If Azzuri haven’t already started to manufacture a special run of Waterford jerseys with ‘McGrath’ and ‘’33” on the back they’ll be missing a big commercial opportunity, writes An Fear Rua …

It may not be the first time a man with 33 behind him performed miracles, but it was certainly the first time in Semple Stadium. Not only was Ken McGrath his county’s saviour against Kilkenny in the Allianz National Hurling League final, but he justifiably earned the title ‘Man of the Match’ as well.

This was the only the first time these two counties met in a League final but history – and geography – determine that the rivalry between them runs deep, pockmarked by the milestones of ’57, ’59, ’63 and ’98..

Always a good sign of Waterford in recent years, they opened well, with a well-taken point from Jack Kennedy. But they started to squander other early chances and fifteen minutes into the game they had racked up six wides. There were, however, encouraging omens. From goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy outwards, the entire back division was playing well. Uncharacteristically well, you might even say, for a Waterford defence – especially on a big occasion and against such stern opposition.

James Murray was having one of his best ever games in a Déise jersey. Aidan Kearney was a revelation, Tony Browne was his by now customary excellent self, Ken McGrath getting more and more into the game, Declan Prendergast masterful in all he essayed. Eoin Kelly’s steady free taking was also a wholesome portent while McGrath pointed a number of vital long-range opportunities.

A major talking point after the game will be Henry Shefflin’s performance and how it may have contributed to Kilkenny’s defeat. On paper, he had a game that many another player could only dream of – twelve points scored in a National League final. And yet … and yet. He missed a number of ‘sitters’ and was foiled by Hennessy of at least two goal chances that on another day he would have stuck away and killed off the opposition. Clearly, after his honeymoon break, he has some way to go to tune back in to top-level competitive hurling. In fact, despite his impressive tally (albeit mostly from frees) it would be fair to say that the Waterford defence effectively put the shackles on the Cats’ danger men of Shefflin, Brennan and Fitzpatrick – and kept them on.

At half time, Waterford led by eleven points to nine. Not enough with so many chances missed and facing into a second half breeze and a Kilkenny team rejuvenated by a Brian Cody pep talk. Sure enough, Waterford seemed to wilt as the Kilkenny men came at them determinedly. Five minutes in, Kilkenny drew level; ten minutes in and they were three points in front.

This is the point in the game where, in the past, this Waterford team has wilted under the pressure. Mullane conceded a free for throwing the ball. Again, Mullane missed an easy chance to get one back for the Déise. Eoin Kelly was doing his ‘Eoin Kelly throws the head’ routine. Then came what proved to be the turning point.

Paul Flynn came on for Shane Walsh. Flynn’s presence, his experience and his cool head under pressure proved to be of immense value to Waterford in the final twenty minutes. Shortly after his arrival, Seamus Prendergast was fouled and Eoin Kelly put over a steadying point for Waterford – their first of the second half and after a fifteen minute long scoring famine – leaving the score fourteen points to twelve. After that, came Hennessy’s inspiring save one-on-one with Shefflin. Game not going according to the pre-match pundits’ script.

In his time in charge of Waterford, Just-In McCarthy has rightly been criticised for his tardiness in making the right call on substitutions. However, his replacement of the in-form James Murray by Eoin McGrath proved to be inspired. While Murray had defended admirably, McGrath’s presence turned the Waterford formation into a more attacking posture. Always the sign of a good substitution, within a couple of minutes, McGrath had picked off a badly needed point. A minute later, Flynn repaid his passage onto the field of play with a superb point that narrowed the gap to a point.

Recovery on. And even the departure of the inspirational Ken McGrath for a brief blood substitution did not slow the Déise momentum, as it might have done in the past. Shanahan equalised with McGrath off the pitch, replaced adequately by Shane O’Sullivan. McGrath returned wearing a new jersey with ‘33’ emblazoned on his broad shoulders.

Shanahan’s point seemed to be the signal for Waterford’s other big men to step up and be counted. On sixty-three minutes, Mullane steadied himself to take his first score of the game and equalise the sides on sixteen points each. Three minutes later, Mullane again scored to restore equality at seventeen points each. A Prendergast point to inch Waterford in front was followed by a missed Kilkenny goal at the other end when Tony Browne, literally, put his body on the line to prevent the Black-and-Amber scoring. The stuff of inspirational legend.

Into the four minutes of added time and Eoin Kelly made it nineteen to eighteen. Then, that man Prendergast again for the grace note final score, to make it Waterford twenty points, Kilkenny eighteen.

Waterford have learned that big games – against big opposition – are not won in the opening thirty-five minutes but in the closing five. They won the first half, weathered the characteristic opening Kilkenny storm in the second half, but then calmly reeled the Noresiders back in, and then went ahead. They showed character in doing so, grace under pressure and coolness. So different from Waterford of even three years or so back. The real sign of their maturity is that added point in the dying moments of the game – as they did against Cork – that gives them a two point winning margin, rather than a single point.

This win is more than just the closing of a forty-four year long gap. Waterford have cast away their demons and shucked the monkey from their shoulders. This history-making victory will loosen up their style and take their confidence to new levels. A good step towards towards the championship for them.

Who knows? Today’s win may only be the mid-point in a historic treble this year – Croke Cup, League title and … Liam McCarthy…

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