Eagle-eyed spectators at yesterday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final will have noticed the number five, drawn inside a circle, on Derek McGrath's left hand.

The Waterford manager explained afterwards that it represented a promise to Tadhg de Búrca that Waterford would win the game for him. de Búrca, who normally wears the number five jersey, missed the 4-19 to 0-20 victory over Cork after failing in his bid to have a controversial one-match ban lifted. 

"A lot of the players had it too," McGrath noted.

"Things like that are perceived as a bit gimmicky but that's what we are about. He's central to our circle. 100 per cent, we did it for Tadhg.

"We spoke about it as a group on Friday night. We spoke about it as a group today. We weren't sure whether we should because you are dealing with a young lad who, I won't say he is reserved, but he's just everything we feel we are trying to be as a team. He's a purist.

"He showed great mental fortitude within the two weeks. It was definitely part of the group's motivation because of what he had contributed up to this match over the last four years."

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