the CIT goal and Lorcan Ó Curraoin finished to the net for the games only goal.

For the semi final it was back to the Clashmore venue for a meeting with a hotly fancied Cork side.

Played in front of 337 paying spectators, Waterford recorded a first win over Cork in senior football since 1957.

Cork had the advantage of playing with what advantage the wind was on the day but missed four early chances. Shane Ahearne opened the scoring for Waterford with a brace of frees, but Cork drew level with a brace of Dan McEoin frees.

Waterford however would go to the break leading 0-4 to 0-2 after Patrick Hurney and Michael O’Halloran landed points for the home side.

Five minutes into the second half, Waterford stretched their lead to four after Rathgormack’s Gavin Nugent kicked a brace of points.

Cork brought on some of their big guns during the second half of the game and points from Donnacha O’Connor and Colm O’Neill quickly had them within one of Waterford.

Further points from Michael O’Halloran and Shane Ahearne followed for Waterford but Cork were not able to overtake Waterford on the score board as much as they tried.

Waterford won 0-8 to 0-7. It may be “only the McGrath Cup”, but a win is a win and a win over Cork in senior football is a rarity. This one will be remembered for some time.

Win loose or draw this weekend, reaching the final of the competition is an achievement. For Waterford to win would be nice, but to loose would not be the end of the world.

For Waterford the pain aim this year is to get out of the bottom division of the league which starts the weekend after this final. If Waterford were not involved in the McGrath Cup up to the final weekend of the competition, they would be playing challenge games, but while challenge games can be useful, nothing beats a competitive game.

No college side has won this competition in its history. As a Waterford support, I for one will be hoping that this statistic does not chance for another while.

With the Siggerson Cup set to begin shortly, the students will be out to stake a place in the team for the competition and will want to impress Billy Morgan in this game.

A win for Waterford is possible this weekend, but it wont be easily achieved. It may be still January, but strides are being made with football in the county and it would be nice to see the team receive the support they deserve for the game.

Waterford Scorers to date: Shane Ahearne 0-9 (4f), Patrick Hurney 1-4, Paul Whyte (2f), Gavin Nugent 0-6 each, Michael O’Halloran 0-4, Lorcan O Curraoin 1-0, Tommy Prendergast 0-2, David Grey, Joey Veale, Michael Curry, Ray Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 each.

Gavin Nugent, Shane Ahearne and Michael O’Halloran have scored in all three games to date.

Waterford players used to day: (In brackets is the amount of times they have started and being used as a sub). Stephen Enright (3), Dean Crowley (3), Niall Walsh (3), Thomas O’Gorman (3), Tadhg Ó hUallachain (3), Tommy Prendergast (3), Shane Ahearne (3), Michael Curry (3), Michael O’Halloran (3), Patrick Hurney (3), Gavin Nugent (3), Maurice O’Gorman (2), Ray Ó Ceallaigh (2 +1 sub), Joey Veale (2), Paul Whyte (2), Liam Lawlor (1 +1 sub), Conor Phelan (1 +1 sub), David Grey (1 +1 sub), Oran Keevers (1), Loran Ó Curraoin (0 +3 sub), David Hallahan (0 + 3 sub), Stephen Prendergast (0 + 2 sub).